Matchup

Heavy AP damageHigh burstDive threatHigh sustain

You are stronger late game — farm safe and avoid early trades.

Build vs Sylas

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Health Potion
x2

Core build

Moonstone Renewer
1HP
Mikael's Blessing
2HP
Redemption
3

Standard

Ionian Boots of Lucidity
4CDR
Dream Maker
5HP

Summoner spells

3781%
31413%

Anti AD

Plated Steelcaps
4vs AD
Knight's Vow
5vs AD

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

DPS

Imperial Mandate
Mage
Luden's Echo
Mage

Other options

Dream Maker
HP
Ardent Censer
Diadem of Songs
HP
Oblivion Orb
Echoes of Helia
HP
Dawncore
Shurelya's Battlesong
Staff of Flowing Water
Zaz'Zak's Realmspike
HP
Solstice Sleigh
HP
Mejai's Soulstealer
100.0% WR3 games
SorcerySorcery
Summon AerySummon Aery
Manaflow BandManaflow Band
TranscendenceTranscendence
ScorchScorch
ResolveResolve
RevitalizeRevitalize
Font of LifeFont of Life
Ability HasteAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
YuumiYuumi
SylasSylas
Passive
Favorable
Favorable

Sylas's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Petricite Burst (P)

After casting a spell, Sylas stores a charge of Petricite Burst. Sylas's basic attacks will expend a charge and whirl his energized chains around him dealing bonus magic damage to enemies hit. While Sylas has a charge of Petricite Burst, he gains attack speed.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
310s12s13s
68s12s13s1m20
96s10.5s13s1m20
116s9s13s55s
166s6s11s30s
186s6s9s30s

Playing against Sylas

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

1

If your ult is powerful (Malphite, Amumu, Cho'Gath), wait until Sylas has already stolen it and it's on CD before fighting.

2

Ults that scale with AD are less effective for Sylas since he builds AP — his ult steal is weaker against AD ults.

3

Sylas is relatively weak in early game: punish him before he steals an ult that changes the fight.

4

His E2 is a linear skillshot: side-step to avoid the dash + knockup.

Source: op.gg + LTL Engine · Patch 16.9.1 · May 9, 2026