Zyra vs Sylas
Favorable matchup
You are stronger early. Look to snowball before your opponent scales.
Build vs Sylas
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Zyra: Liandry's Torment, Shadowflame, Zhonya's Hourglass, Sorcerer's Shoes, Rylai's Crystal Scepter, Oblivion Orb, Dark Seal, Rabadon's Deathcap.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Sylas's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
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
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 10s | 12s | 13s | – |
| 6 | 8s | 12s | 13s | 1m20 |
| 9 | 6s | 10.5s | 13s | 1m20 |
| 11 | 6s | 9s | 13s | 55s |
| 16 | 6s | 6s | 11s | 30s |
| 18 | 6s | 6s | 9s | 30s |
Playing as Zyra
Tips to maximize your impact
- Grow the right plant
Cast your spells on Garden of Thorns (passive) seeds: Deadly Spines (Q) grows a Thorn Spitter that fires at 575 range, Grasping Roots (E) a Vine Lasher that slows.
- Seed the path of your spell
Cast Grasping Roots (E), then right away place a seed in its path with Rampant Growth (W): the target is rooted, and the plant that grows hits them.
- Enrage your plants
Cast Stranglethorns (R) on your plants in the middle of the fight: enemies are knocked into the air 2 seconds later, and your plants, renewed, gain health and damage.
- Seed the brushes
Place seeds with Rampant Growth (W) in brushes and near objectives: a champion who steps on one is revealed, and you can grow a plant there.
Playing against Sylas
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Keep minions between his chain and you
Stay behind your minions after his Abscond (E): the Abduct (E) chain pulls him to the first enemy hit, and only that one takes the knock-up.
- Don't trust his low health
Don't go all-in just because his health is low: Kingslayer (W) heals him more as he loses health.
- Back off after each of his spells
Get out of his range as soon as he casts a spell: each spell charges Petricite Burst (passive), and his next auto hits around him with bonus magic damage.
- Fight when he can't steal from you
Take the fight when Hijack (R) is on cooldown: he then can't copy your ult and turn it against your team.
Other Zyra matchups
Patch 16.21.1