Mid Matchup

Malzahar vs Sylas

Patch: 15.18 (25.18)
League: Platinum+
Malzahar

Malzahar

the Prophet of the Void
Mid
Malzahar Mid Overall Win Rate
51.40%

Matchup Win Rate

54.4%
Malzahar vs Sylas Wins
⚔
45.7%
Sylas vs Malzahar Wins
Sylas

Sylas

the Unshackled
Mid
Sylas Mid Overall Win Rate
49.96%

Malzahar vs Sylas - Mid Matchup Guide Patch 15.18 (25.18)

Malzahar Mid vs Sylas Mid - Who is stronger?

Malzahar Mid performs well against Sylas (54.4% win rate) based on 1372 games. This matchup works well for Malzahar players.

View detailed statistics below: items, runes, and counter builds for Malzahar Mid vs Sylas Mid in patch 15.18 (25.18), including win rates and pick rates. With proper study, this can improve your chances of victory up to 75.0% in this matchup.

Statistical Matchup Analysis

Current meta showdown: Malzahar (6.2% pick rate, 7th most popular out of 61 Mid champions) versus Sylas (7.3%, 3rd place). These two mid lane titans clash constantly, making matchup mastery a decisive factor in your climb. Meta strength confirmed: Malzahar's superior tier rating (S vs B+) translates into a solid 54.4% matchup win rate. This performance explains why Malzahar ranks 18th in win rate among Mid champions. Amplify your advantage: The Summon Aery + Manaflow Band rune setup achieves 56.8% win rate (21.3% popularity), while the core build Archangel's Staff > Liandry's Torment > Rylai's Crystal Scepter with Sorcerer's Shoes (75.0% win rate) lets you snowball advantages into guaranteed victories by 15 minutes.

Lane dominance: Malzahar not only wins the matchup but crushes CS (7.76/min vs 5.89 for Sylas). This 1.87 CS/min advantage generates significant gold leads that compound your already favorable position. Quality over quantity: Malzahar wins through smart play rather than raw damage - despite lower DPS (836 vs 888/min), the 54.4% win rate shows superior utility, positioning, and team fight impact. Statistical dominance: Malzahar leads in both matchup win rate (54.4%) and KDA (2.20 vs 2.10) - complete superiority across all metrics.

Malzahar vs Sylas - Mid Stats Comparison

Malzahar Mid
Malzahar Mid		Versus
Sylas Mid
Sylas Mid
STierB+
54.4%Matchup Winrate45.7%
51.40%Role Winrate49.96%
#18Winrate Rank#42
6.2%Pickrate7.3%
2.2Average KDA2.1
407Gold per Minute386
7.76CS/Min5.89
0.37Wards per Minute0.33
836Damage per Minute888

How to Beat Sylas as Malzahar (Mid)

The Malzahar versus Sylas matchup in the mid lane is favorable with proper positioning. Use your statistical advantage and prevent the opponent from realizing their potential.

The magic damage that Malzahar deals remains relevant in the late game. Look for opportunities to initiate or counter-initiate. Meanwhile, Sylas deals primarily magic damage (90.84%), additional magic resistance may be required.

An important advantage of Malzahar is higher farming statistics (ranked 5th among role champions) (versus 52nd for Sylas), which provides a stable gold advantage in extended games and allows faster access to key items. Meanwhile, their lower KDA (2.1 versus 2.2) suggests they are less effective in team fights.

Key aspects of the Malzahar Mid versus Sylas Mid matchup

Despite the statistical advantage in the matchup, overconfidence can be the main mistake. It is important for the Malzahar player to maintain constant pressure on Sylas, not allowing the opponent to safely scale up, and actively use the advantage gained to help their team.

Malzahar vs Sylas: Mid Lane Summoner Spells

Most Popular

Flash
Flash Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Teleport
Teleport After a brief channel, become untargetable and travel to an allied unit. Upgrades into Unleashed Teleport, which significantly increases travel speed.
54.8% Win Rate90.9% Pick Rate

Highest Win Rate

Flash
Flash Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Barrier
Barrier Gain a brief Shield.
80.7% Win Rate0.5% Pick Rate

Malzahar vs Sylas: Mid Lane Runes

Most Frequent Runes

Primary Path
Sorcery
Arcane Comet
Arcane Comet Damaging a champion with an ability hurls a comet at their location, or, if Arcane Comet is on cooldown, reduces its remaining cooldown.

Adaptive Damage: 30 - 130 based on level (+0.05 AP and +0.1 bonus AD)
Cooldown: 20 - 8s

Cooldown Reduction:
Single Target: 20%.
Area of Effect: 10%.
Damage over Time: 5%.

Arcane Comet

Damaging a champion with an ability hurls a comet at their location, or, if Arcane Comet …

Manaflow Band
Manaflow Band Hitting an enemy champion with an ability permanently increases your maximum mana by 25, up to 250 mana.

After reaching 250 bonus mana, restore 1% of your missing mana every 5 seconds.

Cooldown: 15 seconds

Manaflow Band

Hitting an enemy champion with an ability permanently increases your maximum ma…

Transcendence
Transcendence Gain bonuses upon reaching the following levels:
Level 5: +5 Ability Haste
Level 8: +5 Ability Haste
Level 11: On Champion takedown, reduce the remaining cooldown of basic abilities by 20%.

Transcendence

Gain bonuses upon reaching the following levels:Level 5: +5 Ability Haste Level…

Scorch
Scorch Your next damaging ability hit sets champions on fire dealing 20 - 40 bonus magic damage based on level after 1s.

Cooldown: 10s

Scorch

Your next damaging ability hit sets champions on fire dealing 20 - 40 bonus mag…

Secondary Path
Inspiration
Magical Footwear
Magical Footwear You get free Slightly Magical Footwear at 12 min, but you cannot buy boots before then. For each takedown you acquire the boots 45s sooner.

Slightly Magical Footwear grants you an additional 10 Move Speed.

Magical Footwear

You get free Slightly Magical Footwear at 12 min, but you cannot buy boots befo…

Cosmic Insight
Cosmic Insight +18 Summoner Spell Haste
+10 Item Haste

Cosmic Insight

+18 Summoner Spell Haste+10 Item Haste

Adaptive
Adaptive Force
Adaptive Force Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Adaptive Force

Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Adaptive Force
Adaptive Force Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Adaptive Force

Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Scaling Health
Scaling Health Increases health from 10 to 180 HP across levels 1-18

Scaling Health

Increases health from 10 to 180 HP across levels 1-18

55.4% Win Rate68.0% Pick Rate

Best Win Rate Runes

Primary Path
Sorcery
Summon Aery
Summon Aery Damaging enemy champions with basic attacks or abilities sends Aery to them, dealing 10 - 50 based on level (+0.05 AP) (+0.1 bonus AD).

Empowering or protecting allies with abilities sends Aery to them, shielding them for 30 - 100 based on level (+0.05 AP) (+0.1 bonus AD).

Aery cannot be sent out again until she returns to you.

Summon Aery

Damaging enemy champions with basic attacks or abilities sends Aery to them, dealing 10 -…

Manaflow Band
Manaflow Band Hitting an enemy champion with an ability permanently increases your maximum mana by 25, up to 250 mana.

After reaching 250 bonus mana, restore 1% of your missing mana every 5 seconds.

Cooldown: 15 seconds

Manaflow Band

Hitting an enemy champion with an ability permanently increases your maximum ma…

Transcendence
Transcendence Gain bonuses upon reaching the following levels:
Level 5: +5 Ability Haste
Level 8: +5 Ability Haste
Level 11: On Champion takedown, reduce the remaining cooldown of basic abilities by 20%.

Transcendence

Gain bonuses upon reaching the following levels:Level 5: +5 Ability Haste Level…

Scorch
Scorch Your next damaging ability hit sets champions on fire dealing 20 - 40 bonus magic damage based on level after 1s.

Cooldown: 10s

Scorch

Your next damaging ability hit sets champions on fire dealing 20 - 40 bonus mag…

Secondary Path
Precision
Presence of Mind
Presence of Mind Damaging an enemy champion restores 6-50 (80% for ranged) mana or 6 energy.

Takedowns restore 15% of your maximum mana or energy.

Cooldown for damage restoration: 8s

Presence of Mind

Damaging an enemy champion restores 6-50 (80% for ranged) mana or 6 energy.Take…

Coup de Grace
Coup de Grace Deal 8% more damage to champions who have less than 40% health.

Coup de Grace

Deal 8% more damage to champions who have less than 40% health.

Adaptive
Adaptive Force
Adaptive Force Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Adaptive Force

Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Adaptive Force
Adaptive Force Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Adaptive Force

Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Scaling Health
Scaling Health Increases health from 10 to 180 HP across levels 1-18

Scaling Health

Increases health from 10 to 180 HP across levels 1-18

56.8% Win Rate21.3% Pick Rate

Malzahar vs Sylas: Mid Lane Item Builds

Most Popular Build

Starting Items
Stealth Ward
Stealth Ward (0 gold) Active (210 - 120s, max 2 charges)
Places an Invisible Stealth Ward that grants vision for 90-120 seconds.
Doran's Ring
Doran's Ring (400 gold) 18 Ability Power
90 Health
Restoration
Restore 1.25 Mana every second. If you can't gain Mana, restore 0.55 Health instead.
Helping Hand
Attacks deal 5 bonus physical damage to minions.
Health Potion
Health Potion (50 gold) Consume
Restores 120 Health over 15 seconds.
57.8% Win Rate83.2% Pick Rate
Popular Boots
Sorcerer's Shoes
Sorcerer's Shoes (1100 gold) 12 Magic Penetration
45 Move Speed
55.4% Win Rate76.0% Pick Rate
Ionian Boots of Lucidity
Ionian Boots of Lucidity (900 gold) 10 Ability Haste
45 Move Speed
Ionian Insight
Gain 10 Summoner Spell Haste.
58.0% Win Rate15.1% Pick Rate
Boots of Swiftness
Boots of Swiftness (1000 gold) 60 Move Speed
Fleetfooted
Reduce the effectiveness of Slows by 25%.
60.3% Win Rate1.5% Pick Rate
Core Build
Lost Chapter
Lost Chapter (1200 gold) 40 Ability Power
300 Mana
10 Ability Haste
Enlighten
Levelling up restores 20% max Mana over 3 seconds.
->
Blackfire Torch
Blackfire Torch (2800 gold) 80 Ability Power
600 Mana
20 Ability Haste
Baleful Blaze
Damaging Abilities deals bonus magic damage for 3 seconds.
Blackfire
For each enemy champion, epic and large monster affected by your Baleful Blaze, gain 4% Ability Power.
Liandry's Torment
Liandry's Torment (3000 gold) 70 Ability Power
300 Health
Torment
Damaging Abilities burn enemies for 2% max Health magic damage per second for 3 seconds.
Suffering
For each second in combat with enemy champions, deal 2% bonus damage, up to 6%.
Rylai's Crystal Scepter
Rylai's Crystal Scepter (2600 gold) 65 Ability Power
400 Health
Rimefrost
Damaging Abilities Slow enemies by 30% for 1 second.
60.3% Win Rate30.5% Pick Rate
Final Build
Morellonomicon
Morellonomicon (2950 gold) 75 Ability Power
350 Health
15 Ability Haste
Grievous Wounds
Dealing magic damage to champions applies 40% Wounds for 3 seconds.
58.5% Win Rate24.1% Pick Rate

Best Win Rate Build

Starting Items
Stealth Ward
Stealth Ward (0 gold) Active (210 - 120s, max 2 charges)
Places an Invisible Stealth Ward that grants vision for 90-120 seconds.
Doran's Ring
Doran's Ring (400 gold) 18 Ability Power
90 Health
Restoration
Restore 1.25 Mana every second. If you can't gain Mana, restore 0.55 Health instead.
Helping Hand
Attacks deal 5 bonus physical damage to minions.
Health Potion
Health Potion (50 gold) Consume
Restores 120 Health over 15 seconds.
74.6% Win Rate0.8% Pick Rate
Highest Winrate Boots
Symbiotic Soles
Symbiotic Soles (900 gold) 40 Move Speed
Voidborn
Gain Empowered Recall.
Symbiosis
After traveling 150000 units of distance, transform into Synchronized Souls.
100.0% Win Rate0.1% Pick Rate
Mercury's Treads
Mercury's Treads (1250 gold) 20 Magic Resist
45 Move Speed
30% Tenacity
69.6% Win Rate1.0% Pick Rate
Boots of Swiftness
Boots of Swiftness (1000 gold) 60 Move Speed
Fleetfooted
Reduce the effectiveness of Slows by 25%.
60.3% Win Rate1.5% Pick Rate
Core Build
Lost Chapter
Lost Chapter (1200 gold) 40 Ability Power
300 Mana
10 Ability Haste
Enlighten
Levelling up restores 20% max Mana over 3 seconds.
->
Archangel's Staff
Archangel's Staff (2900 gold) 70 Ability Power
600 Mana
25 Ability Haste
Awe
Gain Ability Power equal to 1% bonus Mana.
Manaflow (8s, max 5 charges)
Landing Abilities grants 5 max Mana (doubled vs. champions).
Transforms into Seraph's Embrace at 360 max Mana.
Liandry's Torment
Liandry's Torment (3000 gold) 70 Ability Power
300 Health
Torment
Damaging Abilities burn enemies for 2% max Health magic damage per second for 3 seconds.
Suffering
For each second in combat with enemy champions, deal 2% bonus damage, up to 6%.
Rylai's Crystal Scepter
Rylai's Crystal Scepter (2600 gold) 65 Ability Power
400 Health
Rimefrost
Damaging Abilities Slow enemies by 30% for 1 second.
75.0% Win Rate1.3% Pick Rate
Final Build
Cosmic Drive
Cosmic Drive (3000 gold) 70 Ability Power
350 Health
25 Ability Haste
4% Move Speed
Spelldance
Dealing magic or true damage to champions grants Move Speed for 4 seconds.
98.8% Win Rate3.6% Pick Rate
Other Items
Rabadon's Deathcap
Rabadon's Deathcap (3600 gold) 130 Ability Power
Magical Opus
Increases your total Ability Power by 30%.
23.7% Win Rate22.4% Pick Rate
Zhonya's Hourglass
Zhonya's Hourglass (3250 gold) 105 Ability Power
50 Armor

Time Stop
Enter Stasis for 2.5 seconds.
47.3% Win Rate15.1% Pick Rate
Void Staff
Void Staff (3000 gold) 95 Ability Power
40% Magic Penetration
42.7% Win Rate12.4% Pick Rate
Shadowflame
Shadowflame (3200 gold) 110 Ability Power
15 Magic Penetration
Cinderbloom
Magic and true damageCritically Strikes enemies below 40% Health, dealing 20% increased damage.
79.9% Win Rate4.4% Pick Rate
Cosmic Drive
Cosmic Drive (3000 gold) 70 Ability Power
350 Health
25 Ability Haste
4% Move Speed
Spelldance
Dealing magic or true damage to champions grants Move Speed for 4 seconds.
98.8% Win Rate3.6% Pick Rate
Archangel's Staff
Archangel's Staff (2900 gold) 70 Ability Power
600 Mana
25 Ability Haste
Awe
Gain Ability Power equal to 1% bonus Mana.
Manaflow (8s, max 5 charges)
Landing Abilities grants 5 max Mana (doubled vs. champions).
Transforms into Seraph's Embrace at 360 max Mana.
32.8% Win Rate2.7% Pick Rate
Malignance
Malignance (2700 gold) 85 Ability Power
600 Mana
15 Ability Haste
Scorn
Gain 20 Ultimate Ability Haste.
Hatefog
Damaging a champion with your Ultimate burns the ground beneath them for 3s, dealing magic damage per second and reducing their Magic Resist.
65.5% Win Rate2.7% Pick Rate

Malzahar vs Sylas: Mid Lane Skill (abilities) Orders

Most Frequent Skill Order

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Q
Q
Call of the Void Malzahar opens up two portals to the Void. After a short delay, they fire projectiles that deal Magic Damage and silence enemy champions.
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
W
W
Void Swarm Malzahar summons Voidlings to attack nearby enemies.
W
W
W
W
W
E
E
Malefic Visions Malzahar infects his target's mind with cruel visions of their demise, dealing damage over time. Using Malzahar's other spells on the target will refresh the visions.

If the target dies while afflicted by the visions, they pass on to a nearby enemy unit and Malzahar gains Mana. Malzahar's Voidlings are attracted to affected units.
E
E
E
E
E
R
R
Nether Grasp Malzahar channels the essence of the Void to suppress an enemy champion over a zone of damaging negative energy.
R
R
R
Max Order: E > Q > W
56.3% Win Rate52.6% Pick Rate

Highest Win % Skill Order

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
R
Q
Call of the Void Malzahar opens up two portals to the Void. After a short delay, they fire projectiles that deal Magic Damage and silence enemy champions.
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
R
W
Void Swarm Malzahar summons Voidlings to attack nearby enemies.
W
W
W
W
W
R
E
Malefic Visions Malzahar infects his target's mind with cruel visions of their demise, dealing damage over time. Using Malzahar's other spells on the target will refresh the visions.

If the target dies while afflicted by the visions, they pass on to a nearby enemy unit and Malzahar gains Mana. Malzahar's Voidlings are attracted to affected units.
E
E
E
E
E
R
R
Nether Grasp Malzahar channels the essence of the Void to suppress an enemy champion over a zone of damaging negative energy.
R
R
R
Max Order: E > Q > W
70.6% Win Rate0.9% Pick Rate

Malzahar tips:

  • Wait to cast Void Swarm until there are nearby enemies for the Voidling to attack or kill.
  • Use Call of the Void and Nether Grasp to renew the duration of Malefic Visions on enemies.
  • Avoiding damage in lane maximizes the uptime on Void Shift, increasing Malzahar's safety dramatically.

Playing Against Sylas

  • Sylas's healthbar can be deceptive, watch out for his Kingslayer!
  • Try to fight Sylas when he isn't able to take your ultimate.

Malzahar Mid other Matchups

Malzahar
+7.5%
LeBlanc

Malzahar vs LeBlanc

Malzahar
+6.4%
Vladimir

Malzahar vs Vladimir

Malzahar
+5.1%
Qiyana

Malzahar vs Qiyana

Malzahar
+4.1%
Ryze

Malzahar vs Ryze

Malzahar
+3.9%
Zoe

Malzahar vs Zoe

Malzahar
+3.9%
Yasuo

Malzahar vs Yasuo

Malzahar
+3.8%
Zed

Malzahar vs Zed

Malzahar
+3.7%
Yone

Malzahar vs Yone

Malzahar
+2.8%
Fizz

Malzahar vs Fizz

Malzahar
+2.4%
Aurora

Malzahar vs Aurora

Malzahar
+2.2%
Lissandra

Malzahar vs Lissandra

Malzahar
+2.1%
Hwei

Malzahar vs Hwei

Malzahar
+2.0%
Katarina

Malzahar vs Katarina

Malzahar
+1.8%
Mel

Malzahar vs Mel

Malzahar
+1.8%
Irelia

Malzahar vs Irelia

Malzahar
+1.8%
Kassadin

Malzahar vs Kassadin

Malzahar
+1.6%
Annie

Malzahar vs Annie

Malzahar
+1.4%
Ahri

Malzahar vs Ahri

Malzahar
+1.4%
Aurelion Sol

Malzahar vs Aurelion Sol

Malzahar
+1.3%
Akshan

Malzahar vs Akshan

Malzahar
+1.3%
Azir

Malzahar vs Azir

Malzahar
+1.3%
Syndra

Malzahar vs Syndra

Malzahar
+1.2%
Akali

Malzahar vs Akali

Malzahar
-0.2%
Twisted Fate

Malzahar vs Twisted Fate

Malzahar
-1.0%
Viktor

Malzahar vs Viktor

Malzahar
-1.0%
Orianna

Malzahar vs Orianna

Malzahar
-1.4%
Anivia

Malzahar vs Anivia

Malzahar
-1.8%
Ekko

Malzahar vs Ekko

Malzahar
-1.8%
Smolder

Malzahar vs Smolder

Malzahar
-2.3%
Veigar

Malzahar vs Veigar

Malzahar
-2.5%
Lux

Malzahar vs Lux

Malzahar
-2.9%
Vex

Malzahar vs Vex

Malzahar
-3.1%
Galio

Malzahar vs Galio

Malzahar
-3.2%
Xerath

Malzahar vs Xerath

Malzahar
-3.5%
Diana

Malzahar vs Diana

Malzahar
-4.3%
Talon

Malzahar vs Talon

Malzahar
-5.4%
Taliyah

Malzahar vs Taliyah