Mid Matchup

Sylas vs Malzahar

Patch: 15.24 (25.24)
League: Platinum+
Sylas

Sylas

the Unshackled
Mid
Sylas Mid Overall Win Rate
49.78%

Matchup Win Rate

48.4%
Sylas vs Malzahar Wins
⚔
51.6%
Malzahar vs Sylas Wins
Malzahar

Malzahar

the Prophet of the Void
Mid
Malzahar Mid Overall Win Rate
51.33%

Sylas vs Malzahar - Mid Matchup Guide Patch 15.24 (25.24)

Sylas Mid vs Malzahar Mid - Who is stronger?

Sylas Mid has trouble against Malzahar (48.4% win rate) based on 1372 games. This is a tough matchup for Sylas players.

View detailed statistics below: items, runes, and counter builds for Sylas Mid vs Malzahar Mid in patch 15.24 (25.24), including win rates and pick rates. With proper study, this can improve your chances of victory up to 70.3% in this matchup.

Statistical Matchup Analysis

Current meta showdown: Sylas (7.0% pick rate, 3rd most popular out of 58 Mid champions) versus Malzahar (6.6%, 5th place). These two mid lane titans clash constantly, making matchup mastery a decisive factor in your climb. Every edge matters: In this tough matchup, the proven Conqueror + Presence of Mind combination (57.5% win rate) plus optimal itemization Hextech Rocketbelt, Riftmaker, Zhonya's Hourglass, and Sorcerer's Shoes boosts your chances from 48.4% to 70.3% - potentially game-changing.

Survive and scale: Sylas faces both matchup (48.43%) and farming disadvantages (4.89 vs 7.86/min). With a 2.97 CS/min deficit, prioritize safe farming and jungle assistance. Damage doesn't equal wins: Sylas outputs more damage (884 vs 731/min, 2nd place) but still loses the matchup. The issue likely lies in survivability, mobility, or damage timing rather than raw output. Skill-based matchup: Identical KDA (2.10) with 48.4% win rate indicates that macro play, team coordination, and clutch moments determine outcomes more than individual mechanics.

Sylas vs Malzahar - Mid Stats Comparison

Sylas Mid
Sylas Mid		Versus
Malzahar Mid
Malzahar Mid
B+TierA+
48.4%Matchup Winrate51.6%
49.78%Role Winrate51.33%
#36Winrate Rank#19
7.0%Pickrate6.6%
2.1Average KDA2.1
394Gold per Minute427
4.89CS/Min7.86
0.29Wards per Minute0.31
884Damage per Minute731

How to Beat Malzahar as Sylas (Mid)

Despite the slight difference in effectiveness, in the Sylas versus Malzahar matchup in the mid lane, neither champion has an overwhelming advantage. The winner is determined by player skill and understanding the intricacies of the confrontation. Studying this guide will improve your chances of success.

The magic damage that Sylas deals remains relevant in the late game. Look for opportunities to initiate or counter-initiate. Meanwhile, Malzahar deals primarily magic damage (95.35%), additional magic resistance may be required.

Consider the farming superiority demonstrated by Malzahar, ranking 2nd (versus 58th for Sylas) in farming efficiency among champions in this role. This means the opponent can build gold advantages more quickly.

Key aspects of the Sylas Mid versus Malzahar Mid matchup

In this difficult confrontation, it is critically important for the Sylas player to avoid attempts to force trades and all-ins with the Malzahar player, as the matchup requires a patient and calculated approach. Extended trades without clear tactical advantage often lead to unfavorable consequences, and ignoring opportunities to receive team support can be a fatal mistake for game progression.

Sylas vs Malzahar: 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.
45.1% Win Rate76.4% Pick Rate

Highest Win Rate

Flash
Flash Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Ignite
Ignite Deals true damage over time to target enemy champion and reduces healing effects on them for the duration.
45.2% Win Rate23.3% Pick Rate

Sylas vs Malzahar: Mid Lane Runes

Most Frequent Runes

Primary Path
Precision
Conqueror
Conqueror Basic attacks or spells that deal damage to an enemy champion grant 2 stacks of Conqueror for 5s, gaining 1.8-4 Adaptive Force per stack. Stacks up to 12 times. Ranged champions gain only 1 stack per basic attack.

When fully stacked, heal for 8% of the damage you deal to champions (5% for ranged champions).

Conqueror

Basic attacks or spells that deal damage to an enemy champion grant 2 stacks of Conqueror…

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…

Legend: Haste
Legend: Haste Gain 1.5 basic ability haste for every Legend stack (max 10 stacks).

Earn progress toward Legend stacks for every champion takedown, epic monster takedown, large monster kill, and minion kill.

Legend: Haste

Gain 1.5 basic ability haste for every Legend stack (max 10 stacks).Earn progre…

Last Stand
Last Stand Deal 5% - 11% increased damage to champions while you are below 60% health. Max damage gained at 30% health.

Last Stand

Deal 5% - 11% increased damage to champions while you are below 60% health. Max…

Secondary Path
Resolve
Second Wind
Second Wind After taking damage from an enemy champion, heal for 4% of your missing health +3 over 10s.

Second Wind

After taking damage from an enemy champion, heal for 4% of your missing health …

Unflinching
Unflinching Gain 6 - 12 (level scaling) Armor and Magic Resist when crowd controlled and for 2 seconds after.

Unflinching

Gain 6 - 12 (level scaling) Armor and Magic Resist when crowd controlled and fo…

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

45.3% Win Rate57.5% Pick Rate

Best Win Rate Runes

Primary Path
Precision
Conqueror
Conqueror Basic attacks or spells that deal damage to an enemy champion grant 2 stacks of Conqueror for 5s, gaining 1.8-4 Adaptive Force per stack. Stacks up to 12 times. Ranged champions gain only 1 stack per basic attack.

When fully stacked, heal for 8% of the damage you deal to champions (5% for ranged champions).

Conqueror

Basic attacks or spells that deal damage to an enemy champion grant 2 stacks of Conqueror…

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…

Legend: Haste
Legend: Haste Gain 1.5 basic ability haste for every Legend stack (max 10 stacks).

Earn progress toward Legend stacks for every champion takedown, epic monster takedown, large monster kill, and minion kill.

Legend: Haste

Gain 1.5 basic ability haste for every Legend stack (max 10 stacks).Earn progre…

Last Stand
Last Stand Deal 5% - 11% increased damage to champions while you are below 60% health. Max damage gained at 30% health.

Last Stand

Deal 5% - 11% increased damage to champions while you are below 60% health. Max…

Secondary Path
Sorcery
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…

Gathering Storm
Gathering Storm Every 10 min gain AP or AD, adaptive.

10 min: + 8 AP or 5 AD
20 min: + 24 AP or 14 AD
30 min: + 48 AP or 29 AD
40 min: + 80 AP or 48 AD
50 min: + 120 AP or 72 AD
60 min: + 168 AP or 101 AD
etc...

Gathering Storm

Every 10 min gain AP or AD, adaptive.10 min: + 8 AP or 5 AD 20 min: + 24 AP or …

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

57.5% Win Rate1.4% Pick Rate

Sylas vs Malzahar: 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.
44.4% Win Rate86.5% Pick Rate
Popular Boots
Sorcerer's Shoes
Sorcerer's Shoes (1100 gold) 12 Magic Penetration
45 Move Speed
43.4% Win Rate45.2% Pick Rate
Mercury's Treads
Mercury's Treads (1250 gold) 20 Magic Resist
45 Move Speed
30% Tenacity
48.5% Win Rate29.3% 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.
46.0% Win Rate20.5% Pick Rate
Core Build
Hextech Alternator
Hextech Alternator (1100 gold) 45 Ability Power
Revved
Damaging a champion deals bonus magic damage.
->
Hextech Rocketbelt
Hextech Rocketbelt (2600 gold) 60 Ability Power
350 Health
15 Ability Haste
Supersonic
Dash in target direction, unleashing missiles that deal magic damage.
Shadowflame
Shadowflame (3200 gold) 110 Ability Power
15 Magic Penetration
Cinderbloom
Magic and true damageCritically Strikes enemies below 40% Health, dealing 20% increased damage.
Zhonya's Hourglass
Zhonya's Hourglass (3250 gold) 105 Ability Power
50 Armor

Time Stop
Enter Stasis for 2.5 seconds.
40.6% Win Rate14.6% Pick Rate
Final Build
Rabadon's Deathcap
Rabadon's Deathcap (3600 gold) 130 Ability Power
Magical Opus
Increases your total Ability Power by 30%.
52.3% Win Rate32.0% 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.
Dark Seal
Dark Seal (350 gold) 15 Ability Power
50 Health
Glory
Takedowns grant Glory, up to 10. 5 Glory is lost on death.
Gain 4 Ability Power per Glory.
Health Potion
Health Potion (50 gold) Consume
Restores 120 Health over 15 seconds.
49.4% Win Rate0.4% 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.
98.7% Win Rate0.1% Pick Rate
Mercury's Treads
Mercury's Treads (1250 gold) 20 Magic Resist
45 Move Speed
30% Tenacity
48.5% Win Rate29.3% 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.
46.0% Win Rate20.5% Pick Rate
Core Build
Hextech Alternator
Hextech Alternator (1100 gold) 45 Ability Power
Revved
Damaging a champion deals bonus magic damage.
->
Hextech Rocketbelt
Hextech Rocketbelt (2600 gold) 60 Ability Power
350 Health
15 Ability Haste
Supersonic
Dash in target direction, unleashing missiles that deal magic damage.
Riftmaker
Riftmaker (3100 gold) 70 Ability Power
350 Health
15 Ability Haste
Void Corruption
For each second in combat with enemy champions, deal 2% bonus damage, up to 8%. At maximum strength, gain Omnivamp.
Void Infusion
Gain 2% of your bonus Health as Ability Power.
Zhonya's Hourglass
Zhonya's Hourglass (3250 gold) 105 Ability Power
50 Armor

Time Stop
Enter Stasis for 2.5 seconds.
70.3% Win Rate3.8% Pick Rate
Final Build
Mejai's Soulstealer
Mejai's Soulstealer (1500 gold) 20 Ability Power
100 Health
Glory
Takedowns grant Glory, up to 25. 10 Glory is lost on death.
Gain 5 Ability Power per Glory and 10% Move Speed at 10 or higher Glory.
99.6% Win Rate6.3% Pick Rate
Other Items
Void Staff
Void Staff (3000 gold) 95 Ability Power
40% Magic Penetration
75.1% Win Rate8.4% 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.
33.5% Win Rate6.4% Pick Rate
Mejai's Soulstealer
Mejai's Soulstealer (1500 gold) 20 Ability Power
100 Health
Glory
Takedowns grant Glory, up to 25. 10 Glory is lost on death.
Gain 5 Ability Power per Glory and 10% Move Speed at 10 or higher Glory.
99.6% Win Rate6.3% Pick Rate
Mercurial Scimitar
Mercurial Scimitar (3200 gold) 40 Attack Damage
40 Magic Resist
10% Life Steal

ACTIVE
Quicksilver
Removes all crowd control debuffs (excluding Airborne) and grants Move Speed.
49.3% Win Rate4.3% Pick Rate
Cryptbloom
Cryptbloom (2850 gold) 60 Ability Power
30% Magic Penetration
15 Ability Haste
Life from Death
When a champion that you damaged within 3 seconds dies, a nova spreads from their corpse that heals.
50.4% Win Rate4.3% Pick Rate
Riftmaker
Riftmaker (3100 gold) 70 Ability Power
350 Health
15 Ability Haste
Void Corruption
For each second in combat with enemy champions, deal 2% bonus damage, up to 8%. At maximum strength, gain Omnivamp.
Void Infusion
Gain 2% of your bonus Health as Ability Power.
49.1% Win Rate4.2% Pick Rate
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%.
98.1% Win Rate4.2% Pick Rate

Sylas vs Malzahar: 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
Chain Lash Sylas lashes his chains out, intersecting at his targeted location dealing damage to and slowing enemies.

After a delay, magical energy explodes from the intersection point dealing damage.
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
W
W
Kingslayer Sylas lunges at an enemy with magical force dealing damage and healing himself against enemy champions.
W
W
W
W
W
E
E
Abscond / Abduct Sylas dashes to a location. Sylas can recast the ability to throw his chains out, pulling himself to an enemy he hits.
E
E
E
E
E
R
R
Hijack Sylas steals the enemy's ultimate ability and can cast it freely.
R
R
R
Max Order: W > E > Q
39.7% Win Rate38.3% 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
Chain Lash Sylas lashes his chains out, intersecting at his targeted location dealing damage to and slowing enemies.

After a delay, magical energy explodes from the intersection point dealing damage.
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
R
W
Kingslayer Sylas lunges at an enemy with magical force dealing damage and healing himself against enemy champions.
W
W
W
W
W
R
E
Abscond / Abduct Sylas dashes to a location. Sylas can recast the ability to throw his chains out, pulling himself to an enemy he hits.
E
E
E
E
E
R
R
Hijack Sylas steals the enemy's ultimate ability and can cast it freely.
R
R
R
Max Order: Q > W > E
56.1% Win Rate2.9% Pick Rate

Sylas tips:

  • Wait for you or your enemy to reach low health before using Kingslayer for maximum effect.
  • Space out your ability usage to get maximum effect from Petricite Burst.
  • Clever use of enemy ultimates can open up new possibilities to approach teamfights.

Playing Against Malzahar

  • When Malzahar hits a spell on enemies affected by Malefic Visions, the Visions are refreshed.
  • Avoid minion waves that have been affected by Malefic Visions. You never know when they may die and pass the Visions onto you.
  • Malzahar is especially dangerous when he has built up his Void Swarm.

Sylas Mid other Matchups

Sylas
+4.9%
Malphite

Sylas vs Malphite

Sylas
+4.3%
Qiyana

Sylas vs Qiyana

Sylas
+3.5%
Fizz

Sylas vs Fizz

Sylas
+2.4%
Aurora

Sylas vs Aurora

Sylas
+2.2%
Aurelion Sol

Sylas vs Aurelion Sol

Sylas
+1.9%
Orianna

Sylas vs Orianna

Sylas
+1.8%
Viktor

Sylas vs Viktor

Sylas
+1.6%
Xerath

Sylas vs Xerath

Sylas
+1.5%
Ekko

Sylas vs Ekko

Sylas
+1.4%
Irelia

Sylas vs Irelia

Sylas
+1.4%
Ahri

Sylas vs Ahri

Sylas
+1.4%
Akali

Sylas vs Akali

Sylas
+1.4%
Anivia

Sylas vs Anivia

Sylas
+1.4%
Twisted Fate

Sylas vs Twisted Fate

Sylas
+1.3%
Azir

Sylas vs Azir

Sylas
+1.3%
Yone

Sylas vs Yone

Sylas
+1.3%
Syndra

Sylas vs Syndra

Sylas
+1.2%
Mel

Sylas vs Mel

Sylas
+1.0%
Vladimir

Sylas vs Vladimir

Sylas
+0.5%
Zed

Sylas vs Zed

Sylas
+0.1%
Smolder

Sylas vs Smolder

Sylas
-0.8%
Diana

Sylas vs Diana

Sylas
-1.3%
LeBlanc

Sylas vs LeBlanc

Sylas
-1.3%
Taliyah

Sylas vs Taliyah

Sylas
-1.4%
Lissandra

Sylas vs Lissandra

Sylas
-1.5%
Ryze

Sylas vs Ryze

Sylas
-1.7%
Talon

Sylas vs Talon

Sylas
-1.9%
Kassadin

Sylas vs Kassadin

Sylas
-2.4%
Katarina

Sylas vs Katarina

Sylas
-2.4%
Hwei

Sylas vs Hwei

Sylas
-2.5%
Ziggs

Sylas vs Ziggs

Sylas
-2.5%
Cassiopeia

Sylas vs Cassiopeia

Sylas
-2.6%
Lux

Sylas vs Lux

Sylas
-2.7%
Zoe

Sylas vs Zoe

Sylas
-2.9%
Vex

Sylas vs Vex

Sylas
-3.0%
Veigar

Sylas vs Veigar

Sylas
-3.1%
Annie

Sylas vs Annie

Sylas
-3.1%
Yasuo

Sylas vs Yasuo

Sylas
-4.4%
Akshan

Sylas vs Akshan

Sylas
-4.5%
Galio

Sylas vs Galio

Sylas
-5.4%
Vel'Koz

Sylas vs Vel'Koz