Sylas abilities, build & guides in LOL

Sylas is one of those champions in League of Legends that you can flex into different roles. Actually, you might face this champion in four different lanes, except for the marksman role in your ranked games. Sylas has a special kit that makes the champion very useful in the game and in this guide, we will go over all the details. Here is everything you need to know about Sylas in League of Legends!

Sylas Abilities in League of Legends

Here are all of Sylas’s abilities in League of Legends with their official descriptions:

PASSIVE -  PETRICITE BURST

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.

After Sylas uses a spell, his next basic attack sends chains spinning around him, hitting nearby enemies with magic damage. This attack also makes Sylas attack faster for a short time.

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.

Sylas throws his chains forward, which cross and damage enemies where they meet. After a short wait, the chains explode, dealing more damage.

W - KINGSLAYER

Sylas lunges at an enemy with magical force dealing damage and healing himself against enemy champions.

Sylas dashes towards an enemy, attacking with magic that hurts them and heals him if they are champions.

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.

This move has two parts. First, Sylas dashes to a spot. Then, he can throw his chains to pull himself to the first enemy he hits.

R - HIJACK

Sylas steals the enemy's ultimate ability and can cast it freely.

Sylas's most unique skill lets him steal an enemy's ultimate ability and use it as his own. This can change the course of fights, making Sylas a constant threat.

Best Sylas build

To get the most out of Sylas in the mid-lane, you should focus on items and runes that boost his ability to deal burst damage and survive engagements.

• Most Popular Build: Start with Lich Bane to increase your spell damage, then buy Sorcerer's Shoes for better magic penetration. Add Shadowflame for even more magic damage, especially against enemies with magic resist. Include Zhonya's Hourglass and Rabadon's Deathcap to improve your defense and increase your magic output. Finish with Cryptbloom for a good mix of defense and attack power.
• Alternative Builds: These might include different items like Luden's Companion for those who prefer to hit hard and fast. Your choice of runes might vary too, with some opting for Electrocute for quick damage or Conqueror for longer fights. The selection of these items and runes should align with your playstyle and the specific challenges of your matchup in the game.

Item discussion

• Lich Bane: This is crucial for boosting Sylas's ability damage, especially after using spells, making his next attacks hit much harder.
• Sorcerer's Shoes: These shoes help Sylas penetrate enemy magic defenses, making his attacks more effective.
• Shadowflame: Ideal for dealing with targets that have built magic resistance, this item enhances Sylas's overall magic damage output.
• Zhonya's Hourglass: Provides crucial survivability with its stasis effect, allowing Sylas to avoid lethal damage and reposition in fights.
• Rabadon's Deathcap: Significantly increases Sylas's magic power, amplifying the effectiveness of all his abilities.
• Cryptbloom: Offers a blend of health and ability power, making Sylas tougher in fights while still increasing his damage.

How to play Sylas

There are many small details that you should consider while playing Sylas and below you will find some of them explained briefly for different timelines in a game:

Early Game

During the early game, use Sylas’s abilities to control your lane. Use Chain Lash to clear minion waves and poke your opponent from a distance. Use Kingslayer when you see a chance to kill an enemy while also healing yourself.

Mid Game

As the game goes on, start making plays around the map. Sylas can turn enemy ultimates against their team with Hijack, making him very dangerous during team fights and when fighting for objectives. You can also push lanes on your own, as his abilities allow him to escape if he gets into trouble.

Late Game

Stay close to your team in the late game. Focus on supporting your teammates or catching out enemies with ultimates you’ve stolen. Sylas becomes more useful in team fights as he can use multiple stolen ultimates over the course of the fight.

Sylas counters

When playing Sylas, you'll find certain champions, particularly challenging due to their abilities to negate his strengths or exploit his weaknesses. Here are some of the notorious Sylas counters in League of Legends:

GALIO

Galio's ability to mitigate magic damage with his shields and crowd control with his taunt and knock-ups makes him a tough opponent for Sylas. Galio can disrupt Sylas's attempts to engage or escape, making it hard for Sylas to execute his combo effectively.

CASSIOPEIA

Cassiopeia can be a formidable counter due to her high sustained damage and the ability to ground Sylas, preventing him from using his crucial E ability, Abscond/Abduct. Her poison also wears down Sylas quickly, challenging his ability to stay in lane and trade effectively.

NEEKO

Neeko's strong crowd control and burst damage pose a serious threat to Sylas. Her ability to root Sylas with a well-timed snare makes it difficult for him to close distances or escape. Additionally, her ultimate can be devastating in team fights if Sylas fails to steal it or avoid it.