As one of the most formidable champions in League of Legends, Mordekaiser – or the Iron Revenant – continues to hold his own in both solo queue and professional play. The champion's tankiness, sustain, and damage output make him a nightmare for enemy teams to deal with, and his versatility allows him to fill different roles depending on his team's needs. However, a crucial factor in Mordekaiser's effectiveness is his itemization. With the game constantly evolving and new items being introduced, it's essential to stay informed on the latest and greatest builds for the Iron Revenant. In this guide, we'll explore the best Mordekaiser builds for 2022, including their strengths, weaknesses, and situational uses.
Build 1: The Classic Rylai's Rush
If you've played Mordekaiser before, you're probably familiar with the Rylai's rush. Rylai's Crystal Scepter – an item that grants ability power, health, and a slow on your abilities – has been a staple in Mordekaiser's build for years. The reason for this is simple: the slow allows Mordekaiser to stick to his targets and deal more damage with his abilities, while the health and AP increase his survivability and damage output. In 2022, the Rylai's rush is still a viable option for Mordekaiser, especially if you're looking for a strong mid-game power spike. Typically, you'll want to start with a Doran's Shield or a Corrupting Potion for sustain, then rush Rylai's Crystal Scepter as your first item. From there, you can build situational tank items like Thornmail, Dead Man's Plate, or Spirit Visage, depending on what your team needs.
Build 2: The Conqueror Bruiser
If you're looking for a more aggressive playstyle, you might want to try out the Conqueror bruiser build. This build involves taking the Conqueror keystone rune, which grants bonus damage and healing based on your ability hits. With this keystone, Mordekaiser becomes a dueling monster, able to trade blows with enemy champions and come out on top. To complement the Conqueror rune, you'll want to build items that grant both damage and tankiness. Trinity Force is a popular first item choice, as it provides a Sheen proc for extra damage and multiple stats that synergize with Mordekaiser's kit. After Trinity, you can go for Sterak's Gage for added tankiness and shield, or Ravenous Hydra for more sustain and waveclear. It's worth noting that this build sacrifices some of Mordekaiser's teamfight potential for more 1v1 power, so it's best suited for splitpushing and skirmishing.
Build 3: The AP Mage
While Mordekaiser is known for his tankiness and melee prowess, he can also be played as an AP mage with devastating burst potential. This build is all about maximizing your AP stat and utilizing your abilities to their fullest extent. Start with a Doran's Ring or a Corrupting Potion, then rush Hextech Rocketbelt for extra mobility and burst. Zhonya's Hourglass is another great item for this build, as it grants both AP and a powerful active that can save you from enemy threats. Rabadon's Deathcap is a must-have for maximizing your damage, and Liandry's Anguish can provide extra burn damage that synergizes with your passive. With this build, you'll be able to burst down enemy champions with your abilities and turn teamfights in your favor.
Ultimately, the best Mordekaiser build for 2022 will depend on your playstyle, your team's needs, and the enemy team's composition. Don't be afraid to experiment with different builds and itemization paths, and remember to focus on the strengths of Mordekaiser as a champion: his tankiness, sustain, and damage output. Whether you're playing Mordekaiser in solo queue or in professional play, keeping up with the latest builds and strategies will help you stay ahead of the game and dominate the Rift.