If you've been keeping up with the latest patch notes, you're likely a bit skeptical about Mordekaiser as a marksman. If you haven't been keeping up with the meta, teammates picking Mordekaiser as an AD carry in ranked likely induces giant outbursts of rage.
However, believe it or not, Mordekaiser as an AD carry actually kinda works.
Introduction
If you've been keeping up with the latest patch notes, you're likely a bit skeptical about Mordekaiser as a marksman.
If you haven't been keeping up with the meta, teammates picking Mordekaiser as an AD carry in ranked likely induces giant outbursts of rage.
However, believe it or not, Mordekaiser as an AD carry actually kinda works.
How to Play
Runes: Ability Power Quints, Hybrid Penetration Reds, Flat Health Yellows, Flat Magic Resist Blues
Masteries: 21-9-0, Standard AP Caster Masteries
Abilities: W, E, Q, E, E then prioritize R > E > Q > W
Core items: Relic Shield, Trinity Force, Sterak's Gage, Rylai's Crystal Scepter, Deathcap, Zhonya's Hourglass
Masteries: 21-9-0, Standard AP Caster Masteries
Abilities: W, E, Q, E, E then prioritize R > E > Q > W
Core items: Relic Shield, Trinity Force, Sterak's Gage, Rylai's Crystal Scepter, Deathcap, Zhonya's Hourglass
Why It Works
Easy Level 1 JungleIf you're playing a Mordekaiser the right way, you'll likely start with a melee support and two relic shields. This makes it extremely easy to do a jungle camp early level, and nearly idiot proof to make sure both of you split the XP for a quick double level 2 in lane. With four relic shield charges, Morde and his support can clear extremely quickly and jump on squishies from the get-go for the cheese play.
Experience Advantage
By starting with his W level 1, Mordekaiser gets an even faster level 2 than during the initial relic shield spam. He also hits level 6 much faster than enemy laners even if they stay even, creating a strong all-in advantage that many players don't see coming.
Ulting Power
Some teams may choose to pick an AD carry top in order to still have a ranged glass cannon at their disposal. However, even if they don't and simply play out League of Juggernauts, Morde's ultimate means that AD carries are forced to purchase QSS or else feel the wrath of themselves.
Passive Dragon Power
By simply autoing Dragon, he can apply his ultimate's passive and instantly get the dragon ghost if his team manages to secure it. This creates strong Baron pressure as they can do it as soon as it spawns, even without a sated devourer jungler.
By starting with his W level 1, Mordekaiser gets an even faster level 2 than during the initial relic shield spam. He also hits level 6 much faster than enemy laners even if they stay even, creating a strong all-in advantage that many players don't see coming.
Ulting Power
Some teams may choose to pick an AD carry top in order to still have a ranged glass cannon at their disposal. However, even if they don't and simply play out League of Juggernauts, Morde's ultimate means that AD carries are forced to purchase QSS or else feel the wrath of themselves.
Passive Dragon Power
By simply autoing Dragon, he can apply his ultimate's passive and instantly get the dragon ghost if his team manages to secure it. This creates strong Baron pressure as they can do it as soon as it spawns, even without a sated devourer jungler.
Best Support Synergies
Nautilus - Personally, I'd say the best support to duo with Mordekaiser is probably Nautilus. With his amazing set of CCs, Nautilus can stick to an enemy and allow Mordekaiser to punch in his empowered Qs. Naut also has essentially the best level 1 waveclear for a support, which means it's unlikely they will get pushed into the turret early on.
Leona/Blitzcrank/Braum/Alistar - These melee supports also synergize extremely well with Mordekaiser as their level 2 all-ins are relatively simple to pull off and allow him to wreck havoc early on to snowball into a lead.
Janna/Lulu - These two supports generally run more for a late game Mordekaiser kind of play. As mostly peel type supports, they can definitely poke as well but may still get out-traded in certain match-ups against heavy poke + Caitlyn type duo lanes.
Potential Pitfalls
Late Game Weakness
If your team decides not to play a late game AD carry, they can quickly find themselves falling behind, even if they snowballed early. As a melee champion with no reliable gap closer, a solo Mordekaiser's only real ability to get in close 1v1 is via Rylai. However, once enemy champions pick up Banshee's Veil, things start to get difficult for Mordekaiser to dish out his full repertoire.
Vulnerable To Ganks
As a melee bully, Mordekaiser can still fall prey to ganks, especially if he pushes up too far and doesn't get his shield up in time before getting CCed. Although he can still be useful via his ultimate mid-game against a fed glass cannon, a lot of that relies on at least one other person on your team being fed enough to get the ghost in the first place.
Supports Require Synergy
As a melee champion with no gap closer, the worst is when you're pick Morde and your support decides it's time for a passive Soraka lane. Although you'll likely never die, the enemy AD carry likely won't either. This means that the advantage that you get from the unusual pick and level advantage may result in nothing. Although mid-game will still be fine, it's not quite as beneficial as snowballing off of level advantages early.
If your team decides not to play a late game AD carry, they can quickly find themselves falling behind, even if they snowballed early. As a melee champion with no reliable gap closer, a solo Mordekaiser's only real ability to get in close 1v1 is via Rylai. However, once enemy champions pick up Banshee's Veil, things start to get difficult for Mordekaiser to dish out his full repertoire.
Vulnerable To Ganks
As a melee bully, Mordekaiser can still fall prey to ganks, especially if he pushes up too far and doesn't get his shield up in time before getting CCed. Although he can still be useful via his ultimate mid-game against a fed glass cannon, a lot of that relies on at least one other person on your team being fed enough to get the ghost in the first place.
Supports Require Synergy
As a melee champion with no gap closer, the worst is when you're pick Morde and your support decides it's time for a passive Soraka lane. Although you'll likely never die, the enemy AD carry likely won't either. This means that the advantage that you get from the unusual pick and level advantage may result in nothing. Although mid-game will still be fine, it's not quite as beneficial as snowballing off of level advantages early.
Conclusions
Mordekaiser is definitely viable as the farmer in a duo lane at the moment. However, we'll have to wait to see how much of his success comes from real staying power in the meta and how much is coming from disrespect from enemy laners for his damage output.
Suggested Rating: Mid Tier 2 to Mid Tier 1
No comments:
Post a Comment
Feel free to comment or leave a message :)