Mel · Mid
Mel Guide
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This guide is assembled by the site from match data and the game's own information — nobody wrote it by hand. Official and community guides appear alongside it when they exist.
Overview
Mel belongs to Riot's Mage and Support classes and is played mainly as Mid (63% of the public matches we measured). It attacks from range (550 units) and uses mana. In this guide you play it as Mid: your job is to win the central lane, roam to the side lanes and control the river. The kit brings crowd control (root) with Solar Snare. Its ultimate is Golden Eclipse. Riot rates it 2/10 in attack, 9/10 in magic, 4/10 in defense and 5/10 in difficulty.
Strengths
- High magic damage: Riot rates it 9/10 in magic.
- Crowd control: Solar Snare applies a root to set up kills.
- Sustain from Rebuttal.
- Golden Eclipse hits several enemies: a strong team fight tool.
Weaknesses
- No dash or blink in the kit: vulnerable to ganks without vision.
- Mana-hungry early: spamming abilities leaves you empty before the fight.
Build cheat sheet
Pick the build that fits what you want to do this game.
- Standard buildBalancedRecommendedThe default path: Cryptbloom, Archangel's Staff and Blackfire Torch give the ability power, magic penetration and ability haste this class relies on. Pick it when you have no reason to adapt. Built from Riot's item tags and the champion's class; Riot publishes no build statistics.
- Burst buildOffensiveAdvancedAll-in on damage: Shadowflame, Void Staff and Bloodletter's Curse stack ability power, magic penetration and health. Choose it when you're ahead or the enemy team is fragile — it gives up safety for kill pressure.
- Defensive buildDefensiveSituationalKeeps enough damage while adding armor, ability power and magic resist through Zhonya's Hourglass, Banshee's Veil and Dusk and Dawn. Choose it against dive, assassins or a lane you can't win.
Builds
Standard build
When to use it
The default path: Cryptbloom, Archangel's Staff and Blackfire Torch give the ability power, magic penetration and ability haste this class relies on. Pick it when you have no reason to adapt. Built from Riot's item tags and the champion's class; Riot publishes no build statistics.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
237%163%- MidMain63% of matches
- SupportPriority 237% of matches
Starting items
Core items
- 1Cryptbloom
- 2Archangel's Staff
- 3Blackfire Torch
Boots
Situational
Runes
Primary· Sorcery
Secondary· Inspiration
Shards
Summoner spells
Flash
Ignite
Burst build
When to use it
All-in on damage: Shadowflame, Void Staff and Bloodletter's Curse stack ability power, magic penetration and health. Choose it when you're ahead or the enemy team is fragile — it gives up safety for kill pressure.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
237%163%- MidMain63% of matches
- SupportPriority 237% of matches
Starting items
Core items
- 1Shadowflame
- 2Void Staff
- 3Bloodletter's Curse
Boots
Situational
Runes
Primary· Domination
Secondary· Sorcery
Shards
Summoner spells
- Flash
- Ignite
Defensive build
When to use it
Keeps enough damage while adding armor, ability power and magic resist through Zhonya's Hourglass, Banshee's Veil and Dusk and Dawn. Choose it against dive, assassins or a lane you can't win.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
237%163%- MidMain63% of matches
- SupportPriority 237% of matches
Starting items
Core items
- 1Zhonya's Hourglass
- 2Banshee's Veil
- 3Dusk and Dawn
Boots
Situational
Runes
Primary· Sorcery
Secondary· Resolve
Shards
Summoner spells
- Flash
Teleport
Abilities
Searing BrilliancePassiveWhenever Mel uses an ability, she gains three bonus projectiles (up to nine maximum) on her next attack. When Mel deals damage through an ability or attack, she applies Overwhelm, which can stack infinitely. If the enemy is hit by Mel with enough Overwhelm damage, the stacks are consumed to execute the target.
QRadiant Volley10/9/8/7/6s70/75/80/85/90 mpMel fires a barrage of projectiles that explode around a target location, dealing damage repeatedly to enemies within the area.- Cooldown
- 10·9·8·7·6
- Cost
- 70·75·80·85·90
- Range
- 950
WRebuttal38/35/33/29/26s80/60/40/20/0 mpMel forms a barrier around herself that reflects enemy projectiles back at the attacker, prevents her from taking damage, and grants her movement speed.- Cooldown
- 38·35·33·29·26
- Cost
- 80·60·40·20·0
- Range
- 250
ESolar Snare11/10.5/10/9.5/9s50/60/70/80/90 mpMel fires a radiant orb forward, rooting those at its center while the area around it slows enemies and deals damage over time.- Cooldown
- 11·10.5·10·9.5·9
- Cost
- 50·60·70·80·90
- Range
- 1000
RGolden EclipseUltimate120/100/80s100 mpMel strikes all enemies marked with Overwhelm regardless of their distance from her, dealing additional damage for each stack of Overwhelm. Ranks of Golden Eclipse increase Overwhelm's damage.- Cooldown
- 120·100·80
- Cost
- 100
- Range
- 25000
Strategy
1Early game
Mid is the shortest lane: trades are fast and the enemy jungler is always close. Push the wave when you can, so you are first to the river when a skirmish starts. Trade when the enemy uses an ability on the wave: that's the moment they can't answer.
- Early items: Blighting Jewel and Fiendish Codex.
2Mid game
With Cryptbloom, your job is to move: push mid, then help side lanes and dragons and towers. The first team to arrive usually wins the fight. Your spikes are level 6, when Golden Eclipse comes online, and each completed item: Cryptbloom first, then Archangel's Staff.
- Core items: Cryptbloom, Archangel's Staff and Blackfire Torch.
3Late game
Late, one mistake decides the game: never walk into fog alone and let your tanks show first.
- Late items: Zhonya's Hourglass and Banshee's Veil.
4Team fights
Use Golden Eclipse where it changes the fight, not where it's safe, and keep your distance until the enemy uses their engage.
5Playing against Mel
Riot's own advice for facing this champion:
- Mel can reflect enemy projectiles, including powerful spells. Wait until she casts Rebuttal before throwing powerful projectiles her way.
- The more Mel hits you, the more Overwhelm stacks she applies. If your health drops too low her next hit will kill you, so back off for a couple seconds to let the Overwhelm stacks fall off.
Tips
- Mel can reflect enemy projectiles, including powerful spells. Wait until she casts Rebuttal before throwing powerful projectiles her way.
- The more Mel hits you, the more Overwhelm stacks she applies. If your health drops too low her next hit will kill you, so back off for a couple seconds to let the Overwhelm stacks fall off.
- Cryptbloom is your first real spike: after buying it, look for a play on a side lane.
- Before you roam, push the wave: you lose less and the enemy has to choose between following or farming.
- Your level 6 with Golden Eclipse is a big spike: look for the first kill right when you hit it.
- Plan fights around Golden Eclipse: without it, Mel is far less threatening.
Matchups
Strong against
Mel attacks from 550 units and Akali from 125: every trade in lane happens at a distance they cannot answer.
Mel attacks from 550 units and Katarina from 125: every trade in lane happens at a distance they cannot answer.
Mel attacks from 550 units and Locke from 125: every trade in lane happens at a distance they cannot answer.
Weak against
Call of the Void silences Mel, whose damage comes from abilities.
Reap silences Mel, whose damage comes from abilities.
Feral Scream silences Mel, whose damage comes from abilities.
Changelog
- Guide created for patch 16.19.1.
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