AP bruiser build for prolonged capture: Mordekaiser does not win because he hits harder for one second, but because he stays in contact long enough to make his realm and passive decisive. The build must therefore buy time as much as power.
Three builds, one right answer per draft. The advisor reads the five enemies (and your allies) and names who triggers what — the same rule as the Draft MVP sheet and Ask Nexus.
Best Mordekaiser build (Baron Lane): Liandry's Torment › Riftmaker › Rabadon's Deathcap › Rylai's Crystal Scepter › Void Staff, boots Plated Steelcaps, keystone Conqueror. Three variants and when to pick each are below.
Standard build maximizing damage output. Use on neutral matchups or when ahead.
15,200 total cost
Nothing dominates on the other side: the standard build maximizes your damage.
Open this draft in the tool →Magic penetration build targeting enemy resistances. Pick this if the enemy stacks magic resist.
15,800 total cost +600gDefensive build adding survivability. Pick this against high enemy damage or when behind.
15,100 total cost -100g
Scores out of 10: where this champion sits against the whole roster, phase by phase. The strip shows its own power ramp level by level — it does not compare across champions.
Your hardest matchups in this role, and the item from your situational list that answers each one.
Olaf
Zhonya's Hourglass
Physical damage
Vayne
Morellonomicon
Recurring healing
Akali
Banshee's Veil
Magic damage
Fiora
Morellonomicon
Recurring healing
Best Mordekaiser build (Jungle): Liandry's Torment › Riftmaker › Rabadon's Deathcap › Void Staff › Zhonya's Hourglass, boots Boots of Dynamism, keystone Conqueror. Three variants and when to pick each are below.
Standard build maximizing damage output. Use on neutral matchups or when ahead.
15,800 total costNothing dominates on the other side: the standard build maximizes your damage.
Open this draft in the tool →Magic penetration build targeting enemy resistances. Pick this if the enemy stacks magic resist.
15,800 total costDefensive build adding survivability. Pick this against high enemy damage or when behind.
15,100 total cost -700g
Scores out of 10: where this champion sits against the whole roster, phase by phase. The strip shows its own power ramp level by level — it does not compare across champions.
Your hardest matchups in this role, and the item from your situational list that answers each one.
Olaf
Banshee's Veil
Physical damage
Darius
Morellonomicon
Recurring healing
Dr. Mundo
Morellonomicon
Recurring healing
Kayn
Morellonomicon
Recurring healing
Same advisor in the Draft (the MVP sheet applies it to your real draft) and in Ask Nexus, which explains the choice. On counters pages: the variant to take against each counter-pick.
Foundational item core, without recent situational additions — kept as a base for understanding the kit. For the up-to-date build, see the section above.
Mordekaiser wins less through instant burst and more through progressive oppression: he locks a target, forces contact, activates his passive and drags the exchange into a duration he is more likely to win than many other champions. His reference build therefore has to support duration, not only…
Ruby Crystal
AP omnivamp in duels, with perfect synergy for isolated R fights
MS + AS, gap close for stick in the R Realm
Dash to stick to targets inside the R Death Realm
Psychic Projector
Plated Steelcaps
Plated Steelcaps
Mercurys Treads
Protobelt
›
›
Q Obliterate repeated and his fights extended in the R Realm of Death stack Conqueror.
Mordekaiser is manaless — the rune supports the set's spell rotation; your real gain is consistent Q poke.
Reduces cooldown of the R to isoler more often his targets in the Realm of Death.
Every poke Q adds the burn — your harass forces recalls before fights.
Blunts short trades — you reach your R all-ins with the HP lead.
Amaranth's Twinguard
Liandry's Torment
Amaranth's Twinguard
Oceanid's Trident
Plated Steelcaps
Mercury's Treads
Amaranth's Twinguard
Oceanid's Trident
Second Wind
Bone Plating
Overgrowth
Perseverance
Coup De Grace
Giant Slayer
Access to Realm of Death immediately turns Mordekaiser into a pick threat. He can isolate a carry or prevent a jungler from contesting objectives.
