By Alright, listen. Mordekaiser? That big metal dude with a mace who looks like he just stomped out of a medieval metal band? Yeah, that guy. He’s not just some dusty relic from Season 1. Nah, he’s straight-up terrifying if you know how to build him right.
I learned the hard way when I first picked him up—thought I’d just mash buttons and win. Spoiler: nope. But after a dozen games, a lot of dying, and more than one accidental surrender, I finally cracked the code. So here’s the deal: this Mordekaiser Build will get you stomping lanes, dominating fights, and leaving your opponents wondering what hit ’em.
Why Mordekaiser?
Because he’s a beast in 1v1s. Like, seriously, the kind of guy you want on your team when it’s time to settle scores. Plus, his ultimate? It basically kidnaps an enemy champ into your personal torture chamber for a hot minute. Talk about rude.
But what really gets me is how Mordekaiser can just soak damage like a sponge and laugh it off. Not literally laugh (he’s metal, not a stand-up comic), but you get it.
Here’s a little nugget from my first ranked game with him: I ulted their ADC, soloed him in their jungle, and by the time I got back, my team was like, “Who let the beast loose?!” That’s the kind of power the right Mordekaiser Build can unlock.
Runes: The Real MVPs
Okay, runes. If you’re thinking, “Ugh, boring,” hang tight. This stuff actually makes or breaks your game.
Conqueror is your bread and butter. It stacks like a champ and boosts your damage like a caffeine hit at 3 a.m. in a college library.
Then there’s Triumph—because nothing beats clutch healing when you’re one hit away from death and everyone’s screaming in chat.
Legend: Tenacity is your shield against crowd control. Trust me, getting stunned by a Teemo shroom is annoying enough without extra chains.
Last but not least, Last Stand. Because Mordekaiser tends to be at low health but still swinging like a madman. That’s your cue to clean house.
Oh! And for your secondary tree, Resolve is the way to go. I’m talkin’ Second Wind (for all those pesky poke fights) and Revitalize—the unsung hero that boosts your healing from both your passive and Riftmaker.
Summoner Spells: Keepin’ It Simple
You need Flash. No exceptions. Unless you’re the next Faker, you’ll miss it.
Teleport is the classic choice, giving you split-push power and map presence. Ghost is an option if you want that weirdly fast chase feel, but honestly, I stick with TP most days.
Core Items: The Holy Trinity of Mordekaiser
This part’s crucial. Forget experimenting with every shiny thing—stick with these babies.
- Riftmaker — This mythic item is the game changer. It gives you life steal, ability power, and a sweet true damage passive when fights drag out. I once got a triple kill because I had this on—I swear, it’s like a cheat code.
- Rylai’s Crystal Scepter — Slowing your enemies with your spells? Yes, please. Plus, it adds a bit of tankiness. Great for sticking onto those slippery carries.
- Demonic Embrace — Burns ’em down while making you tougher. The passive on this item has won me more fights than I can count.
For boots, I usually go Plated Steelcaps against AD-heavy teams. But if they’re packing magic damage or crowd control, Mercury’s Treads is my go-to.
Situational Items: When Life Throws You Curveballs
Sometimes the game isn’t sunshine and roses. Maybe their Vayne is chasing you down or their Yasuo is spinning like a blender on steroids.
In those cases, I throw in:
- Nashor’s Tooth for faster attacks and damage output.
- Zhonya’s Hourglass—because dying before your ult finishes is the worst.
- Thornmail when the enemy heals more than my grandma’s chicken soup heals colds.
- Spirit Visage if I need to amplify healing and survive burst.
You gotta stay flexible. I mean, it’s a Mordekaiser Build, not Mordekaiser’s Recipe for Disaster.
Early Game: Crawl Before You Stomp
Alright, first six levels are mostly about farming and feeling out your opponent. Use your passive and Q to poke and harass—poke ‘em like a mosquito that just won’t quit.
When you hit 6, your ult unlocks the power to remove one enemy from the map temporarily. I swear, it feels like kidnapping your annoying little sibling but in a totally legal, game-approved way.
Pro tip: Don’t be shy about diving their jungler post-6. Mordekaiser jungle mains, y’all feel me?
Mid Game: Time to Show Off
Once you’ve got your core items, it’s time to pressure lanes or teamfight.
I usually like to split push—draw attention and then collapse on their squishies with my ultimate.
Pro tip: Never ult tanks unless you’re 100% sure you’ll shut down a carry. Wasting your ult is like showing up to a party without snacks—major bummer.
Late Game: Be the Raid Boss
Late game with Mordekaiser is like being a walking wall of doom. You either peel for your carries or grab their best player for a little 1v1 date in your ult’s shadow realm.
Don’t forget to time your W just right for maximum shield and healing—too early and you’re just wasting it; too late and you’re dead.
Combos: It’s Like Dancing with a Mace
Here’s a combo that’s saved my bacon more times than I can count:
E > Auto > Q > Auto
If you want to go full beast mode:
E > W (shield) > Q > R > Auto > Q > Auto > W (heal)
Try it in practice mode before you bring it to ranked, or you might end up looking like a headless chicken.
Matchups: Who’s Lunch and Who’s the Chef?
Easy? Garen, Nasus, Teemo (yes, that little devil).
Hard? Darius (because ow), Vayne (good luck catching her), and Fiora (she parries your love).
Their mix-ups? Guilty as charged. But hey, that’s life.
Jungle Mordekaiser? Heck Yeah.
I remember the first time I tried Mordekaiser jungle. Fast clears, decent ganks—felt wicked satisfying. I swapped Riftmaker for Hextech Rocketbelt for some extra dash action. Worked like a charm.
Teamfighting: Cause a Ruckus
Don’t be the guy who runs in first and dies. Wait for the enemy to commit, then ult their biggest threat. Melt faces with your passive and slow ‘em down with Rylai’s.
Common Goofs to Avoid
- Ulting tanks. No. Just no.
- Using your W too early. Timing is everything.
- Engaging without your E. You’re basically a big paperweight without it.
Pro Tips (Because You’re Special)
- Your W charges faster if you take and deal damage. I learned this the hard way, after staring at my bar wondering why it wasn’t filling.
- Passive hits everything in a small AoE. Use narrow corridors.
- Your ult works over walls. Sneaky, right?
Skins That Make You Look Cool AF
My personal fave: PROJECT: Mordekaiser. Feels like Iron Man, but with a mace.
Also, Pentakill Mordekaiser for that “I’m here to rock—and crush your soul” vibe.
Team Synergy: Who Should You Roll With?
Pair with tanks like Maokai or Leona for solid frontline.
AoE mages like Brand make fights messy—in a good way.
Assassins like Talon? Your ult isolates their squishies for them.
Climbing the Ranked Ladder with Mordekaiser
Be patient. Farm. Pick your fights.
If you start losing lane, don’t throw your keyboard. Adjust your Mordekaiser Build—maybe more defense, maybe more damage.
Anyway, Here’s the Kicker…
This Mordekaiser Build isn’t just theorycraft. It’s the real deal. It’s the difference between “meh, I died again” and “dang, I carried that.”
Remember the cracked watering can from Pete’s Hardware on 5th Ave? Yeah, that thing survived my overwatering phase. This build? It’ll survive your mistakes and still get you wins.
As noted on page 42 of the out-of-print ‘Juggernauts & Missteps’ (1998), “True power lies in adapting the build, not just copying it.” So take this guide, tweak it, and make it your own.
Now go on, get out there, and make that Rift bow to the metal overlord.