How To Play Mel In League Of Legends

Fresh out of her ordeals in ArcaneMel Medarda is the latest champion to join the roster in League of Legendsarriving just a few months after her mother, Ambessa. In game, Mel is a mage with plenty of damage, and a signature ability that allows her to deflect enemy projectiles right back at them.

She seems to be primarily designed for the Mid Lane, but with plenty of AOE damage and more projectiles to block in the duo lane, she will likely join the ever-growing list of mages in Bot Lane. There’s also room for her to be played as a mage Support, similarly to how Lux works. This guide on how to play Mel in League will cover her abilities, tips, and build preferences, although, of course, the latter of these are sure to change with League’s never-ending updates.

Mel’s Abilities & Tips In League Of Legends

Passive – Searing Brilliance

Mel’s Attacks and Abilities apply stacks of Overwhelm each time they deal damage, storing damage per stack of magic damage. When applied, if the stored amount exceeds the enemy’s combined shields and health, they are executed.

When an Ability is cast, Mel’s next Attack fires 3 extra projectileseach dealing magic damage. This effect can stack up to 9 projectiles.

• Be careful not to waste her extra attacks accidentally on minions or suboptimal targets during a fight.

• The extra projectiles remain stored when attacking wards, so don’t worry about wasting them.

• Stacks of Overwhelm last for 6 seconds.

Q – Radiant Volley

Mel unleashes a barrage of 6 projectiles that explode in the area around a target location.

Each explosion deals magic damage,

W – Rebuttal

Mel forms a barrier around herself that reflects projectiles from enemy champions, prevents her from taking damageand gives her 30% decaying Move Speed for 1 second.

Reflected projectiles deal a percentage of the original damage.

• Does not work against towers.

• Remember that it also blocks non-projectiles, even if it doesn’t reflect them.

• This ability has a long cooldown, so don’t waste it.

• Be careful what you reflect. For example, Amumu’s Q will make her travel to him, which Mel won’t want in most situations.

• Anything that is blocked by Yasuo’s Windwall can be reflected by Mel.

• The movement speed can be used to escape in rare situations.

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E – Solar Snare

Mel fires a radiating orb, Rooting enemies at its center for 1.75 seconds and dealing magic damage.

The orb builds up a hostile area around it that Slows enemies by 30% and deals magic damage per second.

R – Golden Eclipse

Passive: Overwhelm damage is increased.

Active: Mel unleashes her power on all enemies affected by Overwhelmdealing magic damage plus extra damage per Overwhelm stack.

• Can only be cast when an enemy champion is affected by Overwhelm.

• Mel has 6 seconds since last damaging an enemy to cast her ult.

• This is technically global if an enemy managed to escape with something like Ryze’s ult.

• It can damage monsters such as Baron, but only if she’s damaged a champion to be able to cast it.

Mel’s Build In League Of Legends

Mel Ability Max Order

As Mel’s primary purpose is to deal damage, she wants to max her Q firstas it deals the most. It also can have a low cooldown, allowing Mel to proc her passive attacks more often.

There is an argument to max W second before Ebut only if players want the defensive value, mainly provided by a significantly lower cooldown. Max E second for max damage.

Naturally, put points into her ult whenever possible at levels 6, 11, and 16.

Mel Runes

Like many mages, Mel works great with Arcane Comet and the accompanying Sorcery runes. It can even proc upon reflecting a projectile.

For minor runes, anything that helps her with Mana, lowers her cooldowns, or grants her more damage is generally good.

She could also use Electrocute, Summon Aery, Phase Rushand First Strike as alternative Keystones. One to miss out on is Dark Harvest as her passive will likely kill enemies before the rune.

Boots For Mel

As with other mages, Mel has a few choices when it comes to Boots. Ideally, she would get Sorcerer’s Shoes for more damage or Lucidity Boots for lower cooldowns.

In some games, however, she might benefit from the defensive option, Mercery’s Treads or Plated Steelcaps against heavy Magic Damage or Attack Damage respectively.

Core Items For Mel

Mel naturally wants AP most of all, but also needs Mana due to some high costs. Other stats on her wishlist are Ability Haste, Health, and Penetration, either flat or percentage.

• Blackfire Torch: This works perfectly with her passive and ult, as she gains more AP for each enemy hit. She can then unleash a massive ult. It gives Mana and HP on top of AP.
• Archangel’s Staff: Gives Mel great scaling and she won’t have to worry about Mana. Once stacked into Seraph’s Embraceshe will also have a shield.
• Shadowflame: The flat Penetration helps her kill squishes and the passive helps get enemies closer to her passive’s execute threshold.
• Radon's Deathcap: Great for scaling and allows for more passive and ult damage.
• Void Staff: Necessary to take down champions with Magic Resist.

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Other items For Mel

• Zhonya’s Hourglass: Great against AD and assassins or particular burst abilities.
• Banshee’s Veil: Taken when the enemy has lots of AP and the spell shield keeps her safer.
• Lich bane: Can work well with her passive auto attacks if Sheen procs are woven correctly.
• Morellonomicon: Needed versus lots of healing.
• Liandry’s Torment: Good versus tanky teams with lots of HP.
• Cosmic Drive: Gives Mel more Movement Speed to kite with.
• Luden's Companion: Good for burst and wave clear.
• Horizon Focus: Great for damage from a distance if her enemies are ranged.
• Mejai's soulstealer: Great if Mel is ahead and players feel confident enough to carry without dying much.

Released

October 27, 2009

Multiplayer

Online Multiplayer

Engine

Proprietary

ESRB

T for Teen: Blood, Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco

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