Ah, Mordekaiser. That towering figure in the top lane, all brooding, metal, and chaos. For some reason, I have a weird sense of nostalgia every time I lock in the Iron Revenant. Maybe it’s because the last time I played Mordekaiser, my lane opponent thought they were safe. Fast forward to 20 minutes later, and I was dragging them into the Death Realm like some kind of glorified babysitter. Good times.

Anyway, here’s the kicker—Mordekaiser is not just a heavy hitter. He’s a living, breathing lane dictator once you get the right build and strategy down. This guide’s here to walk you through the Mordekaiser build that’ll make you the top lane terror no one wants to face. It’s not all about just smacking people around with a big metal stick. You gotta know your way around items, runes, and when to go full-on iron-clad madman mode.

Mordekaiser’s Playstyle—More Than Just Metal and Pain

Before you start assembling your Mordekaiser build, you’ve got to understand how this guy works. Like, really get him. Trust me—if you don’t, you’re just going to end up being that guy who picks him for the first time and wonders why you’re getting dunked on by a Teemo (yeah, it’s happened to all of us).

Strengths

• Sustained Damage – His passive and abilities give him long-term damage potential. He doesn’t just hit hard; he keeps hitting.
• 1v1 King – Seriously, take someone in a straight-up duel, and they’re not coming out of that alive.
• Tanky AF – All that health? Yeah, that’s coming from both his passive and the right itemization.
• Waveclear – If you need to push waves like a maniac, Mordekaiser is your go-to guy.

Playstyle in a Nutshell

Okay, you’re not just going to run at your opponent like a headless chicken (well, you could, but it’s not recommended). You need to be smart about it. Mordekaiser is a bit like a slow train—you build up momentum and then wham, you run them over.

The Core Runes for Mordekaiser

Look, I’ve tried every rune path under the sun. Some work. Some… don’t. But trust me, if you’re serious about the Mordekaiser build, you’ll want to follow this route.

Primary Path – Precision

• Conqueror – I used to think “Conqueror is overrated.” Spoiler: I was wrong. The stacks just melt people, especially in prolonged fights. It’s like biting into a juicy steak. You keep going back for more.
• Triumph – Don’t you just love it when a fight almost goes south, but then you land a kill and suddenly you’re back in it? Yeah, that’s Triumph.
• Legend: Tenacity – Because getting CC’d to death? Yeah, not on my watch.
• Last Stand – That final push when you’re a bit low but still just… wrecking everything. It’s clutch.

Secondary Path – Resolve

• Second Wind – Helps you recover against poke-y champs like Quinn or Teemo (whoever thought Teemo was a good idea… ugh).
• Revitalize – This little gem boosts your healing. Trust me, the extra life you get from your passive will come in handy when you’re 1v3-ing.

With this setup, the Mordekaiser build is all about fighting until the bitter end, getting stronger as the battle drags on.

Early Game: It’s All About the Setup

You know what’s worse than Mordekaiser being bad? Mordekaiser in the wrong build at the start of the game. You’ve gotta nail those first few minutes. Like seriously, it’s a high-stakes game of “will I live or will I get dunked on?”

Starting Items

• Doran’s Shield – This one’s an obvious choice if you’re against poke-heavy champs. You’ll be tanky, but don’t get too cocky.
• Doran’s Ring – More AP and sustain? Yeah, that’ll let you play a bit more aggressively.
• Health Potions – You’ll need them. Trust me.

Now, the key to Mordekaiser’s build early is knowing when to poke and when to lay low. That means managing your health and scaling for those sweet, sweet items.

Early Game Tips

• Use Q (Obliterate) to last-hit. But don’t get too greedy, okay? If you miss a last-hit, you’ll feel it.
• E (Death’s Grasp)? Get used to using this to harass enemies. It’s your bread and butter.
• Make sure you’re using your passive properly. When it’s up, trade with it. But don’t waste it—take your time.

By the time you’re at level 6, you’ll want that Mordekaiser build to feel like a weapon that’s ready to destroy.

Core Items for the Ultimate Mordekaiser Build

Once you hit that sweet mid-game, Mordekaiser goes from “kinda annoying” to “oh crap, we’re in trouble.” Why? Because that Mordekaiser build is coming online and you’ve got some big-time items to dish out.

Mythic Item Choices

• Riftmaker – Y’all, if you aren’t building Riftmaker on Mordekaiser, what are you even doing? Seriously. It’s just perfect. The omnivamp and extra AP fit Mordekaiser’s playstyle like an old pair of jeans. Real comfy.
• Liandry’s Anguish – Facing a tanky team? Don’t worry. This item will melt them. As a bonus, it gives you that burn damage that Mordekaiser loves so much.

Legendary Items

• Rylai’s Crystal Scepter – A slow to catch people, more tankiness, and it makes your fights even harder to escape. It’s like a wall with a mallet attached to it.
• Demonic Embrace – When you’re dealing with more tanky champs, this item burns through their defenses. Bonus? It gives you resistances, so you’re hard to kill.
• Zhonya’s Hourglass – For survivability when things get too close for comfort. If you get hit with a burst, just Zhonya’s and laugh.

Situational Items

• Spirit Visage – Because healing is what Mordekaiser does best. This item boosts everything you’re doing and adds extra tankiness for the more AP-heavy matchups.
• Thornmail – Facing high healers like Aatrox? Get this, stat.

Mid-Game: The Spooky Part

Once you’ve got your Mythic item, it’s time to start really bullying people. Seriously, no one can handle Mordekaiser mid-game if you’ve built properly.

Objectives to Focus On:

• Dragon fights – Your ult is your best friend here. Pick off the enemy jungler, and then the dragon’s yours.
• Side-lane dominance – Push like a madman. Use your abilities to clear waves and zone out any squishies who try to stop you.

I learned the hard way that Mordekaiser doesn’t do well in full-on team fights unless you’ve already picked a target or two off. So, go for the side lanes, pick your fights, and drag ’em into the Death Realm for some alone time.

Late Game: The God of 1v1s

You’ve hit your stride, and now the real fun begins. Mordekaiser late-game is like a tanky assassin. You can 1v1 anyone, especially if you’ve built properly.

Team Fights: Time to Flex

• Use R to eliminate the biggest threat – Pick the right target. Don’t waste it on tanks unless they’re annoying your team.
• Zone with your W – Indestructible gives you a shield that lets you just tank damage while your team does the rest. You’re the big bad now.
• Flank or frontline – Depends on your team comp. Just know that you’re the one people fear now.

Final Build (Late Game)

1. Riftmaker
2. Rylai’s Crystal Scepter
3. Demonic Embrace
4. Zhonya’s Hourglass
5. Spirit Visage or Thornmail
6. Boots (Plated Steelcaps or Mercury’s Treads)

With this Mordekaiser build, you’ll be an unstoppable force—both in fights and in terms of tanking all the damage.

Summoner Spells: The Essentials

• Flash + Ignite – I’m a fan of kill pressure. It’s like Mordekaiser + I’m coming for your soul.
• Flash + Teleport – More macro-heavy? This is for you. Push, then TP to team fights. Be everywhere.

Final Thoughts on Mordekaiser

Mordekaiser’s not just a champion; he’s a nightmare in the right hands. With the right Mordekaiser build, you can be the guy everyone’s trying to avoid. Trust me, it feels like a sweet victory when you drag someone into the Death Realm and turn the game around.

And hey, don’t be afraid to get a little wild with it. It’s Mordekaiser. You can play as tanky or as damage-y as you want. But whatever you do, make sure you bring your A-game. You’re not just in the lane; you’re taking over.

As I learned the hard way after facing a Mordekaiser fed beyond belief: Don’t mess with the Iron Revenant.