Mage · Burst Mage · Mid
Prepare for battle with Syndra — master their strengths and exploit their weaknesses before the game starts.
Playstyle Profile
Syndra is a zone controller — denies enemy movement and forces bad positioning with area abilities
- Teamfight Role
- Zone Controller
- Power Spike
- Mid game
- Split Threat
- None
- Backline Access
- Low
Syndra's Strengths
- Controls space in teamfights — Syndra's area denial forces enemies into bad positions or choke points
How to Play Syndra
Champion-specific pre-match tips
Gameplay tips on Summoner's Rift
Lane Phase
Cast Q directly under the enemy when they pause to last hit a minion to guarantee passive splinter stacks.
Lane Phase
Hold E when your wave is pushed past the river, as using it offensively leaves you completely vulnerable to an incoming gank.
Lane Phase
Prep a Q sphere on the ground just before hitting level 6, then instantly follow up with E and ult for an unexpected burst combo.
Mid Game
Push a side lane past the river, then hide in a nearby unwarded brush with a pre-cast Q to instantly E-stun the enemy rotating to catch the wave.
Mid Game
Pick up an existing sphere with W and instantly cast E right after you throw it to catch enemies off guard with an unpredictable stun angle.
Mid Game
Delay your recall after a skirmish to push out the nearest wave, ensuring you reset synchronously with your team to maintain map tempo.
Late Game
Cast ult on an isolated target at the start of a fight to drop multiple spheres, then immediately cast E across them to hit the remaining enemies with a massive area-of-effect stun.
Late Game
Group into two lanes rather than spreading across three when sieging with Baron buff, keeping your frontline close enough to peel incoming engage.
Late Game
Cast E without a sphere to physically knock back and interrupt an enemy assassin or diver the moment they dash directly onto you.
For matchup-tailored tips, download Baron Buff's AI Coach & Companion App.
Gameplay tips in Arena
- Keep spheres available before combat, stun through one into the focus target, and use W to reposition a sphere for the next E. R after shields fall, then exploit the new spheres.
- Build Luden's Echo, Shadowflame, Rabadon's Deathcap, and Detonation Orb. Burst and penetration reward a confirmed stun rather than speculative R.
- Prioritize Big Brain, Jeweled Gauntlet, Magic Missile, and Bread And Cheese. Spell amplification should turn one Scatter the Weak into a kill.
Baron Build
This might not be your familiar build. We look at ranked games after each item was bought. If the player or team gained ground in gold, we rate that item higher.
- Luden's Echo — 2,750
- Sorcerer's Shoes (Boots) — 1,100
- Rabadon's Deathcap — 3,500
- Shadowflame — 3,200
- Stormsurge — 2,800
- Blackfire Torch — 2,800
total: 16,150
How to Counter Syndra
Counter strategies and draft context
gap close quickly, flank from angles they can't control, or out-sustain their mana pool
- Needs setup time to be effective — Syndra's zone control falls apart against hard engage
- Assassins and divers that close gaps quickly
- Champions with long-range engage tools
- Mobile carries that dodge skillshots
Syndra's Weaknesses
- Hard engage that bypasses zones — Syndra's area control loses value when enemies gap-close past the abilities
- Open-space fights — Syndra's zone control loses value in wide areas where enemies path around the abilities
Best Synergies with Syndra
Team synergies and draft context
- Engage champions with AOE CC that group enemies into Syndra's zone abilities for devastating combos
- Frontline tanks that zone enemies into your skillshot paths
- Engage champions with AOE crowd control for wombo combos
- Peel supports that keep divers off you in team fights
Draft Context
- Has no engage to group enemies into Syndra's zone abilities — the damage has no setup
- Has no engage or pick potential — Syndra controls space but nobody forces enemies into the zones
Learning Curve
Based on 1.2M+ matches across all ranked elos, showing how Syndra's win rate changes with mastery level
Syndra has exceptional depth — there is always something new to learn, but getting results requires significant dedication. Expect lower win rates for an extended period before deeper mechanics click into place.
- Skill Cap
- Very High
- Cost of Learning
- Very High
| Mastery Level | Win Rate |
|---|---|
| 1-2 | 41.3% |
| 3-4 | 44.4% |
| 5-6 | 53.3% |
| 7-8 | 53.9% |
| 9-12 | 53.9% |
| 13-16 | 53.9% |
| 17+ * | 54.7% |