Good patterns
- Uses spells to shape space, punish predictable movement or control an approach.
- Ranged basic attacks can contribute without entering melee distance when spacing is preserved.
Game patch 26.20Data Dragon 16.20.1
Reference patch 16.20.1
Syndra
the Dark Sovereign
Syndra is a spell-focused champion who plays around range, cooldowns and controlled areas. This overview keeps the explanation practical and leaves patch-sensitive numbers to Riot's structured data and the current in-game tooltip.
Usual roleMid◆ClassMage
8DifficultyHigh · 8/10
◎Basic attacksRangedRanged basic attacks · 550 range.
◈Damage profileMostly magic damageMost normal kit pressure is magic. Magic resistance may help, but control, penetration and true damage still matter.
#Reference patch16.20.1
Strengths and limits
What Syndra does well, and what can go wrong
These are kit-level patterns, not a promise that every lane or matchup plays the same way.
Limits to respect
- Important pressure falls while key spells are unavailable or miss their intended area.
- Needs the player to respect cooldowns, resources and the opponent's route into the fight.
Riot ally tips
Use these while learning the championTo maximize your ultimate's damage use it when there are many spheres on the battlefield.
After you hit an enemy champion with Force of Will follow up with Dark Sphere, they'll be slowed and have a hard time avoiding it.
Get one of your spells to rank 5 as quickly as possible, they gain powerful bonus effects at max rank.
Riot opponent tips
What an opponent is told to watch forGet boots early when playing against Syndra, they'll help you avoid many of her spells.
Attack Syndra after she's used Scatter the Weak, it has a long cooldown so she'll be vulnerable.
At max rank Syndra's spells gain bonus effects and change in appearance.
Practical champion reading
How to read Syndra in a real fight
Use these patterns to ask better questions before choosing an item, target or commitment. They describe the kit, not a guaranteed result.
Primarily magic pressure
Magic resistance can reduce the broad spell profile, but positioning and cooldown tracking still decide whether the important abilities connect.
One short window carries much of the threat
Track the key setup and highest-impact cooldown. A missed or blocked opening can create a safer window before the full rotation returns.
Spacing protects repeated output
Ranged attacks are useful only while a safe line to the target remains. Flanks, hard control and blocked escape routes can remove that advantage quickly.
Shape the fight with spell timing
Use range, controlled space and cooldown order to make the next action easier for the team rather than spending every spell at once.
Identify the exact movement restriction
Tenacity can shorten only eligible control. Displacements, airborne effects and repeated slows need their own positioning, blocking or movement answer.
Check whether recovery changes the fight
Anti-heal or anti-shielding is situational. Buy it only when the effect is materially protecting targets and your champion can apply the answer reliably.
Mana and cooldowns both matter
A spell being available does not mean the complete sequence is sustainable. Watch the resource bar as well as the setup and escape cooldowns.
Defensive item reference
What can help against Syndra?
Start with the threat that is actually affecting the match. These are conditional comparisons, not an automatic counter build.
DEFENSIVE BOOTS
Mercury's Treads usually fit better
Magic resistance addresses the broad damage profile, while Tenacity can shorten reducible control.
Choose Plated Steelcaps instead only when physical basic attacks from this champion or the rest of the team are the larger repeated threat.Normal Draft and Ranked role map
Where Syndra fits on Summoner's Rift
Each lane is assessed separately. Open a role to reach its queue-specific build and matchup preparation.
TopUnestablished route
Historical reference. Recommendation review pending. Syndra is normally played Mid and does not currently have a reviewed Top route. Top usually needs independent laning, durable trading or reliable side-lane pressure. Treat this as a deliberate experiment, not a standard recommendation.
JungleUnestablished route
Historical reference. Recommendation review pending. Syndra is normally played Mid and does not currently have a reviewed Jungle route. Jungle usually needs repeatable monster clear, safe pathing and objective control without lane income. Treat this as a deliberate experiment, not a standard recommendation.
MidPrimary role
Historical reference. Recommendation review pending. Syndra has an established central-lane plan with access to waves, both sides of the river and meaningful pressure between objectives.
BotUnestablished route
Historical reference. Recommendation review pending. Syndra is normally played Mid and does not currently have a reviewed Bot route. Bot usually needs dependable duo-lane scaling and sustained damage with shared early pressure. Treat this as a deliberate experiment, not a standard recommendation.
SupportUnestablished route
Historical reference. Recommendation review pending. Syndra is normally played Mid and does not currently have a reviewed Support route. Support usually needs useful engage, peel or utility while operating on low gold income. Treat this as a deliberate experiment, not a standard recommendation.
Situational AP purchase
When should you buy anti-heal?
Buy healing reduction when enemy healing or regeneration is deciding fights and you can keep damaging the relevant target. Grievous Wounds reduces healing; it does not reduce shields, magic damage or crowd control.
Start with the component
Oblivion Orb can provide healing reduction without immediately paying for a completed Morellonomicon. Fit the component around your core damage, mana and survival needs; check the current queue's item tooltip.
Finish when it fits the fight
Complete Morellonomicon when its stats and slot efficiency suit your build. Do not treat it as a mandatory first item just because your champion deals magic damage.
Coordinate coverage
Multiple Grievous Wounds sources do not add their percentages together. Another reliable applier may cover the same target, but you may still need your own source for a separate fight or target.
Repeated spell damage and damage over time can maintain coverage more reliably than a single hit. Match the purchase to your actual spell access, enemy sustain and the teammates who can apply the debuff.
Will the fight last long enough?
If you die before dealing damage, you apply no healing reduction. If your target dies before healing, there is little healing to prevent. The debuff applies on qualifying damage immediately; it does not need to build up. It remains briefly after your last hit, so teammates can benefit even after you disengage.
Only healing during the active debuff counts. For example, 40% reduction prevents 80 of a 200-point heal, or 400 of a 1,000-point heal, before other modifiers. Compare that with the damage, penetration or survival you delayed; neither example guarantees a kill. Healing after the debuff expires is unaffected.
See the Oblivion Orb and Morellonomicon references for current effects and queue availability. These are situational decisions, not a measured best-build claim.
Kit reference
Syndra abilities
Ability names, descriptions and numeric fields come from Riot Data Dragon. Practical reads are independently written; the current in-game tooltip remains authoritative.
Abilities Data Dragon 16.20.1Cooldown / Cost / Range Data Dragon 16.20.1
P
Passive
Transcendent
What it doesSyndra collects Splinters of Wrath from gaining levels and damaging enemies which upgrade her abilities. Dark Sphere: Syndra can hold an additional charge Force of Will: Bonus true damage. Scatter the Weak: Increased width and slows all targets Unleashed Power: Executes low health targets
Practical readTranscendent is an automatic part of the kit involving movement or repositioning and a slowing effect. Track when its condition is active instead of treating every fight the same way.
Q
Q ability
Dark Sphere
What it doesSyndra conjures a Dark Sphere dealing magic damage. The sphere remains and can be manipulated by her other powers.
Practical readDark Sphere contributes damage. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.
Cooldown7 secCost40/45/50/55/60Listed range800 units
W
W ability
Force of Will
What it doesSyndra picks up and throws a Dark Sphere or enemy minion dealing magic damage and slowing the Move Speed of enemies.
Practical readForce of Will is a ranged cast involving a slowing effect and damage. Respect its line or target area, and avoid spending it when the opponent can simply step away before the important exchange.
Cooldown13/12/11/10/9 secCost60/70/80/90/100Listed range925 units
E
E ability
Scatter the Weak
What it doesSyndra knocks enemies and Dark Spheres back dealing magic damage. Enemies hit by Dark Spheres become stunned.
Practical readScatter the Weak contributes damage. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.
Cooldown15 secCost50Listed range650 units
R
Ultimate
Unleashed Power
What it doesSyndra bombards an enemy Champion with all of her Dark Spheres.
Practical readUnleashed Power is part of Syndra's R pattern. Read its listed effect first, then track the cooldown and condition that make the next use valuable.
Cooldown120/100/80 secCost100Listed range675 units
Levels 1–18
Syndra · Health / Mana · Abilities
Base values exclude items, runes, temporary buffs and mode-specific modifiers. Cooldowns are the listed base cooldown before ability haste.
Cooldown Data Dragon 16.20.1
Basic abilityDark Sphere
Can receive its first point from level 1. Later ranks normally become available at levels 3, 5, 7 and 9.
All ranks7 sec
Basic abilityForce of Will
Can receive its first point from level 1. Later ranks normally become available at levels 3, 5, 7 and 9.
Rank 113 secRank 212 secRank 311 secRank 410 secRank 59 sec
Basic abilityScatter the Weak
Can receive its first point from level 1. Later ranks normally become available at levels 3, 5, 7 and 9.
All ranks15 sec
UltimateUnleashed Power
First rank becomes available at level 6; later ranks normally become available at levels 11 and 16.
Rank 1120 secRank 2100 secRank 380 sec
Open every levelHealth and mana from level 1 to 18
| Level | Health | Mana | Ability milestone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 583 | 480 Mana | Choose the first basic ability |
| 2 | 655 | 509 Mana | Add another basic ability or rank |
| 3 | 731 | 539 Mana | Add another basic ability or rank |
| 4 | 810 | 571 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 5 | 892 | 604 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 6 | 978 | 638 Mana | First ultimate rank normally available |
| 7 | 1,068 | 674 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 8 | 1,161 | 711 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 9 | 1,257 | 750 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 10 | 1,357 | 790 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 11 | 1,461 | 831 Mana | Second ultimate rank normally available |
| 12 | 1,568 | 874 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 13 | 1,678 | 918 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 14 | 1,792 | 964 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 15 | 1,910 | 1,011 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 16 | 2,031 | 1,059 Mana | Final ultimate rank normally available |
| 17 | 2,155 | 1,109 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 18 | 2,283 | 1,160 Mana | Spend one ability point |
Choose the next question
Turn the profile into a pre-game plan
Choose a queue-aware build, compare a lane opponent, or return to the full champion library.