Guide Sections (14)
Champion Stats
Low elo players do not respect execution thresholds. They will stay in lane at 30% HP, not realizing that your Passive (Searing Brilliance) stacks are primed to delete them instantly. Furthermore, Mel's W (Rebuttal) is the ultimate 'No U' card. Assassins like Zed or Talon will dive you, and you simply reflect their damage back at them, killing them with their own combos while taking zero damage yourself.
The Zoning Play
The 'Searing' Start. Start Q (Radiant Volley). It stacks your passive 'Searing Brilliance'. Use it to poke the enemy champion and the wave simultaneously. Once you have full stacks, your auto-attack unleashes a barrage of missiles. Walk up, Auto (triggering missiles) + Electrocute. It helps you push for Level 2 first while taking 40% of their HP.
Your Q Radiant Volley has a slight spread. Use it at max range to cover a wider area in the jungle, making it impossible for enemies to approach without being marked. Information is power.
Which Mel Skin to Use
'Arcane Councilor Mel' is the definitive experience, featuring voice lines from the show and crisp gold VFX that make tracking your passive stacks intuitive. The 'Golden Eclipse' visual of a massive golden blast is arguably the most satisfying execution in the game.
'Arcane Councilor' is the definitive experience. The golden VFX make tracking your stacks intuitive and satisfying. Plus, looking like high nobility while deleting people is a major flex.
'Arcane Councilor' is the definitive choice; voice lines and gold VFX are top tier. 'Golden Eclipse' is flashy. Stick to the Arcane skin for the authentic feel.
When They Ban Mel
Viktor is the best alternative for that 'laser control' feel. Orianna if you want to keep the ball/zone management. If you feel like just being a nuisance from distance, Xerath is always a safe (and annoying) bet for a Mel main.
Viktor provides the control mage element. Orianna gives the ball mechanics. Viktor is the closest 'laser/control' style.
Optimal Runes for Mel
First Strike is the smurf choice. You have high burst potential with your passive execute, allowing you to farm gold off their HP bar. Ultimate Hunter in the Domination tree is mandatory; you want your R cooldown as low as possible to constantly threaten execution. Secondary Sorcery (Transcendence) serves the same purpose.
Mel's Ability Priority
Max Q for the waveclear and poke. W second because the reflection duration and cooldown reduction are critical for survival. E is a utility root/slow, max last.
Mastering Mel's Kit
Radiant Volley. Fires missiles that explode. High range. Use to farm and stack Passive.
Rebuttal. Grants a shield and reflects projectiles. Uses their damage against them.
Solar Snare. Fires a sun orb that roots/imprisons. Good follow-up CC.
Golden Eclipse. Massive AoE. Damages and executes marked enemies.
Mel's Lane Opponents
Hold W. Never use it until he exits Death Mark. If you reflect his triple Q, he dies instantly.
Skill matchup. Your W can reflect her Binding and Ult damage if timed perfectly. It's a high-skill flexible interaction.
Reflecting her Death Lotus (R) does massive damage. Stand still, press W, watch her melt.
Vs Zed: Skill Matchup. Save your W! If you react to his triple Q with Rebuttal, he's the one who dies. Vs Lux: High-stakes skill matchup. Your W can reflect her Binding AND Ult if you time it to the millisecond.
Cooldown Disrespect
Do not waste your W. It is your only defensive tool. If you use Rebuttal aggressively and miss the reflect, you are a free kill. Also, your Ultimate is NOT global; it has a massive range but you need to be somewhat close. Don't cast it from base and expect to hit Dragon pit.
Don't press W unless you're 100% sure you're about to take damage. It's your only safety. Your Ult (Searing Brilliance) isn't global, but it's close. Use it to help your jungler in a river skirmish even if you're stuck under tower.
When the Poke Doesn't Land
Dodge Kassadin. His magic shield absorbs your poke, and he blinks over your skills. Dodge Sylas. If he steals your R, he uses it better than you because he's a skirmisher.
Kassadin is your hard counter. His magic shield and blinks make your life miserable. Sylas is the other nightmare—if he steals your R, he's going to use it to execute your own team better than you ever could.
Dodge Kassadin. He shields your damage and jumps on you. Dodge Sylas. He steals your R. Both ruin your lane.
Zone Control in Fights
Stay back. Use Q to poke and stack your passive. Save W for when the assassin jumps on you or your carry. The moment a fight breaks out, look to use R (Golden Eclipse) to hit as many marked targets as possible. A 5-man Ultimate allows your team to cleanup instantly.
Stay back and stack your passive 'Searing Brilliance' with Q. Once you're fully charged, your auto-attack becomes a barrage. In teamfights, R the marked targets to clean up instantly. You are an orbital strike simulator—act like it.
The Poke Build
Luden's Companion -> Shadowflame -> Rabadon's Deathcap. Shadowflame ensures your passive execution crits below 35% HP. You basically play orbital strike simulator.
Shadowflame is non-negotiable for the crit-execute below 35% HP. Luden's into Shadowflame into Rabadon's. One passive-auto-Q-R combo will delete the entire backline. It's the ultimate 'I win' button for the late game.
Luden's -> Shadowflame -> Deathcap. Shadowflame ensures execution on low HP targets. You play orbital strike simulator.
Timing Mel's All-Ins
Level 6 (First Execution). Shadowflame completion (Crit Execute). Late Game (Full Build One-Shot).
Level 6 is your first execution window. Look for the kill the moment they drop below 40%. Shadowflame completion is your second major spike. By full build, you don't even need to aim—just hit something and they die.
Level 6 Execution window. Shadowflame completion. Late game you one-shot with R. Look for low HP targets to execute.
The Cross-Map Play
Ult them when they are recalling under tower. Using 'Rebuttal' to reflect a global ult like Ashe arrow back at her team.
