Counters for Mordekaiser
Champion guide
Reviewed for patch 7.3b
Champions against Mordekaiser
Favorable matchup
Fiora vs Mordekaiser
Reviewed for patch 7.3b
Fiora punishes Mordekaiser's lack of dashes: Riposte answers Death's Grasp and Lunge hits a Vital from an angle his mace doesn't cover. She wins the short trade, not the one that drags on inside his aura.
Why Fiora works against Mordekaiser
01
Save Riposte for the pull
The zone pull of Death's Grasp is how Mordekaiser drags you into his striking zone. Riposte parries damage and crowd control for a moment, and Riot's description says the counter-stab stuns if what it parried was an immobilizing effect. Use it when you see the pull coming, not against a basic attack.
02
One Vital, out before the aura
Darkness Rise only lights up its damage aura after he lands three attacks or spells. A Lunge onto a Vital, plus the healing and speed the Vital itself gives, lets you end the trade before Mordekaiser reaches that third stack.
03
Inside the Realm you still have tools
Realm of Death isolates you both for seven seconds and hands him part of your stats. Enter that duel with Riposte available: Grand Challenge reveals all four Vitals and, if you complete them, heals you for a few seconds. With no allies inside, that heal is yours alone.
When to attack
Trade when Mordekaiser misses Death's Grasp or spends it on the wave: without the pull he has to walk to you. If he still has pull and shield, keep the trade to one Vital and leave.
How to play Fiora
- 1At the start, take your last-hits from the side opposite Obliterate's sweep and don't hug the minions he is clearing.
- 2Threaten a Vital with Lunge when he walks to a minion; if you see the Death's Grasp windup, ready Riposte instead of a second hit.
- 3When he casts Indestructible, either break the whole shield with a Vital and Bladework or back off: leaving it half-broken turns what's left into health for him.
- 4Cast Grand Challenge when he takes you into Realm of Death or when you can finish all four Vitals with his jungler away; if Riposte was spent before the Realm, surviving the seven seconds is already a good result.
Mistakes to avoid
- Firing Riposte on reflex at the first Obliterate and eating the pull a second later with no answer.
- Staying inside the Darkness Rise aura because you won the trade's first Vital.
Playing Mordekaiser against Fiora
If you play Mordekaiser, fake the pull and wait for Fiora to burn Riposte before throwing it for real. Obliterate hits harder on a single enemy, so catch her away from her wave. Hold Realm of Death until Riposte is down: without the parry, the isolated duel leans your way.
Favorable matchup
Kennen vs Mordekaiser
Reviewed for patch 7.3b
Mordekaiser has no dashes: to hit you he has to walk up or land Death's Grasp. Kennen punishes him from range with Thundering Shuriken and leaves his zone with the speed of Lightning Rush.
Why Kennen works against Mordekaiser
01
Punish every step toward the wave
Mordekaiser's kit swings the mace around him and has no leaps or charges. Thundering Shuriken damages the first enemy hit, so you can tag him when he steps up to last-hit and get back behind your minions before you are inside his pull.
02
Three marks without taking his fight
Mark of the Storm stuns on the third hit. The shuriken, Electrical Surge and passing through him with Lightning Rush all add marks: one stun buys time to hit and get out before Darkness Rise lights up his aura.
03
Speed works inside the Realm too
Realm of Death isolates you with him, but it doesn't take away room to move. Lightning Rush gives a lot of speed in its first moments and Slicing Maelstrom adds armor and magic resist while it strikes: run, mark again and outlast the seven seconds.
When to attack
Poke every time Mordekaiser walks to a minion and step back before he is in pull range. If he spent Death's Grasp on the wave, that's the moment to complete the three marks.
How to play Kennen
- 1Stand behind your minions and throw the shuriken when he steps up to last-hit; one hit per last-hit wears him down more than a long burst.
- 2Keep energy for Lightning Rush: it is your exit when he closes in, and without it the pull leaves you inside his aura.
- 3With your ultimate up, go for the stun with shuriken and Slicing Maelstrom rather than brawling in melee with basic attacks.
- 4If he takes you into Realm of Death, use Lightning Rush to circle him and stay away from the mace instead of trading blows.
Mistakes to avoid
- Going in with Lightning Rush to add marks and having no escape when Death's Grasp lands.
- Pushing to his tower without vision: a champion with no dashes is still dangerous if his jungler cuts off your retreat.
Playing Mordekaiser against Kennen
Mordekaiser doesn't win by chasing: wait by the wave, let Kennen spend energy and throw Death's Grasp when he comes at you with Lightning Rush. Indestructible banks part of the damage you deal and take as a shield; pop it just before the stun. Realm of Death keeps his team from saving him, so use it while you still have most of your health.
Execution matters
Gwen vs Mordekaiser
Reviewed for patch 7.3b
While Hallowed Mist is up, Gwen can only be targeted by enemies who step into it. Mordekaiser has to walk in before casting Realm of Death on her. It is a timing answer, not immunity: you have to read when he'll use his ultimate.
Why Gwen works against Mordekaiser
01
The Mist forces him to step in
Realm of Death is cast on an enemy champion. Riot's description says Gwen can only be targeted by enemies inside Hallowed Mist; with the Mist up, Mordekaiser must enter before he can pick her, and that step gives you time to cut the trade or leave with Skip 'n Slash.
02
True damage against his staying power
Thousand Cuts adds damage based on the target's health and heals you for part of it, and the center of Snip Snip! deals true damage. Against a fighter who stacks a shield with Indestructible, that damage isn't reduced by resistances, although the shield still absorbs it.
When to attack
Fight when you have Hallowed Mist and Mordekaiser still holds Realm of Death: the Mist exists to deny that moment. If you already used it, avoid long trades until it comes back.
How to play Gwen
- 1Last-hit with basic attacks to build Snip Snip! stacks and don't walk at him without them: your trade depends on releasing the full snip.
- 2When he casts Death's Grasp, answer with Skip 'n Slash to the side and use the charged snip before Darkness Rise lights up.
- 3Cast Hallowed Mist when his ultimate is ready and he commits to you; forcing him into the Mist breaks the order of his sequence.
- 4Slow his retreat with Needlework, but don't chase him to the tower while he still has Indestructible.
Mistakes to avoid
- Using the Mist to dodge an Obliterate on the wave and not having it when Realm of Death arrives.
- Believing the Mist protects you from an enemy already inside it: it only blocks those who stay outside.
Playing Mordekaiser against Gwen
Against Gwen, order matters more than damage: cast Death's Grasp or wait for her to spend Hallowed Mist before going for Realm of Death. If the Mist is still up, walk into it so you can target her. Obliterate punishes a single target; catch her when she has no snip stacks left.