Mel Mid Lane Build Guides, Runes, Items, and Abilities

Mel, known as "The Soul's Reflection," is a versatile champion in League of Legends, blending powerful offensive capabilities with utility and survivability. Her kit revolves around her passive, Searing Brilliance, which enhances her auto-attacks and introduces a unique stacking mechanic called Overwhelm. When used effectively, Mel can devastate enemies with her high damage potential and crowd control while reflecting incoming threats and turning the tide of battle in her favor.

Mel Medarda is the presumed heir of the Medarda family, once one of the most powerful in Noxus. In appearance she is a graceful aristocrat, but beneath the surface lies a skilled politician who makes it her business to know everything about everyone she meets. After an encounter with the mysterious Black Rose, Mel discovered the depths of her mother's deception and, for once, faced a situation potentially beyond her control. With newly awakened magical abilities, she sailed home in search of answers—and though many still seek to temper the light within her, Mel's soul remains forever defiant.

Riot Games says Mel Medarda in LoL will be more than just a familiar face. She’s adding a new dimension to gameplay. Her abilities will change battles in ways we’ve never seen before. Mel will be the 170th League of Legends champion, making her debut on January 23, 2025, with Patch 25.S1.2.

How to play Mel in LOL: Beginners Guide to Playing Mel Medarda in League of Legends

1. Searing Brilliance PASSIVE

Whenever Mel uses an ability, she gains three bonus projectiles (up to nine maximum) on her next attack. When Mel deals damage through an ability or attack, she applies Overwhelm, which can stack infinitely. If the enemy is hit by Mel with enough Overwhelm damage, the stacks are consumed to execute the target.

2. Radiant Volley Q

Mel fires a barrage of projectiles that explode around a target location, dealing damage repeatedly to enemies within the area.

3. Rebuttal W

Mel forms a barrier around herself that reflects enemy projectiles back at the attacker, prevents her from taking damage, and grants her movement speed.

4. Solar Snare E

Mel fires a radiant orb forward, rooting those at its center while the area around it slows enemies and deals damage over time.

5. Golden Eclipse R

Mel strikes all enemies marked with Overwhelm regardless of their distance from her, dealing additional damage for each stack of Overwhelm. Ranks of Golden Eclipse increase Overwhelm's damage.

1. Passive - Searing Brilliance

When an Ability is cast, Mel's next Attack fires 3 extra projectiles, each dealing magic damage. This effect can stack up to 9 projectiles.

• Be careful not to waste her extra attacks accidentally on minions or suboptimal targets during a fight.
• The extra projectiles remain stored when attacking wards, so don't worry about wasting them.
• Stacks of Overwhelm last for 6 seconds.

2. Q - Radiant Volley

Mel unleashes a barrage of 6 projectiles that explode in the area around a target location.

Each explosion deals magic damage,

• 25% reduced damage against minions.
• Similar to Syndra's Q.

3. W - Rebuttal

Mel forms a barrier around herself that reflects projectiles from enemy champions, prevents her from taking damage, and gives her 30% decaying Move Speed for 1 second.

Reflected projectiles deal a percentage of the original damage.

• Does not work against towers.
• Remember that it also blocks non-projectiles, even if it doesn't reflect them.
• This ability has a long cooldown, so don't waste it.
• Be careful what you reflect. For example, Amumu's Q will make her travel to him, which Mel won't want in most situations.
• Anything that is blocked by Yasuo's Windwall can be reflected by Mel.
• The movement speed can be used to escape in rare situations.

4. E - Solar Snare

Mel fires a radiating orb, Rooting enemies at its center for 1.75 seconds and dealing magic damage.

The orb builds up a hostile area around it that Slows enemies by 30% and deals magic damage per second.

• 50% damage against minions.
• You can Flash-E to make it travel further or change it's direction.

5. R - Golden Eclipse

Passive: Overwhelm damage is increased.

Active: Mel unleashes her power on all enemies affected by Overwhelm, dealing magic damage plus extra damage per Overwhelm stack.

• Can only be cast when an enemy champion is affected by Overwhelm.
• Mel has 6 seconds since last damaging an enemy to cast her ult.
• This is technically global if an enemy managed to escape with something like Ryze's ult.
• It can damage monsters such as Baron, but only if she's damaged a champion to be able to cast it.

1. Strengths:

High Burst Potential: Mel’s abilities, especially Golden Eclipse (R) and Radiant Volley (Q), allow her to deal significant area-of-effect and single-target damage.

Stacking Mechanic: Overwhelm’s infinite stacking ensures that Mel’s damage scales well over prolonged engagements.

Crowd Control: Solar Snare (E) offers reliable rooting and slowing effects, providing utility in team fights and skirmishes.

Survivability: Rebuttal (W) makes her highly resilient against ranged threats by reflecting projectiles and boosting movement speed.

Strong Teamfight Presence: Mel’s ultimate can strike multiple enemies simultaneously, amplifying her threat level in group engagements.

2. Weaknesses:

Skill-Dependent: Mel’s effectiveness heavily relies on accurate ability usage, particularly landing the center of Solar Snare (E).

Positioning Challenges: While Mel can output massive damage, poor positioning can leave her vulnerable to dives or crowd control.

Cooldown Management: Overreliance on her abilities without proper timing may result in gaps where she is less impactful.

Limited Sustain: Mel lacks innate healing or shielding, making her dependent on items or allies for sustain in extended fights.

Master Searing Brilliance: Prioritize weaving auto-attacks between abilities to maximize the damage from your bonus projectiles. Timing these attacks after stacking Overwhelm can secure crucial executes.

Zone Effectively with Radiant Volley (Q): Use this ability to control space and deter enemies from advancing. Aim at clustered targets for maximum impact in team fights.

Optimize Rebuttal (W): Activate Rebuttal against key projectile-based threats like skill shots or burst abilities. The reflected damage can disrupt enemy plans and create opportunities for your team.

Land Solar Snare (E) Precisely: Aim to hit enemies at the center of the orb for the root effect. Combine it with other crowd-control abilities from your team for devastating combos.

Build Overwhelm Stacks: Apply Overwhelm consistently through abilities and attacks. Time your ultimate, Golden Eclipse (R), when enemies have sufficient stacks to maximize its damage and execute potential.

Adapt Your Playstyle: Depending on the enemy composition, focus on either burst engagements or prolonged fights to exploit Overwhelm’s scaling nature.

I haven’t thoroughly reviewed Mel’s abilities, but after a few games, here are some tips for Mel's combos:

After reading through her skill set, you should have a general idea of how to level up her skills. The optimal skill order is to max Q, followed by E, then W, and of course, take R at the appropriate levels.

Regarding combos, poke mages like Mel don’t have very specific combos but instead prioritize poking as much as possible. Mel’s W is a standalone ability and cannot be seamlessly integrated into combos. It’s typically used situationally and requires quick reflexes to effectively block or counter enemy skills.

During the laning phase, Mel’s basic poke combo is Q + AA (auto attack), combining her ability with a basic attack enhanced by energy projectiles for extra damage. For a more extended combo with crowd control and sustained damage, you can use E + AA + Q + AA, providing both control and steady bursts of damage.

To make the most out of her ultimate, you’ll need to stack her Domination passive as much as possible, affecting as many enemies as you can before activating it to deal maximum damage. Therefore, the key is to keep casting abilities and auto-attacking consistently, then unleash the ultimate.

It’s challenging to provide a definitive combo for Mel, but the general approach is to use E, Q, and auto-attacks in succession. Save W and R for the right moments to maximize their impact.

Good luck, and I hope you have an amazing experience with this Mel guide once the champion is released in League of Legends!

1. Early game

• In the early game, focus on farming and gaining gold and XP. You need some gold and items before you can start dishing out a lot of damage.
• You have good gank setup with your E, so you should look to poke the enemy down and then get your Jungler to gank you.
• Keep an eye on your Passive and try to use your empowered auto on the enemy champion whenever you can!

2. Mid game

• In the mid-game, you should look to split push while picking up gold and buying items. Once you have core items, look to group with your team and team fight.
• During team fights, only use your W to counter major abilities like Ultimates. Limit using it unless you need to as you’re vulnerable while it’s on cooldown and the enemy team will engage while it’s down.
• Stick towards the back side of your team and look to poke the enemy down before committing to a fight.

3. Late game

• In the late game, ensure you’re not wandering too far away from your team. If you get taken down, then the enemy could potentially end. Similarly, grouping with your team is essential as you might be able to get picks and finish the game.
• Continue to look for picks with your team on enemies who are out of position or walking around Summoner’s Rift alone.
• By the late game, you should be able to dish out a lot of damage, but you’ll still be vulnerable. Continue playing around your W and avoid fighting unless it’s up otherwise you will die and the enemy will force a fight while it’s down.

1. Early game

• Your first power spike is levels 3 and 4. When you put a point in ever ability, you are a bigger threat in lane. If you auto-attack them enemy after using your Q, you can deal a lot of damage at level 3 and 4.
• When you’ve completed your first component item after your first back, your damage output increases and you’ll have some damage to hit back at the enemy.
• Your third power spike in the lane is when you hit level 6. Your damage output will increase a lot more as your Ultimate also empowers your empowered autos, so you can deal extra damage in trades.

2. Mid game

• At level 9, Mel will max out her Q ability. Maxing out this ability allows her to deal a lot of damage in fights and will also help her clear waves!
• When she hits level 11, she will put a second point in her Ultimate. The more points she puts in her Ultimate, the better she will be as her Passive damage will also increase with every point in her Ultimate.
• During the mid-game, Mel would’ve completed several items, making her damage output much higher, which means she will be a bigger threat in team fights.

3. Late game

• In the late game, Mel will be full build. This means she should be dealing a lot of damage in fights, so group with your team.
• At level 16, Mel will put the final point in her Ultimate. At this stage, your Passive, empowered autos and your Ult will deal considerable damage in fights.
• Make sure you’re grouping with your team in the late game so you can deal tons of damage and abuse your full-build.

Mel is a dynamic champion who thrives in both team fights and skirmishes, offering high damage, utility, and survivability. While she demands precise positioning and ability usage, her potential to carry games is immense when mastered. By leveraging her stacking Overwhelm mechanic and balancing aggression with defense, players can unlock the full potential of "The Soul's Reflection" and dominate the Rift. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a newcomer, mastering Mel’s intricacies will undoubtedly make her a powerful addition to your champion roster.

Thanks for Reading! If you want to gain more in-depth knowledge about LOL, check out many helpful articles here!

Good luck to you! – Cheng