How to Play Arcanist Sylas
A stage-by-stage plan for Arcanist Sylas : opener, when to level and roll for Sylas , and where to position the board.
- Tier
- A
- Top 4 rate
- 77.2%
- Avg place
- 2.98
- 1st place
- 33.5%
- Playstyle
- Fast 8
- Games
- 272
How to level and roll with Arcanist Sylas
Fast 8Arcanist Sylas is a Fast 8 comp: level on the standard curve and roll down at level 8 on stage 4-1 to find Sylas .
| Stage | Level | Action | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-1 | 4 | Level | Level to 4 and play your strongest pairs; slam an early item if it saves HP. |
| 2-5 | 5 | Level | Level to 5 and keep building interest toward 50 gold. |
| 3-2 | 6 | Level | Level to 6 and save to 50 gold. |
| 3-5 | 7 | Level | Level to 7 while staying on interest. |
| 4-1 | 8 | Roll down | Level to 8 and roll down to find Sylas and the 4-cost core. |
| 4-5 | 8 | Save gold | Stop rolling once the board is stable and rebuild your economy. |
| 5-1 | 9 | Push level | Push to 9 when you have the gold to add a 5-cost or extra trait. |
Arcanist Sylas early game and opener
We don't have enough early-board data for Arcanist Sylas yet. Play your strongest pairs early and hold units that share traits with Sylas .
Rolling odds for Arcanist Sylas
Sylas is easiest to find around level 8. Use the calculator to see your odds of a 2-star for the gold you have.
Rolldown calculator: Sylas
Pre-set to this comp's roll level. Change copies owned, copies other players hold and your gold.
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Arcanist Sylas positioning
A starting board for Arcanist Sylas . Drag units to adjust it, switch to the anti-assassin layout when the lobby has divers, and copy the Team Planner code into the TFT client.
- Corner Annie on the back line and put Taric in front of it.
- Split Annie and Fiddlesticks across the back line so a single area spell can't hit both.
- Sylas , Shyvana, and Taric hold the front line — put the tankiest one opposite the enemy carry.
- Against assassins, step your carries up one row and leave Neeko and Taric in the back corners as bait.
Positioning board
Drag a unit onto another hex to move it — dropping on a unit swaps them.
When to play Arcanist Sylas
Strengths
- Average place better than 73% of comps of the same board size
- Wins the lobby often (33.5% first places)
- Two damage threats (Sylas and Annie) make itemizing flexible
- Rarely played, so its units are usually free
Weaknesses
- Needs Sylas and Annie at high cost, which can be hard to hit
Strategic Tips
Economy
Stay on interest and save your big roll for level 8 at stage 4-1.
Itemization
Build Jeweled Gauntlet, Giant Slayer, and Titan's Resolve on Sylas .
When to pivot
Scout at 2-1 and 3-2: if two or more players hold your core units, or you haven't found any by 3-2, move into one of the comps on the Similar Comps tab instead of forcing Arcanist Sylas .
Get the Winning Edge
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How to play Arcanist Sylas – FAQ (TFT Set 16)
How do you play Arcanist Sylas ?
Arcanist Sylas is a Fast 8 comp: level on the standard curve and roll down at level 8 on stage 4-1 to find Sylas . Corner Annie on the back line and put Taric in front of it. Build Jeweled Gauntlet, Giant Slayer, and Titan's Resolve on Sylas .
When should I roll down for Arcanist Sylas ?
Roll down at level 8 on stage 4-1. That is when Arcanist Sylas finds Sylas and its core most reliably; save gold before it.
What level do you roll for Sylas ?
Roll for Sylas at level 8.
Is Arcanist Sylas a reroll comp?
No. Arcanist Sylas is a Fast 8 comp: level up and roll down at level 8 to find your 4- and 5-cost units at 2 stars.
How do you position Arcanist Sylas ?
Corner Annie on the back line and put Taric in front of it. Split Annie and Fiddlesticks across the back line so a single area spell can't hit both. Sylas , Shyvana, and Taric hold the front line — put the tankiest one opposite the enemy carry. Against assassins, step your carries up one row and leave Neeko and Taric in the back corners as bait.
What is the best opener for Arcanist Sylas ?
Arcanist Sylas has no fixed opener: play your strongest early pairs, keep HP high and hold units that share traits with Sylas .