Mel How to Play: Tips & Power Spikes

When Mel Bot gets stronger, in the order it happens in a typical ranked game: ability unlocks from the most common skill order, item spikes at the median minute players finish them, and the game length Mel wins most.

1. Lv 3
   All three basic abilities at level 3

   Mel's full combo is online — the first point where trading all-in is realistic.
2. Lv 6
   Ultimate rank 1 at level 6

   The biggest early spike: look for a kill or a roam as soon as Mel hits it.
3. Lv 11
   Ultimate rank 2 at level 11

   Lower ultimate cooldown means more fights Mel can start or win.
4. Lv 16
   Ultimate rank 3 at level 16

   Lower ultimate cooldown means more fights Mel can start or win.
5. 10.4 min
   First item at 10.4 min

   Luden's Echo is done — Mel's first real damage or durability spike.
6. 18.4 min
   Two items at 18.4 min

   ›Luden's Echo + Shadowflame: the window to group and take objectives.
7. 20 min
   Strongest in games of about 20 minutes

   Mel wins 57.5% of games that end around this point.
8. 25.0 min
   Three-item core at 25.0 min

   ››Luden's Echo + Shadowflame + Rabadon's Deathcap completes Mel's core build.

Item timings are medians: half of players finish later. Fall behind in farm and every item spike moves back with it.

Mel is a lane bully: trade early and often, push the advantage, and turn the gold lead into the first item spike. On average Mel Bot is 488 gold ahead of the lane opponent at 15 minutes and ahead in 62% of games. A 1,000-gold lead at 15 turns into a 65% win rate; a 1,000-gold deficit leaves 28%. Mel averages 0.30 solo kills by 15 minutes.

Mel win rate by gold at 15

• 1,000+ gold ahead64.6%
• Ahead58.0%
• Behind32.6%
• 1,000+ gold behind28.1%

Lane matchups that decide the plan

Press these lanes

Ashe+905 gold at 15

Jinx+889 gold at 15

Yunara+875 gold at 15

What Mel does better or worse than other champions after laning, from this patch's ranked games — percentiles where 100 is the highest of every champion.