Mordekaiser should control the lane by forcing extended trades where his passive and (W) shield sustain outvalue Yorick's poke and minion setup.
Prioritize denying Yorick the calm scaling lane he needs to prepare graves and summon Maiden, as Mordekaiser's sustained damage and isolation threaten his splitpush game.
Trading pattern
Initiate trades by landing (E) to pull Yorick into your range, then hit isolated (Q) to maximize damage and passive application.
Extend trades only when your passive is active or (W) shield is charged to out-sustain Yorick's poke and minion pressure.
Avoid engaging when (E) is down or (W) cage is up, as missing (E) lowers your threat and the cage can trap you.
Danger windows
Yorick is most dangerous when his ghouls are ready and (E) marks you, increasing his poke and zone control; avoid extended trades in this state.
Be cautious when (W) cage is available to trap you, especially if your (E) is on cooldown or missed.
Yorick's sustained pressure with Maiden alive creates threat windows where you must respect his ability to force tower damage and respond accordingly.
Early game
Use early levels to pressure Yorick by threatening (E) pulls to force him to fight inside your passive range.
Avoid extended trades before level 6 if (E) is on cooldown or missed, as Yorick's poke and minion setup can punish you.
Keep the wave slow and near your side to limit Yorick's ability to set graves and summon Maiden safely.
Power spikes
At level 6, use (R) to isolate Yorick and force a duel where he cannot kite or rely on Maiden or ghouls.
After your first AP bruiser item, force longer trades to keep passive active and outlast Yorick's poke and minion pressure.
Respect Yorick's level 6 spike when Maiden is summoned; prioritize killing Maiden quickly to reduce his sustained pressure.
Win conditions
Use (E) to pull Yorick into extended trades where your passive and (W) shield sustain outvalue his poke and minion setup.
Reach level 6 and use (R) to isolate Yorick from his Maiden and jungle help, forcing favorable duels.
Deny Yorick the ability to prepare graves and summon Maiden by controlling wave state and punishing his setup attempts with timely trades and pressure.
Tip: For Mordekaiser vs Yorick, read overview, trading pattern, and danger windows first for a fast Top lane check.
