Eh, look at my match history, my latest Morde game for a feel.
Anyway, here it is.
Ghost + Ignite
9/0/21
Red/Yellow/Blue/Quints
MPEN/ARMOR/MRES/2 HP + 1 MPEN
Regrowth Pendant + Health Pot (Doran's Shield on TT) -> Level 1 Boots -> Negatron Cloak/Chain Armor (Situational vs Lane) -> Regrowth/Amplifying Tome (Both in any Order) -> Negatron Cloak/Chain Armor (Whichever I didn't get before) -> Mejais -> Sorc Boots/Merc Treads (Situational) -> FoN -> Thornmail/Randuins (Situational) -> Rylais -> Hextech Gunblade/Abyssal (Situational)
There's a lot of situational in there, I know. Basically you just try to survive your lane and harass constantly until you can go B, then purchase the defensive item that counters whoever you're laning against. You should be solo lane but if you're not (it happens), buy whichever one you think you need more. Then you build all the components of important items, so by the end of early game I have 2 Regrowths, Amplifying Tome, Level 1 Boots, Negatron + Chain Mail. Mejais first so you can basically ignore building damage until later in the game, whichever boots you think you need (Mercs for heavy CC), then upgrade your defensive items. FoN is a must, and then Thornmail if they have auto attack AD or Randuin's if they have caster AD or are not focusing you much. At this point your core is done, you should be able to rape face with any enemy team that isn't fed. Getting stacks with Morde is easy, especially with his ult + ignite. To be a good Morde player you have to learn to judge when your ult + ignite will land you a certain kill. The only way to do this is to experiment and through time. A quick calculation at level 6 would be to see if they're under 15/20% health, then they're almost guaranteed dead, especially if you land an E on them before they run (and they will run). Later in the game 25% becomes enough because your ult will deal about 40% of their HP total, 20% or so in instant damage. Ignite nullifies any healing they may try.
As the game drags on build Rylais so you can keep spamming your AOE on them forever, and then Abyssal if you need more Mres or Hextech if you just want to smack them harder and heal while doing it. Morde is a powerhouse, all he lacks is CC, which isn't much of a problem as all of your abilities actually have a fear
. Rylais allows you to just keep hammering them forever, and ever, until they die. If you find yourself facing multiple enemies, focus the weakest one, make him a ghost ASAP. While AD champs are preferable for ghosting, AP champs are fine too as they give you extra AP you might need to win the fight. Your ghost's damage contributes to your shield, so in a 1 + ghost vs. 2 situation you will usually win.
You're the most powerful farmer (of minions
and champs) in the game behind Sivir. You'll reach your full build and level 18 before anyone except an over-fed opponent/ally. Abuse this. Keep your shield up as much as you can, you'll win any lane except against a good Urgot (yes, you can beat Vlad).
Phew. I'll give anyone who wants them tips/lessons on the way on tanky AP carrying (Morde + Vlad). Tanky AP are the most reliable solo queue carries in the game by far.
P.S: Built Tryndameres are extremely difficult to beat for any team, in my experience, especially if they're fed. Their damage shreds through anyone even with thornmail. If they're not beyond the point of absolutely no return (i.e, surrender) then wait until he's at least halfway through his ult then ult + ignite him. Wait until after his ult if possible, but don't let him spin through a wall.