Ambessa vs Malzahar

Ambessa
vs
36.2%

over 163 games

Malzahar

Hard matchup

Heavy CCHeavy AP damageCountered by stasisHigh burst

Build vs Malzahar

Build adapted to this matchup

Recommended items for Ambessa: Eclipse, Spear of Shojin, Death's Dance, Mercury's Treads, Voltaic Cyclosword, Maw of Malmortius, Profane Hydra, Endless Hunger.

Starting items

Doran's Shield
Health Potion

Core build

Eclipse
1
Spear of Shojin
2
Death's Dance
3

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Voltaic Cyclosword
5

Summoner spells

FlashDot68%
FlashTeleport29%

Other options

Voltaic Cyclosword
Maw of Malmortius
Profane Hydra
Endless Hunger
Bastionbreaker
Serpent's Fang
Black Cleaver
Quicksilver Sash
Axiom Arc
Hubris
Serylda's Grudge
Serrated Dirk
B. F. Sword
Guardian Angel
Executioner's Calling
Ravenous Hydra
44.4% WR9 games
PrecisionPrecision
ConquerorConqueror
TriumphTriumph
Legend: HasteLegend: Haste
Last StandLast Stand
ResolveResolve
Second WindSecond Wind
OvergrowthOvergrowth
Adaptive ForceAdaptive ForceHealth

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Malzahar's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Void Shift (P)

When he hasn't recently taken damage or been crowd controlled, Malzahar gains massive damage reduction and crowd control immunity, lingering for a short period after taking damage.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
36s8s11s–
66s8s11s2m20
96s8s11s2m20
116s8s11s1m50
166s8s9s1m20
186s8s7s1m20

Playing as Ambessa

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Weave an auto between spells

    Weave an auto between spells: Drakehound's Step (passive) empowers it and refunds energy, while your three basic spells cost 70 each.

  2. Hit with the edge of your sweep

    Hit with the edge of Cunning Sweep (Q): enemies caught by the edge take much more damage, and landing it readies Sundering Slam (Q).

  3. Short trades with your dash

    Take a short trade: Cunning Sweep (Q), an auto, then Lacerate (E) with a dash backward, which adds a strike at the end of the dash.

  4. Jump on their carry

    Cast Public Execution (R) toward the enemy carry: you blink to the farthest enemy champion in the line you choose, nothing can stop you, and you suppress them.

Playing against Malzahar

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Get out of his portals

    Get out of the Call of the Void (Q) zone quickly: its two portals fire after a short delay, and their projectiles silence you.

  2. Break his Void Shift first

    If you have CC, hit him first with a cheap attack, then wait a moment: Void Shift (passive) still ignores CC right after the first damage.

  3. Avoid minions hit by his Visions

    Stay away from minions hit by Malefic Visions (E): if they die, the visions jump to the nearest enemy, and his Voidlings follow them.

  4. Trade before he hits 6

    Take your trades before he hits level 6: after that, Nether Grasp (R) can lock you down from range while his team hits you.

  5. Focus him during his Grasp

    When he casts Nether Grasp (R) on an ally, focus him: he channels in place, and any CC interrupts him and frees your ally.

Patch 16.21.1