Fizz vs Malzahar
Build vs Malzahar
The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup
Recommended items for Fizz: Dusk and Dawn, Nashor's Tooth, Zhonya's Hourglass, Sorcerer's Shoes, Rabadon's Deathcap, Shadowflame, Void Staff, Stormsurge.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Malzahar's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
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
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 6s | 8s | 11s | – |
| 6 | 6s | 8s | 11s | 2m20 |
| 9 | 6s | 8s | 11s | 2m20 |
| 11 | 6s | 8s | 11s | 1m50 |
| 16 | 6s | 8s | 9s | 1m20 |
| 18 | 6s | 8s | 7s | 1m20 |
Playing as Fizz
Tips to maximize your impact
- Farm with your trident
Last-hit minions with Seastone Trident (W) early on: if the empowered auto kills, you get mana back and its cooldown drops.
- Dodge with Playful
Save Playful (E) to dodge a key spell: you're untargetable for 0.75 seconds, then land with damage and a slow.
- Throw your fish from range
Cast Chum the Waters (R) from range: the farther the fish travels before it attaches, the stronger the shark's slow and damage.
- Combo before the shark
After Chum the Waters (R), chain Urchin Strike (Q) and Seastone Trident (W) while the target is slowed: the shark then bursts up under them and knocks them into the air.
Playing against Malzahar
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Other Fizz matchups
Patch 16.21.1