Gangplank vs Malzahar

Gangplank
vs
46.5%

over 86 games

Malzahar

Skill matchup

Heavy CCHeavy AP damageCountered by stasisHigh burst

Build vs Malzahar

Build adapted to this matchup

Recommended items for Gangplank: Essence Reaver, The Collector, Infinity Edge, Mercury's Treads, Lord Dominik's Regards, Immortal Shieldbow, Voltaic Cyclosword, B. F. Sword.

Starting items

Doran's Blade
Health Potion

Core build

Essence Reaver
1
The Collector
2
Infinity Edge
3

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Lord Dominik's Regards
5

Summoner spells

FlashDot81%
FlashTeleport17%

Other options

Lord Dominik's Regards
Immortal Shieldbow
Voltaic Cyclosword
B. F. Sword
Mortal Reminder
Serrated Dirk
Guardian Angel
Hubris
Youmuu's Ghostblade
37.5% WR32 games
SorcerySorcery
Deathfire TouchDeathfire Touch
Nimbus CloakNimbus Cloak
TranscendenceTranscendence
ScorchScorch
PrecisionPrecision
Cut DownCut Down
Legend: HasteLegend: Haste
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 Gangplank

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Chain your kegs

    Build a chain with Powder Keg (E): detonate the keg farthest from your opponent, and each keg whose area touches the previous one explodes too, all the way to them.

  2. Last-hit with Parrrley

    Last-hit minions and pop kegs with Parrrley (Q): a kill with the shot gives bonus gold, and so does a kill from a keg it sets off.

  3. Save your W for CC

    Save Remove Scurvy (W) for a key CC rather than for healing: it cleanses all CC on you, on a 22 to 14 second cooldown.

  4. Bombard other fights

    Cast Cannon Barrage (R) anywhere on the map to help a fight or cover an objective: each wave of cannonballs slows and damages in the area.

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