Gangplank vs Malzahar
Skill matchup
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
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
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 Gangplank
Tips to maximize your impact
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- 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 Gangplank matchups
Patch 16.21.1