Gragas vs Malphite
Skill matchup
Build vs Malphite
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Gragas: Tear of the Goddess, Rod of Ages, Fimbulwinter, Ionian Boots of Lucidity, Lich Bane, Shadowflame, Cosmic Drive, Seraph's Embrace.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Malphite's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Malphite is shielded by a layer of rock which absorbs damage up to 10% of his maximum Health. If Malphite has not been hit for a few seconds, this effect recharges.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 8s | 10s | 7s | – |
| 6 | 8s | 10s | 7s | 2m10 |
| 9 | 8s | 9.5s | 7s | 2m10 |
| 11 | 8s | 9s | 7s | 1m55 |
| 16 | 8s | 8s | 7s | 1m40 |
| 18 | 8s | 8s | 7s | 1m40 |
Playing as Gragas
Tips to maximize your impact
- Let your barrel charge
Let Barrel Roll (Q) charge before detonating it: damage and slow grow the longer it sits on the ground, and if you don't recast it, it explodes on its own.
- Drink before you engage
Drink Drunken Rage (W) before engaging: drinking takes 1 second, then you take less damage and your next auto hits every nearby enemy.
- Charge through a clear path
Engage with Body Slam (E) through a path without minions: you stop on the first enemy you meet, and hitting reduces its cooldown.
- Send them toward your team
After Body Slam (E), cast Explosive Cask (R) behind your target: the blast knocks enemies away from the impact, sending them toward your team.
Playing against Malphite
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Pop his shield before trading
Break Granite Shield (passive) with a cheap hit before taking a real trade: it absorbs 10% of his max health and triples his bonus armor.
- Lean on magic damage
If you deal magic damage, lean on it in trades: his only resistances come from Thunderclap (W), which only gives armor.
- Trade when his mana runs low
Trade when his mana runs low: Seismic Shard (Q) costs 70 to 90 mana, and it's his only ranged slow.
- Respect his level 6
Once he hits level 6, only step up if he's visible: Unstoppable Force (R) comes from far away, nothing stops it, and its impact knocks every enemy in the area into the air.
- Spread out from your allies
When he has Unstoppable Force (R), spread out from your allies in teamfights: the impact knocks every enemy in the area into the air.
Other Gragas matchups
Patch 16.21.1