Gragas vs Malzahar

Gragas
vs
40.0%

over 40 games

Malzahar

Hard matchup

Heavy CCHeavy AP damageCountered by stasisHigh burst

Build vs Malzahar

The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup

Recommended items for Gragas: Tear of the Goddess, Rod of Ages, Fimbulwinter, Ionian Boots of Lucidity, Hextech Rocketbelt, Cosmic Drive, Lich Bane, Seraph's Embrace.

Starting items

Doran's Ring
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Tear of the Goddess
1
Rod of Ages
2
Fimbulwinter
3

Standard

Ionian Boots of Lucidity
4CDR
Hextech Rocketbelt
5

Summoner spells

FlashTeleport72%
FlashDot22%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Hextech Rocketbelt
Cosmic Drive
Lich Bane
Seraph's Embrace
Shadowflame
Luden's Echo
Imperial Mandate
Zhonya's Hourglass
Randuin's Omen
Rabadon's Deathcap
Seeker's Armguard
Dark Seal
Void Staff
Stormsurge
SorcerySorcery
Stormraider's SurgeStormraider's Surge
Manaflow BandManaflow Band
TranscendenceTranscendence
ScorchScorch
InspirationInspiration
Biscuit DeliveryBiscuit Delivery
Cosmic InsightCosmic Insight
Adaptive ForceAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

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 Gragas

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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 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