Gwen vs Malzahar

Gwen
vs
46.0%

over 37 games

Malzahar

Skill matchup

Heavy CCHeavy AP damageCountered by stasisHigh burst

Build vs Malzahar

Build adapted to this matchup

Recommended items for Gwen: Dusk and Dawn, Shadowflame, Rabadon's Deathcap, Mercury's Treads, Riftmaker, Nashor's Tooth, Zhonya's Hourglass, Dark Seal.

Starting items

Doran's Ring
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Dusk and Dawn
1
Shadowflame
2
Rabadon's Deathcap
3

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Riftmaker
5

Summoner spells

FlashDot51%
HasteDot13%

Other options

Riftmaker
Nashor's Tooth
Zhonya's Hourglass
Dark Seal
Void Staff
Malignance
Lich Bane
Stormsurge
Cosmic Drive
50.0% WR6 games
PrecisionPrecision
ConquerorConqueror
Presence of MindPresence of Mind
Legend: AlacrityLegend: Alacrity
Last StandLast Stand
ResolveResolve
UnflinchingUnflinching
Bone PlatingBone Plating
Attack SpeedAdaptive 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 Gwen

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Land 4 autos before your Q

    Land 4 autos before Snip Snip! (Q): each auto adds a snip, on top of the first and the last.

  2. Hit with the center of your Q

    Land the center of Snip Snip! (Q): in the center, part of the damage becomes true damage and each snip applies A Thousand Cuts (passive).

  3. Mist against poke

    Place Hallowed Mist (W) against poke and ranged CC: enemies outside the mist can't target you, except towers.

  4. Use all three casts of your R

    Cast all three Needlework (R) activations within 6 seconds: the first throws one needle, then three, then five, with growing damage.

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