Kog'Maw vs Malphite
You are stronger late game. Farm safe and avoid early trades.
Build vs Malphite
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Kog'Maw: Dusk and Dawn, Shadowflame, Rabadon's Deathcap, Sorcerer's Shoes, Luden's Echo, Void Staff, Dark Seal, Zhonya's Hourglass.
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 Kog'Maw
Tips to maximize your impact
- Start with Caustic Spittle
Start your trades with Caustic Spittle (Q): it reduces the target's armor and magic resist, and its ranks also give you permanent attack speed.
- Activate W before the fight
Activate Bio-Arcane Barrage (W) right before the teamfight: it extends your attack range, and your autos deal damage based on the target's max health.
- Slow whoever charges you
When an enemy runs at you, cast Void Ooze (E) between you and them: the trail of ooze slows everyone who crosses it.
- Save your R to finish
Save Living Artillery (R) for targets below 40% health, where it deals its max damage: each shot fired in quick succession costs more mana.
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 Kog'Maw matchups
Patch 16.21.1