Malzahar vs Brand

Malzahar
vs
Not enough games
Brand
Heavy AP damageHigh burstHeavy pokeHeavy CC

Build vs Brand

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

Recommended items for Malzahar: Blackfire Torch, Liandry's Torment, Rylai's Crystal Scepter, Sorcerer's Shoes, Shadowflame, Zhonya's Hourglass, Rabadon's Deathcap, Morellonomicon.

Starting items

Doran's Ring
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Blackfire Torch
1
Liandry's Torment
2
Rylai's Crystal Scepter
3

Standard

Sorcerer's Shoes
4Magic pen
Shadowflame
5

Summoner spells

FlashTeleport62%
FlashDot31%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Shadowflame
Zhonya's Hourglass
Rabadon's Deathcap
Morellonomicon
SorcerySorcery
Deathfire TouchDeathfire Touch
Manaflow BandManaflow Band
TranscendenceTranscendence
ScorchScorch
InspirationInspiration
Magical FootwearMagical Footwear
Cosmic InsightCosmic Insight
Adaptive ForceAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Brand's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Blaze (P)

Brand's spells light his targets ablaze, dealing damage over 4 seconds, stacking up to 3 times. If Brand kills an enemy while it is ablaze he regains mana. When Blaze reaches max stacks on a Champion or large monster, it becomes unstable. It detonates in 2 seconds, applying spell effects and dealing massive damage in an area around the victim.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
38s10s13s–
67s10s13s1m40
96s9.5s13s1m40
116s9s13s1m30
166s8s11s1m20
186s8s9s1m20

Playing as Malzahar

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Keep your Void Shift up

    Avoid free damage to keep Void Shift (passive) up: when you haven't taken damage or CC for a while, you take much less damage and ignore CC.

  2. Push the wave with your visions

    Push the wave with Malefic Visions (E): they finish off low minions, then jump to the nearest enemy when their target dies, restoring your mana.

  3. Cast spells before Void Swarm

    Cast your other spells, Malefic Visions (E) included, before Void Swarm (W): each one adds a Voidling, and they go after the targets of your visions.

  4. Save your R for their carry

    Save Nether Grasp (R) for the enemy carry: you lock them down while you channel, and the zone around them also damages their allies.

Playing against Brand

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Dodge his Q while you burn

    When you're ablaze, prioritize dodging Sear (Q): it stuns any target that's ablaze.

  2. Leave his pillar of flame

    Leave the Pillar of Flame (W) area as soon as it appears: it lands after a short delay and hits harder if you're ablaze.

  3. Punish his lack of mobility

    If you can engage, go in on him: his kit has no dash and no shield.

  4. Spread out from your allies

    Spread out from your allies in teamfights: Pyroclasm (R) bounces between nearby enemies, and Blaze (passive) explodes around a target at 3 stacks.

Patch 16.21.1