Malzahar vs Gragas

Malzahar
vs
61.5%

over 39 games

Gragas

Favorable matchup

Heavy AP damageStrong engageHeavy CCVery tanky

Build vs Gragas

Build adapted to this matchup

Recommended items for Malzahar: Blackfire Torch, Liandry's Torment, Rylai's Crystal Scepter, Sorcerer's Shoes, Malignance, Zhonya's Hourglass, Shadowflame, Oblivion Orb.

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
Malignance
5

Summoner spells

FlashTeleport74%
FlashDot18%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Malignance
Zhonya's Hourglass
Shadowflame
Oblivion Orb
Void Staff
Dark Seal
Bloodletter's Curse
Rabadon's Deathcap
Morellonomicon
60.0% WR10 games
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

Gragas's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Happy Hour (P)

Gragas periodically heals upon using a skill.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
310s5s14s–
68s5s14s1m40
96s5s14s1m40
116s5s14s1m25
166s5s13s1m10
186s5s12s1m10

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 Gragas

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Stay behind your minions

    Stay behind your minions: Body Slam (E) stops on the first enemy it meets, minions included.

  2. Get out of the barrel zone fast

    Get out of the Barrel Roll (Q) area right away: the longer the barrel sits on the ground, the more its explosion hurts and slows.

  3. Step up after a missed E

    Step up when Body Slam (E) hits nobody: its cooldown isn't reduced and stays at 14 to 12 seconds.

  4. Spread out from your allies

    Spread out from your allies: Explosive Cask (R) knocks every enemy away from the impact, which can split you up or send you toward his team.

Patch 16.21.1