Malzahar vs Illaoi

Malzahar
vs
38.5%

over 39 games

Illaoi

Hard matchup

Heavy AD damageHigh sustainSplit pushSustained DPS

Build vs Illaoi

Build adapted to this matchup

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

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
Oblivion Orb
5

Summoner spells

FlashTeleport73%
FlashDot13%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Oblivion Orb
Malignance
Shadowflame
Void Staff
Bloodletter's Curse
Morellonomicon
Seraph's Embrace
Tear of the Goddess
Rabadon's Deathcap
Zhonya's Hourglass
45.5% WR11 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

Illaoi's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Prophet of an Elder God (P)

Illaoi and the Vessels she creates spawn Tentacles on nearby impassible terrain. Tentacles swing at spirits, Vessels, and victims of Illaoi's Harsh lesson. Tentacles deal physical damage to enemies hit, and will heal Illaoi if they damage a champion.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
310s4s16s–
68s4s16s2m
96s4s16s2m
116s4s16s1m35
166s4s14s1m10
186s4s12s1m10

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 Illaoi

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Dodge her E

    Dodge Test of Spirit (E): if it hits, you take part of the damage dealt to your spirit, and if the spirit dies, you're slowed and marked for her tentacles.

  2. Hit her if she pulls your spirit

    If Test of Spirit (E) pulls out your spirit, attack Illaoi instead of running: damaging her shortens the spirit, and moving too far from it marks you for her tentacles.

  3. Pull her away from walls

    Take your trades away from walls: Prophet of an Elder God (passive) spawns her tentacles on nearby terrain, and each tentacle that hits you heals her.

  4. Ask for ganks

    Ask for ganks: Harsh Lesson (W) only makes her leap toward an enemy, so she has no dash to escape, and no stun.

  5. Back off during her ult

    Don't fight during Leap of Faith (R): each champion hit spawns a tentacle, and while it lasts, they're untargetable and slam faster.

Patch 16.21.1