Malzahar vs Malphite

Malzahar
vs
53.0%

over 451 games

Malphite

Skill matchup

Strong engageVery tankyHeavy AP damageHeavy CC

Build vs Malphite

Build adapted to this matchup

Recommended items for Malzahar: Blackfire Torch, Liandry's Torment, Rylai's Crystal Scepter, Sorcerer's Shoes, Malignance, Shadowflame, Zhonya's Hourglass, 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
Malignance
5

Summoner spells

FlashTeleport72%
FlashDot16%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Malignance
Shadowflame
Zhonya's Hourglass
Void Staff
Bloodletter's Curse
Rabadon's Deathcap
Tear of the Goddess
Seraph's Embrace
Oblivion Orb
Dark Seal
Morellonomicon
Seeker's Armguard
Cryptbloom
Rod of Ages
Banshee's Veil
Mejai's Soulstealer
Cosmic Drive
Stormsurge
Hextech Rocketbelt
66.4% WR110 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

Malphite's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Granite Shield (P)

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

LevelQWER
38s10s7s–
68s10s7s2m10
98s9.5s7s2m10
118s9s7s1m55
168s8s7s1m40
188s8s7s1m40

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 Malphite

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

Patch 16.21.1