Malzahar vs Mordekaiser
Favorable matchup
Build vs Mordekaiser
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Malzahar: Blackfire Torch, Liandry's Torment, Rylai's Crystal Scepter, Sorcerer's Shoes, Malignance, Shadowflame, Oblivion Orb, Zhonya's Hourglass.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Mordekaiser's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Mordekaiser gains a powerful damage aura and Move Speed after landing 3 attacks or spells against champions or monsters.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 8s | 12s | 16s | – |
| 6 | 6s | 12s | 16s | 2m |
| 9 | 4s | 11s | 16s | 2m |
| 11 | 4s | 10s | 16s | 1m50 |
| 16 | 4s | 8s | 12s | 1m40 |
| 18 | 4s | 8s | 8s | 1m40 |
Playing as Malzahar
Tips to maximize your impact
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 Mordekaiser
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Stay near your minions
Stay near your minions against Obliterate (Q): its damage increases when it hits only one enemy.
- Dodge his Death's Grasp
Dodge Death's Grasp (E): it pulls you toward him, into his other spells, and it has a 16 to 8 second cooldown.
- At range, kite him
If you have range, kite him: Mordekaiser has no dash, and only Death's Grasp (E), which pulls you in, closes the distance.
- Save your mobility in his R
In Realm of Death (R), save your mobility spells to escape him rather than for the duel: he steals part of your stats, and keeps them if he kills you.
Other Malzahar matchups
Patch 16.21.1