Malzahar vs Mordekaiser

Malzahar
vs
55.8%

over 310 games

Mordekaiser

Favorable matchup

Heavy AP damageSplit pushSustained DPSHigh burst

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

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

FlashTeleport67%
FlashDot19%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Malignance
Shadowflame
Oblivion Orb
Zhonya's Hourglass
Rabadon's Deathcap
Tear of the Goddess
Seraph's Embrace
Void Staff
Morellonomicon
Bloodletter's Curse
Dark Seal
Seeker's Armguard
Stormsurge
52.2% WR67 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

Mordekaiser's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Darkness Rise (P)

Mordekaiser gains a powerful damage aura and Move Speed after landing 3 attacks or spells against champions or monsters.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
38s12s16s–
66s12s16s2m
94s11s16s2m
114s10s16s1m50
164s8s12s1m40
184s8s8s1m40

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 Mordekaiser

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Stay near your minions

    Stay near your minions against Obliterate (Q): its damage increases when it hits only one enemy.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

Patch 16.21.1