Malzahar vs Viktor
Build vs Viktor
The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup
Recommended items for Malzahar: Blackfire Torch, Liandry's Torment, Rylai's Crystal Scepter, Sorcerer's Shoes, Zhonya's Hourglass, Rabadon's Deathcap, Shadowflame, Morellonomicon.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Viktor's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Viktor gains Hex Fragments whenever he kills an enemy. With every 100 Hex Fragments he obtains, Viktor permanently augments an active ability. After upgrading all of his basic abilities, he can gather 100 Hex Fragments to augment his ultimate ability.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 9s | 17s | 12s | – |
| 6 | 7s | 17s | 12s | 2m |
| 9 | 5s | 16s | 12s | 2m |
| 11 | 5s | 15s | 12s | 1m40 |
| 16 | 5s | 13s | 10s | 1m20 |
| 18 | 5s | 13s | 8s | 1m20 |
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 Viktor
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Leave his field before 1.25 seconds
Get out of Gravity Field (W) right away: the zone slows, and an enemy who stays in it for 1.25 seconds is stunned.
- Engage after his Gravity Field
If you can engage, go in after Gravity Field (W): it's his only stun, on a 17 to 13 second cooldown, and he has no dash.
- Play hard before his upgrades
Get ahead early: for every 100 Hex Fragments he gets from kills, Glorious Evolution (passive) permanently upgrades one of his spells. His staff's glow shows how far along he is.
- Leave his storm fast
Get out of Arcane Storm (R) fast: it hits every second and follows the champions it just damaged on its own.
Other Malzahar matchups
Patch 16.21.1