Malzahar vs Zoe

Malzahar
vs
Not enough games
Zoe
High burstHeavy AP damageCountered by spell shieldHeavy poke

Build vs Zoe

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, Boots of Swiftness, Zhonya's Hourglass, Shadowflame, Rabadon's Deathcap, Morellonomicon.

Starting items

Doran's Ring
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Blackfire Torch
1
Liandry's Torment
2
Rylai's Crystal Scepter
3

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Zhonya's Hourglass
5

Summoner spells

FlashDot67%
FlashHaste33%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Zhonya's Hourglass
Shadowflame
Rabadon's Deathcap
Morellonomicon
SorcerySorcery
Arcane CometArcane Comet
Manaflow BandManaflow Band
TranscendenceTranscendence
Gathering StormGathering Storm
InspirationInspiration
Magical FootwearMagical Footwear
Cosmic InsightCosmic Insight
Adaptive ForceAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Zoe's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

More Sparkles! (P)

Zoe's next basic attack after casting a spell deals bonus magic damage.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
38.5s0.25s18s–
67.5s0.25s18s11s
96.5s0.25s18s11s
116.5s0.25s18s8s
166.5s0.25s16s5s
186.5s0.25s14s5s

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 Zoe

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Dodge her bubble

    Dodge Sleepy Trouble Bubble (E): asleep, you take double damage from the hit that wakes you, often her Paddle Star! (Q).

  2. Aim at her return point

    During Portal Jump (R), aim at her starting position: she returns there after 1 second, and can't move in the meantime.

  3. Don't step on her bubbles

    Don't walk onto a bubble left on the ground: a Sleepy Trouble Bubble (E) that hits nothing turns into a trap.

  4. Ward behind the walls

    Ward the hidden spots behind walls near your lane: Sleepy Trouble Bubble (E) reaches farther over a wall, and Zoe hides there to set it up.

Patch 16.21.1