Qiyana vs Malzahar

Qiyana
vs
Not enough games
Malzahar
Heavy CCHeavy AP damageCountered by stasisHigh burst

Build vs Malzahar

The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup

Recommended items for Qiyana: Voltaic Cyclosword, Bastionbreaker, Edge of Night, Ionian Boots of Lucidity, Serylda's Grudge, Serpent's Fang, Guardian Angel, Youmuu's Ghostblade.

Starting items

Gustwalker Hatchling
Health Potion

Core build

Voltaic Cyclosword
1
Bastionbreaker
2
Edge of Night
3

Standard

Ionian Boots of Lucidity
4CDR
Serylda's Grudge
5

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Serylda's Grudge
Serpent's Fang
Guardian Angel
Youmuu's Ghostblade

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Malzahar's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Void Shift (P)

When he hasn't recently taken damage or been crowd controlled, Malzahar gains massive damage reduction and crowd control immunity, lingering for a short period after taking damage.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
36s8s11s–
66s8s11s2m20
96s8s11s2m20
116s8s11s1m50
166s8s9s1m20
186s8s7s1m20

Playing as Qiyana

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Pick your element for the job

    Pick your Terrashape (W) element for the job: river for an Ice root, terrain for Rock's bonus damage on low-health targets, brush for Wild's invisibility.

  2. Two Elemental Wraths with Terrashape

    Cast Terrashape (W) right after Elemental Wrath (Q): the dash resets its cooldown, so you can recast it in the same combo.

  3. Slam them against a wall

    Cast Supreme Display of Talent (R) toward a wall near the enemies: the explosion runs along the whole edge of the obstacle, and any river or brush it crosses explodes too.

  4. Roam with the brush element

    Roam with Wild, the brush element: Elemental Wrath (Q) then leaves a trail that makes you invisible and speeds you up.

Playing against Malzahar

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Get out of his portals

    Get out of the Call of the Void (Q) zone quickly: its two portals fire after a short delay, and their projectiles silence you.

  2. Break his Void Shift first

    If you have CC, hit him first with a cheap attack, then wait a moment: Void Shift (passive) still ignores CC right after the first damage.

  3. Avoid minions hit by his Visions

    Stay away from minions hit by Malefic Visions (E): if they die, the visions jump to the nearest enemy, and his Voidlings follow them.

  4. Trade before he hits 6

    Take your trades before he hits level 6: after that, Nether Grasp (R) can lock you down from range while his team hits you.

  5. Focus him during his Grasp

    When he casts Nether Grasp (R) on an ally, focus him: he channels in place, and any CC interrupts him and frees your ally.

Patch 16.21.1