Vel'Koz vs Malzahar

Vel'Koz
vs
52.9%

over 34 games

Malzahar

Skill matchup

Heavy CCHeavy AP damageCountered by stasisHigh burst

You are stronger late game. Farm safe and avoid early trades.

Build vs Malzahar

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

Recommended items for Vel'Koz: Luden's Echo, Shadowflame, Zhonya's Hourglass, Sorcerer's Shoes, Horizon Focus, Blackfire Torch, Rabadon's Deathcap, Liandry's Torment.

Starting items

Doran's Ring
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Luden's Echo
1
Shadowflame
2
Zhonya's Hourglass
3

Standard

Sorcerer's Shoes
4Magic pen
Horizon Focus
5

Summoner spells

FlashTeleport68%
FlashBarrier26%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Horizon Focus
Blackfire Torch
Rabadon's Deathcap
Liandry's Torment
Banshee's Veil
Dark Seal
Mejai's Soulstealer
Stormsurge
Void Staff
SorcerySorcery
Arcane CometArcane Comet
Manaflow BandManaflow Band
TranscendenceTranscendence
ScorchScorch
PrecisionPrecision
Cut DownCut Down
Legend: HasteLegend: Haste
Adaptive ForceAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

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 Vel'Koz

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Three spells for the burst

    Hit the same target with three spells: at three stacks, Organic Deconstruction (passive) bursts and deals true damage to them.

  2. Poke and farm with your rift

    Stay back and poke with Void Rift (W): its two charges let you kill minions while stacking your passive on your opponent.

  3. Split your plasma to hit at an angle

    Recast Plasma Fission (Q) to split it: the two bolts fly off at 90 degrees, which lets you hit a target hiding behind their minions.

  4. Start your ray after a knock-up

    Cast Life Form Disintegration Ray (R) after the Tectonic Disruption (E) knock-up: your target can't escape, and the ray deals true damage to targets of Organic Deconstruction (passive).

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