Vladimir vs Malzahar

Vladimir
vs
45.8%

over 72 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 Vladimir: Stormsurge, Rabadon's Deathcap, Void Staff, Ionian Boots of Lucidity, Dark Seal, Hextech Rocketbelt, Cosmic Drive, Riftmaker.

Starting items

Doran's Ring
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Stormsurge
1
Rabadon's Deathcap
2
Void Staff
3

Standard

Ionian Boots of Lucidity
4CDR
Dark Seal
5

Summoner spells

FlashHaste74%
FlashDot22%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Dark Seal
Hextech Rocketbelt
Cosmic Drive
Riftmaker
Zhonya's Hourglass
Shadowflame
Liandry's Torment
Mejai's Soulstealer
Quicksilver Sash
Seeker's Armguard
SorcerySorcery
Stormraider's SurgeStormraider's Surge
Nimbus CloakNimbus Cloak
TranscendenceTranscendence
Gathering StormGathering Storm
PrecisionPrecision
Last StandLast Stand
Legend: HasteLegend: Haste
Ability HasteAdaptive 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 Vladimir

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Save your empowered Transfusion

    After two Transfusion (Q) casts, the next one is empowered for a few seconds: save it for a trade, since it hits harder and heals you based on your missing health.

  2. Farm safely with Transfusion

    Last-hit minions with Transfusion (Q) until your items come in: it deals damage before healing you, and costs you nothing.

  3. Charge Tides of Blood at least 1 second

    Charge Tides of Blood (E) for at least 1 second before releasing: the missiles then also slow, and their damage grows with the charge.

  4. Dodge in your Sanguine Pool

    Save Sanguine Pool (W) to dodge CC or a burst: for 2 seconds, you're untargetable. It costs you part of your current health.

  5. Hemoplague first, burst second

    Cast Hemoplague (R) before your burst: infected enemies take increased damage from all sources, then the blast heals you for each champion hit.

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