Yasuo vs Malphite
Skill matchup
Build vs Malphite
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Yasuo: Blade of The Ruined King, Immortal Shieldbow, Lord Dominik's Regards, Berserker's Greaves, Infinity Edge, Death's Dance, Kraken Slayer, B. F. Sword.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Malphite's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Malphite is shielded by a layer of rock which absorbs damage up to 10% of his maximum Health. If Malphite has not been hit for a few seconds, this effect recharges.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 8s | 10s | 7s | – |
| 6 | 8s | 10s | 7s | 2m10 |
| 9 | 8s | 9.5s | 7s | 2m10 |
| 11 | 8s | 9s | 7s | 1m55 |
| 16 | 8s | 8s | 7s | 1m40 |
| 18 | 8s | 8s | 7s | 1m40 |
Playing as Yasuo
Tips to maximize your impact
- Charge your whirlwind on minions
Hit twice with Steel Tempest (Q), on minions if needed, to charge the whirlwind. Cast it during Sweeping Blade (E): the strike becomes a circle.
- Move to charge your shield
Keep moving before taking a trade: Way of the Wanderer (passive) builds your shield while you move, and it triggers on the first hit you take.
- Dash from minion to minion
Chain Sweeping Blade (E) on different targets to reposition or dodge: each target has its own cooldown, so the spell comes back almost instantly.
- Save Wind Wall for what matters
Save Wind Wall (W) for a projectile that decides the teamfight, like Jinx's ult, rather than for poke: it blocks for 4 seconds, on a 25 to 17 second cooldown.
- Use your allies' knock-ups
Watch for your allies' knock-ups: Last Breath (R) can be cast on any airborne champion, whether the knock-up comes from your whirlwind or Malphite's ult.
Playing against Malphite
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Pop his shield before trading
Break Granite Shield (passive) with a cheap hit before taking a real trade: it absorbs 10% of his max health and triples his bonus armor.
- Lean on magic damage
If you deal magic damage, lean on it in trades: his only resistances come from Thunderclap (W), which only gives armor.
- Trade when his mana runs low
Trade when his mana runs low: Seismic Shard (Q) costs 70 to 90 mana, and it's his only ranged slow.
- Respect his level 6
Once he hits level 6, only step up if he's visible: Unstoppable Force (R) comes from far away, nothing stops it, and its impact knocks every enemy in the area into the air.
- Spread out from your allies
When he has Unstoppable Force (R), spread out from your allies in teamfights: the impact knocks every enemy in the area into the air.
Other Yasuo matchups
Patch 16.21.1