Malzahar is the simplest mid laner. E spreads through minions for free waveclear, passive blocks one ability for free, and R is a point-and-click 2.5-second suppression. Press R on the carry and your team kills them.
Abilities
Skills Overview
P
Void Shift
Passive
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.
Void Shift: blocks the first enemy ability that hits you. Recharges after 30s without taking damage. Free Banshee's Veil.
Q
Call of the Void
Skillshot · Silence · Zone
Malzahar opens up two portals to the Void. After a short delay, they fire projectiles that deal Magic Damage and silence enemy champions.
CD: 6 · Cost: 60/65/70/75/80
Q silences enemies in a zone for 1-2 seconds. Use to interrupt channels.
W
Void Swarm
Summon · Voidlings
Malzahar summons Voidlings to attack nearby enemies.
CD: 8 · Cost: 40/45/50/55/60
W summons voidlings that attack E-marked targets. They deal significant DPS.
E
Malefic Visions
Point-Click · DoT · Spread
Malzahar infects his target's mind with cruel visions of their demise, dealing damage over time. Using Malzahar's other spells on the target will refresh the visions.If the target dies while afflicted by the visions, they pass on to a nearby enemy unit and Malzahar gains Mana. Malzahar's Voidlings are attracted to affected units.
CD: 11/10/9/8/7 · Cost: 60/70/80/90/100
E applies a DoT (Malefic Visions). If the target dies, it SPREADS to the nearest enemy. Push wave passively.
R
Nether Grasp
Point-Click · Suppression · %HP
Malzahar channels the essence of the Void to suppress an enemy champion over a zone of damaging negative energy.
CD: 140/110/80 · Cost: 100
R suppresses for 2.5 seconds. Target is completely locked down. %max HP damage. Point-and-click.
Skill Leveling Order — Max E first, then Q, then W · R at 6 / 11 / 16
| Level | Q | W | E | R | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Take E — DoT spread | ||||
| 2 | Take Q — silence | ||||
| 3 | Take W — voidlings | ||||
| 4 | Level E | ||||
| 5 | Level E | ||||
| 6 | R — Nether Grasp | ||||
| 7 | Level E | ||||
| 8 | Level Q | ||||
| 9 | E maxed ✓ | ||||
| 10 | Level Q | ||||
| 11 | R rank 2 | ||||
| 12 | Level Q | ||||
| 13 | Level Q | ||||
| 14 | Q maxed ✓ | ||||
| 15 | Level W | ||||
| 16 | R rank 3 | ||||
| 17 | Level W | ||||
| 18 | W maxed ✓ |
Itemization
Recommended Builds
Core Build
Malignance
Ultimate CDR. More R suppressions.
2700g
Sorcerer's Shoes
Magic pen.
1100g
Rylai's Crystal Scepter
E DoT perma-slows.
2600g
Rabadon's Deathcap
AP multiplier.
3600g
Situational
Void Staff
Magic pen.
2800g
Zhonya's Hourglass
Stasis.
3250g
Morellonomicon
Grievous wounds.
2500g
Malignance → Rylai's → Deathcap. R with ultimate CDR = suppression every fight.
Runes
Sorcery Primary
Summon Aery
Aery procs on every E DoT tick for consistent damage.
Manaflow Band
Mana sustain.
Transcendence
CDR for R uptime.
Scorch
Extra DoT on E poke.
Inspiration Secondary
Biscuit Delivery
Sustain.
Cosmic Insight
CDR.
Shards
Adaptive Force · Adaptive Force · Health
Gameplay
How to Play Malzahar
01
Early Game
E Spread Waveclear
- E on the first minion. If it dies, E spreads to the next. Free waveclear.
- Passive blocks one ability. You're safe from ganks and poke.
- Q silence through the wave for poke.
- W voidlings attack E-marked targets for bonus DPS.
- Push wave and roam. Your waveclear is effortless.
02
Mid Game
R the Carry
- R on the carry = 2.5 seconds suppression. Your team kills them during.
- E → W → R combo. Voidlings attack the suppressed target.
- Q silence interrupts channels (Katarina R, Fiddle R, etc.).
- Passive shield blocks the first ability. Walk forward confidently.
- Push mid → roam → R the side lane carry.
03
Late Game
Guaranteed Suppression
- R on the fed enemy = 2.5s suppression = dead. Point-and-click.
- Even behind, R is always valuable. Guaranteed lockdown.
- E + Rylai's = permanent slow on DoT. Enemies can't escape.
- Q silence in teamfights interrupts channels and casting.
- Passive blocks one ability per fight. Free survivability.
Teamfighting
How to Teamfight as Malzahar
Malzahar R suppresses the enemy carry for 2.5 seconds. Your team kills them during suppression.
1
Lock — R Suppression
Point-and-click
01
R the highest priority target.
02
2.5 seconds suppression.
03
%max HP damage during channel.
R channels — you're stationary too. Position safely before R-ing.
2
DPS — E + W
Voidlings
01
E the suppressed target.
02
W voidlings attack E target.
03
Q silence remaining enemies.
3
Spread — E Propagation
Cleanup
01
If R target dies, E spreads.
02
Chain E through nearby enemies.
03
Rylai's slows everything E touches.
R is countered by QSS (Quicksilver Sash). Track who has QSS and R someone else.
Tips & Tricks
Advanced Mechanics & Hidden Tech
Advanced mechanics for Malzahar.
Basic
R is Point-and-Click
R cannot miss. It's guaranteed 2.5s suppression on ANY target. Use it on the carry every fight.
Intermediate
E Spread
E spreads to the nearest enemy when the target dies. Push waves by E-ing the first minion.
Basic
Passive Shield
Passive blocks one enemy ability. It's a free Banshee's Veil.
Intermediate
QSS Counter
QSS cleanses R. Track who has QSS and R someone else.
Basic
Q Silence
Q silences for 1-2 seconds. Use it to interrupt enemy channels.
Intermediate
W Voidlings
W voidlings attack E-marked targets. Cast W before R for maximum DPS during suppression.
Matchups
Counters & Matchups
Malzahar struggles against champions who can buy QSS and long-range poke that breaks his passive. He excels against melee champions he can R.
Click any matchup to expand tips & how to play against them
Loses Against
Outranges you and pokes passive shield.
Farm and push. R her when she mispositions.
Pokes from screen distance. Breaks passive easily.
Push and roam. Don't fight Xerath.
Outranges and zones you.
Farm equally. R him when he walks forward.
Wins Against
Windwall doesn't block R. He's melee = free R target.
R Yasuo. Windwall can't save him.
R cancels her R channel. She's useless.
Save R for when Katarina R's. Channel cancelled.
R suppresses through his E. Can't dodge point-and-click.
R before Fizz E's. Suppression is instant.