Malzahar Guide

[Konobar]

Here's a complete guide for playing Malzahar, the Prophet of the Void, in League of Legends! This guide will cover his runes, abilities, item builds, and gameplay strategies for both the laning phase and team fights.

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1. Champion Overview​

Malzahar is a mid-lane mage known for his strong waveclear, reliable crowd control, and damage over time. He excels at locking down key targets with his ultimate, Nether Grasp, and can effectively suppress enemies for his team. Malzahar is especially good against teams with few ways to break his shield or interrupt his channeling abilities.
Strengths:

• Great waveclear and easy farming with Malefic Visions
• Excellent crowd control with his ultimate, which is a point-and-click suppression
• Strong zoning and area denial with Void Swarm
• Passive shield provides additional survivability in lane

Weaknesses:

• Vulnerable to mobile champions and champions with hard crowd control
• Requires careful positioning as he has limited mobility
• Ultimate can be interrupted, which can weaken his impact in fights

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2. Runes​

Malzahar’s runes focus on maximizing his poke, waveclear, and ability to lock down targets with his ultimate.

Primary Path: Sorcery​

• Arcane Comet – Provides extra poke damage with Malefic Visions and Call of the Void. The cooldown reduction is useful for consistent harass in lane.
• Manaflow Band – Gives extra mana sustain, helping Malzahar to keep casting without running out of resources.
• Transcendence – Grants cooldown reduction at level 10, allowing Malzahar to spam abilities more often and better control fights.
• Gathering Storm – Provides bonus AP over time, giving Malzahar a strong late-game presence.

Secondary Path: Inspiration​

• Perfect Timing – Grants a free Stopwatch, which can be upgraded into Zhonya's Hourglass to help Malzahar survive in team fights.
• Cosmic Insight – Increases cooldown reduction on summoner spells and items, helping him use his abilities and Zhonya's more frequently.

Stat Runes:

• Ability Power
• Adaptive Force
• Armor or Magic Resist (depending on your opponent)

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3. Summoner Spells​

• Flash – Essential for both escaping and repositioning in fights.
• Teleport – Great for returning to lane quickly, allowing Malzahar to apply pressure across the map.

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4. Abilities​

Here’s a rundown of Malzahar’s abilities and tips on how to use them effectively.

Passive – Void Shift​

• After a few seconds without taking direct damage or crowd control, Malzahar gains a shield that blocks one enemy ability or auto-attack. This shield is excellent for avoiding poke or even crucial abilities in team fights.

Q – Call of the Void​

• Malzahar opens two portals, dealing magic damage and silencing all enemies hit. Use this ability to poke in lane or silence key threats in team fights.

W – Void Swarm​

• Malzahar summons Voidlings that deal damage over time and prioritize enemies affected by Malefic Visions. This ability is great for zoning and dealing sustained damage.

E – Malefic Visions​

• Malzahar infects the target with Malefic Visions, dealing damage over time. If the target dies while under its effect, it spreads to a nearby enemy. This ability is Malzahar’s main waveclear tool, and spreading it across minions allows him to push lanes quickly.

R – Nether Grasp​

• Malzahar suppresses the target, dealing damage over time and rendering them immobile. Use this ability on high-priority targets to lock them down, making it easy for your team to follow up.

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5. Ability Leveling Order​

Max Order: R > E > Q > W

• E (Malefic Visions) is maxed first for waveclear and consistent poke.
• Q (Call of the Void) is maxed second for increased damage and a lower cooldown on silence.
• W (Void Swarm) is maxed last as it is mainly used for supplementary damage and zoning.

---

6. Item Build​

Starting Items​

• Doran's Ring – Provides bonus AP and mana sustain, which is helpful in the early game.
• Health Potions

Core Items​

1. Liandry’s Anguish – Grants ability power and deals bonus damage over time, which works well with Malzahar’s damage-over-time playstyle.
2. Rylai’s Crystal Scepter – Adds health, ability power, and a slow effect to abilities, making Malzahar’s spells harder to avoid and Voidlings more effective.
3. Zhonya’s Hourglass – Provides a stasis active, crucial for surviving aggressive divers or for using Nether Grasp safely.

Situational Items​

• Morellonomicon – Adds healing reduction to deal with champions who have strong sustain.
• Banshee’s Veil – Grants a spell shield to block an ability, great for additional survivability.
• Void Staff – Provides magic penetration, useful against tanky opponents with high magic resist.
• Demonic Embrace – Boosts Malzahar’s tankiness and provides additional burn damage, great for high-health enemies.

Full Build Example​

1. Liandry’s Anguish
2. Sorcerer’s Shoes
3. Rylai’s Crystal Scepter
4. Zhonya’s Hourglass
5. Void Staff
6. Morellonomicon or Banshee’s Veil

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7. Laning Phase Tips​

• Use Malefic Visions on Minions – Spread it across minions to clear waves quickly and apply pressure on your opponent.
• Harass with E and Arcane Comet – When your opponent moves up to last-hit, apply Malefic Visions and follow up with a quick Call of the Void to poke and trigger Arcane Comet.
• Stay Safe with Passive – Malzahar’s passive shield helps block some poke and potential engages. Stay back when it’s down, and trade more confidently when it’s up.
• Push and Roam – Malzahar is great at pushing waves, which opens up opportunities to roam and assist other lanes.

---

8. Team Fights​

• Focus High-Value Targets with Nether Grasp – Use your ultimate on priority targets, such as enemy ADCs or mages, to take them out of the fight.
• Position for AoE Silence – Call of the Void can silence multiple enemies if aimed well, making it a powerful tool in fights.
• Place Void Swarm Strategically – Use Void Swarm to create zoning pressure and force enemies to avoid areas of the fight.
• Don’t Overextend – Malzahar is immobile, so stay near your team and avoid pushing too far forward.

---

9. General Tips​

• Keep an Eye on Cooldowns – Malzahar’s damage comes mostly from his Malefic Visions and Void Swarm, so make sure you don’t miss the chance to cast them in sequence.
• Use Nether Grasp Wisely – Save your ultimate for high-value targets or those who lack Cleanse or QSS to maximize its impact.
• Break Shields with Passive – Malzahar’s passive is especially helpful against champions with crowd control, so keep it active whenever possible to block enemy spells.
• Watch for Roaming Opportunities – Malzahar’s strong waveclear allows you to push and roam. Look to help your jungler or gank side lanes when possible.

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By following these strategies, you'll turn Malzahar into a reliable control mage capable of locking down and zoning out key targets. Let me know if you want more specific tips or help with different matchups!

4o

 

[Konobar]

@Kuys

 

[Kuys]

Here's a complete guide for playing Malzahar, the Prophet of the Void, in League of Legends! This guide will cover his runes, abilities, item builds, and gameplay strategies for both the laning phase and team fights.

---

1. Champion Overview​

Malzahar is a mid-lane mage known for his strong waveclear, reliable crowd control, and damage over time. He excels at locking down key targets with his ultimate, Nether Grasp, and can effectively suppress enemies for his team. Malzahar is especially good against teams with few ways to break his shield or interrupt his channeling abilities.
Strengths:

• Great waveclear and easy farming with Malefic Visions
• Excellent crowd control with his ultimate, which is a point-and-click suppression
• Strong zoning and area denial with Void Swarm
• Passive shield provides additional survivability in lane

Weaknesses:

• Vulnerable to mobile champions and champions with hard crowd control
• Requires careful positioning as he has limited mobility
• Ultimate can be interrupted, which can weaken his impact in fights

---

2. Runes​

Malzahar’s runes focus on maximizing his poke, waveclear, and ability to lock down targets with his ultimate.

Primary Path: Sorcery​

• Arcane Comet – Provides extra poke damage with Malefic Visions and Call of the Void. The cooldown reduction is useful for consistent harass in lane.
• Manaflow Band – Gives extra mana sustain, helping Malzahar to keep casting without running out of resources.
• Transcendence – Grants cooldown reduction at level 10, allowing Malzahar to spam abilities more often and better control fights.
• Gathering Storm – Provides bonus AP over time, giving Malzahar a strong late-game presence.

Secondary Path: Inspiration​

• Perfect Timing – Grants a free Stopwatch, which can be upgraded into Zhonya's Hourglass to help Malzahar survive in team fights.
• Cosmic Insight – Increases cooldown reduction on summoner spells and items, helping him use his abilities and Zhonya's more frequently.

Stat Runes:

• Ability Power
• Adaptive Force
• Armor or Magic Resist (depending on your opponent)

---

3. Summoner Spells​

• Flash – Essential for both escaping and repositioning in fights.
• Teleport – Great for returning to lane quickly, allowing Malzahar to apply pressure across the map.

---

4. Abilities​

Here’s a rundown of Malzahar’s abilities and tips on how to use them effectively.

Passive – Void Shift​

• After a few seconds without taking direct damage or crowd control, Malzahar gains a shield that blocks one enemy ability or auto-attack. This shield is excellent for avoiding poke or even crucial abilities in team fights.

Q – Call of the Void​

• Malzahar opens two portals, dealing magic damage and silencing all enemies hit. Use this ability to poke in lane or silence key threats in team fights.

W – Void Swarm​

• Malzahar summons Voidlings that deal damage over time and prioritize enemies affected by Malefic Visions. This ability is great for zoning and dealing sustained damage.

E – Malefic Visions​

• Malzahar infects the target with Malefic Visions, dealing damage over time. If the target dies while under its effect, it spreads to a nearby enemy. This ability is Malzahar’s main waveclear tool, and spreading it across minions allows him to push lanes quickly.

R – Nether Grasp​

• Malzahar suppresses the target, dealing damage over time and rendering them immobile. Use this ability on high-priority targets to lock them down, making it easy for your team to follow up.

---

5. Ability Leveling Order​

Max Order: R > E > Q > W

• E (Malefic Visions) is maxed first for waveclear and consistent poke.
• Q (Call of the Void) is maxed second for increased damage and a lower cooldown on silence.
• W (Void Swarm) is maxed last as it is mainly used for supplementary damage and zoning.

---

6. Item Build​

Starting Items​

• Doran's Ring – Provides bonus AP and mana sustain, which is helpful in the early game.
• Health Potions

Core Items​

1. Liandry’s Anguish – Grants ability power and deals bonus damage over time, which works well with Malzahar’s damage-over-time playstyle.
2. Rylai’s Crystal Scepter – Adds health, ability power, and a slow effect to abilities, making Malzahar’s spells harder to avoid and Voidlings more effective.
3. Zhonya’s Hourglass – Provides a stasis active, crucial for surviving aggressive divers or for using Nether Grasp safely.

Situational Items​

• Morellonomicon – Adds healing reduction to deal with champions who have strong sustain.
• Banshee’s Veil – Grants a spell shield to block an ability, great for additional survivability.
• Void Staff – Provides magic penetration, useful against tanky opponents with high magic resist.
• Demonic Embrace – Boosts Malzahar’s tankiness and provides additional burn damage, great for high-health enemies.

Full Build Example​

1. Liandry’s Anguish
2. Sorcerer’s Shoes
3. Rylai’s Crystal Scepter
4. Zhonya’s Hourglass
5. Void Staff
6. Morellonomicon or Banshee’s Veil

---

7. Laning Phase Tips​

• Use Malefic Visions on Minions – Spread it across minions to clear waves quickly and apply pressure on your opponent.
• Harass with E and Arcane Comet – When your opponent moves up to last-hit, apply Malefic Visions and follow up with a quick Call of the Void to poke and trigger Arcane Comet.
• Stay Safe with Passive – Malzahar’s passive shield helps block some poke and potential engages. Stay back when it’s down, and trade more confidently when it’s up.
• Push and Roam – Malzahar is great at pushing waves, which opens up opportunities to roam and assist other lanes.

---

8. Team Fights​

• Focus High-Value Targets with Nether Grasp – Use your ultimate on priority targets, such as enemy ADCs or mages, to take them out of the fight.
• Position for AoE Silence – Call of the Void can silence multiple enemies if aimed well, making it a powerful tool in fights.
• Place Void Swarm Strategically – Use Void Swarm to create zoning pressure and force enemies to avoid areas of the fight.
• Don’t Overextend – Malzahar is immobile, so stay near your team and avoid pushing too far forward.

---

9. General Tips​

• Keep an Eye on Cooldowns – Malzahar’s damage comes mostly from his Malefic Visions and Void Swarm, so make sure you don’t miss the chance to cast them in sequence.
• Use Nether Grasp Wisely – Save your ultimate for high-value targets or those who lack Cleanse or QSS to maximize its impact.
• Break Shields with Passive – Malzahar’s passive is especially helpful against champions with crowd control, so keep it active whenever possible to block enemy spells.
• Watch for Roaming Opportunities – Malzahar’s strong waveclear allows you to push and roam. Look to help your jungler or gank side lanes when possible.

---

By following these strategies, you'll turn Malzahar into a reliable control mage capable of locking down and zoning out key targets. Let me know if you want more specific tips or help with different matchups!

4o

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