How to play malzahar – Prepare to unravel the enigmatic secrets of Malzahar, a formidable champion who commands the Void’s power. As we embark on this comprehensive guide, you’ll discover the intricacies of his abilities, itemization, and strategies to unleash his full potential on the battlefield.
From the depths of the Void, Malzahar emerges as a master manipulator, capable of summoning Voidlings to his aid, inflicting debilitating visions, and ultimately ensnaring foes with his ultimate, Nether Grasp. With a clear understanding of his strengths and weaknesses, you’ll learn how to position yourself effectively, maximize your damage output, and control the flow of team fights.
Champion Overview
Malzahar is a formidable mid lane mage who excels at controlling the battlefield and dealing sustained damage. His abilities allow him to farm safely, push lanes effectively, and disable multiple enemies in team fights. Malzahar is particularly potent against teams with immobile or melee-heavy compositions.
He excels in team fights, where his Voidlings and ultimate, Nether Grasp, can wreak havoc on enemy ranks. However, he can struggle against highly mobile champions who can dodge his abilities or burst him down quickly.
Abilities and Synergies
Void Shift (Passive):Malzahar gains a shield that absorbs damage when he casts a spell. This shield allows him to sustain in lane and survive burst damage.
Call of the Void (Q):Malzahar summons a Voidling that deals damage and slows enemies. This ability is excellent for farming, harassing, and zoning opponents.
Malefic Visions (W):Malzahar applies a debuff on an enemy, reducing their magic resistance and dealing damage over time. When combined with Call of the Void, this debuff can amplify the damage of Malzahar’s other abilities.
Plague Crawlers (E):Malzahar spawns Plague Crawlers that attack nearby enemies, dealing magic damage. These Crawlers also apply Malefic Visions, making them a potent tool for sustained damage and control.
Nether Grasp (R):Malzahar suppresses an enemy champion, silencing them and dealing damage over time. This ultimate is devastating in team fights, as it can disable a key enemy and allow Malzahar’s team to focus their damage.
Itemization and Rune Selection
Optimal Item Builds:
- Liandry’s Anguish:Provides magic penetration, health, and bonus damage to enemies affected by crowd control.
- Rylai’s Crystal Scepter:Slows enemies hit by Malzahar’s abilities, making it easier to land his Voidlings and Plague Crawlers.
- Zhonya’s Hourglass:Grants Malzahar invulnerability, allowing him to cast Nether Grasp without interruption.
Rune Selection:
| Rune | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Arcane Comet: Deals bonus magic damage on ability casts, synergizing well with Malzahar’s high ability usage. | Manaflow Band: Restores mana on ability casts, allowing Malzahar to sustain in lane and cast more spells. |
| Transcendence: Reduces the cooldown of Malzahar’s ultimate, Nether Grasp, making it more available in team fights. | Scorch: Deals additional magic damage on ability casts, enhancing Malzahar’s early game harass. |
Laning Phase
Laning Strengths:
- Excellent wave clear with Call of the Void and Plague Crawlers.
- Sustained damage and zoning with Malefic Visions.
- Void Shift shield provides survivability against burst damage.
Laning Weaknesses:
- Vulnerable to ganks due to lack of mobility.
- Struggles against champions with high burst damage.
- Requires mana management to sustain in lane.
Strategies:
- Farm safely with Call of the Void and Plague Crawlers.
- Use Malefic Visions to harass enemies and set up Voidlings for maximum damage.
- Ward aggressively to prevent ganks.
- Coordinate with jungler for ganks.
Team Fighting
Role:Malzahar’s role in team fights is to control the battlefield, disable key enemies, and deal sustained damage.
Positioning:Stay in the backline and focus on casting abilities from a safe distance.
Initiation:Coordinate with teammates to initiate with Nether Grasp on a high-priority target.
Disengaging:Use Void Shift to protect yourself from burst damage and escape if necessary.
Communication:Communicate with teammates to coordinate target focus and ultimate usage.
Advanced Techniques, How to play malzahar
Voidling Manipulation:Control Voidlings to block enemy movement, body block skill shots, and deal maximum damage.
Plague Crawler Synergies:Use Plague Crawlers to apply Malefic Visions on multiple enemies, amplifying the damage of your abilities.
Nether Grasp Mind Games:Use Nether Grasp strategically to bait enemies into unfavorable positions or interrupt key abilities.
Answers to Common Questions: How To Play Malzahar
What is Malzahar’s role in team fights?
Malzahar excels as a control mage in team fights, using his abilities to disrupt enemy formations, deal sustained damage, and suppress key targets with Nether Grasp.
How do I counter Malzahar’s laning phase?
Malzahar can be countered in the laning phase by champions with strong crowd control, mobility, or sustain. Champions like Yasuo, Zed, and Ahri can effectively dodge his abilities and harass him.
What are the core items for Malzahar?
Liandry’s Anguish, Rylai’s Crystal Scepter, and Zhonya’s Hourglass are essential items for Malzahar. These items provide him with the damage, crowd control, and survivability he needs to dominate the mid lane and team fights.