How to beat Malphite

Common role: Top

The best counter to Malphite in Top is Diana: 67.7% win rate over 61 ranked games on patch 26.17.

An armor-stacking tank whose ultimate is a game-winning AoE knock-up engage.

What makes Malphite dangerous

Malphite is passive in lane but scales into an unkillable armor tank who bursts squishies with his Q-into-ult combo. His real threat is his ultimate: an unstoppable dash that knocks up everyone it hits, starting teamfights his team wins. He hard-counters AD auto-attackers with his passive shield and W.

How to play against Malphite

• 1Never group up when his ultimate is available — it's a wide, unstoppable AoE knock-up. Spread out and bait or dodge his engage.
• 2Play magic damage into him. His whole kit stacks armor and shields against physical damage; AP champions ignore most of his defense.
• 3In lane, don't waste mana poking a tank — he out-sustains it. Deny his Q slow poke and freeze the wave to punish his weak level 1-5.
• 4Save mobility/flash for his ult angle. If he can't land a multi-man knock-up, his teamfight impact collapses.

Weaknesses to exploit

• ✓His engage is on a long cooldown — punish the window after he uses ult.
• ✓Armor stacking does nothing against AP damage.
• ✓Low mobility outside his ultimate.
• ✓Weak, passive early laner.

Abilities & how to counter them

What each of Malphite's abilities does — and how to play around it.

• P
  Granite Shield

  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.

  Strong: a passive shield that regenerates, blunting your poke. Weak: it breaks under sustained damage — poke it off before all-ins.

• Q
  Seismic Shard

  Malphite sends a shard of the earth through the ground at his foe, dealing damage upon impact and stealing Move Speed for 3 seconds.

• W
  Thunderclap

  Malphite attacks with such force that it creates a sonic boom. For the next few seconds, his attacks create aftershocks in front of him.

  Strong: bonus armor and cleave shred AD auto-attackers. Weak: does nothing against magic damage — play AP into him.

• E
  Ground Slam

  Malphite slams the ground, sending out a shockwave that deals magic damage based on his Armor and reduces the Attack Speed of enemies for a short duration.

• R
  Unstoppable Force

  Malphite launches himself to a location at high speed, damaging enemies and knocking them into the air.

  Strong: an unstoppable AoE knock-up that starts won teamfights. Weak: long cooldown and a fixed line — dodge the angle and don't group when it's up.

Itemization

Beat Malphite with magic damage and % health damage rather than raw AD. If you must fight him physically, armor penetration and anti-shield (Serpent's Fang) help. Save Flash/dashes to dodge his ultimate engage.

This guide covers Malphite's core kit and playstyle — advice that holds up across patches.