How to beat Malzahar

Common role: Mid

A control mage whose ultimate is a guaranteed single-target lockdown.

What makes Malzahar dangerous

Malzahar spreads a silence (E-like) and voidlings, shields himself with his passive after taking damage, and his ultimate suppresses a target in place — an unstoppable, point-blank lockdown that sets up his team for a free kill. He pushes waves effortlessly and roams.

How to play against Malzahar

• 1Bring QSS or Cleanse: they break his suppression ult and neuter his whole kit.
• 2Pop his passive shield with poke before you all-in — under shield he is untouchable.
• 3Don't stand in his spreading pool/voidlings; they ramp damage the longer you sit.
• 4He is immobile — dive him or send a roaming jungler; he cannot escape a gank.

Weaknesses to exploit

• ✓Completely immobile — no dash or escape.
• ✓When his passive shield is on cooldown he is extremely vulnerable.
• ✓His ult locks only one target; the rest of your team is free.
• ✓Weak to dives, roams and hard engage.

Abilities & how to counter them

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

• P
  Leerenverschiebung

  Wenn Malzahar eine Zeit lang weder Schaden erleidet noch von Massenkontrolle betroffen ist, erhält er enorme Schadensverringerung und Immunität gegen Massenkontrolle, die noch kurz anhält, nachdem er Schaden erlitten hat.

  Strong: a shield that makes him immune to CC while it holds. Weak: it only forms after not taking damage — poke him to keep it down, then engage.

• Q
  Ruf der Leere

  Malzahar öffnet 2 Portale in die Leere. Nach kurzer Zeit fliegen Geschosse aus diesen Portalen in das jeweils andere, die an allen getroffenen Gegnern dazwischen Schaden verursachen und Champions zum Schweigen bringen.

  Strong: two portals silence and damage in a wide area. Weak: telegraphed with a delay and a gap between portals — step to the safe zone.

• W
  Leerenschwarm

  Malzahar ruft Begleiter der Leere herbei, die nahe Gegner angreifen.

  Strong: summons voidlings that add sustained damage and push. Weak: the voidlings are fragile and slow — ignore them and focus him.

• E
  Üble Visionen

  Malzahar infiziert den Verstand seines Ziels mit grausamen Visionen und verursacht so Schaden. Werden Malzahars andere Zauber auf das Ziel genutzt, frischt dies die Visionen auf.Stirbt das Ziel, während es von Visionen betroffen ist, springen diese auf einen nahe stehenden Gegner über, um diesen heimzusuchen und Malzahar erhält Mana. Malzahars Begleiter der Leere greifen bevorzugt Ziele an, die unter Visionen leiden.

  Strong: a DoT that spreads to nearby enemies and refunds mana on kill. Weak: pure damage, no CC — just don't clump so it can't spread.

• R
  Leerengriff

  Malzahar konzentriert die Essenz der Leere, um einen gegnerischen Champion in einer Zone schädigender negativer Energie zu unterdrücken.

  Strong: an unstoppable point-blank suppression that hands you to his team. Weak: single target and channelled — QSS or Cleanse breaks it, and CC on him cancels it.

Itemization

A QSS/Mercurial line is the single best buy against him. Add magic resist; poke him out of his shield before committing.

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