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
  Plan du Néant

  Quand il ne subit pas de dégâts ou de contrôle de foule pendant un temps, Malzahar gagne une énorme réduction des dégâts et devient insensible aux contrôles de foule. Cet effet perdure pendant un court instant après avoir subi des dégâts.

  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
  Appel du Néant

  Malzahar ouvre deux portails vers le Néant. Après un court délai, ils tirent des projectiles qui infligent des dégâts magiques et réduisent les champions ennemis au silence.

  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
  Nuée du Néant

  Malzahar invoque des êtres du Néant qui attaquent les ennemis proches.

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

• E
  Visions maléfiques

  Malzahar tourmente sa cible avec des visions de sa mort, infligeant des dégâts sur la durée. Utiliser les autres sorts de Malzahar sur la cible renouvelle les visions.Si la cible meurt en étant affectée par cet effet, les visions sont transmises à une unité ennemie proche et Malzahar regagne du mana. Les êtres du Néant de Malzahar sont attirés par les cibles ainsi affectées.

  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
  Poigne du Néant

  Malzahar canalise l'essence du Néant pour neutraliser un champion ennemi dans une zone d'énergie négative infligeant des dégâts.

  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.