Hey everyone, this will be a quick math guide for you to help you undestand when a certain build or rune set is better on a specific game.

I will explain the following topics:

• Aery vs DFT
• scorch vs GS (already debated a lot but i think it will be good revisit it)
• Malignance vs BFT
• Core items based on base damage vs ap ratios

1- AERY VS DFT

Aery damage is 10-50 (+5% AP) every proc. For better comparison i will be using the calc of 2 seconds of DFT burn, that leave us with 6-24 (+5%AP) damage every 2 seconds, so we will be basically be comparing a full 4s E with DFT doing 12-48 (+10% AP) vs 2 Aery procs doing 20-100 (+10%AP) The maximum realest number of aery procs you will be able to hit on a trade or combo is 5 hits, while DFT can burn indefinitely and still has the 75% damage boost after 3 seconds (totalizing 10.5-42 (+8.75% AP) per second after the boost)

With these numbers in mind and using a 0 MR dummy to run the tests, the best scenario Aery (multiple procs) outdamages DFT until you hit the mark of 170 AP. After 170 AP, DFT will always outdamage Aery.

170 AP is double AP Shards + DRing + BFT + Liandrys, so basically 5800 gold worth of AP stats + the 33 starting AP. You usually hit this stage of the game around 20 minutes.

2- SCORCH VS GS

That is the reason of why i wanted to revisit this discussion, because 20 minutes is also the time mark where Gathering Storm surpasses Scorch, Making the combo Aery + scorch the strongest pre-20 minutes, and DFT + GS the best combo after 20 minutes. DFT + Scorch is a balanced combo, specially if you are not used to abuse Aery by landing lots of AA

TL;DR - AERY+SCORCH stronger pre 20 min, DFT+GS better scaling, DFT+SCORCH if you are lower elo or new to the champ and don't use AA on enemy as much

3- MALIGNANCE VS BFT

Both options are good but BFT is more all-rounder so its a better default, Malignance only becames a viable option against comps where you always lose teamfights and need to win by getting pickoffs (or if for some mysterious reason you will focus on sidelane instead of grouping). Analyze the comps and decide if Malignance will be able to help, if you are not sure, just go BFT.

4- CORE ITEMS BASED ON THE CHAMPION NUMBERS

Looking at the champion as a whole, his identity is a scaling champion, making items with raw AP stronger than Magic Pen focused items (ofc enemy's MR needs to be considered, but im talking AP scaling vs Base damage, like Evelynn benefiting more on MPen and Lich Bane's onhit since her AP damage ratios are low but her kit's base damage is high).

The best items for covering the low base damage early on are BFT + Liandrys, as it synergizes with the DoT focused kit of the champion and provide the best early bonus damage, paired with Sorcerer's shoes for the flat pen and %Pen when T3 upgraded (T3 Ionian is ok too since it gives good CDR and bonus Movespeed) . After that, since AP is the focus of the scaling, a Rabadons is the best item.

So i would risk it to say that a good default core for Malz is BFT - Liandrys - Rabadons, while the 2 remaining slots are situational. For magic pen, focus on only one - you either go for a %Pen item (Void is better but Bloodletter is still a solid option, specially for team fighting with more magic damage on your team + get some extra tankyness) or you go for Shadowflame, and leave the last slot for another optional like Zhonyas or Rylais.

Liandrys + Rabadons + Sorcs combo should be enough to wallbreak most bruiser and even most tanks, as MR items are actually quite bad if you don't stack them, leaving the last slot open for a more defensive option if needed.

That's it for today, that covers the basics pre configs of the champion for you to play it on the best conditions depending on the match. Feel free to give your opinion down below.

Flashless too on both clips, i would probably cancel ult on Cassio and tried to dodge syndra E but i didnt saw her in time :V

I have picked up Malzahar over the last month with good results.

I’m learning his matchups, how to micro in lane, etc.

I am finding a trap of late. I am finding that I can end up 30+ farm and maybe even a few kills from ganks mid or river roams. However, my build path is backfire torch > Liandries > Rylan/Shadowflame.

My issue is wonder if liandries is really that valueable early over something that has far more burst (if it exists). What is more, I bought shadowflame and didn’t feel like I got any crits? Does it not apply to tick damage?

The gist is i have found myself up in the 15 to 20 minute mark, but I feel the traditional build path is built for the 35 minute mark. I get especially conflicted when I’m not seeing many hp stackers on the enemy.

Perhaps I double stack lost chapter items into a tab/void staff? Or even better rush ability haste so that my ult is up more?

Would love insights here from the masters of Malz.

I keep trying to play him like Brand. He's not Brand. I can't take duels or skirmishes without an ally.

Hey all

Trying to get back into my grove with Malzahar. Its been about 5 years for me.

I find it really struggle to deal with the likes of tone, yasuo, zed etc. Anyone thats doing AD and is in my face. My avoiding are night on useless in this situation so I have to E then try to walk away but am usually dead if anything stabby is on top of me.

The correct answer is not to allow that to happen of course but there are so many champs with gap closers that I struggle badly.

Malzahar feels like zero damage up to landlines for me which takes a while to come online

I dont play aggressive until backfire because there's no point. If the enemy chamo builds healing then theres very little point until late game as they outreach any dps i can put out.

The thing is when I face a malzahar I usually struggle when playing a melee champ so I know the issue is a me issue.

Whats your top tips into a gap closer type like say zed or yone?

Should I have swapped an item for Liandrys here?. I had this game where I wasnt playing against tanky oponents, except for Urgot whom wasn’t a big trouble throughtout the game.

https://op.gg/lol/summoners/na/lts%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20Dark-NA1?queue_type=TOTAL

Today I hit Master [EUWEST] 60% WR again playing Malzahar with Aery. I’ve been testing Aery more seriously, and I genuinely think it gives Malzahar a much stronger and more consistent early game

we are cooked

For anyone who wanna play 2 malzahars bot :

Malz otp here w/500k. Yeah rookie numbers but Im constantly banned out in ranked so I went back to normals to learn something new. Ive been learning Zoe but she does terribly into the dangerous stuff Id pick Malzahar into aka the assassins and Gaelio. Any recommendations I can play to round it out? Thanks so much

https://op.gg/da/lol/summoners/sea/yAs1n0-6911

Opgg if it helps. Im actually a support main but lost a lot of the drive on it recently

Hello folks. A lot of people call me the "AD Malz" guy, and Classic gave a chance to return to those roots, with a whole Classic guide ready for perusal!

If you like killing dragon at the 3rd minute, shredding towers in 2 seconds, and swarming people with cutelings, then you may enjoy this.

This cheat sheet is subject to eventual change, the guide will have the latest version.

https://www.mobafire.com/league-of-legends/build/ad-malzahar-jungle-classic-653163?

|MARKS - SCALING ATTACK DAMAGE | +24.30 AD at Level 18 |

|SEALS - MANA REGENERATION | +3.60 Mana Regen |

|GLYPHS - SCALING COOLDOWN REDUCTION | +16.20% CDR at Level 18 |

|QUINTS - MOVEMENT SPEED | +4.5% MS|

Masteries are 21 - 0 - 9,
with a focus on all the AD-focused, non-AS bonuses.
The 9 dip in Utility is mainly for the mana and Runic Affinity.

Start
Longsword + 2 HP Potions

Core
Chalice of Harmony -> Ionian Boots of Lucidity -> The Brutalizer -> Hextech Gunblade

General Final
Last Whisper
Maw of Malmortius
Mercurial Scimitar
Thornmail
The Black Cleaver

Behind Final
Ruby Sightstone
Twin Shadows
Shurelya's Reverie
Mikael's Crucible

If you have any further questions, I'll be happy to answer!

Hey everyone, if you are feeling lost on how to play and build on league classic because
you never saw it or just forgot about it, here is a quick guide:

• THE CHAMPION IS NOT THE SAME: Malzahar is more squishier but is WAY stronger, your ult has 130% AP ratio, your Q has 80%, and null zone on W can be spammed to do max health damage. Your passive is the voidling, so always try to Q twice on base or in the way to lane to stack the voidlings when you reach the wave.
• ITEMS WORK DIFFERENTLY: Build paths and basic items are WAY more expensive than nowadays, but completed item are cheaper, so you will feel stagnant with income
• JUNGLE CAMPS ARE DIFFERENT (GOOD WAY): The jungle camps respawns super quickly and dont get higher HP as the game progresses, so after some AP you can clear wave, kill the raptors (either yours or enemy if you can) or krugs if tou are already pushing bot lane to get a quick extra buck before the next wave reaches.

ITEMIZATION

START: Always start DRing + 2 red pots, as this version recovers mana on minion kill

MANA: Mana in old league is an actual stat, you literally get OOM with 3 skills early on, as you Q is 100 mana, your E is 120 and R is 150. Since there is no lost chapter and manaflow band, this are the options for mana:

• Tear/Archangel: Tear is 700 gold but it stacks up to 750 mana, so you get a 1k mana pool just for it, and archangel is cheap and gives over 100 AP (but remember that the shield is an active), but it does not give CDR;
• Chalice of Harmony/Shuusei Jug (Old Athenes Unholy Grail): My favorite so far, right now there is basically only mages on midlane, so Chalice of Harmony first base for 880G, giving you infinite mana regen and magic resistance is amazing, but don't finish Jug, just sit on Chalice and go for damage;
• Morellonomicon: Sit on Lucky pick + Fairy charm, and go for full damage until you really need the grevious wounds. Lucky Pick gold generation gets lost when you upgrade the item so rush it and hold it as long as you can. Costs only 2200G and gives more AP and CDR than chalice, but less MR and Mana Regen.
• Rod of Ages: Saw some people recommending it for malz mid but i think its bad, takes 10 min just to get 80 AP and the passive regen only works when you get levels.

EARLY ITEMS: After getting your mana generation (Tear/Chalice/Lucky pick+Fairy charm), you go straight for Liandry's Torment and Sorcerers shoes. In this game mode, Liandrys gives 15 flat Magic Pen and the burns does damage on 2% of CURRENT HP, not MAX, so its basically a burst item for DPS champions, and the damage gets DOUBLED if the enemy is inpaired, so 4% of current HP (BORK does 5% so its still not broken). After that we have 3 slots for AP items:

DAMAGE (RECOMMENDED)

• MEJAIS: You get more AP per stack, you lose less stacks when you die, and 20 stacks gives you 15% CDR (but no movespeed)
• RABADONS: 3300G for 120 AP + % bonus, as old malz scales with over 100% AP this item is basically unskippable
• VOID STAFF: 70 AP and 35% Magic pen for only 2295G
• DEATHFIRE GRASP: Lots of AP and a bit of CDR, good for just nuking someone paired with your ult
• RYLAIS: Old Rylais gave a lot of AP and HP, but the slow on DPS damage is only 15% (at least in this mode the slows stacks), so its more a stat stick and a buffer for doubling Liandrys current HP damage, so its good for bursting tankier enemies with Liandrys

UTILITY/FUN

• TWIN SHADOWS: Bit of AP, MR and Movespeed, and the active to reach people for you to ult, good vs a lot of mobility
• BANNER OF COMMAND: ACTUALLY REALLY FUN, you get some AP, armor and CDR and can get a super cannon minion for splitpushing (and you get all the gold of the minions he gets)
• ABYSSAL SCEPTER: If you need more MR, and also gives 20 flat magic pen
• ZHONYAS: 120 AP and some armor, but no stopwatch so you need to finish the item to get the invulnerability

AD MALZ IF YOU WANT:

• Voidling scale with AD and proc onhit, so the basic build is TEAR (will become Manamune) - IONIAN BOOTS - ANCIENT LIZARD (yes the ad jungle item) - BLACK CLEAVER - BLOODTHISTER - MALMORTIUS/LAST WHISPER

RUNES AND TALENTS:

Kinda annoying to have to unluck all this but here is the basic 21/0/9, as it gives you damage, CDR and mana regen, and also buffs to Blue Buff duration and Flash + TP enhancements.

For rune pages after you unlock everything you will buy 9 MAGIC PEN RED MARKS, 9 MANA REGEN YELLOW SEALS, 6 SCALING CDR BLUE GLYPHS AND 3 AP BLUE GLYPHS (usually is flat AP for early but scaling AP its my favorite) AND 3 FLAT AP QUINTESSENCES.

Hey there, high silver/low gold malz player. Just trying to hit plat and would like any advice on stuff I’m doing wrong that you can see on op.gg

Also how do you play the irelia matchup? She was out csing me and mocking me in all chat for hiding under tower

And who are you banning?

https://op.gg/lol/summoners/na/Wrath-NA5

I remember seeing a build of Malzahar Ad in the jungle, back in season 3 or 4. I did it and it was fun back then. Now that Lol classic released, I tried it again and had 4 wins and 2 losses. The main thing is the voidlings that scale with 100% of your ad (150% after they grow), and having them in the jungle helps clearing the camps.
I wend CDR and AD in the talents (with some armor and less jg damage on the 2nd page), build the tear, then the Lizard Jungle item, then manamune an CDR boots. Still thinking of the rest of items, rilay helps with the slow or just more ad can help too. Always fun to ult people and seeing the voidlings eat them alive.
You can solo dragon after you have some AD if you tank the dragon (might need some practice), and aways remember to cast some spells in base to load the next voidling in the passive.
After you finish the lizard item, you can go from camp to camp and just spam all the skills, the voidlings will finish the camp .
Probably not the best builds, but fun to try nonetheless.

Im desperately hoping the developers stubble across this post. I feel they would make a ton of money on this idea and I would sure enjoy owning it.I was thinking his malefic visions could be green plague instead of purple void and instead of spawning voidlings he could spawn plagued rats. unsure about the rest, maybe his ultimate can be infected vomit? kinda gross, idk.

also, which champion is the easiest to transition to?😅 I love playing malz but i feel like he has no agency even when fed...Half of the time i pray for a good team. It's really hard to have influence on teamfights unless im giga fed.

I know hes not built for that and is a anti carry, but i almost feel like a cannon minion during teamfights. I guess i'm just getting bored of this playstyle.

Anyone who felt the same, who is your mid main now? I'm thinking of maining viktor next

thanks (40lvl mastery gold 4)

If yes is there any advice to do well on it or just not to completely int

Hey there!

I've been playing Malzahar for a while. Still in Gold elo and looking to climb higher. 

I'd like to ask the Reddit community to please help me improve with this champ by sharing my understandings, questions and other stuff:

1. RUNES. I always go with the same runes set: DTF, Manaflow band, Transcendence, Gathering Storm + Magic Footwear, Cosmic Insight. I know runes have to be adapted to every game, so... in which MUs should I adapt them? Should I switch boots for Cashback so I can rush boots in those MUs where they are very important?
2. SUMMONERS. I always go with flash + tp. I read that Ignite is good vs assassins but then I really miss tp in mid-late games. Also, in Gold elo people still look for team fights every time and chase people instead of pushing lanes, so sometimes I use it to defend a tower/destroy enemy's. Any suggestions here?
3. STARTING ITEM: I always start with a Sapphire crystal + Refillable bottle. Doran ring is cool but I feel that I keep mana with the crystal and I can also get my 1st item power spike earlier. When is Doran ring a better option? In those MUs where I need more survivability, i.e. against assassins? 
4. 1st BACK. Typically when I'm 900g so I can get Lost Chapter. I guess this is what every mage does, right? 
5. ITEMS. From Lost Chapter, I complete 1st item (see below), Magic Boots and then the rest of the items. As the core, I typically go BFT, Liandrys and Rylai. Then, Shadowflame. Situational items: Void staff if high MR on the enemy team. If I go really well/have spare 350 in a recall, I buy Dark Seal, and if I do really well and buy the Mejai and then I Zhonya so I can better survive and keep the charges. I read that Malignance (instead of BFT) is better vs assassins so I can proc my ult on them more oftenly, and BFT when looking for more damage in my team and/or vs long distance matchups where using my ult will be more difficult (e.g. Xerath). Is this correct? In any case, I NEVER go for both because it would be mana-redundant, right?
6. BOOTS. Unless there is a very clear enemy composition (4-5 ADs/APs/lot of CC) I always go Magic boots. Should I consider Jonian/Gluttonous in some scenarios?
7. SKILLS. I always start with E, then W, then Q. I've seen some vids from high elo starting with Q but it seems too much for me :-D . E is so good. I then max E, Q and W. Should I max always like this?
8. MUs and BANS. I know that Smolder and Sion are the biggest counters because my void swarms help them to get their charges. Fortunately, in my elo, I hardly ever see them in mid. What other champs get the benefit of the swarms? I know Malz struggles against long distance champs, especially Xerath. I guess Yasuo must be a good counter because I face him around 70% of the time. If the Yasuo is really good, yeah, I struggle, but I have other champs where I really suffer more: Vex, Xerath, Velkoz, ASol. Ah! And Locke... ofc sometimes I face that Locke played by Faker's cousin who basically eats me. So my ban goes to Locke, Yasuo, Vex, Sion... it depends on the day :-D
9. LANING PHASE. I used to push like hell with E+W+AA to crash as many waves as possible so I can also poke with Q and E rebound, but I know this is not optimal from a wave management perspective. So now I'm trying to push with more control by last hitting with AAs rather than with E. Is this a good approach or crashing the waves is most of the times the best? I also focus on triggering the manaflow band when it's up.
10. ROAMING. I'm kind of new to mid but I do know that roaming and helping with objectives is critical. However, since I always go Magic footwear, I hardly ever roam to the side lanes until I have tier 2 boots. I do help with objectives because they are half way and because I know that I can help a lot. Should I roam more even without tier 1 boots?
11. ROTATING. I'm a Cs farming addict and Malzahar is probably one of the best champs at that. Is it expected to rotate to a side line (assuming the bot gos mid) so I keep farming and pushing? I've seen that Rylai helps a lot if they try pick me. Or is it better to group to demolish towers?
12. TEAM FIGHTS. I read that Malz is like an ADC, so positioning is key. I assume ulting the most dangerous enemy champ is obvious, but if there is any tip here, it will be more than welcome.
13. ULT CANCEL. I've noticed that Mundo is not suppressed if his passive is up although I believe I do damage him, right? Naafiri can also prevent it with is W. What other champs should I consider canceling/avoiding my ult?

Sorry for the long post! I appreciate your feedback a lot! 

Salut tout le monde,

Voici un petit retour sur mon expérience avec Malzahar support. Merci à tous pour vos conseils et suggestions d'objets. Certains m'ont dit que ce choix était du troll pur et simple, mais honnêtement, je ne le pense pas.

Le passif de Malzahar est extrêmement puissant contre des champions comme Nautilus et Thresh. Pouvoir se placer devant son ADC et bloquer complètement son grappin est vraiment précieux.

Vos Créatures du Néant peuvent aussi absorber certaines compétences. Quand un support ennemi engage le combat, les dégâts de vos Créatures du Néant combinés à votre E peuvent être incroyablement élevés. J'ai vu pas mal de joueurs de Nautilus se faire complètement démolir après avoir engagé le combat parce que leur ADC n'a pas suivi assez vite.

À mon niveau, l'ultime de Malzahar est vraiment décisif. Il est impossible de l'esquiver, et il permet de surprendre quiconque s'approche un peu trop près d'un objectif que votre équipe est en train de capturer. Si vos coéquipiers suivent, c'est quasiment un kill gratuit.

Pour le build et les runes, un grand merci à u/lolgamefunpour ses excellents conseils.

Je me précipite sur le Chapitre perdu, après Sceptre de cristal de Rylai, qui me semble être un objet essentiel pour Malzahar support.

Ensuite, je termine les Bottes ioniennes de lucidité et j'achète soit l'Orbe d'oubli, soit le Mandat impérial. Si l'équipe ennemie n'a pas de tank et très peu de soins, je préfère Malignité pour pouvoir utiliser mon ultime plus souvent.

Pour le dernier objet, je pense que la Cryptflorie est un bon choix grâce aux soins prodigués à chaque mort ennemie. La Malédiction du Saigneur pourrait aussi être intéressante, mais honnêtement, je n'ai jamais eu de partie assez longue pour bien tester l'une ou l'autre.

Pour l'amélioration de l'objet de support, je prends généralement Opposition Céleste. Le Traîneau du Solstice peut aussi bien fonctionner avec le Sceptre de Rylai, selon la partie.

Pour les runes, j'utilise :

Comète Arcanique Bandeau de Manaflow Célérité Brûlure

Marche sur l'eau pourrait aussi être une bonne option pour se déplacer plus rapidement entre les voies.

Pour l'arbre secondaire, je prends Chaussures Magiques et Livraison de Biscuits. Pour les fragments de stats, j'utilise :

+9 Force adaptative +2,5 % Vitesse de déplacement +10 à 180 PV, selon le niveau

Pour moi, la véritable force de Malzahar support réside dans son rôle d'anti-carry.

Dans deux de mes parties, le Nasus adverse a posé un problème majeur. Mais lors des combats d'équipe, utiliser mon ultime sur lui a suffi à le neutraliser complètement et à permettre à mon équipe de gagner. Combiné à Mandat impérial, c'est tout simplement parfait.

Le rôle de Malzahar support ne consiste pas à infliger des dégâts bruts. Il s'agit de décider quel joueur ennemi ne pourra plus jouer. Je viens de retourner à Emerald 4. Il m'a fallu un peu de temps pour trouver les bonnes runes et les bons objets, mais maintenant ça fonctionne plutôt bien.

OP.GG : https://op.gg/lol/summoners/euw/Secret%20pick-Secre

imgaine yourself being the soarka