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Malzahar

Starter Guide: AP Control Malzahar (Mid) Mid

For Malzahar · By lolclassicwiki Starter

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Item Build

Starting Items

Core Build

Situational Options

Total stats from Core Build
240 Ability Power300 Health30 Magic Penetration45 Movement Speed

Skill Level Order

18 Levels Planned
Ability 123456789101112131415161718
Call of the Void Q
Call of the Void
28101213
Null Zone W
Null Zone
314151718
Malefic Visions E
Malefic Visions
14579
Nether Grasp R
Nether Grasp
61116

Spells & Runes

30 / 30 Runes · 2 Spells

Summoner Spells

Flash Ignite

Rune Page

Marks

9 / 9 Sockets
  • 9× Mark of Magic Penetration +1 Magic Penetration (+9 total)

Seals

9 / 9 Sockets
  • 9× Seal of Armor +1 Armor (+9 total)

Glyphs

9 / 9 Sockets
  • 9× Glyph of Magic Resist +1.4 Magic Resist (+12.6 total)

Quintessences

3 / 3 Sockets
  • 3× Quintessence of Ability Power +5 Ability Power (+15 total)

Total Rune Statistics

30 / 30
Magic Penetration +9
Armor +9
Magic Resist +12.6
Ability Power +15

Masteries

21 / 0 / 9

Offense

21
0/1

Summoner's Wrath

Not taken · 1 max ranks

See it on the mastery tree →
0/4

Fury

Not taken · 4 max ranks

See it on the mastery tree →
4/4

Sorcery

4 of 4 ranks taken
1: +1% Cooldown Reduction
2: +2% Cooldown Reduction
3: +3% Cooldown Reduction
4: +4% Cooldown Reduction
0/2

Butcher

Not taken · 2 max ranks

See it on the mastery tree →

0/4

Deadliness

Not taken · 4 max ranks

See it on the mastery tree →
4/4

Blast

4 of 4 ranks taken
1: +0.25 Ability Power per level
(4.5 Ability Power at champion level 18)
2: +0.5 Ability Power per level
(9 Ability Power at champion level 18)
3: +0.75 Ability Power per level
(13.5 Ability Power at champion level 18)
4: +1 Ability Power per level
(18 Ability Power at champion level 18)
0/1

Destruction

Not taken · 1 max ranks

See it on the mastery tree →

3/3

Havoc

3 of 3 ranks taken
1: Increases damage dealt by 0.67%
2: Increases damage dealt by 1.33%
3: Increases damage dealt by 2%
0/1

Weapon Expertise

Not taken · 1 max ranks

See it on the mastery tree →
1/1

Arcane Knowledge

1 of 1 ranks taken
1: +8% Magic Penetration
0/2

Lethality

Not taken · 2 max ranks

See it on the mastery tree →
0/2

Brute Force

Not taken · 2 max ranks

See it on the mastery tree →
3/3

Mental Force

3 of 3 ranks taken
1: 2 Ability Power
2: 4 Ability Power
3: 6 Ability Power
1/1

Spellsword

1 of 1 ranks taken
1: Deals 5% of your Ability Power in magic damage to the target on each basic attack
0/1

Frenzy

Not taken · 1 max ranks

See it on the mastery tree →
0/3

Sunder

Not taken · 3 max ranks

See it on the mastery tree →
4/4

Archmage

4 of 4 ranks taken
1: Increases Ability Power by 1.25%
2: Increases Ability Power by 2.5%
3: Increases Ability Power by 3.75%
4: Increases Ability Power by 5%
1/1

Executioner

1 of 1 ranks taken
1: Increases damage dealt by 5% to targets below 50% Health

Defense

0
0/1

Summoner's Resolve

Not taken · 1 max ranks

See it on the mastery tree →
0/3

Perseverance

Not taken · 3 max ranks

See it on the mastery tree →
0/4

Durability

Not taken · 4 max ranks

See it on the mastery tree →
0/2

Tough Skin

Not taken · 2 max ranks

See it on the mastery tree →

0/3

Hardiness

Not taken · 3 max ranks

See it on the mastery tree →
0/3

Resistance

Not taken · 3 max ranks

See it on the mastery tree →
0/1

Bladed Armor

Not taken · 1 max ranks

See it on the mastery tree →

0/2

Unyielding

Not taken · 2 max ranks

See it on the mastery tree →
0/2

Relentless

Not taken · 2 max ranks

See it on the mastery tree →
0/1

Veteran's Scars

Not taken · 1 max ranks

See it on the mastery tree →
0/1

Safeguard

Not taken · 1 max ranks

See it on the mastery tree →

0/1

Block

Not taken · 1 max ranks

See it on the mastery tree →
0/3

Tenacious

Not taken · 3 max ranks

See it on the mastery tree →
0/3

Juggernaut

Not taken · 3 max ranks

See it on the mastery tree →
0/1

Defender

Not taken · 1 max ranks

See it on the mastery tree →
0/3

Legendary Armor

Not taken · 3 max ranks

See it on the mastery tree →
0/1

Good Hands

Not taken · 1 max ranks

See it on the mastery tree →
0/1

Reinforced Armor

Not taken · 1 max ranks

See it on the mastery tree →

0/1

Honor Guard

Not taken · 1 max ranks

See it on the mastery tree →

Utility

9
1/1

Summoner's Insight

1 of 1 ranks taken
1: Improves the following Summoner Spells:

Teleport Reduces cast time by 0.5 second
Revive Grants bonus Health on Revive for 2 minutes
Flash Reduces cooldown by 15 seconds
Clarity Increases Mana restored by 25%
Clairvoyance Grants additional vision of enemy units revealed
0/3

Wanderer

Not taken · 3 max ranks

See it on the mastery tree →
3/3

Meditation

3 of 3 ranks taken
1: +1 Mana Regen per 5 seconds
2: +2 Mana Regen per 5 seconds
3: +3 Mana Regen per 5 seconds
1/1

Improved Recall

1 of 1 ranks taken
1: Reduces the cast time of Recall by 1 second and Enhanced Recall by 0.5 seconds
0/1

Scout

Not taken · 1 max ranks

See it on the mastery tree →
0/3

Mastermind

Not taken · 3 max ranks

See it on the mastery tree →
3/3

Expanded Mind

3 of 3 ranks taken
1: +4 mana per level (+72 at level 18)
2: +7 mana per level (+126 at level 18)
3: +10 mana per level (+180 at level 18)
0/2

Artificer

Not taken · 2 max ranks

See it on the mastery tree →

0/4

Greed

Not taken · 4 max ranks

See it on the mastery tree →
1/1

Runic Affinity

1 of 1 ranks taken
1: Increases the duration of shrine, relic, quest, and neutral monster buffs by 20%
0/3

Vampirism

Not taken · 3 max ranks

See it on the mastery tree →
0/1

Biscuiteer

Not taken · 1 max ranks

See it on the mastery tree →

0/2

Wealth

Not taken · 2 max ranks

See it on the mastery tree →
0/4

Awareness

Not taken · 4 max ranks

See it on the mastery tree →
0/3

Strength of Spirit

Not taken · 3 max ranks

See it on the mastery tree →
0/1

Explorer

Not taken · 1 max ranks

See it on the mastery tree →

0/1

Pickpocket

Not taken · 1 max ranks

See it on the mastery tree →
0/3

Intelligence

Not taken · 3 max ranks

See it on the mastery tree →
0/1

Nimble

Not taken · 1 max ranks

See it on the mastery tree →

Guide & Strategy Breakdown

AP Control Malzahar picks one target and takes them out of the game. Nether Grasp (R) holds them still, Null Zone (W) burns % max HP underneath them, and Malefic Visions (E) clears the wave on the way past.

AP Control Malzahar picks one target and takes them out of the game. Nether Grasp (R) holds them still, Null Zone (W) burns % max HP underneath them, and Malefic Visions (E) clears the wave on the way past.

How it plays

Malzahar does a great deal of damage to exactly one person at a time. Summon Voidling spawns a pet every 4 spellcasts, and it goes after whoever is carrying Malefic Visions (E). Nether Grasp (R) suppresses a champion for 2.5 seconds, which in most fights settles the argument.

What to buy

  • Starting Items: Doran's Ring and 2 Health Potions.
  • Core Build Rush: Sorcerer's Shoes (magic pen enhances Malefic Visions dot damage), Liandry's Torment (Malefic Visions E dot and Nether Grasp R suppression trigger double % max HP burn over time when paired with Rylai's slows), Rabadon's Deathcap (high AP scales Q 3-second silence burst damage and Voidling pet attack damage), and Void Staff (penetrates magic resist to ensure Nether Grasp suppression deals full magic execution damage).
  • Situational Options: Rylai's Crystal Scepter (keeps targets locked inside Null Zone W % max HP pool while suppressed for 2.5 seconds), Zhonya's Hourglass, Deathfire Grasp, and Banshee's Veil.

Summoners and skill order

  • Flash and Ignite.
  • Max E (Malefic Visions) first for non-stop waveclear and mana refunds. Max Q (Call of the Void) second for 3-second AoE silence duration. Max W (Null Zone) third for % max HP burn.

New to the champion?

Combos worth drilling

  • Un-Escapable Suppression: E (Malefic Visions) -> W (Null Zone) pool -> R (Nether Mirage) suppression lock -> Ignite. Target burns in pool for 2.5s.
  • Silence Zoning: Q (Call of the Void) across jungle choke points to silence entire enemy teams for 3 seconds.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Don't cast R Nether Grasp without W pool beneath: W deals % max HP damage per second. Always drop W before suppressing.
  • Don't channel R while surrounded by enemies: R holds Malzahar in place too. Ensure enemy hard CC is down before suppressing.

Playing it out

  • Early Game (Levels 1-5): Cast E Malefic Visions on minion waves and let it bounce to the enemy midlaner, refunding mana on each kill. Time 4th spellcasts to spawn Voidlings.
  • Mid Game (Levels 6-11): Drop W Null Zone under an enemy, apply E Malefic Visions, and suppress them with Nether Grasp (R) + Ignite for an un-escapable 100-to-0 kill.
  • Late Game (Levels 12+): Silence enemy teams with Q Call of the Void across choke points. Suppress diving assassins with R to protect your team's carries.

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