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Malzahar

the Prophet of the Void

AClassic SRMidMage · AssassinPre-rework kit
Patch 26.19 · updated 2026-09-23

Quick build

AP Control Mage

Full build
MidClassic SR21/0/9 masteries
Max
FlashIgnite

First buy

  1. Sapphire Crystal
  2. Health Potion
  3. Mana Potion

Nether Grasp costs 150 and Malzahar's early buy is Catalyst; the Sapphire Crystal covers the pool until it lands.

Core

  • Rod of Ages
  • Sorcerer's Shoes
  • Liandry's Torment

Loadout

Mid · AP Standard · 21/0/9 masteries

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Overview

Difficulty
Difficulty 4 of 10
Class
Mage, Assassin
Released
· later addition

Base stats

Health
460+80
HP regen
1.01+0.11
Mana
295+45
Mana regen
1.52+0.12
Attack
54.66+3
Armor
19.5+3.5
MR
30
Move speed
340
Range
550
Attack speed
0.625+3%

Abilities

P, Summon Voidling

Pre-rework

Description

Innate: On every fourth ability use, Malzahar summons a Voidling that lasts for 21 seconds or until killed. If Malzahar dies, the Voidling stays behind but stops attacking. Voidlings have 250–1100 health and deal 25–110 (+100% bonus AD) physical damage with each basic attack. Voidlings focus enemies affected by Malefic Visions. Voidlings grow in size after 7 seconds, gaining 50% bonus attack damage and 50% bonus armor. After another 7 seconds, they frenzy and gain 100% bonus attack speed.

Build

This build as its own page: AP Control Mage (Mid)

MidClassic SR
Max
FlashIgnite

  1. First buy

    1. Sapphire Crystal
    2. Health Potion
    3. Mana Potion

    Nether Grasp costs 150 and Malzahar's early buy is Catalyst; the Sapphire Crystal covers the pool until it lands.

    Alternative start:
    1. Doran's Ring
    2. Health Potion, 2 of them

    Malefic Visions starts at 60 mana against a 10 mana kill refund; the ring covers the gap between casts.

    Alternative start:
    1. Boots of Speed
    2. Health Potion, 4 of them

    Call of the Void takes half a second to land, and so does most of what comes back at Malzahar.

  2. Early

    • Catalyst the Protector

    Catalyst is the entire early block; the sooner it turns into Rod of Ages, the sooner the one-stack-per-minute clock runs out.

  3. Core

    • Rod of Ages
    • Sorcerer's Shoes
    • Liandry's Torment

  4. Late

    • Rabadon's Deathcap
    • Rylai's Crystal Scepter
    • Zhonya's Hourglass

  5. Full build

    • Rod of Ages
    • Sorcerer's Shoes
    • Liandry's Torment
    • Rabadon's Deathcap
    • Rylai's Crystal Scepter
    • Zhonya's Hourglass

Runes & masteries

21/0/9 · Mid

AP Standard

Marks
  • 9× +1 Magic Penetration
Seals
  • 9× +1 Armor
Glyphs
  • 9× +0.2 Ability Power per level
Quintessences
  • 3× +5 Ability Power

Page total

Ability Power
+15
Ability Power per level
+1.8
Armor
+9
Magic Penetration
+9
Summoner's Wrath (1 of 1 ranks)Summoner's Wrath1 / 1 ranksImproves the Summoner Spells Exhaust, Ignite, Ghost, Surge, Rally, and PromoteFuryFuryUp to 4 ranks+1% Attack Speed per rankSorcery (4 of 4 ranks)Sorcery4 / 4 ranks+1% Cooldown Reduction per rankButcher (1 of 2 ranks)Butcher1 / 2 ranksBasic attacks deal 2/4 bonus damage to minions and monsters
DeadlinessDeadlinessUp to 4 ranks+0.166/0.333/0.498/0.664 Attack Damage per levelBlast (4 of 4 ranks)Blast4 / 4 ranks+0.25/0.5/0.75/1 Ability Power per levelDestruction (1 of 1 ranks)Destruction1 / 1 ranksIncrease damage to turrets by 5%
HavocHavocUp to 3 ranksIncreases damage dealt by 0.67%/1.33%/2%Weapon ExpertiseWeapon ExpertiseUp to 1 rank+8% Armor PenetrationArcane Knowledge (1 of 1 ranks)Arcane Knowledge1 / 1 ranks+8% Magic Penetration
LethalityLethalityUp to 2 ranks+2.5%/5% Critical Strike Damage (5%/10% for melee)Brute ForceBrute ForceUp to 2 ranks+1.5/3 Attack DamageMental Force (3 of 3 ranks)Mental Force3 / 3 ranks+2/4/6 Ability PowerSpellsword (1 of 1 ranks)Spellsword1 / 1 ranksDeals 5% of your Ability Power as magic damage on basic attacks
FrenzyFrenzyUp to 1 rankGrants 10% attack speed for 2 seconds after landing a critical hitSunderSunderUp to 3 ranks+2/4/6 LethalityArchmage (4 of 4 ranks)Archmage4 / 4 ranksIncreases Ability Power by 1.25%/2.5%/3.75%/5%
Executioner (1 of 1 ranks)Executioner1 / 1 ranks · CapstoneIncreases damage dealt by 5% to targets below 50% Health

offense21

Summoner's ResolveSummoner's ResolveUp to 1 rankImproves the Summoner Spells Cleanse, Heal, Smite, Barrier, and FortifyPerseverancePerseveranceUp to 3 ranksGrants up to +2/4/6 Health Regen per 5 seconds based on missing HealthDurabilityDurabilityUp to 4 ranks+1.5/3/4.5/6 Health per levelTough SkinTough SkinUp to 2 ranksReduces damage taken from monsters by 1/2
HardinessHardinessUp to 3 ranks+2/4/6 ArmorResistanceResistanceUp to 3 ranks+2/4/6 Magic ResistBladed ArmorBladed ArmorUp to 1 rankDeals 6 damage to any enemy monster that attacks you
UnyieldingUnyieldingUp to 2 ranksReduces damage taken from enemy champions by 1/2RelentlessRelentlessUp to 2 ranksReduces the effectiveness of slows by 7.5%/15%Veteran's ScarsVeteran's ScarsUp to 1 rank+30 HealthSafeguardSafeguardUp to 1 rankReduces damage taken from turrets by 5%
BlockBlockUp to 1 rankReduces damage taken from champion basic attacks by 3TenaciousTenaciousUp to 3 ranksReduces the duration of crowd control effects by 5%/10%/15%JuggernautJuggernautUp to 3 ranksIncreases your maximum Health by 1.5%/2.75%/4%
DefenderDefenderUp to 1 rankGrants +1 Armor and Magic Resist for each nearby enemy championLegendary ArmorLegendary ArmorUp to 3 ranksIncreases bonus Armor and Magic Resist by +2%/4%/6%Good HandsGood HandsUp to 1 rankReduce time spent dead by 10%Reinforced ArmorReinforced ArmorUp to 1 rankReduce damage taken from critical strikes by 10%
Honor GuardHonor GuardUp to 1 rank · CapstoneReduces damage taken from all sources by 3%

defense0

Summoner's Insight (1 of 1 ranks)Summoner's Insight1 / 1 ranksImproves the Summoner Spells Teleport, Flash, Clarity, Revive, and Clairvoyance.WandererWandererUp to 3 ranksGrants +0.66%/1.33%/2% increased Movement Speed when out of combatMeditation (3 of 3 ranks)Meditation3 / 3 ranks+1/2/3 Mana Regen per 5 secondsImproved Recall (1 of 1 ranks)Improved Recall1 / 1 ranksReduces the cast time of Recall by 1 second
ScoutScoutUp to 1 rankWards gain 25% increased vision range for the first 3 seconds after placing themMastermind (3 of 3 ranks)Mastermind3 / 3 ranksReduces the cooldown of Summoner Spells by 4%/7%/10%Expanded MindExpanded MindUp to 3 ranks+4/7/10 mana per levelArtificerArtificerUp to 2 ranksReduces the cooldown of activated items by 7.5%/15%
GreedGreedUp to 4 ranksGrants an additional +0.5/1/1.5/2 gold every 10 secondsRunic Affinity (1 of 1 ranks)Runic Affinity1 / 1 ranksIncreases the duration of neutral monster buffs by 20%VampirismVampirismUp to 3 ranks+1%/2%/3% Lifesteal and Spell VampBiscuiteerBiscuiteerUp to 1 rankStart the game with a regenerative biscuit that restores 80 Health and 50 Mana over 10 seconds
WealthWealthUp to 2 ranksIncreases starting gold by 40/75AwarenessAwarenessUp to 4 ranksIncreases Experience earned by 1.25%/2.5%/3.75%/5%Strength of SpiritStrength of SpiritUp to 3 ranksUp to +1/2/3 Health Regen per 5 seconds for each 400 Mana you possessExplorerExplorerUp to 1 rankStart the game with an Explorer's Ward.
PickpocketPickpocketUp to 1 rankGrants 5 gold (melee) or 3 gold (ranged) each time you basic attack an enemy champion (5s cooldown)IntelligenceIntelligenceUp to 3 ranks+2%/4%/6% Cooldown Reduction
NimbleNimbleUp to 1 rank · CapstoneGrants 3% increased Movement Speed

utility9

Skill order

Max order››
Skill order by level for AP Control Mage
Lv123456789101112131415161718
Q1Q at level 14Q at level 45Q at level 57Q at level 79Q at level 9
W2W at level 28W at level 810W at level 1012W at level 1213W at level 13
E3E at level 314E at level 1415E at level 1517E at level 1718E at level 18
R6R at level 611R at level 1116R at level 16

Matchups

Strong against

  • RyzeRyzeNether GraspNether GraspRActive: Malzahar knocks down the target enemy champion and channels for up to 2.5 seconds, suppressing them and dealing them magic damage every 0.5 seconds while the channel holds. suppresses for longer than Rune PrisonRune PrisonWActive: Ryze instantly deals magic damage and roots the target enemy for a short duration. holds, and Ryze has no dash to break the channel range. Malefic VisionsMalefic VisionsEActive: Malzahar infects the target enemy's mind, dealing them magic damage every 0.5 seconds over 4 seconds. If the target dies during this time, they pass Malefic Visions onto the closest enemy, refreshing the duration and restoring 10 mana. plus Null ZoneNull ZoneWActive: Malzahar creates a zone of negative energy at the target location for 5 seconds, dealing magic damage every second to all enemies standing on it, capped at 120 against monsters. out-damages OverloadOverloadQPassive: Ryze permanently gains cooldown reduction. Active: Ryze unleashes a runic blast on the target enemy, dealing magic damage. through the farm phase.Full matchup page
  • VeigarVeigarVeigar's answer to being approached is Event HorizonEvent HorizonEActive: Veigar forms a cage at the target location that erects after a 0.5 second delay, remaining there for 3 seconds. Enemies that collide with the edges of the cage are stunned for a duration. Event Horizon can affect enemies only once per cast., and Nether GraspNether GraspRActive: Malzahar knocks down the target enemy champion and channels for up to 2.5 seconds, suppressing them and dealing them magic damage every 0.5 seconds while the channel holds. is cast from outside it. Suppression is not a stun: Primordial BurstPrimordial BurstRActive: Veigar sends a primordial burst at the target enemy champion that deals magic damage. never gets cast at all.Full matchup page
  • NasusNasusMalefic VisionsMalefic VisionsEActive: Malzahar infects the target enemy's mind, dealing them magic damage every 0.5 seconds over 4 seconds. If the target dies during this time, they pass Malefic Visions onto the closest enemy, refreshing the duration and restoring 10 mana. clears the wave Siphoning StrikeSiphoning StrikeQActive: Nasus empowers his next basic attack within 10 seconds to deal bonus physical damage. If Siphoning Strike kills the target, Nasus permanently gains 3 stacks, increased to 6 if the target is a champion, large minion, or large monster. Siphoning Strike resets Nasus' basic attack timer. needs and spreads on the kill. Nether GraspNether GraspRActive: Malzahar knocks down the target enemy champion and channels for up to 2.5 seconds, suppressing them and dealing them magic damage every 0.5 seconds while the channel holds. holds Nasus still through Fury of the SandsFury of the SandsRActive: Nasus empowers himself for 15 seconds, gaining health, increased size, and range and 100 bonus cast range for the duration. While Nasus is empowered, he deals magic damage every 0.5 seconds to nearby enemies, capped at 240 per second, 5% of that damage is converted to Attack Damage AD, and WitherWitherWActive: Nasus ages the target enemy champion for 5 seconds, slowing them by 35% and crippling them by 17.5%, both increasing every second over the duration. does not stop a channel.Full matchup page

Weak against

  • KassadinKassadinKassadin can blink out of Null ZoneNull ZoneWActive: Malzahar creates a zone of negative energy at the target location for 5 seconds, dealing magic damage every second to all enemies standing on it, capped at 120 against monsters. before Malzahar holds him with Nether GraspNether GraspRActive: Malzahar knocks down the target enemy champion and channels for up to 2.5 seconds, suppressing them and dealing them magic damage every 0.5 seconds while the channel holds.. Null SphereNull SphereQActive: Kassadin fires an orb of void energy at the target enemy that deals magic damage and silences them. can silence his setup, so look for Nether GraspNether GraspRActive: Malzahar knocks down the target enemy champion and channels for up to 2.5 seconds, suppressing them and dealing them magic damage every 0.5 seconds while the channel holds. while Kassadin's silence is on cooldown.Full matchup page
  • ShacoShacoA channel needs the caster alive for its whole duration. DeceiveDeceiveQActive: Shaco instantly blinks to the target location and becomes invisible for up to 3.5 seconds. Shaco's next basic attack within 6 seconds to critically strike for bonus critical damage. puts Shaco on top of Malzahar with BackstabBackstabPassiveInnate: Shaco deals 20% bonus damage when attacking an enemy from behind. applied, and Two-Shiv PoisonTwo-Shiv PoisonEPassive: Shaco's basic attacks poison his targets, slowing them for 2 seconds and reducing minions' chance to hit for 2 seconds. This passive is lost when Two-Shiv Poison is on cooldown. Active: Shaco throws a dagger at the target enemy, dealing magic damage and slowing them for 3 seconds. makes sure he does not last it.Full matchup page
  • Lee SinLee SinSonic Wave into Resonating Strike arrives inside the cast time, and Dragon's RageDragon's RageRActive: Lee Sin roots the target enemy champion over the cast time, then roundhouse kicks them to deal physical damage and knock them back up to 800 units over 0.8 seconds, rendering them airborne for 1 second. Enemies that collide with the displaced enemy while it is airborne take the same damage and are knocked up for 1 second. kicks Malzahar out of range in the middle of the channel.Full matchup page
  • GangplankGangplankRemove ScurvyRemove ScurvyWActive: Gangplank eats a large amount of citrus fruit, instantly removing all crowd control affecting him and healing himself. cleanses Nether GraspNether GraspRActive: Malzahar knocks down the target enemy champion and channels for up to 2.5 seconds, suppressing them and dealing them magic damage every 0.5 seconds while the channel holds. on demand - the kill combo costs Gangplank one orange - and ParrrleyParrrleyQActive: Gangplank fires his pistol at the target enemy, dealing physical damage. Parrrley can critically strike and applies on-hit effects, including Grog-Soaked Blade. If Parrrley kills the target, Gangplank gains bonus gold and refunds 50% of the mana cost. Parrrley resets Gangplank's basic attack timer. pokes Malzahar down in the meantime.Full matchup page
  • LuxLuxLux outranges the whole kit: Light BindingLight BindingQActive: Lux shoots a sphere of light in the target direction that deals magic damage to the first two enemies hit and roots them for 2 seconds. The second enemy is dealt 50% of the damage and rooted for 1 second instead. holds Malzahar outside Null ZoneNull ZoneWActive: Malzahar creates a zone of negative energy at the target location for 5 seconds, dealing magic damage every second to all enemies standing on it, capped at 120 against monsters. range and her poke wins the lane before Nether GraspNether GraspRActive: Malzahar knocks down the target enemy champion and channels for up to 2.5 seconds, suppressing them and dealing them magic damage every 0.5 seconds while the channel holds. is ever relevant.Full matchup page

Classic vs modern3 recorded kit changes

Source kit

League Classic

3 changes

Compared with

Current League

Classic

Summon Voidling

Innate: On every fourth ability use, Malzahar summons a Voidling that lasts for 21 seconds or until killed. If Malzahar dies, the Voidling stays behind but stops attacking. Voidlings have 250–1100 health and deal 25–110 (+100% bonus AD) physical damage with each basic attack. Voidlings focus enemies affected by Malefic Visions. Voidlings grow in size after 7 seconds, gaining 50% bonus attack damage and 50% bonus armor. After another 7 seconds, they frenzy and gain 100% bonus attack speed.

Current League

Void Shift

When he hasn't recently taken damage or been crowd controlled, Malzahar gains massive damage reduction and crowd control immunity, lingering for a short period after taking damage.

Classic-specific behavior

Phreak states he personally gave every Voidling a 100% bonus-AD ratio to make AD Malzahar more playable in this 'period accurate version', explicitly noting that AD Malzahar builds only existed historically after Malzahar's next rework. This is a Riot-authored Classic-only build path absent from both 2013 and modern League.

Coming from current LeagueThere is no Void Shift protection whatsoever, no damage reduction, no CC immunity window; the pool must be placed via W yourself before or during the suppression.
Remembering Malzahar in 2013The Voidlings are a much bigger damage source than remembered, specifically because of their added AD ratio.
Base-stat shifts12
Base health
Classic: 460Current League: 580
Health per level
Classic: 80Current League: 101
Health regen
Classic: 1.01Current League: 6
Base mana
Classic: 295Current League: 375
Mana per level
Classic: 45Current League: 28
Base attack damage
Classic: 54.66Current League: 55
Attack damage per level
Classic: 3Current League: 0
Base armor
Classic: 19.5Current League: 18
Armor per level
Classic: 3.5Current League: 4.7
Move speed
Classic: 340Current League: 335
Attack range
Classic: 550Current League: 500
Attack speed per level
Classic: 3%Current League: 1.5%

Skins

  • Malzahar

  • Shadow Prince Malzahar

  • Overlord Malzahar

  • Battle Boss Malzahar

  • Hextech Malzahar

  • Beezahar

History & Notes

Released 2010-06-01, part of the 2009–2013 wave Classic drew its roster from. Classic ships the pre-rework kit, frozen at patch 3.13.24. The modern game plays a different champion, compared under “Vs. modern”. Riot's next 3 balance steps after the freeze are listed below.

Changed after 3.13

  1. V4.1
    • Nether Grasp, New Effect: Halts the target if they were being moved by a friendly effect (dashes, jumps, Dark Passage)
  2. V4.5
    • Stats, Armor increased to 16 from 12.
    • Summon Voidling, New attack priority order
    • Summon Voidling, # Target of Nether Grasp
    • Summon Voidling, # New: Nearest champion affected by Malefic Visions
    • Summon Voidling, # Nearest non-champion affected by Malefic Visions
    • Summon Voidling, # Nearest enemy
  3. V4.8
    • Nether Grasp, Mana cost reduced to 100 from 150
Contributors
Reio