Malzahar

Hold max E range and keep minions between you and Charm while using Malefic Visions to make her spend mana. Do not ult while Spirit Rush has easy escape angles unless she has already dashed forward or missed Charm. Commit after she uses Charm or a dash charge aggressively, dropping Null Zone before Nether Grasp.

Later Ahri has better pick mobility, but Malzahar's point-and-click suppression is stronger when she dives into a teamfight. In side lane, respect her ability to reset spacing with Spirit Rush; in fights, save Nether Grasp for her final dash or for whoever follows her engage.

• •Stand behind minions so Charm cannot start the trade.
• •Do not chase through all three Spirit Rush dashes; make her come back into E/R range.
• •If Ahri ults forward for damage, that is usually your best suppression window.
• •Voidlings can force Fox-Fire hits away from you when you back off.

BuyBanshee's Veil2,750g (875g to combine)Health450Magic Resist55Intangibility: Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy ability. This Shield refreshes after no damage is taken from enemy champions for 25 seconds.Shadow Mending: Grants 9 Health Regen per 5 for up to 10 seconds after taking damage from an enemy champion or when the Spell Shield breaks.RecipeTwin Shadows1,900g (735g to combine)Ability Power40Magic Resist40Move Speed6%Active: 120s Summons up to 2 invulnerable ghosts that seek out the two nearest enemy champions for 6 seconds. If a ghost reaches its target, it reveals the target and Slows their Move Speed by 40% for 2.5 seconds (120 second cooldown).Recipe

Keep the wave slightly on your side and do not stand close enough for free Mark of the Assassin procs. When she uses Shadow Dance in, put Null Zone under yourself and wait until she is visible before Nether Grasp. If she drops Twilight Shroud first, kite out of it rather than guessing with targeted spells.

Later Akali is more dangerous in chaotic skirmishes, but she still hates being the first diver into Malzahar. In side lane, Malzahar wins if he keeps vision and does not face-check shroud angles; in teamfights, suppress her after she commits to a carry.

• •Save Nether Grasp for after Shadow Dance, not before it.
• •Null Zone on top of yourself makes her melee follow-up costly.
• •Do not waste E into Twilight Shroud if she can immediately drop vision.
• •A Voidling can keep damaging her when she reappears from shroud.

BuyZhonya's Hourglass3,260g (500g to combine)Ability Power120Armor50Active: 90s Champion becomes Invulnerable and Untargetable for 2.5 seconds, but is unable to move, attack, cast spells, or use items during this time.RecipeRylai's Crystal Scepter2,900g (605g to combine)Ability Power80Health500Frost Crystal: Dealing spell damage Slows the target's Move Speed by 35% for 1.5 seconds (15% for multi-target and damage-over-time spells).Recipe

Stay outside Headbutt plus Pulverize range and let Malefic Visions wear him down before committing. Bait Unbreakable Will with E, Q, and Voidling pressure, then wait it out instead of ulting into it. Once it is gone, Null Zone plus Nether Grasp is enough to finish or force him away.

Later Alistar matters much more as a teamfight disruptor than as a duelist. Malzahar should not spend Nether Grasp into Unbreakable Will unless it prevents a lethal engage; usually he controls Alistar's backline instead.

• •Never ult Alistar while Unbreakable Will is available unless you only need to interrupt him briefly.
• •Keep enough distance that Headbutt cannot knock you into his team or turret.
• •Silence him with Call of the Void before he reaches combo range.
• •His sustain is slow, so repeated E bounces matter more than one burst attempt.

Hold behind minions and punish Amumu when Bandage Toss is down. If he lands Q, move out after the stun before using Nether Grasp unless you know Curse of the Sad Mummy is unavailable. Your clean kill pattern is E poke, dodge Bandage Toss, then Null Zone plus Nether Grasp before he can re-enter.

Later Amumu becomes more valuable in grouped fights because Curse of the Sad Mummy can decide the whole fight. Malzahar wins isolated lanes with spacing, but in teamfights he should stand spread and suppress Amumu only if stopping his engage is worth more than locking a carry.

• •Minions are your best protection against Bandage Toss.
• •Do not channel Nether Grasp while Amumu still has ultimate in melee range.
• •Null Zone is excellent against his health stack, but only if he is locked in it.
• •Call of the Void can stop him from casting right as he walks up.

BuyBanshee's Veil2,750g (875g to combine)Health450Magic Resist55Intangibility: Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy ability. This Shield refreshes after no damage is taken from enemy champions for 25 seconds.Shadow Mending: Grants 9 Health Regen per 5 for up to 10 seconds after taking damage from an enemy champion or when the Spell Shield breaks.RecipeSpirit Visage2,750g (500g to combine)Health400Magic Resist55Health Regen4 / 5sCooldown Reduction20%Lifeforce: Increases self-healing, Health Regen, Lifesteal, and Spell Vamp effects by 20%.Recipe

Play outside Flash Frost lines and avoid getting trapped between Crystallize and Glacial Storm. Poke with Malefic Visions when her stun is down, but do not commit Nether Grasp unless you can also damage the egg afterward. If she uses wall poorly, step around it first, then look for Q silence into E/R.

Later Anivia is stronger at controlling grouped fights and defending terrain, while Malzahar is better at deleting one exposed target. In side lane, he can threaten her only when Rebirth is down; in teamfights, flank angles are poor, so play front-to-back and suppress whoever leaves Anivia's zone.

• •Track Rebirth before spending Flash or Nether Grasp.
• •Do not stand near walls where Crystallize can force you into Flash Frost.
• •Silencing Anivia can stop Glacial Storm upkeep and open a short trade window.
• •Voidlings help kill egg only if the wave is not pulling them away.

BuyBanshee's Veil2,750g (875g to combine)Health450Magic Resist55Intangibility: Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy ability. This Shield refreshes after no damage is taken from enemy champions for 25 seconds.Shadow Mending: Grants 9 Health Regen per 5 for up to 10 seconds after taking damage from an enemy champion or when the Spell Shield breaks.RecipeTwin Shadows1,900g (735g to combine)Ability Power40Magic Resist40Move Speed6%Active: 120s Summons up to 2 invulnerable ghosts that seek out the two nearest enemy champions for 6 seconds. If a ghost reaches its target, it reveals the target and Slows their Move Speed by 40% for 2.5 seconds (120 second cooldown).Recipe

Watch her stun count and back off when Pyromania is ready. Harass with E only when she has spent stun on the wave or is forced to last-hit, and never walk into Tibbers range just to ult. Your best commit is after she uses stun or misses the Tibbers engage, then silence and suppress before her next rotation.

Later Annie remains scarier in short-range teamfight engages, but Malzahar can punish her after Flash-Tibbers is spent. In side lane, she wins if she gets first stun; in fights, keep enough distance that she must Flash before reaching you.

• •Count Pyromania stacks constantly; four stacks changes the lane entirely.
• •Do not channel Nether Grasp into a ready stun.
• •Her 625 range lets her tag you before you can E, so use wave bounces instead of walking up dry.
• •After Tibbers is down, she is much easier to suppress.

BuyBanshee's Veil2,750g (875g to combine)Health450Magic Resist55Intangibility: Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy ability. This Shield refreshes after no damage is taken from enemy champions for 25 seconds.Shadow Mending: Grants 9 Health Regen per 5 for up to 10 seconds after taking damage from an enemy champion or when the Spell Shield breaks.RecipeTwin Shadows1,900g (735g to combine)Ability Power40Magic Resist40Move Speed6%Active: 120s Summons up to 2 invulnerable ghosts that seek out the two nearest enemy champions for 6 seconds. If a ghost reaches its target, it reveals the target and Slows their Move Speed by 40% for 2.5 seconds (120 second cooldown).Recipe

Avoid long open lanes where Frost Shot can run you down before you reach 550 range. Let E push her off the wave, then commit when Volley or Arrow is down, placing Null Zone before Nether Grasp. If Arrow is available, move laterally before the all-in so she cannot fire it straight through your channel setup.

Later Ashe is stronger in full teamfights if she starts with a long-range arrow, but Malzahar is a major threat to her if she lacks peel. In side lane, Ashe should not be able to stand within Nether Grasp range alone.

• •Do not chase through Frost Shot unless your ultimate is ready.
• •Side-step before committing so Enchanted Crystal Arrow is harder to pre-fire.
• •Suppress her after Volley if she used it to check your approach.
• •Voidlings make her spend attacks while Malefic Visions ticks.

BuyZhonya's Hourglass3,260g (500g to combine)Ability Power120Armor50Active: 90s Champion becomes Invulnerable and Untargetable for 2.5 seconds, but is unable to move, attack, cast spells, or use items during this time.RecipeNinja Tabi1,000g (375g to combine)Armor25Ninja Footwork: Blocks 10% of the damage from Basic Attacks.Enhanced Movement: 45 Move SpeedRecipe

Keep minions between you and Blitzcrank and punish every missed Rocket Grab with E and Q. Do not ult while his knockup or silence is available in melee unless he is already controlled or too low to answer. If he Overdrives straight at you without hook, silence him and kite back before committing.

Later Blitzcrank is a pick champion, not a true side-lane threat. Malzahar should play behind minions and teammates, then use Nether Grasp on the hooked target's follow-up or on Blitzcrank after his interrupts are spent.

• •A minion wave completely changes the matchup because Rocket Grab is his real threat.
• •Do not stand close enough for Power Fist after a missed hook.
• •Static Field can interrupt your channel, so respect it when he is in melee.
• •Malefic Visions punishes him hard when he walks up to threaten hook.

BuyBanshee's Veil2,750g (875g to combine)Health450Magic Resist55Intangibility: Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy ability. This Shield refreshes after no damage is taken from enemy champions for 25 seconds.Shadow Mending: Grants 9 Health Regen per 5 for up to 10 seconds after taking damage from an enemy champion or when the Spell Shield breaks.RecipeTwin Shadows1,900g (735g to combine)Ability Power40Magic Resist40Move Speed6%Active: 120s Summons up to 2 invulnerable ghosts that seek out the two nearest enemy champions for 6 seconds. If a ghost reaches its target, it reveals the target and Slows their Move Speed by 40% for 2.5 seconds (120 second cooldown).Recipe

Do not let Conflagration or Pillar of Flame tag you for free before Sear is available. Fight at the edge of E range and move unpredictably after any Blaze application. Commit only after Sear misses or Brand spends it for poke, then Null Zone and Nether Grasp before his next rotation.

Later Brand deals more area damage in grouped fights, while Malzahar offers more reliable single-target lockdown. In side lane the duel remains skill-based; in teamfights, avoid clumping so Pyroclasm cannot bounce while you channel.

• •If Blaze is on you, treat Sear as the matchup's stun button.
• •Do not ult before Sear is used unless Call of the Void has silenced him.
• •Step away from minions and allies before Pyroclasm can bounce.
• •Brand is vulnerable during Pillar of Flame's delay if Sear is down.

BuyBanshee's Veil2,750g (875g to combine)Health450Magic Resist55Intangibility: Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy ability. This Shield refreshes after no damage is taken from enemy champions for 25 seconds.Shadow Mending: Grants 9 Health Regen per 5 for up to 10 seconds after taking damage from an enemy champion or when the Spell Shield breaks.RecipeTwin Shadows1,900g (735g to combine)Ability Power40Magic Resist40Move Speed6%Active: 120s Summons up to 2 invulnerable ghosts that seek out the two nearest enemy champions for 6 seconds. If a ghost reaches its target, it reveals the target and Slows their Move Speed by 40% for 2.5 seconds (120 second cooldown).Recipe

Stay outside Feral Scream cone and never walk straight through Rupture zones to apply E. Use Malefic Visions to chip him, then wait for either Rupture or Feral Scream to be down before committing. If he reaches melee with Feast ready, disengage rather than trying to finish through his burst.

Later Cho'Gath becomes very hard to remove in side lane, but Malzahar's percent damage still matters if Cho is locked down by allies. In teamfights, do not ult him first unless his silence is unavailable and your team needs the tank burned.

• •Feral Scream can ruin your combo even if Nether Grasp is ready.
• •Move sideways after he postures for Rupture; walking back is often too slow.
• •Null Zone is strong against his health, but only after his interrupts are spent.
• •Track Feast range when you are below half health.

BuyBanshee's Veil2,750g (875g to combine)Health450Magic Resist55Intangibility: Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy ability. This Shield refreshes after no damage is taken from enemy champions for 25 seconds.Shadow Mending: Grants 9 Health Regen per 5 for up to 10 seconds after taking damage from an enemy champion or when the Spell Shield breaks.RecipeLiandry's Torment2,900g (980g to combine)Ability Power50Health300Eyes of Pain: 15 Magic PenetrationMana Burn: Dealing spell damage applies a damage-over-time effect for 3 seconds that deals bonus magic damage equal to 2% of the target's current Health per second. This bonus damage is doubled against movement-impaired units and capped at 100 damage per second vs. monsters.Recipe

Stand behind minions to reduce Missile Barrage poke and do not take repeated Phosphorus Bomb trades for free. Force Valkyrie with E pressure or a silence threat, then wait out the trail before moving forward. Once Valkyrie is down, Null Zone into Nether Grasp wins the stationary duel.

Later Corki scales into stronger sustained damage and siege poke, while Malzahar keeps the better pick tool. In side lane, Malzahar wins only when Valkyrie is unavailable; in teamfights, suppress Corki after his escape or when he steps forward to Gatling Gun.

• •Do not chase through Valkyrie's fire trail to keep E ticking.
• •Call of the Void can punish Corki when he stops to Gatling Gun.
• •Valkyrie cooldown is the main green light for Nether Grasp.
• •Avoid lining up with low minions that let Missile Barrage splash you repeatedly.

BuyZhonya's Hourglass3,260g (500g to combine)Ability Power120Armor50Active: 90s Champion becomes Invulnerable and Untargetable for 2.5 seconds, but is unable to move, attack, cast spells, or use items during this time.RecipeBanshee's Veil2,750g (875g to combine)Health450Magic Resist55Intangibility: Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy ability. This Shield refreshes after no damage is taken from enemy champions for 25 seconds.Shadow Mending: Grants 9 Health Regen per 5 for up to 10 seconds after taking damage from an enemy champion or when the Spell Shield breaks.Recipe

Keep distance from Infected Cleaver angles and chip him before committing. Hold your kill combo until Sadism is down, or apply Grievous Wounds as he drops low before the ultimate heal takes over. Use Null Zone under him only when he is forced to walk through you or is locked by Nether Grasp.

Later Mundo becomes much harder to kill in side lane once finished, but Malzahar remains useful because suppression stops his backline access. In teamfights, bring anti-heal and use Nether Grasp when Mundo overextends, not when he can simply soak everything and walk away.

• •Morellonomicon matters most when Sadism is about to carry the fight.
• •Dodge cleavers before trading; one slow can turn into a long chase.
• •Null Zone is one of your best tools into his health stacking.
• •Do not waste full combo while Sadism is fresh unless teammates can finish him.

BuyMorellonomicon2,200g (435g to combine)Ability Power75Mana Regen12 / 5sCooldown Reduction20%Morello's Hatred: Dealing magic damage to enemy champions below 40% Health inflicts Grievous Wounds for 4 seconds. (Grievous Wounds reduces incoming healing and regeneration effects by 50%.)RecipeLiandry's Torment2,900g (980g to combine)Ability Power50Health300Eyes of Pain: 15 Magic PenetrationMana Burn: Dealing spell damage applies a damage-over-time effect for 3 seconds that deals bonus magic damage equal to 2% of the target's current Health per second. This bonus damage is doubled against movement-impaired units and capped at 100 damage per second vs. monsters.RecipeRylai's Crystal Scepter2,900g (605g to combine)Ability Power80Health500Frost Crystal: Dealing spell damage Slows the target's Move Speed by 35% for 1.5 seconds (15% for multi-target and damage-over-time spells).Recipe

Respect fog and keep the wave warded so she cannot appear directly behind you. If she opens with Ravage, drop Null Zone at your feet and suppress her before she can use the slow to stay on you. When she backs off into stealth, do not chase blind; reset and make her re-enter your range.

Later Evelynn is stronger at finding isolated targets, while Malzahar is better at punishing her committed dive. In teamfights, save Nether Grasp for her reveal or for the carry she enables, and keep detection around flanks.

• •Fight where you have ward coverage; the matchup changes completely if she opens unseen.
• •Null Zone under yourself punishes Ravage commits.
• •Do not chase after she drops combat to re-enter camouflage.
• •Call of the Void can stop her follow-up if you cast it across her path.

BuySightstone800g (325g to combine)Health180Ward Refresh: Holds 3 charges and refills upon visiting the shop.Active: Consumes a charge to place an invisible ward that reveals the surrounding area for 3 minutes (maximum 2 wards placed from this item at once).RecipeTwin Shadows1,900g (735g to combine)Ability Power40Magic Resist40Move Speed6%Active: 120s Summons up to 2 invulnerable ghosts that seek out the two nearest enemy champions for 6 seconds. If a ghost reaches its target, it reveals the target and Slows their Move Speed by 40% for 2.5 seconds (120 second cooldown).RecipeZhonya's Hourglass3,260g (500g to combine)Ability Power120Armor50Active: 90s Champion becomes Invulnerable and Untargetable for 2.5 seconds, but is unable to move, attack, cast spells, or use items during this time.Recipe

Stand behind minions to block Mystic Shot and use E bounces to make him choose between farming and shifting defensively. Do not flash-ult unless Arcane Shift is down or he is locked into its ending position. Once he shifts forward or sideways for damage, close immediately and combo before cooldown resets matter.

Later Ezreal has safer poke and mobility in grouped fights, while Malzahar gives his team a guaranteed answer when Ezreal mispositions. In side lane, Ezreal can stall indefinitely if Shift is up; in fights, suppress him only after his blink or when he is pinned by terrain.

• •Minions denying Mystic Shot also deny his cooldown refunds.
• •Arcane Shift used aggressively is your best kill window.
• •Do not stand low behind the wave where Trueshot Barrage can finish you during recalls or resets.
• •Silence him after Shift so he cannot instantly answer with another spell chain.

BuyBanshee's Veil2,750g (875g to combine)Health450Magic Resist55Intangibility: Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy ability. This Shield refreshes after no damage is taken from enemy champions for 25 seconds.Shadow Mending: Grants 9 Health Regen per 5 for up to 10 seconds after taking damage from an enemy champion or when the Spell Shield breaks.RecipeTwin Shadows1,900g (735g to combine)Ability Power40Magic Resist40Move Speed6%Active: 120s Summons up to 2 invulnerable ghosts that seek out the two nearest enemy champions for 6 seconds. If a ghost reaches its target, it reveals the target and Slows their Move Speed by 40% for 2.5 seconds (120 second cooldown).Recipe

Stay outside Terrify range until you are ready to trade, and use Call of the Void to interrupt Drain rather than wasting it early. Do not channel Nether Grasp while Dark Wind is likely to bounce onto you and silence the setup. Commit when Terrify or Dark Wind is down, placing Null Zone first so he cannot simply Drain through the damage.

Later Fiddlesticks is far more dangerous from fog with Crowstorm than in honest lanes. Malzahar can win a prepared duel, but in teamfights he must ward flanks and save silence or suppression to stop Crowstorm's arrival or Drain follow-up.

• •Call of the Void should be held for Drain or Crowstorm channels when possible.
• •Avoid trading inside minion waves that give Dark Wind bounce value.
• •Terrify range is shorter than your poke pattern, so do not step in casually.
• •If he starts Crowstorm in vision, Nether Grasp can shut down the follow-up.

BuyBanshee's Veil2,750g (875g to combine)Health450Magic Resist55Intangibility: Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy ability. This Shield refreshes after no damage is taken from enemy champions for 25 seconds.Shadow Mending: Grants 9 Health Regen per 5 for up to 10 seconds after taking damage from an enemy champion or when the Spell Shield breaks.RecipeTwin Shadows1,900g (735g to combine)Ability Power40Magic Resist40Move Speed6%Active: 120s Summons up to 2 invulnerable ghosts that seek out the two nearest enemy champions for 6 seconds. If a ghost reaches its target, it reveals the target and Slows their Move Speed by 40% for 2.5 seconds (120 second cooldown).RecipeMorellonomicon2,200g (435g to combine)Ability Power75Mana Regen12 / 5sCooldown Reduction20%Morello's Hatred: Dealing magic damage to enemy champions below 40% Health inflicts Grievous Wounds for 4 seconds. (Grievous Wounds reduces incoming healing and regeneration effects by 50%.)Recipe

Harass with Malefic Visions and Voidling pressure while staying outside repeated Parrrley trades. Try to force Remove Scurvy with silence, poke, or low-health pressure before using Nether Grasp. If W is available, do not all-in unless you only need the brief lock to finish him instantly.

Later Gangplank scales better in side lane because he can cleanse the suppression and threaten with crit Parrrley plus Cannon Barrage. In teamfights, Malzahar should usually suppress a target without a cleanse and use Q/E to keep Gangplank from walking freely into carries.

• •Track Remove Scurvy exactly; it is the matchup's whole answer to Nether Grasp.
• •Do not spend full combo into a healthy Gangplank with W ready.
• •Cannon Barrage can make your channel position unsafe even if he is suppressed briefly.
• •Voidlings can pressure him after Parrrley, but do not let him farm them for free value.

BuyZhonya's Hourglass3,260g (500g to combine)Ability Power120Armor50Active: 90s Champion becomes Invulnerable and Untargetable for 2.5 seconds, but is unable to move, attack, cast spells, or use items during this time.RecipeNinja Tabi1,000g (375g to combine)Armor25Ninja Footwork: Blocks 10% of the damage from Basic Attacks.Enhanced Movement: 45 Move SpeedRecipe

Hold just outside Decisive Strike engage range and refresh Malefic Visions often enough to stop Perseverance. If Garen spends Decisive Strike to farm or chase a Voidling, back up until the silence window ends, then commit with E, W, R before he can reach you again.

Later Malzahar still controls the side lane unless Garen is too tanky to kill in one rotation, but Garen can force towers and threaten executes if he ever closes. In teamfights, save Nether Grasp for Garen only if he reaches a carry; otherwise use silence and zone damage to make his approach miserable.

• •Malefic Visions is your best tool for denying Perseverance without walking into Judgment.
• •Do not ult while Decisive Strike is about to connect; the silence can stop the setup before it starts.
• •Null Zone under Nether Grasp matters more than chasing him through Judgment.

BuyRylai's Crystal Scepter2,900g (605g to combine)Ability Power80Health500Frost Crystal: Dealing spell damage Slows the target's Move Speed by 35% for 1.5 seconds (15% for multi-target and damage-over-time spells).RecipeZhonya's Hourglass3,260g (500g to combine)Ability Power120Armor50Active: 90s Champion becomes Invulnerable and Untargetable for 2.5 seconds, but is unable to move, attack, cast spells, or use items during this time.Recipe

Stand behind minions against Body Slam and do not give him a straight line to start the trade. Bait Explosive Cask or force him to use Body Slam defensively, then cast E and W before Nether Grasp so he cannot simply knock you away mid-combo.

Later Finished Gragas is harder to kill alone because he can disengage and heal through short poke, so the side lane is mostly wave control unless his ultimate is down. In teamfights, Malzahar should play behind the frontline and punish Gragas after Cask is used, not start a channel into it.

• •Voidlings can eat Body Slam angles if you keep the wave between you and Gragas.
• •Do not stand on your Null Zone edge; Explosive Cask can throw you out of your own damage.
• •If Gragas uses Body Slam forward and misses, he is vulnerable to a full suppression combo.

BuyAbyssal Scepter2,560g (980g to combine)Ability Power70Magic Resist45Aura - Despair: Reduces the Magic Resist of nearby enemies by 20RecipeBanshee's Veil2,750g (875g to combine)Health450Magic Resist55Intangibility: Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy ability. This Shield refreshes after no damage is taken from enemy champions for 25 seconds.Shadow Mending: Grants 9 Health Regen per 5 for up to 10 seconds after taking damage from an enemy champion or when the Spell Shield breaks.Recipe

Do not walk through H-28G Evolution Turrets to force a duel; clear or bypass the setup first with Malefic Visions bounce pressure. When Grenade is down or misses, Heimer has no reliable answer to E, W, R at close enough range.

Later Heimerdinger is stronger around prepared objectives and turrets, while Malzahar is better at catching him away from his setup. In teamfights, avoid ulting inside turret nests unless your team can immediately follow and clear the zone.

• •Malefic Visions can turn Heimer's minion wave into pressure on his turrets and body position.
• •Fight him in lane space he has not already filled with H-28G Evolution Turrets.
• •A direct Grenade hit is the difference between a kill combo and a lost trade.

BuyAbyssal Scepter2,560g (980g to combine)Ability Power70Magic Resist45Aura - Despair: Reduces the Magic Resist of nearby enemies by 20RecipeBanshee's Veil2,750g (875g to combine)Health450Magic Resist55Intangibility: Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy ability. This Shield refreshes after no damage is taken from enemy champions for 25 seconds.Shadow Mending: Grants 9 Health Regen per 5 for up to 10 seconds after taking damage from an enemy champion or when the Spell Shield breaks.Recipe

Against Janna alone, walk her down patiently and make her spend Howling Gale or Monsoon before committing Nether Grasp. Do not cast R while she is holding Monsoon at point-blank range unless you only need to force her disengage.

Later Malzahar wins the side lane, but Janna is far more relevant in grouped fights because her displacement and shields deny clean picks. Silence or suppress after Monsoon is used, or target someone outside her peel range.

• •Call of the Void can silence Janna before she casts Monsoon if you line it up first.
• •Her shield does not stop Null Zone percent damage from mattering over the full channel.
• •Do not chase through charged Howling Gale when your ultimate is ready; wait for the tornado to release.

Respect the Demacian Standard plus Dragon Strike line and keep enough distance that Jarvan must use Cataclysm to start. If he misses the knockup or commits R without enough burst, drop Null Zone under yourself and suppress him inside the arena.

Later Jarvan becomes more of an engage threat than a pure duelist, and Malzahar should not side-lane past vision when Cataclysm is available. In teamfights, Nether Grasp can punish Jarvan after he dives, but only if his team cannot immediately interrupt the channel.

• •Do not stand directly behind your Voidling or minions if it gives Jarvan an easy Dragon Strike line.
• •Null Zone is strongest when Jarvan has already trapped both of you in Cataclysm.
• •If Jarvan uses Demacian Standard for farming, his all-in threat drops sharply.

BuyZhonya's Hourglass3,260g (500g to combine)Ability Power120Armor50Active: 90s Champion becomes Invulnerable and Untargetable for 2.5 seconds, but is unable to move, attack, cast spells, or use items during this time.RecipeSeeker's Armguard1,160g (125g to combine)Ability Power20Armor30Seeker's Insight: Killing a unit grants 0.5 bonus Armor and Ability Power. This bonus stacks up to 30 times.RecipeRylai's Crystal Scepter2,900g (605g to combine)Ability Power80Health500Frost Crystal: Dealing spell damage Slows the target's Move Speed by 35% for 1.5 seconds (15% for multi-target and damage-over-time spells).Recipe

Keep the wave between you and Jax's preferred Leap Strike targets, and punish him with Malefic Visions when he walks up instead of jumping. Commit only after Counter Strike is ending or he has used Leap Strike forward, because you need him locked in Null Zone for the full Nether Grasp damage.

Later Jax wins long side-lane fights if he has enough defenses to live through the first combo, so Malzahar should push waves from range and avoid isolated extended trades. In teamfights, suppress Jax when he dives a carry, but expect him to require team follow-up rather than dying alone.

• •Counter Strike reduces area damage, so do not rely on Null Zone alone while it is active.
• •A Voidling can give Jax an extra Leap Strike route; watch your summon timing near him.
• •If Jax has no Leap Strike target left behind you, your silence and DoT are much easier to land safely.

BuyZhonya's Hourglass3,260g (500g to combine)Ability Power120Armor50Active: 90s Champion becomes Invulnerable and Untargetable for 2.5 seconds, but is unable to move, attack, cast spells, or use items during this time.RecipeSeeker's Armguard1,160g (125g to combine)Ability Power20Armor30Seeker's Insight: Killing a unit grants 0.5 bonus Armor and Ability Power. This bonus stacks up to 30 times.RecipeRylai's Crystal Scepter2,900g (605g to combine)Ability Power80Health500Frost Crystal: Dealing spell damage Slows the target's Move Speed by 35% for 1.5 seconds (15% for multi-target and damage-over-time spells).Recipe

Dodge laterally around Lay Waste and avoid standing in Defile range before you are ready to finish. Commit when Wall of Pain is down or poorly placed, then move away immediately after Karthus dies so Death Defied does not punish the channel's ending position.

Later Karthus scales harder in full teamfights through Defile and Requiem, while Malzahar remains better at deleting one target. In side lane, Malzahar can win the pick, but he must track whether the post-death damage and Requiem will still finish him.

• •Call of the Void can interrupt Requiem if you are close enough and ready for the channel.
• •Do not stay on Null Zone after Karthus dies; Death Defied turns that spot into his best damage area.
• •Your suppression stops his movement, not his value after death.

BuyAbyssal Scepter2,560g (980g to combine)Ability Power70Magic Resist45Aura - Despair: Reduces the Magic Resist of nearby enemies by 20RecipeBanshee's Veil2,750g (875g to combine)Health450Magic Resist55Intangibility: Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy ability. This Shield refreshes after no damage is taken from enemy champions for 25 seconds.Shadow Mending: Grants 9 Health Regen per 5 for up to 10 seconds after taking damage from an enemy champion or when the Spell Shield breaks.RecipeShushei's Mana Jug2,600g (900g to combine)Ability Power60Magic Resist40Mana Regen15 / 5sCooldown Reduction20%Rabble-Rousing: Restores Health and Mana on kill or assist.Mana Font: Increases Mana Regen by 1% for every 1% of missing Mana.Recipe

Fight before Kassadin has stacked Riftwalk mobility or after he spends Riftwalk aggressively into your range. Keep enough distance that Null Sphere cannot start the trade for free, then answer with Call of the Void silence before committing E, W, R.

Later Kassadin usually wins the side lane once he has items because he can choose trades and leave before Malzahar completes damage. In teamfights, Malzahar should hold Nether Grasp for Kassadin's dive timing rather than trying to chase him through Riftwalk resets.

• •His passive directly lowers your magic burst, so chip damage before the all-in matters.
• •Do not cast Nether Grasp while silenced by Null Sphere; the whole matchup revolves around that cooldown.
• •Call of the Void across his Riftwalk landing spot can buy the moment you need.

BuyBanshee's Veil2,750g (875g to combine)Health450Magic Resist55Intangibility: Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy ability. This Shield refreshes after no damage is taken from enemy champions for 25 seconds.Shadow Mending: Grants 9 Health Regen per 5 for up to 10 seconds after taking damage from an enemy champion or when the Spell Shield breaks.RecipeAbyssal Scepter2,560g (980g to combine)Ability Power70Magic Resist45Aura - Despair: Reduces the Magic Resist of nearby enemies by 20RecipeShushei's Mana Jug2,600g (900g to combine)Ability Power60Magic Resist40Mana Regen15 / 5sCooldown Reduction20%Rabble-Rousing: Restores Health and Mana on kill or assist.Mana Font: Increases Mana Regen by 1% for every 1% of missing Mana.Recipe

Keep Katarina at the edge of Shunpo range and do not waste Call of the Void on low-value poke when she can all-in afterward. When she Shunpos in, silence or suppress immediately; Nether Grasp cancels Death Lotus and pins her inside Null Zone.

Later Katarina is more dangerous in messy teamfights with resets, but she still hates being the target of Malzahar's point-and-click suppression. In side lane, Malzahar wins unless he misses the silence setup and lets her burst before R.

• •Save one interrupt for Death Lotus; using both silence and suppression early gives her a real opening.
• •Voidlings and minions can give Bouncing Blade bounce angles, so avoid standing beside low-health units.
• •If Katarina Shunpos defensively, she has given up the clean all-in.

BuyBanshee's Veil2,750g (875g to combine)Health450Magic Resist55Intangibility: Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy ability. This Shield refreshes after no damage is taken from enemy champions for 25 seconds.Shadow Mending: Grants 9 Health Regen per 5 for up to 10 seconds after taking damage from an enemy champion or when the Spell Shield breaks.RecipeAbyssal Scepter2,560g (980g to combine)Ability Power70Magic Resist45Aura - Despair: Reduces the Magic Resist of nearby enemies by 20Recipe

Do not ult into Intervention unless you are using it only to force the cooldown. Poke with Malefic Visions and Call of the Void from maximum range, wait out Righteous Fury or Intervention, then commit before her ranged autos resume control of the fight.

Later Kayle is stronger in extended side-lane duels and teamfights if she can save Intervention for your suppression target. Malzahar should pressure waves and force Kayle to ult defensively before choosing the real Nether Grasp target.

• •Righteous Fury outranges your comfort zone once she is set up, so do not trade autos or linger after E.
• •Intervention does not remove suppression, but it can erase the damage that should make suppression lethal.
• •Call of the Void silence can delay her Intervention if timed before your burst lands.

BuyZhonya's Hourglass3,260g (500g to combine)Ability Power120Armor50Active: 90s Champion becomes Invulnerable and Untargetable for 2.5 seconds, but is unable to move, attack, cast spells, or use items during this time.RecipeRylai's Crystal Scepter2,900g (605g to combine)Ability Power80Health500Frost Crystal: Dealing spell damage Slows the target's Move Speed by 35% for 1.5 seconds (15% for multi-target and damage-over-time spells).RecipeSeeker's Armguard1,160g (125g to combine)Ability Power20Armor30Seeker's Insight: Killing a unit grants 0.5 bonus Armor and Ability Power. This bonus stacks up to 30 times.Recipe