Guide Sections (15)
- Champion Stats
- The Comet Poke
- Ranking Malphite's Skins
- When They Ban Malphite
- Malphite's Keystone Choice
- Skill Max Order for Malphite
- Mastering Malphite's Kit
- The Malphite Matchup Sheet
- Ult Holding Syndrome
- When the Frontline Crumbles
- Soaking Damage for the Team
- The Full AP Malphite Build
- When Malphite Comes Online
- The Unstoppable Force
- Recent Patch History
Champion Stats
Low elo players love picking 5 AD champions. They don't respect Malphite's armor scaling, often trying to 1v1 him when he has 300 armor and a Sunfire Aegis. They also clump up in teamfights, giving Malphite the 'wombo-combo' dream of a 5-man knockup. Most low elo players also don't respect his AP-burst potential if he decides to go a more aggressive build.
The Comet Poke
Start W. It makes your autos deal cleave damage and resets your auto-attack timer. If a melee champion tries to trade with you, Auto -> W -> Auto. Your passive shield will absorb most of their return damage, while your W-pumped hits will chunk them significantly.
Your Q steals movement speed. Use it to escape or to catch someone for your team. It's not just damage; it's a tactical slow that makes you faster. A Malphite with 400 MS is a scary sight.
Ranking Malphite's Skins
'Mecha Malphite' has very distinct 'clunk' sounds that feel satisfying. 'Obsidian Malphite' makes him look even bigger, which can be intimidating. 'Shamrock Malphite' is the ultimate 'smurf' skin—it's rare and simple, signaling you've been playing for a long time. Avoid 'FPX Malphite' if you prefer a more traditional 'rock' feel.
'Glacial' has a very nice shard effect on the Q. It's visually distinct and helps you see exactly who you've slowed in a messy fight. Good for the competitive edge.
When They Ban Malphite
Ornn gives you the engage + scaling items. Maokai gives you the point-click root. Sion gives you the unstoppable engage. Ornn is the better version of Malphite in high elo.
Ornn gives tank/engage. Maokai gives point-click lockdown. Garen gives simplicity. Ornn is the better scaler.
Malphite's Keystone Choice
Comet Malphite for lane poke (Q spam). Grasp Malphite for extended trades against other tanks. Secondary Manaflow Band is essential because Malphite's Q is expensive. Bone Plating for extra tankiness.
Skill Max Order for Malphite
Max Q first for the poke and movement speed steal—this is how you win lane. Max E second to cripple the enemy ADC's attack speed. W is maxed last for the passive armor and active damage.
Mastering Malphite's Kit
Seismic Shard. You throw a rock that deals damage and STEALS movement speed. Use this to kite or to set up for a jungler gank. It's your primary lane pressure tool.
Thunderclap. Active empowers your next auto and adds cleave damage. The passive triples your armor when your shield is up. Use this to trade effectively in melee range.
Ground Slam. You slam the ground, dealing damage based on armor and REDUCING enemy attack speed by up to 50%. This is your most broken basic ability against ADCs.
Unstoppable Force. You dash to an area, knocking everyone up. It cannot be interrupted. Mastery of the 'blind-spot R' (from fog of war) is key to winning games.
The Malphite Matchup Sheet
Easy Lane. You represent everything he hates. Your E reduces his attack speed, and your armor makes his crits useless. Just wait for his R to end, then Q him down.
Skill Matchup. He is hybrid, so his magic damage can hurt. Max E to ruin his attack speed during his E-channel. Scale into the late game engage.
Skill Matchup. It's a farm war. Whoever lands the better ultimate in teamfights wins. You out-damage him in short trades with Q-poke.
Ult Holding Syndrome
Stop using R on a single target when a teamfight is about to break out. Your ult is your team's primary engage; if you blow it on a support, the enemy 4-man can run you down. Also, don't forget to watch your Mana. A Malphite with no mana is just a target dummy.
Your R is the most feared ability in the game. Use it! Don't wait for the 'perfect' 5-man knockup if a 2-man on their carries will win the fight. Malphite is about the impact. If you're sitting on R while your ADC dies, you're failing.
When the Frontline Crumbles
Dodge if facing Sylas or Mordekaiser. Sylas will take your R and use it better than you can. Mordekaiser deals magic damage and will isolate you where your armor doesn't matter. Also dodge into heavy AP comps where your armor scaling is wasted.
Sylas and Mordekaiser are your hard counters. Sylas steals your R and is more mobile. Morde isolates you. If you're against them, build MR and play for the teamfights where you can hit their ADC. Don't try to win the 1v1—you won't.
Soaking Damage for the Team
Your job is simple: hit the most priority targets with your R. Wait for the enemy backline to clump or for someone to step out of position. Once you land the knockup, spam E to reduce their attack speed and W to shred them. You are the wall that the enemy team must break through.
You are a rock. Act like it. Stand in front, spam Q on their runner, and wait for the E-clap. With Iceborn Gauntlet, they can't even move. Your goal is to be the biggest nuisance on the map while your team does the damage.
The Full AP Malphite Build
Full AP Malphite. Luden's -> Shadowflame -> Rabadon's. Your R has a massive AP ratio. You will literally delete the enemy ADC in 0.5 seconds with R-E-Q. It's high risk because you're squishy, but the emotional damage to the enemy team is immeasurable.
AP Malphite is 100% emotional damage. You aren't playing to win, you're playing to make the enemy ADC quit. Luden's into Shadowflame. Press R, they die, you mission complete. It's the ultimate 'low-elo stomper' build. Beware of the late game where you get popped instantly.
When Malphite Comes Online
Level 6 is your biggest spike. Before 6, you are a poke-bot. After 6, you are a threat to everyone on the map. First item completion (Sunfire or Iceborn) makes you unkillable for most AD champions.
Level 6. That's the only timing that matters. Before 6, you're a minion. After 6, you're the most dangerous thing in the rift. Sunfire completion is your second spike—you can finally start taking long trades with AD bruisers.
Level 6. That's it. Before 6 you are a rock. After 6 you are a missile. Play safe until you have The Button.
The Unstoppable Force
Type 'Rock Solid' in all-chat after every successful R-engage. Emote '?' when the enemy Zed tries to combo you and deals 0 damage to your armor. Nothing tilts an AD carry more than being unable to play the game because a rock is sitting on them.
Type 'Rock solid' every time you land a 3+ man R. Pinging your 400 armor bar when the enemy Draven deals 12 damage to you is the peak Malphite experience. You're a literal mountain—show them what that means.
Recent Patch History
Recent Balance Changes
| Patch | Date | Type | Changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| V14.18 | Sep 11, 2024 | BUFF | P buffed |
| V14.9 | May 1, 2024 | ADJUST | Base stats adjusted |
| V13.8 | Apr 19, 2023 | NERF | W nerfed |
| V13.4 | Feb 23, 2023 | BUFF | W buffed |
| V12.23 | Dec 7, 2022 | BUFF | E buffed |
