The explanations are only important for the guide "AP Tank Malphite"!

The first question everybody asks is: Why to play a large stone top lane when we have such nice champs like Wukong or Renekton? But the actually meta are AD Offtanks on top lane. This guide is especially for the Bronze or Silver Players, when their enemies haven't got a strategy against AP Offtanks.

Pros:
-When you build armor, Malphite's E becomes stronger
-Many players in Bronze or Silver haven't got a build against AP
-Your E slows enemys
-You can escape with your Ult

Cons:
-When your opponent deals magic damage too, you have to build magic resist instead of armor and have a weaker E
-Very manahungry in early game
-Problems with your defense when their jungler deals magic damage

I selected these runes for Malphite so he can be tankier than he even is and have a lot of advantages in early game. Just the MagicPen shows that he deals magic damage.

9/21/0 are standard masteries on an offensive tank like Malphite, so he is a bit in the meta.

Most top laners are melees. The Malphite Ground Slam is ideal against them, because it reduces their attack speed and scales with armor. The second skill to max is his Q. It deals some nice damage and slows the enemy, so it's good to catch them or run away when they're too close. The ultimate has the highest priority, of course.

Malphite is a tank who needs armor and ability power to be strong. My build gives him both. When you want to be faster, buy Ninja Tabis. You can also be more offensive when your opponent isn't so tanky like Renekton to kill him much faster, then take Void Staff instead of Iceborn Gaunlet. When your opponent is an AP Offtank too, build magic resistence with items like Mercury's, Abyssal Cepter or Locket of the iron Solari. When you want to be tankier and not so offensive, buy Randuins instead of Rabadons.

The standard spells for a top laner. You can also take Teleport instead of Ignite to be more flexible.