all right this is how i play malzahar. i build him as a nuker that if used right u can destroy anyone. this build is majorly an ap build but with malzahar's abilitys u can kill without them even bein able to fight back. i do not recomend this build if you are new to malzahar because its not very survivable and you need to have a good start for it to be useful. however if u can play him then you can get him unbelievably strong.

ok thse runes are good for this build because of the extra ability power + more mana for harasing it can give u the edge in the begining whitch if used right can win the game.

my masteries are straitforward. i get ability power, cooldown reduction, and magic pen. in attack then just basic utility with expirence cooldowns and flash along with mana regeneration. these can all make malzahar dangerous

this is weer im gguessing ill lose some people. ul say WTF this is horid no survivability but i say nay. malzahars abilitys if used right can kill so quikly u dont need it. first get mejais soulsteal whitch i feel is esential for all mages especially malzahar this gives 160 ap and cd redution at 20 stacks. next get your boots the magic pen is nice plus u need the speed.after this rush rabadons deathcap because it gives masive ap that makes malzahar dangerous. plus its passive- plus 30% ap?!?! this item was made for nukers like malz to reach unreal ap levals. next get void staff for the magic pen and ap... lets do the math 40% magic pen plus some from your boots leves them very low in mage resistance they so despritly need wile facing you. next get another rabadons because this will put ur ap through the roof at this point and if u have your stacks its amazing. this i follow up with a zhonyas hourglass for some armour and ap. some items can be substitued like for the zhonyas, u can get a morellos evil tome for the cd redution. or if u must u can put a rod of ages in before the 2nd rabadons but i dont find it is as good. if you are being really fed then you can put a third rabadons in for the zhonyas or the void staff. these items can give you 900 plus ap if u get it this far and u can nuke in seconds and ur ult isnt even needed anymore.

all right the skill priority is

malific visions
null zone
call of the void

getting points in your ult when possible. this is because malific visions has so many uses.1 great harasment on champions 2. great for mana refund wile farming minions 3. using before null zone and ult maximises damage wile nuking.
null zone is next because it does great damage if u catch champs in it with ypur ult
call of the void is last because it is the least useful in nuking but the silence is nice.
nuke order

malific visons
null zone
nether grasp wile champs in null zone
call of the void to finish if necesary

i use flash because it is a great escape ability in tight spots. for example you are laning top and you get ganked without an mia from your team. u can flash through the dragons wall and move twords their base and recall. if u would prefer ghost as your excape spell i cant see it being much worse but i prefer flash.
the second spell i use is ignite because it is great for picking up kills in the begining coupled with your malific visions or to get the one that almost got away when your visions are on cooldown.
some i dont recomend are clarity,heal,rally,smite,clairvoyance

clarity-generally useless in mid and late and barly useful in the begining also your mana refund on your visions this can be completly useless
heal- same deal as clarity basicly useless
rally- first your not mele so its usless plus i find it bad no matter what.
smite- your not jungling so it really does nothing for you.
clairvoyance-i dont find this spell to be good and i think its a waste of a spell but if you must have it go ahead.

as i said this build is a majorly ap build and you can do massive damage however the reduced survivability makes new people to the charecter will feed and then kill there team but if you are good with him then you will dominate.

pros

unreal damage
great harasing

cons

lower survilvability then other builds

i find the best way to use malz is in the solo lane because you can get ahead fast and that is key to dominating. use your malific visions to harase and your ult and null zone to secure your first kills