This is my standard set up for your Grade A tank. As Malphite, once the boulder starts rolling. It's hard to stop as they say.

Malph is a prime example of this. If allowed to get kills he can become almost literally unstoppable with excellent capabilities for escape.

Even under-fed or under-leveled, Malphite is not to be taken lightly. With both a knock up and a slow. He is a key to a successful team fight if his ultimate is timed correctly.

Malphite is also an excellent solo-top. Able to keep even some of the strongest solo-top champs at bay.

PROS:
- Excellent solo-top/ laner.
- A life-saver in team fights.
- Good escape-ability.
- Hard to take down once momentum is built.
- Very good at taking down towers.

CONS:
- Mana heavy at early/ Mid game.
- Easy to kill if positioned badly.
- Escape sometimes reliant on abilities.

SEISMIC SHARD -
This ability is what makes Malphite such a good laner/ solo-top/ team fighter. At early levels, with your base starting magic pen from your runes, destroys squishes. Many a time Players will underestimate Malphite, however the range on seismic shard is quite long. Seismic Shard slows as well as SPEEDS Malphite up when it hits an enemy unit, be it champion or minion/ Neutral minion. This means that the shard can not only be used to harass enemy champions/ steal dragon/baron. But also as a handy escape tool. Throwing it back at the enemy before boosting off to safety.

BRUTAL STRIKES -
Some would say this is one of Malphite's most important skills. And they would be right. However, brutal strikes does not need to be maximized until late game. One rank in this skill gives Malphite a built in Tiamat with out the added mana and health regen as the skills passive. As an active, Malphite deals added damage to his auto-attack, making his ability to take down towers more effective and swift.

GROUND SLAM -
Apart from Seismic Shard, Ground slam is the second skill to be maxed. Unlike a lot of champions save for Rammus. This ability deals base damage before also scaling of armor. So attaining a item such as Thornmail, Guardian Angel or a Sunfire Cape are excellent tank times but also aid Malphite in nuking squishies. Making Malphite an intimidating, "Run, run now." type champion.

UNSTOPPABLE FORCE -
Malphite's ultimate, and a life saver in more ways than one. Malphite charges forward. Knocking anything in the area up. Malphite can save a team from total annihilation but the hands of Cait as well as other champions. Malphite's skill can also be used as escape tool as he can charge through walls when this skill is active.

GRANITE SHIELD (PASSIVE) -
Malphite gains a shield equal to 10% of his maximum health. This is what makes Malphite so sustainable in lane. After being out of contact with enemies for more than 10 seconds. Malphite regenerates his shield.

Okay, so you've gotten your runes and masteries set up and your in the game. This will give you about 635 health at level one. Far more than most champs at starting level. Lets look at the starting item you will need:

Doran's Shield - Perfect for Malphite in more ways than one. Besides the fact that it increases your health to 755 health at level 1. The 10 armor as well as 8 hp/5seconds. Makes him one tough bastard to beat out of a lane. The 10 armor on top of the 50 armor given at lvl 1 makes Ground Slam all the more powerful once you get it at level 1.

Boots:

Mercury Treads - Its the MUST HAVE! item for a tank. The MR combined with the MR you receive from your runes is great against casters at early levels. The passive boots reduces the CC of most champions which is great at later levels.

Core Items:

Warmogs -
This is your first item. With out question. Its gives you health and Health re-gen. With
Malphite's built in armor and passive. The extra health increases the shield. As it scales from health.

Thornmail -
Thornmail has more benefits for Malphite than just the passive of the item itself. In the hands of Malphite, thornmail is just as much a weapon as it is with Rammus. Thormail not only make Malphite more sustainable but also scales his ground slam.

Force of Nature - FoN is one of those items you just need to have. Stacking with Maplhites in-built MR it also scales health regen with warmogs. It makes Malphite sustainable over long periods of time.

Situation Items:

Guardian Angel -
MR, and armor. Everything Malphite needs as well as bringing back from the brink of death.

Sunfire Cape -
Health plus aoe magic damage and armor. Enough said.