Malphite Build Guide by Marky 2 Butts

Example full build (Rod of Ages, Luden's Echo, Sorcerer's Shoes, Zhonya's Hourglass, Rabadon's Deathcap, Rylai's Crystal Scepter)

In general you should stay safe before level 6 as you don't have an escape and can be easily ganked mid. But with the AP Glass Cannon Malphite build, why play safe.

I normally take ignite and look for early aggressive trades.

Could also take Teleport, more personal preference.

Early Game

Depending on the match up mid lane early game could be difficult. Most hard matches are when the enemy is very mobile and has burst damage (Zed, Ahri, Akali..). In these you shouldn't look for too many fights, just farm up to level 6 while poking with Q when you can.


In lanes where your opponent isn't very mobile (easier if melee) makes it much easier to look for good trades with Q and E. You also have pretty good kill pressure if you take ignite level 1-3 as some people will underestimate your damage.


If I get a kill in the early game I might be tempted to go for a Mejai's Soulstealer. If not I build rod of ages (get catalyst of aeons if you can) first so I can continue to poke away at the enemy mid laner. An alternate item to build first would be lost chapter and go luden's echo first, if you don't want to get a ROA. When you hit level 6 you should be looking to use your full combo on the enemy midlaner after poking with Q (R,E,W,Q, ignite).

In the mid game, depending on how the game is going I would:
1. Look to kill mid laner every time your ult is up (or with jungle assistance)
2. Look to roam bot/top/or with your jungler find the enemy jungler and kill them to help effect the map.

If you have your first 2 items complete (Rod of Ages & Luden's Echo) I would continue to build AP items, as this is a glass cannon build. I would still build both in a normal game, just preference on which one you would like to build first.

I would look at either Rabadon's Deathcap or Zhonya's Hourglass depending on what you need at the time.

Zhonya's Hourglass if you would like to engage with r, e, and q, then use the active to buy time for your team to follow up and clean up the main targets you have hit with your ult.

Deathcap is for straight damage and you will probably die once you go in, but you should have enough damage to kill squishes.

Try to force fights around objectives like baron/drag so the enemy team with have to group up in small spaces which makes it easier for you to ult.

Late game should be just focused on hitting your ult on the main carries for the enemy team. It is that simple, you should have enough damage to blow up squishes and then you and your teammates can clean up remaining members.

I would finish my build (Rod of Ages, Luden's Echo, Zhonya's Hourglass, Rabadon's Deathcap, Sorcerer's Shoes) 5/6 items already complete. There are a couple of AP options that you could build. I usually prefer to go rylai's crystal sceptor for my final item as the extra AP and slow on the passive can prove useful late game.

Alternative items: These are some items that you could substitute in, and could work better than some of the other 5 items but mainly in certain situations.

Void Staff - Could be useful for magic penetration, but the main enemies you would be focusing probably won't build that much Magic Resist.
Morellonomicon - Another Magic pen item
Liandry's Torment - Liandry's could be useful but it is more for champions that deal magic damage over an extended period of time, where you are mostly burst damage with AP Malphite.
Twin Shadows - This could be useful if you want to slow the enemy down so you can guarantee that you will hit your ult.
Mejai's Soulstealer - This might work, but to get the most out of MS you would want this stacked up. So you should be deciding whether you want MS or not early in the game (if you get a few kills around level 1-7 and MS relatively cheap) as this can help you snowball your lead. More of personal preference if you want to go this route for your last item, but I believe this should be 1st/2nd item or not bought at all.
Lich Bane - Lich Bane gives good AP, 7% movement speed, and 10% Cooldown,but you lose the purpose of the passive while building full AP glass cannon Malphite. The passive makes it so after using an ability your next auto attack will deal 75% base AD (+50% AP) bonus magic damage. Which definitely is useful, but in the late game you are going to either:
1. blow up squishes
2. not blow up squishes

The lich bane wouldn't/should,'t be that impactful late game. I can see a scenario that LB can be purchased earlier and you would get the passive's power after you ult on top of the opponents face, or you are still in laning phase/in a melee match up where you would realistically be auto attacking more than 1-2 times after gap closing with ult.

I have a few lane matchups with a couple of comments about the specific champions.

Quick Overview

Mobile and Burst opponents are the hardest matchups (Zed, Akali,Katarina, all have burst and can dodge your ult)
- try to poke with Q pre level 6 but be careful most will be stronger than you in the beginning (at least until you get ult and have kill pressure
- focusing on farming, even under tower if they have lane priority

Most other matchups you should be ok to farm in lane fine with your passive and poke the other laner with Q. Then mid game and late game just look for good ults. It is that simple.

For more information on specific champions look at threats and synergies. I will be adding more when I feel I have played a couple times against certain champions.


Thanks for reading my first guide!


I also will be putting up league of legends videos on my YouTube and maybe streaming league or other games, if you would like to watch.

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