Build Guide by Pokimoki

Introduction

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Pros:
1. Spammable spells in teamfights.
2. Great mid laner.
3. Better survivability.(With this build)
4. Great ganker.
5. Nether Grasp is basically like "Choose someone to die"
7. This build doesn't rely on Mejai's Soulstealer .
8. Easy minion kills/Easy to obtain gold.
9. Mana Regen is over 9000! (Not really, but you wont run out of mana)
11. One of the few mages that can push towers. (Due to Summon Voidling )
12. The build stats Lie! You dont just get 255 AP at level 18, you get around 800-900!

Cons:
1. Easily ganked early game/laning phase.
2. Item dependent.(Archangel Stacks )
3. Vulnerable to CC.
4. Targeted in team battles.
5. Relatively slow CDR.
6. Skill rotation can be hard to get use to.
7. No natural escape mechanism.
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Summoner Spells:


Ignite: This spell is great on Malzahar. If paired up with his Malefic Visions it makes you very dominant early game. If you do the Ignite/Malefic vision combo you can kill turret huggers easy.

Ghost: This spell is almost mandatory on Malzahar because he has no escape mechanisms in his arsenal. This is also great for chasing and ganking.

Flash: I would advise you not to get this SS since rumors say it will be removed soon, but for the time being, i would choose this over Ghost any day, it will help you get your combos off, and flashing over terrain is a good escape mechanism.

Cleanse: This is also a great skill since he has no escape mechanism. Make sure you get Flash or Ghost with this spell though.

Any other summomer spells on Malzahar isnt very viable. I asvise you to pick any of the spells above for best results.
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Skills:

Summon Voidling: This spell is SO underlooked, people think its dumb because you can't control it. But heres the thing, you CAN. If a target is inflicted with Malefic Visions , your Voidling gets taunted to attack the target. This can greatly impact your damage output in a fight. And this is why Malzahar is one of the few mages that can push towers, if you have to use a spell or two to get your voidling out near a tower, then by golly do it. The only bad thing is that if you are in a brush, and your Voidling isn't, then it doesn't stealth. So make sure your little friend is in the bush with you.

After casting 4 spells, Malzahar summons an uncontrollable Voidling to engage enemy units for 21 seconds. Voidlings have 200 + 50 x lvl Health and 20 + 5 x lvl Damage.

Voidlings Grow after 7 seconds (+50% Damage/Armor), and Frenzy after 14 seconds (+100% Attack Speed).


Call of the Void: A delayed AoE spell that silences for 3 seconds at rank 5. This spell deals great damage late game, and you can silence the whole team with it. The only downside is that the delay of the skill takes awhile to get use to. But once you get the hang of it, you will be able to effectively harass early game, and silence teams easily. Fiddlesticks has NOTHING on me!

Malzahar opens two portals to the void. After a short delay, they fire projectiles which deal 80 / 135 / 190 / 245 / 300 (+80% of ability power) magic damage and silence champions for 1.4 / 1.8 / 2.2 / 2.6 / 3 seconds.

Cost 90 / 100 / 110 / 120 / 130 mana | Range 900

Null Zone: This skill isn't as strong as the other skills. But it is a great tank killer, and in teamfights you can deal continuous damage to the enemies. And you need to to charge up your Voidling of course. And you drop it down before popping Nether Grasp for 'massive damage'.

Malzahar creates a zone of negative energy for 5 seconds. The zone deals 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8% (+1% of ability power)% of the target's max health as magic damage each second, with a minimum of 25 / 35 / 45 / 55 / 65 (damage to Monsters is capped).

Cost 90 / 105 / 120 / 135 / 150 mana | Range 800

Malefic Visions: This spell is by far my favorite DoT spell in LoL. (Not that there are many) This spell is key for harassing, farming, pushing, and sustaining lanes. My favorite part about this spell is that it moves on to another target if it kills the current target. The Mana back component is key to laning longer than the other casters. And this is your steering wheel for your Voidling. Yes, I have gotten a random triple kill with this spell.

Cost 60 / 75 / 90 / 105 / 120 mana | Range 600


Nether Grasp: "We demand sacrifice!" Malzahar's ultimate is like Warwicks , but it deals more damage, has a longer duration, and keeps you at a safe distance. This ultimate has gotten me too many kills to count, and it is key for ganking. If an enemy champion is lagging behind in a chase, ult him, and your team will eat him up. This deals 1600 late game. Keep in mind that you can be CC'd out of your ult, that is why you should hold off on this skill if you don't have Banshee's Veil up.

Malzahar channels the essence of the Void to suppress the target (stuns and disables summoner spells), dealing 250 / 400 / 550 (+150% of ability power) magic damage over 2.5 seconds.


My standard combo for Malzahar is > > > , but it all depends on the situation. Maybe the enemy is running away with Low HP, then i would use > >{icon=malefic visions] for the DoT surprise. If you are in a team battle try to spam , , and , and once a squishy target comes near you, use . Once you get use to the spells you will know when and where to use them.
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Item Build:

Core Item Build:

Optional/Situational:

Explaination: I get Banshee's Veil first because Malzahar has no escape mechanism, and he a has a low movement speed. He is awfully good at feeding without it, and it really helps you get Nether Grasp , because while you are using Nether Grasp , you are susceptible to CC. Sorcerer's Shoes is mandatory. Then I go for the Archangel's Staff . And Zhonya's Ring for is fourth for the AP and invulnerability, it will save your life in team fights. Then i finish off by getting two more Archangel's Staffs and a Red and Blue[elixir of brilliance] elixir. Optional is Mejai's Soulstealer . If you feel like your team has great chemistry and you have a very strong early game, pick it up as your third item. If the team has high Mag Res pick up a Void Staff in place of an Archangel's staff . Also, if their team is naturally bulky(high HP), pick up a Deathfire Grasp .
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Runes:

Marks:



Seal:



Glyphs:



Quintessences:



Explanation: Malzahar needs CDR runes for his spell spammage in teamfights. The HP is for early game lane sustainability. You can go with different Marks or Quintessences, but makes sure you get the CDR Glyphs and Seals.
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Early game/Laning phase: Important!!! Before you buy your items, put one point in Call of the Void and charge your Voidling. This will give you lane dominance in mid lane. If you get a side lane you don't have to but it will help you possibly get first blood. Other than that, buy your Sapphire Crystal and two HP Potionshealth potions and head toward your lane.

Mid Lane: If you are midlane (Where you should be) Start off being semi-aggressive. The first thing you should do is show your dominance, so use Call of the Void on your enemy and get your Voidling into action. The first minion wave should be a breeze. Once you hit level 2 get a point in Malefic Visions - BUT DONT USE IT. Do NOT use Malefic Visions on creep waves until you are level 5. Rank 3 Malefic Visions kill minions with one physical attack and the DoT damage, once you get to level 5 you will get all of the gold in your lane. If Malefic Visions inflicts a Tower Minion(The big ones with a cannon/drill), you have to use Call of the Void to bring it down. With one point in your ult you should consider ganking bottom or top lane, because it is easy effortless to gank with Nether Grasp Make sure your teammate in the lane is aware that you are going to gank the opposing team.

Sidelanes: Play more conservatively, that means don't use Malefic Visions as much. Your lane partners need gold also, so don't steal all of it. Try using it on every other wave. And harass more, try to get them to recall so they dont get exp, but watch your mana. Try laning with Support, and Disablers. Ex Soraka , and Sion .

Once you get around 3k gold or die, port back home and buy Banshee's Veil, if you can't buy Banshee's Veil in full, buy a Catalyst and Shoes. Then finish Sorcerer's Shoes and wave good bye to early game.

Mid Game: Lets talk about teamfight positioning and playstyle, initially (once the tank initiates) stay in the back and spam Call of the Void and Malefic Visions staying out of range of attacks. Once their carry gets close, use Nether Grasp on him.

Other than that, buy your Archangel's Staff and try to get the Golem Buff as much as possible. And get some components of Zhonya's Ring If possible. Dont ever get in the front lines of teamfights, they will destroy you.

Endgame: You should be able to pick off any stray squishies with your combo. Don't play aggressive late game, you might be your teams carry, and if you die the other team has an opportunity. So play safe and don't chase unless you KNOW the kill is yours. And don't be fooled by this build's stats. You dont have 255 AP endgame, you actually have 800-900 ap.
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Tips:
1. If you aren't doing too hot, try to play the role of a disabler and not a DPS champ. (Aim Call of the Void , and Nether Grasp at harmful AoE champions. Nunu , Amumu , Any other AoE ultimate champs.)
2. Dont use Malefic Visions until you are level 5.
4. Get the optional/situational items if you meet the situation, it will benefit you,
6. Have fun, dont get mad at your first times using this champion.
8. Also, if you are down a kill or two, pick up Kage's Lucky Pickkage's lucky pick so you can be caught up in gold. (Thanks Adonikam)
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Closure:
Malzahar can be a great asset to the team if played correctly. He is an amazing 1 vs 1 champion, and my best score with him was 23-1-7. This is my first build and i will make adjustments to your comments/posts accordingly, please be nice!

Thanks for your time! Good luck! :DD

P.S. I will edit this build and add more pictures, i just want to get it out sooner so people can see it faster, and don't - Without saying why!