Good patterns
- Uses spells to shape space, punish predictable movement or control an approach.
- Creates space through durability, control or a reliable front-line threat.
Game patch 26.20Data Dragon 16.20.1
Reference patch 16.20.1
Malphite
Shard of the Monolith
Malphite is a durable champion who creates space through control, protection or a committed front line. This overview keeps the explanation practical and leaves patch-sensitive numbers to Riot's structured data and the current in-game tooltip.
Usual roleTop◆ClassTank · Mage
2DifficultyLow · 2/10
◎Basic attacksMeleeMelee basic attacks · 125 range.
◈Damage profileMostly magic damageMost normal kit pressure is magic. Magic resistance may help, but control, penetration and true damage still matter.
#Reference patch16.20.1
Strengths and limits
What Malphite does well, and what can go wrong
These are kit-level patterns, not a promise that every lane or matchup plays the same way.
Limits to respect
- Important pressure falls while key spells are unavailable or miss their intended area.
- Durability does not make an unsupported engage safe or guarantee enough damage to finish a target.
- Basic attacks require close access, so enemy range, slows and displacement can deny a clean trade.
Riot opponent tips
What an opponent is told to watch forIf you're a physical damage character stay behind your allies when fighting Malphite. Ground Slam can significantly reduce your damage output.
Malphite is one of a couple tanks who are capable of jungling. Watch out if he gets Smite.
Practical champion reading
How to read Malphite in a real fight
Use these patterns to ask better questions before choosing an item, target or commitment. They describe the kit, not a guaranteed result.
Primarily magic pressure
Magic resistance can reduce the broad spell profile, but positioning and cooldown tracking still decide whether the important abilities connect.
One short window carries much of the threat
Track the key setup and highest-impact cooldown. A missed or blocked opening can create a safer window before the full rotation returns.
Needs close access for basic attacks
Range, slows, displacement and terrain can deny the clean contact this champion wants. Plan the route in as carefully as the damage after arrival.
Create space and absorb attention
The kit is usually most valuable when it controls an entrance, protects a carry or begins a fight allies can actually reach. Durability does not make an isolated engage safe.
Identify the exact movement restriction
Tenacity can shorten only eligible control. Displacements, airborne effects and repeated slows need their own positioning, blocking or movement answer.
Check whether recovery changes the fight
Anti-heal or anti-shielding is situational. Buy it only when the effect is materially protecting targets and your champion can apply the answer reliably.
Mana and cooldowns both matter
A spell being available does not mean the complete sequence is sustainable. Watch the resource bar as well as the setup and escape cooldowns.
Defensive item reference
What can help against Malphite?
Start with the threat that is actually affecting the match. These are conditional comparisons, not an automatic counter build.
DEFENSIVE BOOTS
Mercury's Treads usually fit better
Magic resistance addresses the broad damage profile, while Tenacity can shorten reducible control.
Choose Plated Steelcaps instead only when physical basic attacks from this champion or the rest of the team are the larger repeated threat.Normal Draft and Ranked role map
Where Malphite fits on Summoner's Rift
Each lane is assessed separately. Open a role to reach its queue-specific build and matchup preparation.
TopPrimary role
Historical reference. Recommendation review pending. Malphite has an established solo-lane plan with the income and space needed to trade, manage waves and influence a side lane.
JunglePlayer-chosen flex
Historical reference. Recommendation review pending. Malphite can be selected here as a deliberate player-chosen strategy, but it is not a primary role. The pick still needs a matchup and team plan.
MidSecondary
Historical reference. Recommendation review pending. Malphite has a secondary role listed in this historical reference. It is less common than the primary roles, but it has a recognisable role-specific plan.
BotUnestablished route
Historical reference. Recommendation review pending. Malphite is normally played Top and does not currently have a reviewed Bot route. Bot usually needs dependable duo-lane scaling and sustained damage with shared early pressure. Treat this as a deliberate experiment, not a standard recommendation.
SupportSecondary
Historical reference. Recommendation review pending. Malphite has a secondary role listed in this historical reference. It is less common than the primary roles, but it has a recognisable role-specific plan.
Situational AP purchase
When should you buy anti-heal?
Buy healing reduction when enemy healing or regeneration is deciding fights and you can keep damaging the relevant target. Grievous Wounds reduces healing; it does not reduce shields, magic damage or crowd control.
Start with the component
Oblivion Orb can provide healing reduction without immediately paying for a completed Morellonomicon. Fit the component around your core damage, mana and survival needs; check the current queue's item tooltip.
Finish when it fits the fight
Complete Morellonomicon when its stats and slot efficiency suit your build. Do not treat it as a mandatory first item just because your champion deals magic damage.
Coordinate coverage
Multiple Grievous Wounds sources do not add their percentages together. Another reliable applier may cover the same target, but you may still need your own source for a separate fight or target.
Repeated spell damage and damage over time can maintain coverage more reliably than a single hit. Match the purchase to your actual spell access, enemy sustain and the teammates who can apply the debuff.
Will the fight last long enough?
If you die before dealing damage, you apply no healing reduction. If your target dies before healing, there is little healing to prevent. The debuff applies on qualifying damage immediately; it does not need to build up. It remains briefly after your last hit, so teammates can benefit even after you disengage.
Only healing during the active debuff counts. For example, 40% reduction prevents 80 of a 200-point heal, or 400 of a 1,000-point heal, before other modifiers. Compare that with the damage, penetration or survival you delayed; neither example guarantees a kill. Healing after the debuff expires is unaffected.
See the Oblivion Orb and Morellonomicon references for current effects and queue availability. These are situational decisions, not a measured best-build claim.
Kit reference
Malphite abilities
Ability names, descriptions and numeric fields come from Riot Data Dragon. Practical reads are independently written; the current in-game tooltip remains authoritative.
Abilities Data Dragon 16.20.1Cooldown / Cost / Range Data Dragon 16.20.1
P
Passive
Granite Shield
What it doesMalphite is shielded by a layer of rock which absorbs damage up to 10% of his maximum Health. If Malphite has not been hit for a few seconds, this effect recharges.
Practical readGranite Shield is an automatic part of the kit involving damage. Track when its condition is active instead of treating every fight the same way.
Maximum-health interaction
This effect references a maximum-health value. Check whether the current tooltip uses the caster's or the target's health before comparing damage or protection.
Cast commitment
This cast has a wind-up, charge or channel. Movement, interruption or a changing target state can matter before the effect completes.
Protection
The protection or sustain is part of the cast's value. Compare its timing with incoming damage rather than reading only the offensive effect.
Q
Q ability
Seismic Shard
What it doesMalphite sends a shard of the earth through the ground at his foe, dealing damage upon impact and stealing Move Speed for 3 seconds.
Practical readSeismic Shard contributes damage. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.
Cooldown8 secCost70/75/80/85/90Listed range625 units
W
W ability
Thunderclap
What it doesMalphite attacks with such force that it creates a sonic boom. For the next few seconds, his attacks create aftershocks in front of him.
Practical readThunderclap is part of Malphite's W pattern. Read its listed effect first, then track the cooldown and condition that make the next use valuable.
Cooldown10/9.5/9/8.5/8 secCost30/35/40/45/50Listed range400 units
E
E ability
Ground Slam
What it doesMalphite slams the ground, sending out a shockwave that deals magic damage based on his Armor and reduces the Attack Speed of enemies for a short duration.
Practical readGround Slam contributes basic-attack interaction and damage. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.
Cooldown7 secCost50/55/60/65/70Listed range400 units
R
Ultimate
Unstoppable Force
What it doesMalphite launches himself to a location at high speed, damaging enemies and knocking them into the air.
Practical readUnstoppable Force is part of Malphite's R pattern. Read its listed effect first, then track the cooldown and condition that make the next use valuable.
Cooldown130/115/100 secCost100Listed range1000 units
Levels 1–18
Malphite · Health / Mana · Abilities
Base values exclude items, runes, temporary buffs and mode-specific modifiers. Cooldowns are the listed base cooldown before ability haste.
Cooldown Data Dragon 16.20.1
Basic abilitySeismic Shard
Can receive its first point from level 1. Later ranks normally become available at levels 3, 5, 7 and 9.
All ranks8 sec
Basic abilityThunderclap
Can receive its first point from level 1. Later ranks normally become available at levels 3, 5, 7 and 9.
Rank 110 secRank 29.5 secRank 39 secRank 48.5 secRank 58 sec
Basic abilityGround Slam
Can receive its first point from level 1. Later ranks normally become available at levels 3, 5, 7 and 9.
All ranks7 sec
UltimateUnstoppable Force
First rank becomes available at level 6; later ranks normally become available at levels 11 and 16.
Rank 1130 secRank 2115 secRank 3100 sec
Open every levelHealth and mana from level 1 to 18
| Level | Health | Mana | Ability milestone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 665 | 280 Mana | Choose the first basic ability |
| 2 | 740 | 323 Mana | Add another basic ability or rank |
| 3 | 818 | 369 Mana | Add another basic ability or rank |
| 4 | 901 | 416 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 5 | 986 | 465 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 6 | 1,076 | 517 Mana | First ultimate rank normally available |
| 7 | 1,169 | 571 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 8 | 1,266 | 627 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 9 | 1,366 | 684 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 10 | 1,470 | 744 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 11 | 1,578 | 807 Mana | Second ultimate rank normally available |
| 12 | 1,689 | 871 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 13 | 1,804 | 937 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 14 | 1,922 | 1,005 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 15 | 2,045 | 1,076 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 16 | 2,170 | 1,149 Mana | Final ultimate rank normally available |
| 17 | 2,300 | 1,223 Mana | Spend one ability point |
| 18 | 2,433 | 1,300 Mana | Spend one ability point |
Choose the next question
Turn the profile into a pre-game plan
Choose a queue-aware build, compare a lane opponent, or return to the full champion library.