Swiftplay opening · separate from item 1
Guardian's Horn
950 goldAdds health, regeneration and broad champion-damage reduction for a durable Swiftplay opening.
Game patch 26.21Data Dragon 16.21.1
Reference patch 16.20.1
Malphite Mid · Swiftplay
Malphite has a reviewed secondary role here. It is less common than the primary roles, but it has a recognisable role-specific plan.
Reviewed secondaryFaster starting rules and queue evidenceReview patch unknownRecommendation review pending
These patches track recommendation review, build validation and item lookup separately. Updating item data does not complete a build review.
- Recommendation patch
- — Data Dragon
- Build validation patch
- 16.19.1 Data Dragon
- Item lookup patch
- 16.20.1 Data Dragon
Swiftplay · Mid
Tank baseline
Follow the completed-item order as a pre-game reference. Components and owned items do not create extra inventory slots.
Durability
Jak'Sho, The Protean
3,200 goldCompletes the six-item inventory with health and out-of-combat recovery after enough bonus health is established.
Boots
Plated Steelcaps
1,200 goldReduces incoming basic-attack damage and adds armour; choose it for repeated attacks rather than melee identity alone.
Vs physical
Sunfire Aegis
2,800 goldAdds health, armour and nearby magic damage for wave control, camp clearing and close fights.
Vs magic
Kaenic Rookern
2,900 goldAdds dedicated magic resistance and a shield against sustained spell damage after leaving champion combat.
Anti-heal
Thornmail
2,450 goldAdds armour and anti-heal against opponents who must repeatedly attack into you; it is not universal anti-heal.
Health and recovery
Warmog's Armor
3,100 goldAdds a large health pool and out-of-combat recovery after enough bonus health is already established.
Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.
Complete build choices
Choose the route before play
Recommendation review pending
AlternativeRepeated basic attacksFrozen Heart adds armour and reduces nearby enemy attack speed.
View full route▾
Best when: Frozen Heart adds armour and reduces nearby enemy attack speed.
- DurabilityJak'Sho, The Protean
- BootsPlated Steelcaps
- Frozen Heart
- Vs magicKaenic Rookern
- Anti-healThornmail
- Health and recoveryWarmog's Armor
Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.
AlternativeCritical strikes hurtRanduin's Omen reduces critical-strike pressure and helps keep nearby attackers controlled.
View full route▾
Best when: Randuin's Omen reduces critical-strike pressure and helps keep nearby attackers controlled.
- DurabilityJak'Sho, The Protean
- BootsPlated Steelcaps
- Randuin's Omen
- Vs magicKaenic Rookern
- Anti-healThornmail
- Health and recoveryWarmog's Armor
Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.
Runes and summoner spells
Runes and summoner spellsMalphiteMid
Control Mid range, mana and wave timing before committing to a longer exchange or roam.
Sorcery
Arcane Comet
Manaflow Band
Transcendence
Scorch
Inspiration
Biscuit Delivery
Cosmic Insight
Flash
TeleportIgnite supports a short kill window; Teleport supports recall and map timing; Barrier protects against immediate burst.
A more aggressive spell pair does not replace safe wave timing, river vision or an escape route.
Static alternatives
Compare the problem before changing the plan
These choices are not selected from live scores. Use one only after you identify the stated match problem yourself.
Repeated basic attacks
Frozen Heart
Frozen Heart adds armour and reduces nearby enemy attack speed.
Critical strikes hurt
Randuin's Omen
Randuin's Omen reduces critical-strike pressure and helps keep nearby attackers controlled.
Only when enemy healing is deciding fights
Oblivion Orb
Oblivion Orb supplies healing reduction without committing to a completed Morellonomicon. Skip both when healing is not the problem or an ally already covers your target reliably. Healing reduction does not reduce shields.
Conditional component, not a core item. Complete Morellonomicon only when its stats and slot efficiency justify delaying another purchase.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 (s) / Cost / Listed range (units) 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.
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.
Cooldown (s)8Cost70/75/80/85/90Listed range (units)625
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.
Cooldown (s)10/9.5/9/8.5/8Cost30/35/40/45/50Listed range (units)400
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.
Cooldown (s)7Cost50/55/60/65/70Listed range (units)400
R
Ultimate
Unstoppable Force
What it doesMalphite launches himself to a location at high speed, damaging enemies and knocking them into the air.
Cooldown (s)130/115/100Cost100Listed range (units)1000
Adapt the plan
What to do when the game changes
Judge the whole lane or map state, not only personal kills. Choose the situation closest to the current game.
Ahead plan
Use wave priority before looking for another play
Lane
Push safely, then threaten vision, a side lane or the enemy jungle without abandoning free farm.
Map play
Reach river first with your Jungler and preserve the cooldown needed if the opponent contests.
Fights
Pressure a valuable target while respecting the control that can end your lead.
Even plan
Manage the wave and keep both sides of the map visible
Lane
Trade when your key ability and minion position favour you; an even lane does not require a forced solo kill.
Map play
Move on a completed wave and return before several waves are lost to the tower.
Fights
Position for the champion's reliable damage or control instead of beginning with the lowest-percentage spell.
Behind plan
Clear safely and make the opponent expose themselves
Lane
Use range, tower space and vision. Do not contest every last hit if it opens another kill.
Map play
Ping missing early and take the safe route; blindly matching a stronger roam can lose two positions.
Fights
Group around your most dependable control and damage rather than searching alone for a comeback.
Pings, movement and objectives
Malphite Mid map plan
Mid can reach either side, but the wave pays for every move. Communicate the opponent first, then move only when the route and destination are credible.
Use priority to arrive first, not recklessly
- Ping
- Ping Enemy Missing when the opponent leaves, On My Way before entering river and Danger on the route the opponent may use.
- Stay or roam
- Roam after clearing the wave and choose the side where allies can participate. Return before several waves are lost.
- Objective
- Reach river with the Jungler, control one entrance and preserve the spell that stops an enemy engage or secures the first target.
Turn one managed wave into map pressure
- Ping
- Use Enemy Missing immediately, then On My Way only when you are genuinely moving rather than considering it.
- Stay or roam
- Move after the wave is handled. If following requires entering fog alone, ping Danger and take the safe route instead.
- Objective
- Help establish river vision before the start. Do not burn the only control spell on poke if it is needed to protect the entrance.
Clear safely and warn both side lanes
- Ping
- Ping Enemy Missing early and repeat Danger on the threatened side. Use Retreat if matching the roam would expose you to another kill.
- Stay or roam
- Follow through established vision or remain Mid and recover farm. A late blind follow often loses both positions.
- Objective
- Approach behind the front line and use reliable control or range. Trade the objective if the team cannot safely enter river.
Objective setup
Four calls, in order
Pings create a shared plan; they do not replace checking waves, vision and who can move.
- 1Handle the wave
Push, catch or communicate the wave before leaving so the opponent does not gain a free move and free income.
- 2Signal the route
Use On My Way for the route you are actually taking and Danger where an unseen opponent may arrive.
- 3Enter together
Move through controlled vision with the Jungler or another ally instead of face-checking the objective alone.
- 4Choose the job
Decide whether you are engaging, front-lining, flanking or protecting a carry before the fight begins.
Later objectives: Repeat the same process around later major objectives: handle nearby income, communicate the route, enter through vision and agree on the fight before committing.
Use the guide
Put Malphite into a real matchup
Compare a specific opponent, return to the champion overview, or choose another champion without losing the queue distinction.