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Jungle · Normal DraftMatchup guidePatch 16.20.1

Malphite vs Vex

Build, runes, abilities and practical pre-game checks in one queue-aware reference.

MalphiteVSVex

Matchup guide

Choose the matchup

Search every champion, choose the assigned role, then open the exact queue page.

VS
Role
Selected laneJungle

Choose two champions from the list.

Role fit

JungleMalphite

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.

Player-chosen flex
Review 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

Normal Draft · Jungle

Tank jungle baseline

Follow the completed-item order as a pre-game reference. Components and owned items do not create extra inventory slots.

Player-chosen flex
S
Draft / Ranked opening · separate from item 1

Mosstomper Seedling

450 gold

Provides a Smite upgrade and a defensive shield after the companion is fully grown.

1
First item

Jak'Sho, The Protean

3,200 gold

Completes a broad durability core for extended jungle and objective fights.

2
Boots

Plated Steelcaps

1,200 gold

Reduces pressure from physical attacks and repeated basic attacks.

3
Vs physical

Sunfire Aegis

2,800 gold

Adds health, armour and area damage for camps and close fights.

4
Vs magic

Kaenic Rookern

2,900 gold

Adds magic resistance and a shield against sustained spell damage.

5
Anti-heal

Thornmail

2,450 gold

Adds armour and anti-heal when attack-heavy enemies must hit you.

6
Health and recovery

Warmog's Armor

3,100 gold

Adds a large health pool and out-of-combat recovery after enough bonus health is already established.

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.

  1. First itemJak'Sho, The Protean
  2. BootsPlated Steelcaps
  3. Frozen Heart
  4. Vs magicKaenic Rookern
  5. Anti-healThornmail
  6. Health and recoveryWarmog's Armor
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.

  1. First itemJak'Sho, The Protean
  2. BootsPlated Steelcaps
  3. Randuin's Omen
  4. Vs magicKaenic Rookern
  5. Anti-healThornmail
  6. Health and recoveryWarmog's Armor

Complete build comparison

Complete build comparison

Recommendation review pending

Build review neededTank jungle baselineRecommendation review pendingView full route

Recommendation review pending

  1. First itemJak'Sho, The Protean
  2. BootsPlated Steelcaps
  3. Vs physicalSunfire Aegis
  4. Vs magicKaenic Rookern
  5. Anti-healThornmail
  6. Health and recoveryWarmog's Armor
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.

  1. First itemJak'Sho, The Protean
  2. BootsPlated Steelcaps
  3. Frozen Heart
  4. Vs magicKaenic Rookern
  5. Anti-healThornmail
  6. Health and recoveryWarmog's Armor
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.

  1. First itemJak'Sho, The Protean
  2. BootsPlated Steelcaps
  3. Randuin's Omen
  4. Vs magicKaenic Rookern
  5. Anti-healThornmail
  6. Health and recoveryWarmog's Armor

Runes and summoner spells

Runes and summoner spellsMalphiteJungle

Reach the fight with control available and absorb the first response.

Normal Draft
Primary tree

Resolve

AftershockFont of LifeConditioningOvergrowth
Secondary tree

Precision

TriumphLegend: Haste
Summoner spells
FlashSmite
Keep Smite

Smite is part of Jungle companion progression and objective security. The movement or combat spell beside it is the adjustable slot.

Change the movement spell

Ghost can fit sustained access; Flash can fit one immediate reposition. Use the champion's route and intended fights to choose.

Matchup notes

What changes when Vex is opposite you?

Pre-game kit comparison
Kit comparison

Respect the opponent's reliable threat

Track the cooldown and range of the ability that starts their safest trade. Do not treat this page as a statistical counter claim.

Your plan

Use the route you prepared

Treat Vex as one part of the map state. Their Jungler, nearby waves and which teammates can move determine whether the same trade or rotation is safe.

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.

Ability reference

Compare both kits

Ability reference Data Dragon 16.20.1

Cooldown / Cost / Range Data Dragon 16.20.1

Malphite

  1. P
    Granite Shield

    Granite Shield is an automatic part of the kit involving damage. Track when its condition is active instead of treating every fight the same way.

  2. Q
    Seismic Shard

    Seismic Shard contributes damage. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.

    Cooldown 8 · Cost 70/75/80/85/90 · Listed range 625
  3. W
    Thunderclap

    Thunderclap is part of Malphite's W pattern. Read its listed effect first, then track the cooldown and condition that make the next use valuable.

    Cooldown 10/9.5/9/8.5/8 · Cost 30/35/40/45/50 · Listed range 400
  4. E
    Ground Slam

    Ground 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.

    Cooldown 7 · Cost 50/55/60/65/70 · Listed range 400
  5. R
    Unstoppable Force

    Unstoppable 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.

    Cooldown 130/115/100 · Cost 100 · Listed range 1000

Vex

  1. P
    Doom 'n Gloom

    Doom 'n Gloom is an automatic part of the kit involving hard crowd control and damage. Track when its condition is active instead of treating every fight the same way.

  2. Q
    Mistral Bolt

    Mistral Bolt is a ranged cast involving its listed effect. Respect its line or target area, and avoid spending it when the opponent can simply step away before the important exchange.

    Cooldown 8/7/6/5/4 · Cost 45/50/55/60/65 · Listed range 1200
  3. W
    Personal Space

    Personal Space contributes protection or sustain and damage. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.

    Cooldown 16/15/14/13/12 · Cost 75 · Listed range 475
  4. E
    Looming Darkness

    Looming Darkness creates setup or area pressure. Place it where the opponent must choose between entering its space, changing route or giving up the immediate contest.

    Cooldown 12 · Cost 70/80/90/100/110 · Listed range 800
  5. R
    Shadow Surge

    Shadow Surge is a ranged cast involving movement or repositioning and damage. Respect its line or target area, and avoid spending it when the opponent can simply step away before the important exchange.

    Cooldown 140/120/100 · Cost 100 · Listed range 2000/2500/3000

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.

Even plan

Keep the clear moving and choose high-information plays

1
Pathing

Track opposing camps and lane states instead of forcing the first visible target.

2
Map play

Trade sides of the map when contesting would require weaker lanes to move first.

3
Fights

Save important control for the enemy who threatens your carries or objective access.

Pings, movement and objectives

Malphite Jungle map plan

Link each clear to the next informed decision. Pings should tell lanes where you are pathing and whether the team is contesting or trading an objective.

Ahead

Turn tempo into controlled territory

Ping
Use On My Way before entering a lane, Assist Me before an objective and Danger when nearby lanes cannot move to an invade.
Path or gank
Gank when the lane has reach, damage and a safe exit. Do not wait beside a protected target while camps and the next objective disappear.
Objective
Establish vision with the nearest winning lane, keep Smite available and avoid chasing away from the objective after gaining control.
Even

Choose the play with the clearest information

Ping
Use On My Way early enough for the lane to prepare, Assist Me only when nearby lanes can move, and Retreat when the contest has already become late.
Path or gank
Prefer a lane with crowd control, damaged opponents or a favourable wave. A visible opponent is not automatically a usable gank.
Objective
Check Mid and Bot priority before Dragon, or Mid and Top before Herald. Set a safe entrance before beginning the objective.
Behind

Trade the map instead of forcing recovery

Ping
Ping Retreat from lost contests, Danger on likely invades and On My Way when covering a vulnerable lane or remaining camp.
Path or gank
Counter-gank or help only when allies can survive until arrival. Repeated low-chance ganks deepen the camp and level deficit.
Objective
If entry is unsafe, trade for camps, a wave, vision or the opposite objective. Keep Smite and crowd control for a contest the team can actually reach.
Objective setup

Four calls, in order

Pings create a shared plan; they do not replace checking waves, vision and who can move.

  1. 1
    Before the route

    Decide which camps lead toward the objective and ping the nearby lanes before they spend the wave or recall timing.

  2. 2
    Check priority

    Confirm which nearby lanes can move first. Do not convert an isolated objective marker into a forced fight.

  3. 3
    Control entry

    Move with a teammate, sweep one entrance and keep Smite available before committing damage to the objective.

  4. 4
    Finish or turn

    Call whether the team is finishing, fighting or leaving. Mixed decisions are more dangerous than either clear choice.

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.

Keep preparing

Use the champion page or choose another opponent

The matchup page is a pre-game reference. It does not predict the result or alter its recommendation from changing live match data.

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