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Mid · 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

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VS
Role
Selected laneMid

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Role fit

MidMalphite

Malphite has a reviewed secondary role here. It is less common than the primary roles, but it has a recognisable role-specific plan.

Reviewed secondary
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 · Mid

Tank baseline

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

Reviewed secondary
S
Draft / Ranked opening · separate from item 1

Doran's Shield

450 gold

Provides health regeneration for early lane trades.

1
Durability

Jak'Sho, The Protean

3,200 gold

Builds a broad first durability item for extended fights.

2
Boots

Plated Steelcaps

1,200 gold

Choose these boots when physical attacks and basic-attack pressure are the problem.

3
Vs physical

Sunfire Aegis

2,800 gold

Adds health, armour and wave clear against physical lanes.

4
Vs magic

Kaenic Rookern

2,900 gold

Adds magic resistance and movement speed against repeated spell damage.

5
Anti-heal

Thornmail

2,450 gold

Returns damage and applies anti-heal against attack-heavy opponents.

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. DurabilityJak'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. DurabilityJak'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 baselineRecommendation review pendingView full route

Recommendation review pending

  1. DurabilityJak'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. DurabilityJak'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. DurabilityJak'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 spellsMalphiteMid

Control Mid range, mana and wave timing before committing to a longer exchange or roam.

Normal Draft
Primary tree

Sorcery

Arcane CometManaflow BandTranscendenceScorch
Secondary tree

Inspiration

Biscuit DeliveryCosmic Insight
Summoner spells
FlashTeleport
Choose pressure or recovery

Ignite supports a short kill window; Teleport supports recall and map timing; Barrier protects against immediate burst.

Protect the wave plan

A more aggressive spell pair does not replace safe wave timing, river vision or an escape route.

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

Manage the wave and keep both sides of the map visible

1
Lane

Trade when your key ability and minion position favour you; an even lane does not require a forced solo kill.

2
Map play

Move on a completed wave and return before several waves are lost to the tower.

3
Fights

Position for the champion's reliable damage or control instead of beginning with the lowest-percentage spell.

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.

Ahead

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.
Even

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.
Behind

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.

  1. 1
    Handle the wave

    Push, catch or communicate the wave before leaving so the opponent does not gain a free move and free income.

  2. 2
    Signal the route

    Use On My Way for the route you are actually taking and Danger where an unseen opponent may arrive.

  3. 3
    Enter together

    Move through controlled vision with the Jungler or another ally instead of face-checking the objective alone.

  4. 4
    Choose 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.

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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