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ARAM · Howling AbyssMatchup guidePatch 16.20.1

Malzahar vs Thresh

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

MalzaharVSThresh

Matchup guide

Choose the matchup

Search any two champions. ARAM uses one shared lane, so no Rift role selection is required.

VS
FormatOne shared lane

Choose two champions from the list.

ARAM context

One shared lane, one champion-specific plan

The page uses ARAM starting, shopping and teamfight rules. Its internal build source is not shown as a Rift assignment.

Howling Abyss
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

Howling Abyss rules

Prepare for one shared lane

ARAM removes the normal Rift role map. Build around the champion, the five-player team and the next fight instead.

01
Start together

Review rerolls and the shared bench, then leave with an opening that fits this champion and the team around it.

02
Shop while dead

You cannot Recall to buy. Plan components before leaving the shop and use each death timer deliberately.

03
Share health relics

A relic heals nearby allies after a short delay. Signal it and avoid taking the trigger when a lower-health teammate needs the area.

04
Fight with the wave

Minions create structure pressure and safer space. Clearing first can be more useful than forcing another low-health engage.

ARAM · Howling Abyss

ARAM spell reference

Compare the opening with Riot's ARAM Recommended shop before leaving base. After that, purchases happen only while dead; the six usable inventory slots do not increase.

Death-only shopping
S
ARAM opening · separate from item 1

Guardian's Orb

950 gold

An ARAM ability-power starter to compare with the current Recommended shop.

1
Haste Boots

Ionian Boots of Lucidity

900 gold

Adds inexpensive haste and movement for repeated casts.

2
Spell core

Luden's Echo

2,750 gold

Adds mana and repeated spell impact.

3
Long-range follow-up

Horizon Focus

2,700 gold

Rewards reliable long-range spell contact.

4
Late spell power

Rabadon's Deathcap

3,500 gold

Multiplies the completed ability-power core.

5
Against resistance

Void Staff

3,000 gold

Adds percentage magic penetration against meaningful resistance.

6
Final option

Shadowflame

3,200 gold

Completes the permanent inventory with stronger magic damage against low-health targets.

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

AlternativeToo much healingMorellonomicon applies anti-heal. Buy it earlier only when healing is already deciding fights.View full route

Best when: Morellonomicon applies anti-heal. Buy it earlier only when healing is already deciding fights.

  1. Haste BootsIonian Boots of Lucidity
  2. Spell coreLuden's Echo
  3. Morellonomicon
  4. Late spell powerRabadon's Deathcap
  5. Against resistanceVoid Staff
  6. Final optionShadowflame

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

AlternativeThey burst meZhonya's stasis can absorb a committed dive or lethal burst window.View full route

Best when: Zhonya's stasis can absorb a committed dive or lethal burst window.

  1. Haste BootsIonian Boots of Lucidity
  2. Spell coreLuden's Echo
  3. Zhonya's Hourglass
  4. Late spell powerRabadon's Deathcap
  5. Against resistanceVoid Staff
  6. Final optionShadowflame

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

AlternativeOne spell stops meBanshee's spell shield can protect the first important cast against you.View full route

Best when: Banshee's spell shield can protect the first important cast against you.

  1. Haste BootsIonian Boots of Lucidity
  2. Spell coreLuden's Echo
  3. Long-range follow-upHorizon Focus
  4. Banshee's Veil
  5. Against resistanceVoid Staff
  6. Final optionShadowflame

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

Complete build comparison

Complete build comparison

Recommendation review pending

Build review neededARAM spell referenceRecommendation review pendingView full route

Recommendation review pending

  1. Haste BootsIonian Boots of Lucidity
  2. Spell coreLuden's Echo
  3. Long-range follow-upHorizon Focus
  4. Late spell powerRabadon's Deathcap
  5. Against resistanceVoid Staff
  6. Final optionShadowflame

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

AlternativeToo much healingMorellonomicon applies anti-heal. Buy it earlier only when healing is already deciding fights.View full route

Best when: Morellonomicon applies anti-heal. Buy it earlier only when healing is already deciding fights.

  1. Haste BootsIonian Boots of Lucidity
  2. Spell coreLuden's Echo
  3. Morellonomicon
  4. Late spell powerRabadon's Deathcap
  5. Against resistanceVoid Staff
  6. Final optionShadowflame

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

AlternativeThey burst meZhonya's stasis can absorb a committed dive or lethal burst window.View full route

Best when: Zhonya's stasis can absorb a committed dive or lethal burst window.

  1. Haste BootsIonian Boots of Lucidity
  2. Spell coreLuden's Echo
  3. Zhonya's Hourglass
  4. Late spell powerRabadon's Deathcap
  5. Against resistanceVoid Staff
  6. Final optionShadowflame

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

AlternativeOne spell stops meBanshee's spell shield can protect the first important cast against you.View full route

Best when: Banshee's spell shield can protect the first important cast against you.

  1. Haste BootsIonian Boots of Lucidity
  2. Spell coreLuden's Echo
  3. Long-range follow-upHorizon Focus
  4. Banshee's Veil
  5. Against resistanceVoid Staff
  6. Final optionShadowflame

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

Runes and summoner spells

Runes and summoner spellsMalzaharHowling Abyss

This general ARAM spell page supports repeated ranged casts and the mode's higher mana pressure. Replace Clarity only when the champion does not need the resource.

ARAM
Primary tree

Sorcery

Arcane CometManaflow BandTranscendenceGathering Storm
Secondary tree

Precision

Presence of MindCut Down
Summoner spells
FlashClarity
Howling Abyss only

Mark and Clarity are mode-specific choices. Do not copy this pair onto a Summoner's Rift page.

Protect the next fight

Choose the second spell around access, survival and team resources rather than treating every ARAM champion as a diver.

Matchup notes

What changes when Thresh is opposite you?

Pre-game kit comparison
Shared-lane interaction

Compare reliable reach and repeatable value

Track which champion can apply damage, control or protection without crossing the enemy team's safe space. ARAM does not turn this kit comparison into a lane-counter claim.

Team context first

Rerolls, allied range, engage and protection can matter more than either champion in isolation.

Your plan

Use the route you prepared

Use the champion-specific ARAM build as a starting reference, then check the current Recommended shop, your five-player composition and the next available death shop.

Ability reminders

Malzahar reminders

  • Wait to cast Void Swarm until there are nearby enemies for the Voidling to attack or kill.
  • Use Call of the Void and Nether Grasp to renew the duration of Malefic Visions on enemies.
  • Avoiding damage in lane maximizes the uptime on Void Shift, increasing Malzahar's safety dramatically.
Ability reminders

Against Thresh

  • Thresh's Death Sentence has a long cast time. Watch for the cast to begin to take evasive actions.
  • Intentionally breaking a wall of The Box can allow a vulnerable ally to escape unscathed.
  • Thresh relies on collecting souls for a portion of his defense and damage. Try punishing him when he moves to collect them.

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.

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.
They burst me

Zhonya's Hourglass

Zhonya's stasis can absorb a committed dive or lethal burst window.

One spell stops me

Banshee's Veil

Banshee's spell shield can protect the first important cast against you.

Ability reference

Compare both kits

Ability reference Data Dragon 16.20.1

Cooldown (s) / Cost / Listed range (units) Data Dragon 16.20.1

Malzahar

  1. P
    Void Shift

    When he hasn't recently taken damage or been crowd controlled, Malzahar gains massive damage reduction and crowd control immunity, lingering for a short period after taking damage.

  2. Q
    Call of the Void

    Malzahar opens up two portals to the Void. After a short delay, they fire projectiles that deal Magic Damage and silence enemy champions.

    Cooldown (s) 6 · Cost 60/65/70/75/80 · Listed range (units) 900
  3. W
    Void Swarm

    Malzahar summons Voidlings to attack nearby enemies.

    Cooldown (s) 8 · Cost 40/45/50/55/60 · Listed range (units) 150
  4. E
    Malefic Visions

    Malzahar infects his target's mind with cruel visions of their demise, dealing damage over time. Using Malzahar's other spells on the target will refresh the visions. If the target dies while afflicted by the visions, they pass on to a nearby enemy unit and Malzahar gains Mana. Malzahar's Voidlings are attracted to affected units.

    Cooldown (s) 11/10/9/8/7 · Cost 60/70/80/90/100 · Listed range (units) 650
  5. R
    Nether Grasp

    Malzahar channels the essence of the Void to suppress an enemy champion over a zone of damaging negative energy.

    Cooldown (s) 140/110/80 · Cost 100 · Listed range (units) 700

Thresh

  1. P
    Damnation

    Thresh can harvest the souls of enemies that die near him, permanently granting him Armor and Ability Power.

  2. Q
    Death Sentence

    Thresh binds an enemy in chains and pulls them toward him. Activating this ability a second time pulls Thresh to the enemy.

    Cooldown (s) 19/16.5/14/11.5/9 · Cost 70 · Listed range (units) 1075
  3. W
    Dark Passage

    Thresh throws out a lantern that shields nearby allied Champions from damage. Allies can click the lantern to dash to Thresh.

    Cooldown (s) 21/20/19/18/17 · Cost 50/55/60/65/70 · Listed range (units) 950
  4. E
    Flay

    Thresh's attacks wind up, dealing more damage the longer he waits between attacks. When activated, Thresh sweeps his chain, knocking all enemies hit in the direction of the blow.

    Cooldown (s) 13/12.25/11.5/10.75/10 · Cost 60/65/70/75/80 · Listed range (units) 500
  5. R
    The Box

    A prison of walls that slow and deal damage if broken.

    Cooldown (s) 120/100/80 · Cost 100 · Listed range (units) 450

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

Trade around health, range and the next wave

1
Wave

Let the team clear without spending every important cooldown at once.

2
Map play

Track the shared lane, brush control and available relics rather than looking for a Rift rotation.

3
Fights

Use the champion's reliable range, protection or control before forcing a low-percentage engage.

Shared-lane plan

Malzahar on Howling Abyss

Read health, range, wave position and respawn timing together. ARAM has no side-lane rotation, neutral-objective setup or normal ward-control loop.

ARAM only
1
Before the fight

Clear or escort the wave, check which allies are alive and preserve enough health to use the champion's reliable range, protection or engage.

2
During the fight

Use the nearest safe target and the team's reachable follow-up. Do not cross the whole enemy formation for a single low-health champion.

3
After the fight

Push with surviving minions, take the safe structure damage available and reset only through a real death rather than donating one alone.

Keep preparing

Stay with Howling Abyss information

Open the complete ARAM build or compare another champion. Rift role counters are intentionally kept out of this page.

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