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ARAM · Howling AbyssMatchup guidePatch 16.20.1

Malphite vs Briar

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

MalphiteVSBriar

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 tank 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 Horn

950 gold

An ARAM health and regeneration starter to compare with the current Recommended shop.

1
Physical-defence Boots

Plated Steelcaps

1,200 gold

Adds movement and basic-attack defence against physical pressure.

2
Mixed resistance

Jak'Sho, The Protean

3,200 gold

Adds mixed resistance during extended fights.

3
Armour and wave control

Sunfire Aegis

2,800 gold

Adds health, armour and close-range wave control.

4
Against magic damage

Kaenic Rookern

2,900 gold

Adds dedicated magic resistance against sustained spell damage.

5
Against critical strikes

Randuin's Omen

2,700 gold

Adds armour and critical-strike protection against attack-heavy opponents.

6
Health and recovery

Warmog's Armor

3,100 gold

Completes the permanent inventory with health and recovery after the resistance core.

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. Physical-defence BootsPlated Steelcaps
  2. Mixed resistanceJak'Sho, The Protean
  3. Morellonomicon
  4. Against magic damageKaenic Rookern
  5. Against critical strikesRanduin's Omen
  6. Health and recoveryWarmog's Armor

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. Physical-defence BootsPlated Steelcaps
  2. Mixed resistanceJak'Sho, The Protean
  3. Zhonya's Hourglass
  4. Against magic damageKaenic Rookern
  5. Against critical strikesRanduin's Omen
  6. Health and recoveryWarmog's Armor

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. Physical-defence BootsPlated Steelcaps
  2. Mixed resistanceJak'Sho, The Protean
  3. Armour and wave controlSunfire Aegis
  4. Banshee's Veil
  5. Against critical strikesRanduin's Omen
  6. Health and recoveryWarmog's Armor

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

AlternativeThey stack magic resistVoid Staff becomes valuable when the target has bought meaningful magic resistance.View full route

Best when: Void Staff becomes valuable when the target has bought meaningful magic resistance.

  1. Physical-defence BootsPlated Steelcaps
  2. Mixed resistanceJak'Sho, The Protean
  3. Armour and wave controlSunfire Aegis
  4. Void Staff
  5. Against critical strikesRanduin's Omen
  6. Health and recoveryWarmog's Armor

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 tank referenceRecommendation review pendingView full route

Recommendation review pending

  1. Physical-defence BootsPlated Steelcaps
  2. Mixed resistanceJak'Sho, The Protean
  3. Armour and wave controlSunfire Aegis
  4. Against magic damageKaenic Rookern
  5. Against critical strikesRanduin's Omen
  6. Health and recoveryWarmog's Armor

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. Physical-defence BootsPlated Steelcaps
  2. Mixed resistanceJak'Sho, The Protean
  3. Morellonomicon
  4. Against magic damageKaenic Rookern
  5. Against critical strikesRanduin's Omen
  6. Health and recoveryWarmog's Armor

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. Physical-defence BootsPlated Steelcaps
  2. Mixed resistanceJak'Sho, The Protean
  3. Zhonya's Hourglass
  4. Against magic damageKaenic Rookern
  5. Against critical strikesRanduin's Omen
  6. Health and recoveryWarmog's Armor

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. Physical-defence BootsPlated Steelcaps
  2. Mixed resistanceJak'Sho, The Protean
  3. Armour and wave controlSunfire Aegis
  4. Banshee's Veil
  5. Against critical strikesRanduin's Omen
  6. Health and recoveryWarmog's Armor

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

AlternativeThey stack magic resistVoid Staff becomes valuable when the target has bought meaningful magic resistance.View full route

Best when: Void Staff becomes valuable when the target has bought meaningful magic resistance.

  1. Physical-defence BootsPlated Steelcaps
  2. Mixed resistanceJak'Sho, The Protean
  3. Armour and wave controlSunfire Aegis
  4. Void Staff
  5. Against critical strikesRanduin's Omen
  6. 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 spellsMalphiteHowling Abyss

ARAM rewards reliable access to clustered fights. Mark helps a melee front liner enter; Flash preserves a separate escape or reposition.

ARAM
Primary tree

Resolve

Grasp of the UndyingFont of LifeConditioningOvergrowth
Secondary tree

Precision

TriumphLegend: Haste
Summoner spells
FlashMark
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 Briar 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.

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.

They stack magic resist

Void Staff

Void Staff becomes valuable when the target has bought meaningful magic resistance.

Ability reference

Compare both kits

Ability reference Data Dragon 16.20.1

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

Malphite

  1. P
    Granite Shield

    Malphite 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.

  2. Q
    Seismic Shard

    Malphite 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) 8 · Cost 70/75/80/85/90 · Listed range (units) 625
  3. W
    Thunderclap

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

    Malphite 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) 7 · Cost 50/55/60/65/70 · Listed range (units) 400
  5. R
    Unstoppable Force

    Malphite launches himself to a location at high speed, damaging enemies and knocking them into the air.

    Cooldown (s) 130/115/100 · Cost 100 · Listed range (units) 1000

Briar

  1. P
    Crimson Curse

    Briar's attacks and abilities apply a stacking bleed that heals her for a portion of the damage it deals. Perpetually hungry, she gains increased healing based on her missing Health, but lacks innate Health Regeneration.

  2. Q
    Head Rush

    Briar leaps to a unit and hits enemies with The Heel Wheel (of Pain), stunning them and breaking their Armor.

    Uses health. Check the current ability tooltip for the health amount and any additional resource cost.

    Cooldown (s) 13/12/11/10/9 · Listed range (units) 475
  3. W
    Blood Frenzy / Snack Attack

    Briar leaps forward and shatters her pillory, entering a Blood Frenzy that causes her to relentlessly pursue the nearest enemy (prioritizing champions). While frenzied, she gains increased Attack Speed and Move Speed, and her attacks deal damage in an area around her target. Briar can reactivate this ability while frenzied to take a CHOMP out of her target on her next attack, dealing additional damage based on their missing Health, and healing Briar based on the damage she deals.

    Uses health. Check the current ability tooltip for the health amount and any additional resource cost.

    Cooldown (s) 14/13/12/11/10 · Listed range (units) 350
  4. E
    Chilling Scream

    Briar refocuses her mind, removing Blood Frenzy and channeling energy into a powerful scream that damages and slows enemies. While charging, she takes reduced damage and heals for a portion of her max Health. A fully charged scream knocks foes back, dealing additional damage and stunning those who collide with a wall.

    Uses health. Check the current ability tooltip for the health amount and any additional resource cost.

    Cooldown (s) 16 · Listed range (units) 400
  5. R
    Certain Death

    Briar kicks her pillory's hemolith gemstone, marking the first champion it hits as her prey. She then beelines straight to them, fearing other surrounding enemies upon arriving at her target, and enters a state of complete hemomania. She will pursue her prey until death, gaining the benefits of Blood Frenzy as well as additional Armor, Magic Resistance, Life Steal, and Move Speed.

    Uses health. Check the current ability tooltip for the health amount and any additional resource cost.

    Cooldown (s) 120/100/80 · Listed range (units) 12000

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

Malphite 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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