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Top · Normal DraftMatchup guidePatch 16.20.1

Malphite vs Vayne

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

MalphiteVSVayne

Matchup guide

Choose the matchup

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

VS
Role
Selected laneTop

Choose two champions from the list.

Role fit

TopMalphite

Malphite has an established solo-lane plan with the income and space needed to trade, manage waves and influence a side lane.

Primary role
Historical referenceRecommendation review pending

These patches track recommendation review, build validation and item lookup separately. Updating item data does not complete a build review.

Recommendation patch
16.16 Data Dragon
Build validation patch
16.19.1 Data Dragon
Item lookup patch
16.20.1 Data Dragon

Normal Draft · Top

Evidence-supported Malphite Top

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

Primary role
S
Draft / Ranked opening · separate from item 1

Doran's Ring

400 gold

This is the most-supported Draft/Ranked starting item in the frozen prior-patch public role snapshot. Compare its durability, sustain and damage trade-off before leaving base.

1
First item

Sunfire Aegis

2,800 gold

This item is part of the most-supported coherent core in the frozen prior-patch public role snapshot. Treat the sample as context, then adjust only for a clearly identified matchup problem.

2
Boots

Plated Steelcaps

1,200 gold

This is the most-supported Boots choice in the frozen prior-patch public role snapshot; change it when the opposing damage or crowd control calls for a different defence.

3
Core

Thornmail

2,450 gold

This item is part of the most-supported coherent core in the frozen prior-patch public role snapshot. Treat the sample as context, then adjust only for a clearly identified matchup problem.

4
Late

Frozen Heart

2,500 gold

This item is part of the most-supported coherent core in the frozen prior-patch public role snapshot. Treat the sample as context, then adjust only for a clearly identified matchup problem.

5
Flexible

Jak'Sho, The Protean

3,200 gold

Keeps a reviewed late option after the prior-patch cross-check; move or replace it only when its stated match problem is present.

6
Repeated spell rotations

Cosmic Drive

3,000 gold

Completes the six-item inventory with movement speed and ability haste for repeated late-game spell rotations.

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. First itemSunfire Aegis
  2. BootsPlated Steelcaps
  3. Morellonomicon
  4. LateFrozen Heart
  5. FlexibleJak'Sho, The Protean
  6. Repeated spell rotationsCosmic Drive
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. First itemSunfire Aegis
  2. BootsPlated Steelcaps
  3. Zhonya's Hourglass
  4. LateFrozen Heart
  5. FlexibleJak'Sho, The Protean
  6. Repeated spell rotationsCosmic Drive
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. First itemSunfire Aegis
  2. BootsPlated Steelcaps
  3. CoreThornmail
  4. Banshee's Veil
  5. FlexibleJak'Sho, The Protean
  6. Repeated spell rotationsCosmic Drive
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. First itemSunfire Aegis
  2. BootsPlated Steelcaps
  3. CoreThornmail
  4. Void Staff
  5. FlexibleJak'Sho, The Protean
  6. Repeated spell rotationsCosmic Drive

Complete build comparison

Complete build comparison

Recommendation review pending

Build review neededEvidence-supported Malphite TopRecommendation review pendingView full route

Recommendation review pending

  1. First itemSunfire Aegis
  2. BootsPlated Steelcaps
  3. CoreThornmail
  4. LateFrozen Heart
  5. FlexibleJak'Sho, The Protean
  6. Repeated spell rotationsCosmic Drive
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. First itemSunfire Aegis
  2. BootsPlated Steelcaps
  3. Morellonomicon
  4. LateFrozen Heart
  5. FlexibleJak'Sho, The Protean
  6. Repeated spell rotationsCosmic Drive
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. First itemSunfire Aegis
  2. BootsPlated Steelcaps
  3. Zhonya's Hourglass
  4. LateFrozen Heart
  5. FlexibleJak'Sho, The Protean
  6. Repeated spell rotationsCosmic Drive
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. First itemSunfire Aegis
  2. BootsPlated Steelcaps
  3. CoreThornmail
  4. Banshee's Veil
  5. FlexibleJak'Sho, The Protean
  6. Repeated spell rotationsCosmic Drive
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. First itemSunfire Aegis
  2. BootsPlated Steelcaps
  3. CoreThornmail
  4. Void Staff
  5. FlexibleJak'Sho, The Protean
  6. Repeated spell rotationsCosmic Drive

Runes and summoner spells

Runes and summoner spellsMalphiteTop

Take measured lane trades, scale durability and keep a route back to the map.

Normal Draft
Primary tree

Resolve

Grasp of the UndyingDemolishSecond WindOvergrowth
Secondary tree

Precision

TriumphLast Stand
Summoner spells
FlashTeleport
Long-lane safety

Teleport preserves recalls and side-lane access. Ignite is a deliberate pressure trade-off, not a universal upgrade.

Respect the matchup

Keep the defensive secondary runes when repeated poke or one committed trade can decide the lane.

Matchup notes

What changes when Vayne is opposite you?

Pre-game kit comparison
Strategic interaction

Durable engage option

A durable lane with reliable engage can remain useful even when early ranged pressure is difficult.

Mid to late

Control and protection become clearer once teams group around objectives and carries need a front line.

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.

Ability reminders

Against Vayne

  • Vayne is fragile - turn the pressure up on her and she will be forced to play cautiously.
  • Deny Vayne the opportunity to pin you against walls.

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

Vayne

  1. P
    Night Hunter

    Vayne ruthlessly hunts evil-doers, gaining Move Speed when moving toward nearby enemy champions.

  2. Q
    Tumble

    Vayne tumbles, maneuvering to carefully place her next shot. Her next attack deals bonus damage.

    Cooldown (s) 6/5/4/3/2 · Cost 30 · Listed range (units) 300
  3. W
    Silver Bolts

    Vayne tips her bolts with a rare metal, toxic to evil things. The third consecutive attack or ability against the same target deals a percentage of the target's max health as bonus true damage.

    Listed range (units) 750
  4. E
    Condemn

    Vayne draws a heavy crossbow from her back, and fires a huge bolt at her target, knocking them back and dealing damage. If they collide with terrain, they are impaled, dealing bonus damage and stunning them.

    Cooldown (s) 20/18/16/14/12 · Cost 90 · Listed range (units) 550
  5. R
    Final Hour

    Readying herself for an epic confrontation, Vayne gains increased Attack Damage, Invisibility during Tumble, reduced Tumble cooldown, and more bonus Move Speed from Night Hunter

    Cooldown (s) 100/85/70 · Cost 80

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 the wave and your strongest cooldowns

1
Lane

Keep health and minions balanced so one poor trade does not decide the lane.

2
Map play

Move after the wave is handled and communicate if the opposing Top laner leaves first.

3
Fights

Choose between front-line duty, side pressure and carry access according to the champion kit.

Pings, movement and objectives

Malphite Top map plan

Manage the long lane before leaving it. A useful move begins with a handled wave, a visible route and a teammate who knows you are coming.

Ahead

Use the side-lane lead without donating it

Ping
Ping Enemy Missing when the opposing Top leaves, then On My Way before a flank or objective move.
Stay or move
Push the wave before moving. Stay if leaving would hand several minions or your tower back to the opponent.
Objective
Arrive through a known route and mark whether you are front-lining, flanking or protecting a carry. Do not enter alone before the team can follow.
Even

Make the wave create the first move

Ping
Use Enemy Missing early, Danger on the route they may take, and On My Way only after your own wave is handled.
Stay or move
Move after pushing or on a shared recall. Do not follow through unwarded river merely because the opponent left first.
Objective
Tell the team whether you can move before the objective starts. Approach with vision and save the cooldown needed for the first real commitment.
Behind

Protect experience and communicate the pressure

Ping
Ping Enemy Missing immediately and Retreat if teammates are about to meet the stronger Top laner without you.
Stay or move
Do not match a stronger opponent through darkness. Clear the safe wave, then group by the shortest controlled route.
Objective
State early if you cannot contest. If the team still fights, provide control or protection instead of attempting an isolated flank.
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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