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Top · SwiftplayMatchup guidePatch 16.20.1

Malphite vs Viktor

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

MalphiteVSViktor

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
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

Swiftplay · Top

Tank baseline

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

Primary role
S
Swiftplay opening · separate from item 1

Guardian's Horn

950 gold

Adds health, regeneration and broad champion-damage reduction for a durable Swiftplay opening.

1
Durability

Jak'Sho, The Protean

3,200 gold

Completes the six-item inventory with health and out-of-combat recovery after enough bonus health is established.

2
Boots

Plated Steelcaps

1,200 gold

Reduces incoming basic-attack damage and adds armour; choose it for repeated attacks rather than melee identity alone.

3
Vs physical

Sunfire Aegis

2,800 gold

Adds health, armour and nearby magic damage for wave control, camp clearing and close fights.

4
Vs magic

Kaenic Rookern

2,900 gold

Adds dedicated magic resistance and a shield against sustained spell damage after leaving champion combat.

5
Anti-heal

Thornmail

2,450 gold

Adds armour and anti-heal against opponents who must repeatedly attack into you; it is not universal anti-heal.

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.

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

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

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

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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

Runes and summoner spells

Runes and summoner spellsMalphiteTop

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

Swiftplay
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 Viktor 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 Viktor

  • Be careful about how close you let Viktor get to you. Viktor's control of the battlefield increases with his proximity to his opponent.
  • Be aware of how many augments Viktor has upgraded by looking at the color of the light on his staff (purple, yellow, blue, red).

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

Viktor

  1. P
    Glorious Evolution

    Glorious Evolution is the always-on rule shaping Viktor's normal trading and fight pattern. Watch its in-game state before committing.

  2. Q
    Siphon Power

    Siphon Power contributes protection or sustain and basic-attack interaction. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.

    Cooldown 9/8/7/6/5 · Cost 45/50/55/60/65 · Listed range 600
  3. W
    Gravity Field

    Gravity Field contributes a slowing effect. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.

    Cooldown 17/16/15/14/13 · Cost 65 · Listed range 800
  4. E
    Hextech Ray

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

    Cooldown 12/11/10/9/8 · Cost 60/70/80/90/100 · Listed range 525
  5. R
    Arcane Storm

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

    Cooldown 120/100/80 · Cost 100 · Listed range 700

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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