Malphite Counters
The best Malphite counters in League of Legends patch 26.1 are Illaoi, Sylas, Yorick, DrMundo, Mordekaiser. The best Malphite counter is Illaoi, with Malphite having only a 41.3% win rate in this matchup. Secondary patch 26.1 Malphite counter choices are Nasus, Kayn, Zaahen, Briar, Gangplank. Below are the top Malphite counters and matchups alongside their win rates.
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.
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.
Cost:- 70/
- 75/
- 80/
- 85/
- 90
Cooldown:- 8
Range:- 625
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.
Cost:- 30/
- 35/
- 40/
- 45/
- 50
Cooldown:- 10/
- 10/
- 9/
- 9/
- 8
Range:- 400
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.
Cost:- 50
Cooldown:- 7
Range:- 400
Unstoppable Force
Malphite launches himself to a location at high speed, damaging enemies and knocking them into the air.
Cost:- 100
Cooldown:- 130/
- 105/
- 80
Range:- 1000
- Tank,
- Mage
These champions are Malphite's hardest counters in League of Legends patch 26.1. Illaoi is Malphite's biggest counter with only a 41.3% win rate for Malphite. When facing these Malphite counter picks, focus on safe farming and waiting for jungle assistance. Avoid extended trades and play around your power spikes to survive difficult Malphite matchups.
Illaoi
Sylas
Yorick
Dr. Mundo
Mordekaiser
Nasus
Kayn
Zaahen
Briar
Gangplank
When facing Malphite in League of Legends, understanding Malphite's primary damage profile is essential for building effective counter strategies. Malphite deals primarily magic damage, which means prioritizing magic resist in your defensive itemization will significantly reduce Malphite's threat in fights. Top defensive items against Malphite include Mercury's Treads, Spirit Visage, Force of Nature, and Banshee's Veil. These items provide substantial magic resist stats that directly mitigate Malphite's damage output throughout all stages of the game.
From a champion selection perspective, the strongest Malphite counters are Illaoi, Sylas, Yorick, and DrMundo. These champions either out-trade Malphite in lane, have abilities that negate Malphite's core mechanics, or scale better into team fights. Illaoi in particular exploits Malphite's weaknesses by providing consistent pressure while being difficult to punish.
Beyond item builds and counter picks, successful counter play against Malphite involves understanding Malphite's power spikes and cooldown windows. Engage on Malphite when key abilities are on cooldown, and coordinate with your team to focus Malphite in team fights before Malphite can output maximum damage. Vision control is also crucial when playing against Malphite to avoid getting caught out of position. By combining proper defensive itemization with smart champion selection and strategic gameplay, you can effectively neutralize Malphite's impact and secure victory.
Understanding Malphite's power curve is essential for effective counter play. Here's when Malphite is most vulnerable throughout the game.
EARLYEarly Game (Levels 1-6)
Malphite may look for extended trades. Avoid long fights and kite with slows. Short trades favor you against sustained damage.
MIDMid Game (Levels 7-13)
Malphite becomes increasingly tanky mid game. Focus on kiting and percent health damage. Avoid fighting in choke points.
LATELate Game (Levels 14-18)
Malphite is very durable late game. Use armor penetration or anti-tank items. Focus squishier targets first if Malphite is too tanky.
Use these actionable tips to gain an advantage when facing Malphite in lane or team fights.
- Pick Illaoi or similar champions with kits that exploit Malphite's weaknesses
- Build Mercury's Treads or Hexdrinker early to reduce Malphite's damage in lane
- Track Malphite's cooldowns and engage when key abilities are unavailable
- Ward Malphite's common roam paths and ping missing immediately
- Coordinate with your jungler to gank Malphite during vulnerable windows
- Dodge Malphite's skill shots by moving unpredictably
- All-in Malphite when mana is low from spell rotations
Malphite performs exceptionally well against these champions in patch 26.1. Jax is Malphite's best matchup with a 67.8% win rate. When playing Malphite into these favorable matchups, look for early aggression and lane dominance. Malphite can capitalize on these champions' weaknesses to snowball leads and carry games.
Jax
Tryndamere
Irelia
Yasuo
Zed
Warwick
Viego
Aatrox
Kayle
Diana
Malphite Counters - Frequently Asked Questions
Who counters Malphite?
The best Malphite counters are Illaoi, Sylas, and Yorick. These champions have favorable matchups against Malphite and can exploit Malphite's weaknesses effectively in League of Legends patch 26.1.
What is Malphite's hardest counter?
Illaoi is Malphite's hardest counter with Malphite having only a 41.3% win rate in this matchup. Sylas (42.27% WR) and Yorick (46.49% WR) are also strong Malphite counters.
Who does Malphite counter?
Malphite performs well against Jax, Tryndamere, and Irelia. These are Malphite's best matchups where Malphite has favorable win rates and can dominate lane in patch 26.1.
How do I beat Malphite in lane?
To beat Malphite in lane, pick a counter champion like Illaoi or Sylas. Focus on trading when Malphite's key abilities are on cooldown, and build magic resist items to reduce Malphite's damage output. Ward defensively and call for jungle assistance if Malphite gains an advantage.
What items counter Malphite?
The best items to counter Malphite are Mercury's Treads, Spirit Visage, Force of Nature, and Banshee's Veil. These items provide magic resist which directly reduces Malphite's damage. Consider building these items early if you're struggling against Malphite in lane.
When is Malphite weakest?
Malphite is typically weakest during specific power troughs between item spikes. Exploit windows when Malphite's ultimate or key abilities are on cooldown. Coordinate with your team to engage on Malphite before Malphite can set up fights on Malphite's own terms.
How do I play Malphite into counter matchups?
When playing Malphite into counters like Illaoi, focus on safe farming, waiting for jungle assistance, and playing around power spikes. Avoid extended trades in unfavorable matchups and look for opportunities to scale into mid and late game.
What champions are similar to Malphite's counters?
If Illaoi, Sylas, or Yorick are banned or picked, look for champions with similar kits that can exploit Malphite's weaknesses. Champions with crowd control, burst damage, or sustained damage (depending on Malphite's vulnerabilities) can serve as alternative counters.