Malzahar - League of Legends Champion
Win Rate
52.9%
Pick Rate
4.9%

Malzaharvs Gangplank

SMage
Patch26.14
Matches491,560
LaneAll Lanes
TierAll Tiers
Last UpdatedJul 22, 2026
MethodologyData Methodology

Malzahar vs Gangplank is a decisive matchup in LoL patch 26.14. Gangplank wins with a 59.1% win rate (+18.2%) over Malzahar based on 22 games. Gangplank wins the early laning phase while Malzahar scales better into the late game. Below you'll find the best Malzahar build, runes, laning stats, and strategies for the Malzahar vs Gangplank matchup.

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Malzahar Matchup Breakdown

Use the dropdown to select an opponent and see a detailed breakdown of how Malzahar performs against them. You'll get head-to-head win rates, laning stats, the best build and runes for the matchup, and early vs late game analysis — all based on real ranked data.

Compare against an opponent
Malzahar - 40.9% win rate in this matchup
Malzahar
40.9% WR
VS
Gangplank vs Malzahar matchup - 59.1% win rate
Gangplank
59.1% WR

Who Wins the Malzahar vs Gangplank Matchup?

Gangplank wins the Malzahar vs Gangplank matchup
Winner
Gangplank
Matches: 22
40.9%
Win Rate
59.1%
7.9
CS / min
7.5
759
DMG / min
944
11,484
Gold / game
13,708
53
Heal / min
307
525
DMG Mitigated / min
632
1.4
CC / min
0.3
25.0%
Early Game WR
75.0%
60.0%
Late Game WR
40.0%

Malzahar vs Gangplank Matchup Summary

The Malzahar vs Gangplank matchup is a decisive matchup in League of Legends ranked play. Based on 22 recent matches analyzed, Gangplank wins with a 59.1% win rate compared to Malzahar's 40.9%, giving Gangplank a 18.2 percentage point advantage. Game phase dynamics play a critical role here: Gangplank controls the early laning stage, but Malzahar outscales as the game goes longer. The matchup shifts dramatically depending on game length — Gangplank needs to press advantages before Malzahar reaches their power spikes, while Malzahar should focus on safe farming and hitting key item breakpoints. The most significant statistical gap is in crowd control, where Malzahar leads by 1.0s CC/min — a difference that heavily influences the outcome of trades and skirmishes. Gangplank has a strong advantage in this matchup. Malzahar players should play defensively, prioritize safe farming under tower, and look for opportunities created by jungle pressure or Gangplank overextending. Avoid prolonged trades and wait for team fights where positioning and coordination matter more. Understanding these matchup dynamics is essential for champion select decisions and in-game strategy when facing this lane opponent.

Malzahar vs Gangplank Laning Phase Breakdown

Gangplank wins the laning phase against Malzahar in League of Legends

Gangplank is favored during the laning phase against Malzahar, winning 3 out of 5 key stat categories. Gangplank holds advantages in damage, gold income and sustain, making them the stronger laner in this matchup.

Farming
7.9Malzahar
7.5Gangplank
Malzahar edges out Gangplank by 0.4 CS per minute — a moderate farming advantage that adds up to roughly 6 CS over a 15-minute laning phase. This translates to earlier component purchases and slightly faster power spikes for Malzahar.
Damage
759Malzahar
944Gangplank
Gangplank heavily out-damages Malzahar by 185 DMG/min, dominating both short trades and all-in fights. Malzahar should avoid extended combat and instead focus on burst trade patterns — short engages followed by immediate disengagement — to avoid letting Gangplank's sustained damage advantage take over.
Economy
11,484Malzahar
13,708Gangplank
Gangplank generates a commanding 2,224 more gold per game than Malzahar. This substantial economic advantage means Gangplank consistently reaches key item breakpoints earlier, creating a compounding lead that grows throughout the game. Malzahar should focus on cost-effective item choices and avoid unnecessary deaths to prevent falling further behind.
Utility
1.4Malzahar
0.3Gangplank
Malzahar brings significantly more crowd control than Gangplank, with 1.0 more seconds of CC per minute. This large utility gap makes Malzahar far more valuable in setting up jungle ganks, controlling objectives, and locking down targets in team fights. Gangplank should invest in tenacity and position carefully to avoid being chain-CC'd.
Sustain
578Malzahar
939Gangplank
Gangplank vastly out-sustains Malzahar, healing and mitigating 360 more damage per minute. This massive durability gap means Gangplank can absorb significant punishment and remain in lane while Malzahar is forced to recall. Building grievous wounds early is essential for Malzahar, and focusing on burst trade patterns rather than sustained fights is critical.

Best Malzahar Build Against Gangplank

Ionian Boots of Lucidity is the optimal boots choice against Gangplank, providing the mobility and stats Malzahar needs most in this matchup. The top-performing core items for Malzahar against Gangplank are Liandry's Torment, Shadowflame and Zhonya's Hourglass. This combination gives Malzahar an effective balance of damage, survivability, and utility for the matchup. This build performs exceptionally well, achieving a 66.7% win rate across 3 games — well above average and making it the top item path against Gangplank. Adjustments may be needed based on team compositions and game state, but this build provides the strongest foundation for the Malzahar vs Gangplank matchup.

Early Game vs Late Game

Early Game
Gangplank
75.0%
+50.0% advantage
Malzahar early game win rateMalzahar25.0%
Gangplank early game win rateGangplank75.0%
Late Game
Malzahar
60.0%
+20.0% advantage
Malzahar late game win rateMalzahar60.0%
Gangplank late game win rateGangplank40.0%

Gangplank dominates the early game (first 15 minutes) with a commanding 75.0% win rate — a 50.0 percentage point lead over Malzahar. This lopsided early game means Gangplank can dictate the pace of the lane from level 1, controlling trades, wave state, and river priority.

Malzahar is far superior in the late game (25+ minutes), boasting a 60.0% win rate — 20.0 points above Gangplank. Extended games heavily favor Malzahar, whose kit and scaling make them a dominant force in team fights and objective control.

This matchup features a dramatic power shift: Gangplank must aggressively press their early advantage and close out the game before Malzahar reaches their scaling breakpoints. If Malzahar survives the laning phase without falling too far behind, the matchup flips in their favor. Dragon and Rift Herald control are pivotal — the team that secures early objectives can snowball or buy time to scale.

Best Malzahar Runes Against Gangplank

Sorcery rune tree - Malzahar primary runes vs GangplankSorcery
Deathfire Touch - best Malzahar rune vs GangplankManaflow Band - best Malzahar rune vs GangplankTranscendence - best Malzahar rune vs GangplankScorch - best Malzahar rune vs Gangplank
Inspiration rune tree - Malzahar secondary runes vs GangplankInspiration
Cosmic Insight - best Malzahar rune vs GangplankMagical Footwear - best Malzahar rune vs Gangplank
42.9% WR

The Sorcery and Inspiration rune setup gives Malzahar the best tools to compete against Gangplank in this difficult matchup, compensating for the statistical disadvantages with optimal rune synergies.


Malzahar matchup data for League of Legends patch 26.14. The table below shows Malzahar's win rate, gold difference, and performance stats against every champion in the current meta. Click any champion name to see a detailed head-to-head breakdown including the best Malzahar build, runes, laning stats, and early vs late game analysis for that specific matchup.

Malzahar matchup win rates and stats in League of Legends patch 26.14
Opponent
Win Rate
Matches
CS/min
DMG/min
Gold/game
Early WR
Late WR
53.74%2277.491412,34748.8%56.6%
48.40%2197.189912,18648.8%48.2%
52.40%2087.585712,13543.4%58.4%
51.69%2077.690612,62551.3%51.9%
55.33%1507.397912,51558.9%53.2%
49.30%1427.180411,60847.2%50.6%
53.24%1397.280511,79549.0%55.7%
60.32%1267.484512,64959.0%60.9%
47.54%1227.489811,96260.9%39.5%
48.31%1187.581812,09740.9%52.7%
57.76%1167.293312,39658.5%57.3%
56.88%1097.385511,37455.6%57.8%
43.56%1017.278912,03734.4%47.8%
52.53%997.486211,66847.4%55.7%
57.45%947.388612,83563.3%54.7%
61.96%927.487511,32856.8%65.5%
56.18%897.382811,78048.6%61.5%
52.81%897.51,03512,69251.7%53.3%
61.63%867.680410,96160.9%62.5%
53.25%778.086010,61063.9%43.9%
61.64%737.287212,39353.6%66.7%
52.78%727.480911,57748.0%55.3%
43.66%717.695012,46330.0%53.7%
57.14%707.092511,57353.3%60.0%
44.93%697.585612,88146.4%43.9%
44.78%677.188311,84560.9%36.4%
50.00%667.680312,70852.2%48.8%
45.00%607.590313,02863.6%34.2%
48.28%587.486212,57550.0%47.5%
55.77%527.384113,16360.0%54.0%
50.00%507.282010,97645.0%53.3%
62.50%487.987112,92757.9%65.5%
52.08%486.781510,60045.0%57.1%
54.55%447.686310,88861.9%47.8%
56.82%447.288612,00973.3%48.3%
58.14%437.391912,83946.1%63.3%
55.26%387.490110,50755.6%55.0%
54.29%357.894312,59075.0%43.5%
33.33%336.679612,5999.1%45.5%
66.67%337.490112,37066.7%66.7%
69.70%337.599813,44650.0%78.3%
46.88%327.188411,63253.9%42.1%
50.00%327.382611,80558.3%45.0%
51.61%317.679611,66541.7%57.9%
54.84%317.488313,43857.1%54.2%
65.52%297.296011,54170.0%63.2%
65.52%297.177412,16861.5%68.8%
53.57%287.392312,18350.0%55.6%
51.85%276.988313,15733.3%57.1%
41.67%247.38239,59740.0%44.4%
52.17%236.385912,78750.0%52.6%
39.13%237.074311,86450.0%33.3%
50.00%227.51,00810,45862.5%42.9%
54.55%227.584013,59616.7%68.8%
45.45%227.276610,29836.4%54.5%
59.09%227.486412,31960.0%58.8%
45.45%227.61,01712,73766.7%30.8%
40.91%227.975911,48425.0%60.0%
52.38%217.792612,90754.5%50.0%
33.33%217.381010,90133.3%33.3%
60.00%207.685913,94657.1%61.5%
68.75%167.393413,09760.0%72.7%
43.75%167.795812,80533.3%46.1%
46.67%157.989611,97744.4%50.0%
40.00%157.17639,83436.4%50.0%
53.33%157.41,04313,29566.7%50.0%
53.33%157.092112,71357.1%50.0%
42.86%147.61,00612,41550.0%37.5%
69.23%137.31,05712,55466.7%70.0%
38.46%137.570311,86075.0%22.2%
66.67%127.192815,243100.0%63.6%
54.55%117.31,00315,075100.0%44.4%
54.55%117.183010,36320.0%83.3%
36.36%117.484612,33760.0%16.7%
60.00%106.688313,612100.0%50.0%
40.00%105.483412,8920.0%57.1%
40.00%107.858410,86960.0%20.0%
40.00%107.993814,46666.7%28.6%
50.00%107.01,21111,8560.0%62.5%
60.00%107.884111,96050.0%66.7%
44.44%96.070313,5140.0%57.1%
55.56%97.077513,7190.0%71.4%
66.67%95.790610,45660.0%75.0%
22.22%97.07107,37116.7%33.3%
44.44%97.69339,92650.0%40.0%
50.00%87.977114,05550.0%50.0%
100.00%89.197013,873100.0%100.0%
62.50%88.484113,73350.0%66.7%
100.00%88.097914,412100.0%100.0%
37.50%84.790811,58566.7%20.0%
50.00%87.789511,87360.0%33.3%
50.00%87.292114,39733.3%60.0%
57.14%77.779713,453100.0%50.0%
57.14%77.08698,323100.0%0.0%
57.14%77.890811,45450.0%66.7%
28.57%77.61,04512,5140.0%50.0%
57.14%77.27299,61950.0%66.7%
83.33%68.498214,8710.0%83.3%
50.00%66.594516,1160.0%50.0%
66.67%66.795512,4760.0%80.0%
50.00%63.167710,07933.3%66.7%
50.00%67.585212,00350.0%50.0%
33.33%65.39326,50725.0%50.0%
66.67%67.373612,9410.0%80.0%
50.00%67.590814,9660.0%50.0%
80.00%56.21,23314,89450.0%100.0%
80.00%58.179413,483100.0%75.0%
60.00%56.972911,932100.0%33.3%
80.00%56.576610,663100.0%66.7%

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Malzahar vs Gangplank - Frequently Asked Questions

How does Malzahar do against Gangplank in League of Legends?

Gangplank wins the Malzahar vs Gangplank matchup with a 59.1% win rate compared to Malzahar's 40.9%, a 18.2 percentage point difference. This data is based on 22 recent ranked games in patch 26.14.

How does Malzahar do against Gangplank in the early game?

In the early game, Gangplank has the advantage against Malzahar with a 75.0% win rate versus 25.0%. Gangplank players should look to press their lane advantage through aggressive trades and wave control during the first 15 minutes.

How does Malzahar do against Gangplank in the late game?

In the late game, Malzahar takes over the Malzahar vs Gangplank matchup with a 60.0% win rate compared to 40.0%. Malzahar scales better into team fights and objective contests after 25 minutes.

Who wins the Malzahar vs Gangplank matchup?

Gangplank wins the matchup against Malzahar with a 59.1% win rate in League of Legends patch 26.14. The 18.2 percentage point advantage means Gangplank is significantly favored in this lane matchup based on 22 games analyzed.

What is the best Malzahar build against Gangplank?

The best Malzahar build against Gangplank includes Liandry's Torment, Shadowflame, Zhonya's Hourglass with Ionian Boots of Lucidity. This build achieves a 66.7% win rate in the matchup. Check the matchup breakdown above for the full item path and build order.

What are the best Malzahar runes against Gangplank?

The best Malzahar runes against Gangplank use the Sorcery primary tree with Inspiration secondary. This rune setup achieves a 42.9% win rate in the Malzahar vs Gangplank matchup. See the full rune breakdown in the matchup comparison above.

Does Malzahar counter Gangplank?

No, Malzahar struggles against Gangplank with only a 40.9% win rate. Gangplank has the advantage in this matchup. Malzahar players should focus on safe farming and avoiding extended trades to minimize Gangplank's lead.

How do I play Malzahar against Gangplank?

When playing Malzahar against Gangplank, play cautiously and avoid Gangplank's power spikes. Focus on safe farming — you outscale Gangplank in the late game. Use the matchup-specific build and runes above to optimize your chances.