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

Malzaharvs Zed

SMage
Patch26.14
Matches226,800
LaneAll Lanes
TierAll Tiers
Last UpdatedJul 21, 2026
MethodologyData Methodology

Malzahar vs Zed is a decisive matchup in LoL patch 26.14. Malzahar wins with a 57.1% win rate (+14.3%) over Zed based on 56 games. Malzahar holds the advantage in both the early and late game. Below you'll find the best Malzahar build, runes, laning stats, and strategies for the Malzahar vs Zed 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 - 57.1% win rate in this matchup
Malzahar
57.1% WR
VS
Zed vs Malzahar matchup - 42.9% win rate
Zed
42.9% WR

Who Wins the Malzahar vs Zed Matchup?

Malzahar wins the Malzahar vs Zed matchup
Winner
Malzahar
Matches: 56
57.1%
Win Rate
42.9%
7.3
CS / min
6.1
815
DMG / min
809
11,836
Gold / game
11,730
71
Heal / min
121
525
DMG Mitigated / min
551
1.8
CC / min
0.2
59.1%
Early Game WR
40.9%
55.9%
Late Game WR
44.1%

Malzahar vs Zed Matchup Summary

The Malzahar vs Zed matchup is a decisive matchup in League of Legends ranked play. Based on 56 recent matches analyzed, Malzahar wins with a 57.1% win rate compared to Zed's 42.9%, giving Malzahar a 14.3 percentage point advantage. Malzahar dominates at every stage — from early laning through late game team fights. This consistent advantage makes it difficult for Zed players to find favorable windows, so team-dependent strategies and avoiding solo confrontations are essential. The most significant statistical gap is in crowd control, where Malzahar leads by 1.6s CC/min — a difference that heavily influences the outcome of trades and skirmishes. Malzahar players can confidently pick into Zed and play aggressively from level 1. Look to establish lane dominance early through favorable trades and zone Zed away from CS whenever possible. Understanding these matchup dynamics is essential for champion select decisions and in-game strategy when facing this lane opponent.

Malzahar vs Zed Laning Phase Breakdown

Malzahar wins the laning phase against Zed in League of Legends

Malzahar is favored during the laning phase against Zed, winning 4 out of 5 key stat categories. Malzahar holds advantages in farming, damage, gold income and crowd control, making them the stronger laner in this matchup.

Farming
7.3Malzahar
6.1Zed
Malzahar significantly out-farms Zed by 1.3 CS per minute, accumulating an estimated 19 CS lead by mid game. This substantial farming gap gives Malzahar a major gold advantage and earlier item completions. Zed players should prioritize wave management techniques like freezing near tower and using abilities efficiently to minimize the deficit.
Damage
815Malzahar
809Zed
Damage output is virtually even between Malzahar and Zed, with only 6 DMG/min separating them. Fights in this matchup are decided more by ability timing and positioning than raw damage numbers, making mechanical skill the deciding factor in trades.
Economy
11,836Malzahar
11,730Zed
Malzahar and Zed generate nearly equal gold per game, with just a 106 gold difference. Neither champion has a clear economic advantage, so gold leads will depend on individual play quality, kill participation, and objective contributions.
Utility
1.8Malzahar
0.2Zed
Malzahar brings significantly more crowd control than Zed, with 1.6 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. Zed should invest in tenacity and position carefully to avoid being chain-CC'd.
Sustain
596Malzahar
672Zed
Zed heals and mitigates 76 more damage per minute than Malzahar, providing moderate extra durability. This sustain edge allows Zed to stay in lane longer between recalls and gradually win extended wars of attrition. Consider building early grievous wounds if playing Malzahar.

Best Malzahar Build Against Zed

Spellslinger's Shoes is the optimal boots choice against Zed, providing the mobility and stats Malzahar needs most in this matchup. The top-performing core items for Malzahar against Zed are Liandry's Torment, Malignance and Rylai's Crystal Scepter. This combination gives Malzahar an effective balance of damage, survivability, and utility for the matchup. This build performs exceptionally well, achieving a 100.0% win rate across 3 games — well above average and making it the top item path against Zed. Adjustments may be needed based on team compositions and game state, but this build provides the strongest foundation for the Malzahar vs Zed matchup.

Early Game vs Late Game

Early Game
Malzahar
59.1%
+18.2% advantage
Malzahar early game win rateMalzahar59.1%
Zed early game win rateZed40.9%
Late Game
Malzahar
55.9%
+11.8% advantage
Malzahar late game win rateMalzahar55.9%
Zed late game win rateZed44.1%

Malzahar dominates the early game (first 15 minutes) with a commanding 59.1% win rate — a 18.2 percentage point lead over Zed. This lopsided early game means Malzahar 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 55.9% win rate — 11.8 points above Zed. Extended games heavily favor Malzahar, whose kit and scaling make them a dominant force in team fights and objective control.

Malzahar holds the advantage at every stage of the game, making this a consistently favorable matchup from lane through late game team fights. Zed players should look for outplays, team-dependent strategies, and picks rather than relying on scaling to win this matchup.

Best Malzahar Runes Against Zed

Sorcery rune tree - Malzahar primary runes vs ZedSorcery
Deathfire Touch - best Malzahar rune vs ZedManaflow Band - best Malzahar rune vs ZedTranscendence - best Malzahar rune vs ZedScorch - best Malzahar rune vs Zed
Inspiration rune tree - Malzahar secondary runes vs ZedInspiration
Cosmic Insight - best Malzahar rune vs ZedMagical Footwear - best Malzahar rune vs Zed
60.0% WR

Running Sorcery primary with Inspiration secondary allows Malzahar to press their advantage against Zed, amplifying the strengths that make this a favorable matchup.


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
44.95%1097.190612,06142.9%46.0%
46.60%1037.592613,02546.0%47.0%
56.52%927.687811,87650.0%61.1%
50.63%797.587112,32357.1%47.1%
58.82%687.499112,92556.5%60.0%
47.76%677.583012,74936.4%53.3%
53.13%647.392611,61765.2%46.3%
48.44%646.985311,73950.0%47.6%
55.17%587.380011,56963.6%50.0%
57.14%567.381511,83659.1%55.9%
60.00%507.285312,57066.7%57.1%
61.36%447.488711,28555.6%65.4%
55.81%437.285910,61753.3%57.1%
62.79%437.388712,36364.3%62.1%
56.10%417.585312,09256.3%56.0%
46.34%417.51,05712,19446.7%46.1%
53.66%417.682610,80352.4%55.0%
52.78%367.084312,68633.3%59.3%
42.86%357.178811,65233.3%47.8%
39.39%337.088413,07270.0%26.1%
56.25%327.785313,35760.0%54.5%
60.00%307.288011,63246.7%73.3%
53.33%307.382612,81360.0%50.0%
58.62%297.990410,05764.3%53.3%
46.43%287.186310,77436.4%52.9%
51.85%277.391312,51555.6%50.0%
44.44%277.795012,68669.2%21.4%
44.44%277.390813,97422.2%55.6%
55.56%277.485113,81942.9%60.0%
48.00%257.81,01812,79055.6%43.8%
39.13%237.485812,26728.6%43.8%
42.86%217.589111,85857.1%35.7%
55.00%207.082412,43283.3%42.9%
52.63%197.784412,24925.0%72.7%
55.56%187.789512,020100.0%38.5%
77.78%187.61,01113,21550.0%91.7%
47.06%177.974711,69425.0%66.7%
58.82%177.073013,09157.1%60.0%
68.75%167.686712,20071.4%66.7%
43.75%166.883113,0190.0%63.6%
62.50%167.296910,69183.3%50.0%
62.50%166.586012,45480.0%54.5%
66.67%157.38999,25966.7%66.7%
66.67%157.188013,03850.0%72.7%
42.86%145.981611,70933.3%45.5%
35.71%147.695713,41060.0%22.2%
61.54%137.385312,97566.7%60.0%
50.00%126.877312,69650.0%50.0%
50.00%127.288813,39333.3%55.6%
58.33%127.989311,41650.0%62.5%
58.33%128.087214,46266.7%55.6%
66.67%127.585612,642100.0%55.6%
45.45%117.61,06012,52666.7%37.5%
50.00%107.779613,12450.0%50.0%
50.00%107.194312,23740.0%60.0%
44.44%96.279012,01550.0%42.9%
55.56%97.58269,77260.0%50.0%
66.67%97.11,04015,7120.0%66.7%
50.00%86.982311,12833.3%60.0%
62.50%87.61,16815,10166.7%60.0%
37.50%88.189715,793100.0%16.7%
71.43%76.598614,379100.0%66.7%
57.14%77.878812,04150.0%66.7%
57.14%77.39569,72633.3%75.0%
42.86%77.565711,985100.0%0.0%
66.67%64.689812,8560.0%80.0%
66.67%67.274113,9730.0%80.0%
66.67%67.91,03613,42566.7%66.7%
66.67%67.284911,25533.3%100.0%
33.33%67.090014,116100.0%0.0%
50.00%68.088810,72233.3%66.7%
66.67%67.41,14711,5330.0%80.0%
20.00%58.667810,57125.0%0.0%
100.00%58.984813,113100.0%100.0%
60.00%58.384412,3000.0%75.0%
60.00%57.81,00512,06250.0%66.7%
60.00%57.593415,249100.0%50.0%
40.00%57.07388,78250.0%33.3%
80.00%56.799413,6670.0%80.0%
40.00%57.81,10716,165100.0%25.0%
60.00%58.082314,133100.0%50.0%
60.00%58.555011,432100.0%0.0%

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Malzahar vs Zed - Frequently Asked Questions

How does Malzahar do against Zed in League of Legends?

Malzahar wins the Malzahar vs Zed matchup with a 57.1% win rate compared to Zed's 42.9%, a 14.3 percentage point difference. This data is based on 56 recent ranked games in patch 26.14.

How does Malzahar do against Zed in the early game?

In the early game, Malzahar has the advantage against Zed with a 59.1% win rate versus 40.9%. Malzahar players should look to press their lane advantage through aggressive trades and wave control during the first 15 minutes.

How does Malzahar do against Zed in the late game?

In the late game, Malzahar takes over the Malzahar vs Zed matchup with a 55.9% win rate compared to 44.1%. Malzahar scales better into team fights and objective contests after 25 minutes.

Who wins the Malzahar vs Zed matchup?

Malzahar wins the matchup against Zed with a 57.1% win rate in League of Legends patch 26.14. The 14.3 percentage point advantage means Malzahar is significantly favored in this lane matchup based on 56 games analyzed.

What is the best Malzahar build against Zed?

The best Malzahar build against Zed includes Liandry's Torment, Malignance, Rylai's Crystal Scepter with Spellslinger's Shoes. This build achieves a 100.0% 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 Zed?

The best Malzahar runes against Zed use the Sorcery primary tree with Inspiration secondary. This rune setup achieves a 60.0% win rate in the Malzahar vs Zed matchup. See the full rune breakdown in the matchup comparison above.

Does Malzahar counter Zed?

Yes, Malzahar has a favorable matchup against Zed with a 57.1% win rate. Malzahar strongly counters Zed in lane based on current patch 26.14 data.

How do I play Malzahar against Zed?

When playing Malzahar against Zed, leverage your statistical advantages by trading aggressively during favorable windows. You have early game priority — look for kills and zone control before first recall. Build the recommended items and runes for this specific matchup for the best results.