Naafirivs Malzahar
Naafiri vs Malzahar is a decisive matchup in LoL patch 26.11. Malzahar wins with a 53.4% win rate (+6.9%) over Naafiri based on 131 games. Naafiri wins the early laning phase while Malzahar scales better into the late game. Below you'll find the best Naafiri build, runes, laning stats, and strategies for the Naafiri vs Malzahar matchup.
Naafiri Matchup Breakdown
Use the dropdown to select an opponent and see a detailed breakdown of how Naafiri 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.
Who Wins the Naafiri vs Malzahar Matchup?
Naafiri vs Malzahar Matchup Summary
The Naafiri vs Malzahar matchup is a decisive matchup in League of Legends ranked play. Based on 131 recent matches analyzed, Malzahar wins with a 53.4% win rate compared to Naafiri's 46.6%, giving Malzahar a 6.9 percentage point advantage. Game phase dynamics play a critical role here: Naafiri controls the early laning stage, but Malzahar outscales as the game goes longer. The matchup shifts dramatically depending on game length — Naafiri 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 1.6s CC/min — a difference that heavily influences the outcome of trades and skirmishes. Malzahar has a strong advantage in this matchup. Naafiri players should play defensively, prioritize safe farming under tower, and look for opportunities created by jungle pressure or Malzahar 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.
Naafiri vs Malzahar Laning Phase Breakdown
Malzahar is favored during the laning phase against Naafiri, winning 3 out of 5 key stat categories. Malzahar holds advantages in farming, damage and crowd control, making them the stronger laner in this matchup.
Best Naafiri Build Against Malzahar
Immortal Path is the optimal boots choice against Malzahar, providing the mobility and stats Naafiri needs most in this matchup. The top-performing core items for Naafiri against Malzahar are Voltaic Cyclosword, Hubris and Axiom Arc. This combination gives Naafiri an effective balance of damage, survivability, and utility for the matchup. This build performs exceptionally well, achieving a 68.8% win rate across 16 games — well above average and making it the top item path against Malzahar. Adjustments may be needed based on team compositions and game state, but this build provides the strongest foundation for the Naafiri vs Malzahar matchup.
Early Game vs Late Game
Naafiri50.0%
Malzahar50.0%Naafiri44.2%Malzahar55.8%The early game (first 15 minutes) is a toss-up between Naafiri and Malzahar, with Naafiri holding a razor-thin 50.0% win rate edge (+0.0%). Individual skill and jungle proximity will matter more than champion advantage in the early laning phase.
Malzahar is far superior in the late game (25+ minutes), boasting a 55.8% win rate — 11.7 points above Naafiri. Extended games heavily favor Malzahar, whose kit and scaling make them a dominant force in team fights and objective control.
The power dynamics shift as the game progresses — Naafiri has the edge early, but Malzahar gradually takes over. However, the margins are slim enough that either champion can win at any stage with the right plays. Focus on taking advantages when you have them rather than waiting for a specific game phase.
Best Naafiri Runes Against Malzahar
Domination
Precision
The Domination and Precision rune setup gives Naafiri the best tools to compete against Malzahar in this difficult matchup, compensating for the statistical disadvantages with optimal rune synergies.
Naafiri matchup data for League of Legends patch 26.11. The table below shows Naafiri'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 Naafiri build, runes, laning stats, and early vs late game analysis for that specific matchup.
Opponent | Win Rate | Matches | CS/min | DMG/min | Gold/game | Early WR | Late WR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51.12% | 178 | 3.4 | 793 | 12,181 | 47.7% | 54.4% | |
| 49.41% | 170 | 1.1 | 738 | 12,679 | 57.5% | 43.3% | |
| 60.14% | 148 | 6.3 | 912 | 12,156 | 59.7% | 60.5% | |
| 44.20% | 138 | 1.2 | 693 | 12,380 | 48.5% | 40.0% | |
| 45.52% | 134 | 6.2 | 954 | 12,909 | 50.0% | 41.4% | |
| 42.11% | 133 | 1.2 | 738 | 13,044 | 42.3% | 42.0% | |
| 41.67% | 132 | 5.6 | 845 | 12,301 | 34.6% | 46.3% | |
| 46.56% | 131 | 6.1 | 854 | 12,664 | 50.0% | 44.2% | |
| 51.20% | 125 | 4.0 | 844 | 12,370 | 45.5% | 55.7% | |
| 55.74% | 122 | 1.2 | 728 | 12,954 | 52.6% | 58.5% | |
| 45.90% | 122 | 6.2 | 943 | 13,047 | 37.5% | 51.4% | |
| 46.61% | 118 | 1.3 | 751 | 13,289 | 47.3% | 46.0% | |
| 58.47% | 118 | 1.1 | 734 | 13,216 | 63.8% | 53.3% | |
| 47.79% | 113 | 5.2 | 856 | 12,423 | 51.1% | 45.5% | |
| 48.65% | 111 | 6.0 | 942 | 12,309 | 43.2% | 52.2% | |
| 60.38% | 106 | 6.1 | 850 | 12,662 | 55.6% | 63.9% | |
| 53.85% | 104 | 6.1 | 882 | 12,241 | 56.8% | 51.7% | |
| 52.00% | 100 | 6.3 | 929 | 12,690 | 58.5% | 47.5% | |
| 50.00% | 96 | 1.2 | 798 | 13,485 | 52.5% | 48.2% | |
| 53.68% | 95 | 4.4 | 1,041 | 13,148 | 61.0% | 48.1% | |
| 45.26% | 95 | 3.5 | 836 | 12,203 | 44.4% | 46.3% | |
| 48.39% | 93 | 1.2 | 761 | 13,397 | 47.4% | 49.1% | |
| 42.86% | 91 | 1.4 | 770 | 11,870 | 40.4% | 45.5% | |
| 49.40% | 83 | 1.3 | 670 | 11,521 | 53.3% | 44.7% | |
| 51.85% | 81 | 2.7 | 782 | 12,882 | 54.5% | 50.0% | |
| 57.14% | 70 | 6.0 | 841 | 11,968 | 51.6% | 61.5% | |
| 46.38% | 69 | 6.2 | 1,023 | 12,777 | 59.3% | 38.1% | |
| 55.07% | 69 | 6.4 | 879 | 11,577 | 54.3% | 55.9% | |
| 53.85% | 65 | 6.5 | 878 | 12,011 | 63.6% | 43.8% | |
| 44.44% | 63 | 6.3 | 928 | 13,378 | 41.7% | 46.1% | |
| 55.00% | 60 | 5.8 | 902 | 12,875 | 52.2% | 56.8% | |
| 51.72% | 58 | 1.3 | 832 | 13,943 | 60.7% | 43.3% | |
| 56.14% | 57 | 5.1 | 834 | 13,317 | 45.8% | 63.6% | |
| 45.61% | 57 | 1.2 | 740 | 13,489 | 55.0% | 40.5% | |
| 50.91% | 55 | 6.4 | 951 | 11,481 | 48.6% | 55.0% | |
| 48.15% | 54 | 2.4 | 846 | 13,414 | 50.0% | 46.7% | |
| 46.30% | 54 | 6.0 | 1,054 | 13,521 | 54.5% | 40.6% | |
| 46.30% | 54 | 6.3 | 926 | 12,674 | 48.1% | 44.4% | |
| 59.26% | 54 | 6.1 | 847 | 12,146 | 60.0% | 58.6% | |
| 45.28% | 53 | 6.0 | 850 | 11,461 | 50.0% | 40.7% | |
| 30.19% | 53 | 1.0 | 736 | 12,707 | 30.8% | 29.6% | |
| 45.28% | 53 | 1.4 | 815 | 13,171 | 37.5% | 51.7% | |
| 49.06% | 53 | 1.1 | 692 | 12,259 | 57.1% | 40.0% | |
| 54.00% | 50 | 6.6 | 957 | 12,463 | 61.9% | 48.3% | |
| 48.00% | 50 | 1.2 | 794 | 13,983 | 55.6% | 43.8% | |
| 50.00% | 50 | 6.0 | 959 | 12,599 | 52.0% | 48.0% | |
| 44.90% | 49 | 1.1 | 658 | 12,623 | 52.4% | 39.3% | |
| 45.83% | 48 | 1.1 | 752 | 11,652 | 37.5% | 54.2% | |
| 54.17% | 48 | 1.4 | 699 | 13,182 | 56.0% | 52.2% | |
| 56.52% | 46 | 3.6 | 801 | 11,580 | 65.4% | 45.0% | |
| 57.78% | 45 | 6.2 | 969 | 12,683 | 63.2% | 53.9% | |
| 57.78% | 45 | 6.3 | 1,046 | 14,261 | 84.2% | 38.5% | |
| 54.55% | 44 | 2.8 | 806 | 12,492 | 60.9% | 47.6% | |
| 61.36% | 44 | 5.5 | 956 | 13,742 | 62.5% | 60.7% | |
| 39.53% | 43 | 4.8 | 772 | 12,661 | 23.8% | 54.5% | |
| 57.14% | 42 | 6.3 | 844 | 12,331 | 61.9% | 52.4% | |
| 42.50% | 40 | 2.1 | 899 | 14,847 | 50.0% | 38.5% | |
| 51.28% | 39 | 1.1 | 708 | 11,955 | 50.0% | 52.6% | |
| 48.72% | 39 | 1.1 | 811 | 13,384 | 50.0% | 47.4% | |
| 50.00% | 38 | 6.1 | 891 | 11,874 | 50.0% | 50.0% | |
| 48.65% | 37 | 6.2 | 851 | 11,692 | 56.3% | 42.9% | |
| 58.33% | 36 | 1.6 | 732 | 12,296 | 68.4% | 47.1% | |
| 36.11% | 36 | 6.1 | 865 | 12,255 | 46.1% | 30.4% | |
| 57.14% | 35 | 4.1 | 954 | 13,384 | 60.0% | 55.0% | |
| 51.43% | 35 | 3.3 | 892 | 13,146 | 53.3% | 50.0% | |
| 61.76% | 34 | 5.8 | 891 | 13,547 | 63.6% | 60.9% | |
| 64.71% | 34 | 1.8 | 811 | 12,319 | 66.7% | 62.5% | |
| 58.82% | 34 | 6.1 | 1,052 | 12,476 | 68.8% | 50.0% | |
| 61.76% | 34 | 4.4 | 907 | 12,427 | 57.9% | 66.7% | |
| 54.55% | 33 | 6.0 | 1,010 | 13,694 | 50.0% | 57.1% | |
| 53.13% | 32 | 1.2 | 866 | 13,459 | 61.5% | 47.4% | |
| 53.13% | 32 | 4.0 | 924 | 11,165 | 62.5% | 43.8% | |
| 43.33% | 30 | 5.6 | 1,009 | 12,369 | 50.0% | 38.9% | |
| 46.67% | 30 | 3.7 | 882 | 12,503 | 57.1% | 37.5% | |
| 43.33% | 30 | 6.2 | 1,067 | 11,740 | 40.0% | 46.7% | |
| 40.00% | 30 | 6.3 | 970 | 12,031 | 21.4% | 56.3% | |
| 50.00% | 28 | 1.3 | 803 | 12,739 | 61.5% | 40.0% | |
| 60.71% | 28 | 3.1 | 906 | 12,472 | 53.9% | 66.7% | |
| 55.56% | 27 | 1.6 | 785 | 13,863 | 66.7% | 50.0% | |
| 48.00% | 25 | 4.2 | 936 | 14,439 | 50.0% | 47.1% | |
| 60.00% | 25 | 6.5 | 994 | 12,110 | 57.1% | 63.6% | |
| 56.00% | 25 | 5.7 | 856 | 13,249 | 72.7% | 42.9% | |
| 45.83% | 24 | 1.3 | 797 | 11,669 | 46.7% | 44.4% | |
| 69.57% | 23 | 6.4 | 877 | 12,446 | 80.0% | 61.5% | |
| 56.52% | 23 | 4.9 | 1,142 | 12,151 | 64.3% | 44.4% | |
| 43.48% | 23 | 3.9 | 986 | 12,661 | 27.3% | 58.3% | |
| 54.55% | 22 | 1.1 | 729 | 11,335 | 69.2% | 33.3% | |
| 40.91% | 22 | 4.3 | 890 | 11,960 | 30.0% | 50.0% | |
| 36.36% | 22 | 1.0 | 757 | 13,074 | 40.0% | 33.3% | |
| 57.14% | 21 | 6.8 | 963 | 12,269 | 50.0% | 66.7% | |
| 47.62% | 21 | 6.1 | 890 | 12,398 | 44.4% | 50.0% | |
| 70.00% | 20 | 6.9 | 933 | 11,523 | 71.4% | 66.7% | |
| 47.37% | 19 | 4.7 | 1,012 | 14,112 | 57.1% | 41.7% | |
| 66.67% | 18 | 1.1 | 826 | 13,126 | 55.6% | 77.8% | |
| 61.11% | 18 | 5.3 | 853 | 12,985 | 55.6% | 66.7% | |
| 55.56% | 18 | 6.3 | 875 | 11,165 | 53.9% | 60.0% | |
| 55.56% | 18 | 3.5 | 858 | 13,074 | 54.5% | 57.1% | |
| 52.94% | 17 | 6.1 | 901 | 11,917 | 42.9% | 60.0% | |
| 47.06% | 17 | 6.0 | 909 | 13,207 | 57.1% | 40.0% | |
| 64.71% | 17 | 1.1 | 849 | 13,074 | 75.0% | 55.6% | |
| 50.00% | 16 | 5.6 | 925 | 12,778 | 20.0% | 63.6% | |
| 40.00% | 15 | 3.6 | 935 | 11,490 | 50.0% | 28.6% | |
| 40.00% | 15 | 0.9 | 705 | 11,537 | 28.6% | 50.0% | |
| 35.71% | 14 | 3.6 | 812 | 12,271 | 14.3% | 57.1% | |
| 50.00% | 14 | 6.2 | 1,054 | 11,870 | 60.0% | 44.4% | |
| 61.54% | 13 | 5.5 | 699 | 10,568 | 42.9% | 83.3% | |
| 53.85% | 13 | 6.1 | 1,081 | 14,261 | 50.0% | 57.1% | |
| 69.23% | 13 | 6.8 | 1,030 | 13,319 | 83.3% | 57.1% | |
| 76.92% | 13 | 4.5 | 1,056 | 14,394 | 66.7% | 80.0% | |
| 53.85% | 13 | 6.0 | 1,027 | 13,755 | 75.0% | 44.4% | |
| 58.33% | 12 | 1.4 | 870 | 13,928 | 42.9% | 80.0% | |
| 50.00% | 12 | 5.9 | 1,000 | 11,599 | 50.0% | 50.0% | |
| 72.73% | 11 | 5.3 | 745 | 11,844 | 100.0% | 50.0% | |
| 54.55% | 11 | 6.6 | 964 | 11,748 | 40.0% | 66.7% | |
| 54.55% | 11 | 4.8 | 1,112 | 11,939 | 16.7% | 100.0% | |
| 50.00% | 10 | 5.7 | 792 | 11,901 | 20.0% | 80.0% | |
| 60.00% | 10 | 3.0 | 918 | 12,883 | 60.0% | 60.0% | |
| 33.33% | 9 | 5.5 | 1,308 | 14,466 | 0.0% | 42.9% | |
| 33.33% | 9 | 0.8 | 761 | 12,834 | 25.0% | 40.0% | |
| 44.44% | 9 | 5.3 | 827 | 9,840 | 40.0% | 50.0% | |
| 77.78% | 9 | 4.4 | 933 | 12,500 | 80.0% | 75.0% | |
| 75.00% | 8 | 5.4 | 850 | 11,837 | 100.0% | 60.0% | |
| 50.00% | 8 | 6.6 | 1,029 | 10,930 | 100.0% | 0.0% | |
| 37.50% | 8 | 6.3 | 1,002 | 13,156 | 0.0% | 60.0% | |
| 12.50% | 8 | 6.3 | 728 | 13,047 | 16.7% | 0.0% | |
| 42.86% | 7 | 5.8 | 670 | 14,373 | 0.0% | 75.0% | |
| 57.14% | 7 | 2.0 | 703 | 10,820 | 57.1% | 0.0% | |
| 71.43% | 7 | 5.7 | 1,079 | 13,012 | 80.0% | 50.0% | |
| 57.14% | 7 | 6.4 | 991 | 11,883 | 50.0% | 66.7% | |
| 71.43% | 7 | 5.8 | 1,019 | 15,211 | 66.7% | 75.0% | |
| 33.33% | 6 | 2.3 | 619 | 11,072 | 33.3% | 33.3% | |
| 16.67% | 6 | 3.4 | 736 | 11,980 | 33.3% | 0.0% | |
| 66.67% | 6 | 6.0 | 897 | 13,324 | 66.7% | 66.7% | |
| 80.00% | 5 | 6.5 | 1,092 | 11,154 | 100.0% | 50.0% | |
| 60.00% | 5 | 4.0 | 723 | 10,668 | 50.0% | 100.0% | |
| 60.00% | 5 | 2.7 | 818 | 13,800 | 50.0% | 66.7% | |
| 80.00% | 5 | 6.3 | 1,156 | 12,895 | 66.7% | 100.0% | |
| 100.00% | 5 | 6.2 | 926 | 13,664 | 100.0% | 100.0% | |
| 40.00% | 5 | 5.9 | 689 | 13,414 | 50.0% | 33.3% | |
| 40.00% | 5 | 7.2 | 1,033 | 14,200 | 50.0% | 33.3% | |
| 60.00% | 5 | 5.4 | 521 | 9,485 | 0.0% | 100.0% | |
Help us maintain accuracy! If you notice incorrect stats, missing data, or any issues, your feedback directly improves the quality of our data for the entire community.
Naafiri vs Malzahar - Frequently Asked Questions
How does Naafiri do against Malzahar in League of Legends?
Malzahar wins the Naafiri vs Malzahar matchup with a 53.4% win rate compared to Naafiri's 46.6%, a 6.9 percentage point difference. This data is based on 131 recent ranked games in patch 26.11.
How does Naafiri do against Malzahar in the early game?
In the early game, Naafiri has the advantage against Malzahar with a 50.0% win rate versus 50.0%. Naafiri players should look to press their lane advantage through aggressive trades and wave control during the first 15 minutes.
How does Naafiri do against Malzahar in the late game?
In the late game, Malzahar takes over the Naafiri vs Malzahar matchup with a 55.8% win rate compared to 44.2%. Malzahar scales better into team fights and objective contests after 25 minutes.
Who wins the Naafiri vs Malzahar matchup?
Malzahar wins the matchup against Naafiri with a 53.4% win rate in League of Legends patch 26.11. The 6.9 percentage point advantage means Malzahar is significantly favored in this lane matchup based on 131 games analyzed.
What is the best Naafiri build against Malzahar?
The best Naafiri build against Malzahar includes Voltaic Cyclosword, Hubris, Axiom Arc with Immortal Path. This build achieves a 68.8% win rate in the matchup. Check the matchup breakdown above for the full item path and build order.
What are the best Naafiri runes against Malzahar?
The best Naafiri runes against Malzahar use the Domination primary tree with Precision secondary. This rune setup achieves a 47.8% win rate in the Naafiri vs Malzahar matchup. See the full rune breakdown in the matchup comparison above.
Does Naafiri counter Malzahar?
No, Naafiri struggles against Malzahar with only a 46.6% win rate. Malzahar has the advantage in this matchup. Naafiri players should focus on safe farming and avoiding extended trades to minimize Malzahar's lead.
How do I play Naafiri against Malzahar?
When playing Naafiri against Malzahar, play cautiously and avoid Malzahar's power spikes. Look for jungle assistance and team-dependent plays since Malzahar has the statistical advantage at most stages. Use the matchup-specific build and runes above to optimize your chances.