Varus - League of Legends Champion
Win Rate
48.9%
Pick Rate
2.9%

Varusvs Malzahar

DMarksmanMage
Patch26.11
Matches776,441
LaneAll Lanes
TierAll Tiers
Last UpdatedJun 7, 2026
MethodologyData Methodology

Varus vs Malzahar is a moderate matchup in LoL patch 26.11. Varus wins with a 52.2% win rate (+4.3%) over Malzahar based on 23 games. Varus holds the advantage in both the early and late game. Below you'll find the best Varus build, runes, laning stats, and strategies for the Varus vs Malzahar matchup.

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Varus Matchup Breakdown

Use the dropdown to select an opponent and see a detailed breakdown of how Varus 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
Varus - 52.2% win rate in this matchup
Varus
52.2% WR
VS
Malzahar vs Varus matchup - 47.8% win rate
Malzahar
47.8% WR

Who Wins the Varus vs Malzahar Matchup?

Varus wins the Varus vs Malzahar matchup
Winner
Varus
Matches: 23
52.2%
Win Rate
47.8%
6.2
CS / min
7.5
850
DMG / min
862
12,526
Gold / game
12,773
160
Heal / min
74
491
DMG Mitigated / min
511
0.9
CC / min
1.8
55.6%
Early Game WR
44.4%
50.0%
Late Game WR
50.0%

Varus vs Malzahar Matchup Summary

The Varus vs Malzahar matchup is a moderate matchup in League of Legends ranked play. Based on 23 recent matches analyzed, Varus wins with a 52.2% win rate compared to Malzahar's 47.8%, giving Varus a 4.3 percentage point advantage. Varus dominates at every stage — from early laning through late game team fights. This consistent advantage makes it difficult for Malzahar 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 0.8s CC/min — a difference that heavily influences the outcome of trades and skirmishes. Varus has a statistical edge, but the margin is close enough that respecting Malzahar's strengths is important. Trade when cooldowns are favorable, track the enemy jungler, and build toward your strongest item spikes to convert the slight advantage into a decisive lead. Understanding these matchup dynamics is essential for champion select decisions and in-game strategy when facing this lane opponent.

Varus vs Malzahar Laning Phase Breakdown

Malzahar wins the laning phase against Varus in League of Legends

Malzahar is favored during the laning phase against Varus, 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
6.2Varus
7.5Malzahar
Malzahar significantly out-farms Varus by 1.2 CS per minute, accumulating an estimated 18 CS lead by mid game. This substantial farming gap gives Malzahar a major gold advantage and earlier item completions. Varus players should prioritize wave management techniques like freezing near tower and using abilities efficiently to minimize the deficit.
Damage
850Varus
862Malzahar
Damage output is virtually even between Varus and Malzahar, with only 12 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
12,526Varus
12,773Malzahar
Varus and Malzahar generate nearly equal gold per game, with just a 247 gold difference. Neither champion has a clear economic advantage, so gold leads will depend on individual play quality, kill participation, and objective contributions.
Utility
0.9Varus
1.8Malzahar
Malzahar brings significantly more crowd control than Varus, with 0.8 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. Varus should invest in tenacity and position carefully to avoid being chain-CC'd.
Sustain
651Varus
585Malzahar
Varus heals and mitigates 67 more damage per minute than Malzahar, providing moderate extra durability. This sustain edge allows Varus to stay in lane longer between recalls and gradually win extended wars of attrition. Consider building early grievous wounds if playing Malzahar.

Best Varus Build Against Malzahar

Gunmetal Greaves is the optimal boots choice against Malzahar, providing the mobility and stats Varus needs most in this matchup. The top-performing core items for Varus against Malzahar are Edge of Night, Blade of The Ruined King and Youmuu's Ghostblade. This combination gives Varus an effective balance of damage, survivability, and utility for the matchup. Adjustments may be needed based on team compositions and game state, but this build provides the strongest foundation for the Varus vs Malzahar matchup.

Early Game vs Late Game

Early Game
Varus
55.6%
+11.1% advantage
Varus early game win rateVarus55.6%
Malzahar early game win rateMalzahar44.4%
Late Game
Varus
50.0%
+0.0% advantage
Varus late game win rateVarus50.0%
Malzahar late game win rateMalzahar50.0%

Varus dominates the early game (first 15 minutes) with a commanding 55.6% win rate — a 11.1 percentage point lead over Malzahar. This lopsided early game means Varus can dictate the pace of the lane from level 1, controlling trades, wave state, and river priority.

Late game (25+ minutes) is equally balanced, with Varus at 50.0% win rate — only 0.0 points ahead of Malzahar. Team fight execution and macro play determine the winner at this stage, not champion matchup advantage.

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

Best Varus Runes Against Malzahar

Precision rune tree - Varus primary runes vs MalzaharPrecision
Press the Attack - best Varus rune vs MalzaharTriumph - best Varus rune vs MalzaharLegend: Alacrity - best Varus rune vs MalzaharLast Stand - best Varus rune vs Malzahar
Resolve rune tree - Varus secondary runes vs MalzaharResolve
Bone Plating - best Varus rune vs MalzaharOvergrowth - best Varus rune vs Malzahar
100.0% WR

Running Precision primary with Resolve secondary allows Varus to press their advantage against Malzahar, amplifying the strengths that make this a favorable matchup.


Varus matchup data for League of Legends patch 26.11. The table below shows Varus'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 Varus build, runes, laning stats, and early vs late game analysis for that specific matchup.

Varus matchup win rates and stats in League of Legends patch 26.11
Opponent
Win Rate
Matches
CS/min
DMG/min
Gold/game
Early WR
Late WR
48.37%3686.785013,70354.5%44.4%
50.00%2766.585813,82149.2%50.7%
43.77%2656.280413,00049.1%40.0%
49.59%2426.896414,19659.4%41.9%
51.88%2396.787713,45455.5%48.8%
45.16%2176.888513,10148.6%42.0%
52.51%1796.792514,16454.7%51.0%
53.28%1376.894113,94856.9%50.6%
54.62%1306.890414,23361.8%49.3%
46.88%966.489913,16745.8%47.9%
40.22%926.789013,34650.0%32.0%
45.24%846.589112,97545.2%45.2%
49.35%776.283913,13861.0%36.1%
50.00%766.886813,21346.1%54.0%
43.24%746.686112,60642.9%43.8%
45.71%706.795013,93840.7%48.8%
41.43%706.791313,76436.7%45.0%
48.53%686.985513,57258.1%40.5%
51.67%607.084712,78857.1%44.0%
43.64%556.385313,76839.1%46.9%
36.73%497.187112,70341.7%32.0%
48.84%436.982714,02675.0%38.7%
53.66%416.790914,69947.1%58.3%
52.50%406.488911,87866.7%44.0%
25.64%396.179112,65515.4%30.8%
55.26%386.489113,36546.1%60.0%
47.37%386.896513,09150.0%43.8%
55.56%366.81,01712,62763.2%47.1%
34.29%356.782112,47230.8%36.4%
66.67%306.71,01913,92366.7%66.7%
53.57%287.298312,84871.4%35.7%
44.44%277.099311,97346.7%41.7%
34.62%266.278711,20821.4%50.0%
36.00%257.276612,03635.7%36.4%
52.00%256.785314,23240.0%60.0%
45.83%246.287613,55757.1%41.2%
41.67%246.51,00012,59222.2%53.3%
56.52%236.31,04313,07656.3%57.1%
47.83%236.997214,07655.6%42.9%
52.17%236.285012,52655.6%50.0%
31.82%226.584510,17538.5%22.2%
45.45%226.483713,62457.1%40.0%
50.00%226.795013,01333.3%61.5%
36.36%226.61,07513,17471.4%20.0%
47.62%216.896814,37483.3%33.3%
42.86%216.289714,05820.0%50.0%
50.00%207.094312,51245.5%55.6%
60.00%206.81,10113,33450.0%70.0%
65.00%206.883012,33760.0%80.0%
52.63%196.682714,04742.9%58.3%
52.63%196.31,01211,52041.7%71.4%
52.63%196.480411,30338.5%83.3%
55.56%186.982211,27066.7%44.4%
55.56%186.81,08912,19485.7%36.4%
61.11%187.11,04113,77470.0%50.0%
61.11%186.61,08714,14071.4%54.5%
72.22%187.11,07112,28563.6%85.7%
64.71%175.870511,83171.4%60.0%
41.18%176.580612,75750.0%36.4%
35.29%175.989311,47628.6%40.0%
46.67%156.078110,89750.0%42.9%
60.00%156.583212,36983.3%44.4%
46.67%156.880511,97144.4%50.0%
46.67%156.31,27413,49840.0%50.0%
13.33%156.385111,9460.0%20.0%
42.86%146.691812,26855.6%20.0%
50.00%146.81,03114,15950.0%50.0%
53.85%137.176411,08250.0%60.0%
38.46%136.495615,49650.0%36.4%
46.15%137.395314,20383.3%14.3%
33.33%126.089913,09125.0%37.5%
41.67%126.383310,43640.0%42.9%
63.64%116.672912,37250.0%71.4%
45.45%116.564210,04360.0%33.3%
45.45%116.691513,92720.0%66.7%
50.00%106.893015,10825.0%66.7%
60.00%106.61,02412,81966.7%57.1%
60.00%107.690613,63080.0%40.0%
70.00%106.31,00711,66160.0%80.0%
40.00%106.388312,24225.0%50.0%
40.00%107.177110,23533.3%50.0%
70.00%106.172211,77680.0%60.0%
50.00%87.01,0858,68766.7%0.0%
37.50%86.475710,46320.0%66.7%
37.50%86.481512,41066.7%20.0%
37.50%87.090812,63633.3%40.0%
50.00%86.381711,54266.7%0.0%
75.00%86.791710,696100.0%50.0%
25.00%87.11,02314,40925.0%25.0%
62.50%86.31,01513,06775.0%50.0%
62.50%87.087312,75166.7%50.0%
42.86%76.573312,42650.0%33.3%
42.86%75.894212,6630.0%60.0%
71.43%77.190913,35175.0%66.7%
28.57%76.31,03013,78025.0%33.3%
57.14%76.47888,57660.0%50.0%
66.67%66.583712,31866.7%66.7%
66.67%67.085813,16366.7%66.7%
33.33%66.989912,8540.0%50.0%
50.00%67.11,00513,6040.0%75.0%
50.00%65.985913,8290.0%75.0%
50.00%66.11,06513,714100.0%40.0%
60.00%55.95888,71375.0%0.0%
20.00%55.187815,0540.0%25.0%
20.00%56.196713,44150.0%0.0%
40.00%56.676612,76833.3%50.0%
20.00%56.166610,02833.3%0.0%
40.00%56.792014,276100.0%25.0%

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Varus vs Malzahar - Frequently Asked Questions

How does Varus do against Malzahar in League of Legends?

Varus wins the Varus vs Malzahar matchup with a 52.2% win rate compared to Malzahar's 47.8%, a 4.3 percentage point difference. This data is based on 23 recent ranked games in patch 26.11.

How does Varus do against Malzahar in the early game?

In the early game, Varus has the advantage against Malzahar with a 55.6% win rate versus 44.4%. Varus players should look to press their lane advantage through aggressive trades and wave control during the first 15 minutes.

How does Varus do against Malzahar in the late game?

In the late game, Varus takes over the Varus vs Malzahar matchup with a 50.0% win rate compared to 50.0%. Varus scales better into team fights and objective contests after 25 minutes.

Who wins the Varus vs Malzahar matchup?

Varus wins the matchup against Malzahar with a 52.2% win rate in League of Legends patch 26.11. The 4.3 percentage point advantage means Varus is moderately favored in this lane matchup based on 23 games analyzed.

What is the best Varus build against Malzahar?

The best Varus build against Malzahar includes Edge of Night, Blade of The Ruined King, Youmuu's Ghostblade with Gunmetal Greaves. Check the matchup breakdown above for the full item path and build order.

What are the best Varus runes against Malzahar?

The best Varus runes against Malzahar use the Precision primary tree with Resolve secondary. This rune setup achieves a 100.0% win rate in the Varus vs Malzahar matchup. See the full rune breakdown in the matchup comparison above.

Does Varus counter Malzahar?

Yes, Varus has a favorable matchup against Malzahar with a 52.2% win rate. Varus has a solid advantage over Malzahar in lane based on current patch 26.11 data.

How do I play Varus against Malzahar?

When playing Varus against Malzahar, 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.