Little known counter item against Malzahar:

HalcyonDweller·Jan 19, 2018·2 votes·3,108 views

Build Banner of Command and place it on the minion he puts his E on, it will completely ruin his ability to push and get mana back for free.

Just popped into my head and I thought it was an interesting option. Not the be all end-all solution but it could certainly mess up his play pattern and it would be funny to get a little payback against him for using such a boring and un-interactive strategy.

It might work against heimerdinger too, although I'm less certain about that.

Thoughts?

20 Comments

TèrminusJan 19, 20182 votes

Then you bought an item with only 30 MR and no real combat stats, so Malzahar just kills you instead.

HalcyonDwellerJan 19, 20181 votes

Oops, I thought Banner of Command still gave AP. My mistake.

ToxcydiaJan 19, 20182 votes

While overall that's an interesting point, most mid lanes wouldn't want banner because it would simply make them into an off-tank and stunt their AD/AP scaling into mid game. It would make his farming more difficult but overall but in the end it's low impact when you think of AD/AP lost on your end vs cs loss on his end. It would be easier for a mid laner to just push and then look for pressure elsewhere with their power items than to stunt your own scaling to try and stop his. It would simply reduce your kill pressure in the overall game for most champs.

HalcyonDwellerJan 19, 20181 votes

Ok so it would only really work if you planned to use the item in your build anyways. Which admittedly - is rather uncommon.

ToxcydiaJan 19, 20181 votes

{quoted}

Ok so it would only really work if you planned to use the item in your build anyways. Which admittedly - is rather uncommon.

Yes it's typically an item for supports or top lane tanks (See it on singed). It's really more of a way to put pressure on a pushing lane than to counter a champ.

HalcyonDwellerJan 19, 20181 votes

Noted, thank you!

deadlychuckJan 19, 20181 votes

Well really, you could take it on a support or even tank jungle. There's no duration so you could put it on a minion while roaming or after you recall.

ToxcydiaJan 19, 20181 votes

{quoted}

Well really, you could take it on a support or even tank jungle. There's no duration so you could put it on a minion while roaming or after you recall.

Yes, unfortunately there are more kill junglers in meta right now than tank.

INT then ULTJan 19, 20181 votes

Just play a champion that can kill his voidlings, because it's the voidlings that have the pushing power, not his E.

Ahri Ekko Karthus Kayle Lissandra Lux Morgana Syndra Xerath Ziggs can all counter his pushing pressure in the early game, to different extents.

HalcyonDwellerJan 19, 20181 votes

Fair points, alright when I get matched against a Malzahar I'll try to just counter pick next time.

Any other items you think should be built against Malzahar, besides the obvious Quicksilver Sash.

INT then ULTJan 19, 20181 votes

The easiest way to deal with Malzahar is to have strong engage and better teamfighting potential. Force Malz to use his ult defensively on somebody that isn't an assassin or the ADC.

HalcyonDwellerJan 19, 20181 votes

That makes a lot of sense, thank you for contributing!

ToxcydiaJan 19, 20181 votes

{quoted}

Fair points, alright when I get matched against a Malzahar I'll try to just counter pick next time.

Any other items you think should be built against Malzahar, besides the obvious Quicksilver Sash.

Adaptive Helm is always a good pick up against teams/champs with dot damage.

HalcyonDwellerJan 19, 20181 votes

Holy shit I forgot about that item XD I always forget about it because it's so unusual and new.