Malzahar is becoming a "Press R" only champ

Forhonor321·Feb 8, 2017·101 votes·5,278 views

When the 7.3 hits (which will be sometime after I post this, so fairly soon) Malz will feel like he'll just become near worthless outside of his ult. I mean for gods sake, Riot took this champ and essentially fucked him up his kit by pushing towards a minion master, which they soon remade Yorick to be better at, and that pretty much pushed him out of mid lane. Now he's put into bot lane and still is a minion master but with the nerfs it'll just feel worse. Let's face it, we all know it at this point: Malzahar's rework is a complete failure at this point and Riot won't address that they pretty much fucked up. I personally don't play him and hate his ult, but really that's all he ever feels useful for, his kit is just fucked out of proportion at this point and I just hate it when Riot screws over champions like this, simply because they fucked them up with a rework.

113 Comments

WoonStruckFeb 8, 201720 votes

TBH he was a 'press R champ' before.

They should just give him a total VGU.

Over InnsmouthFeb 8, 201722 votes

Pressing R on old Malzahar without your team would accomplish little. Part of the skill ceiling was being able to use all your basic abilities in quick succession, and using your ult to make them sit in your death pool and eat your space aids without them being able to get away.

AimléssFeb 8, 20171 votes

Skill ceiling? Lol I figured out how to do that easy ass cheese back when I was still Bronze 5.

Over InnsmouthFeb 8, 20175 votes

I didnt say it was an exceptionally high skill ceiling.

RalanrFeb 8, 201727 votes

[{quoted}](name=Tides of Blood,realm=EUW,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=nqA1klLo,comment-id=00010000,timestamp=2017-02-08T12:56:24.552+0000)

Pressing R on old Malzahar without your team would accomplish little. Part of the skill ceiling was being able to use all your basic abilities in quick succession, and using your ult to make them sit in your death pool and eat your space aids without them being able to get away.

Imo it was basically "spam spells, press R, dead. No counterplay."

I hated old Malz's pool+R combo.

Over InnsmouthFeb 8, 201711 votes

Yeah, but it also punished mispositioning and not warding properly. At least there was some kind of area for the enemy to fuck up and the Malz to punish that.

Now it's just afk minion harass.

RalanrFeb 8, 20172 votes

Or he just did it from a somewhat safe range under your top lane tower...

Over InnsmouthFeb 8, 20177 votes

I get your position that Malzahar was a pain in the ass to lane against, because he was, but at least then the Malzahar player was having fun.

Now, playing solo lane Malzahar is a joke, and bot lane Malzahar is a symptom of a cancer that support Brand and Zyra introduced into the game.

RalanrFeb 8, 20174 votes

My heart goes out to those players, but I'm starting to wonder if Malz just has a design problem that needs more attention in his core.

What is Malz supposed to be? A minion mancer? A lock down mage? A tank killer? Anti-assassin mage?

Earlier in league he could have been multiple things, but as the pool gets bigger, previous occupants must get better defined.

Basic question: What is the strategic reason for playing Malz?

AcidTheWarlockFeb 8, 20173 votes

I liked him when he was the anti-assassin DPS mage. I think the spellshield has a lot of potential, but add the voidlings as his primary passive. Make W the shield so he can live and drop his DPS and have the passive voidling.

The pool needs back in there, I guess keep it on ult if you're gonna save the spellshield, otherwise he doesn't have a tank steroid like other battle mages (except Cassiopeia, she just has heals).

As you can tell, I like battle mages.

dunder killFeb 8, 20172 votes

a cancer that support Brand and Zyra introduced into the game.

Whoa whoa now. Don't forget Velkoz

Over InnsmouthFeb 8, 20174 votes

At least Vel'Koz is skillshot based.

MelledoneusFeb 8, 20172 votes

At least QSS existed.

RalanrFeb 8, 20174 votes

On an item that I can't say I build on tanks.

MelledoneusFeb 8, 20173 votes

There's really no need to if you're a tank, and aren't behind.

Otherwise you're f*cked.

RalanrFeb 8, 20173 votes

I mean he is a dps mage.

That constantly fucked me over because Sion stood still too much.

MelledoneusFeb 8, 20172 votes

True, but considering that Sion's engage in a fight is unstoppable, if Malzahar wastes ult on you, your team has free reign to jump him.

Gregor GysiFeb 9, 20171 votes

Yeah, people really love nostalgia. Old Malzahar was not very compelling to play (exactly as you describe it) and playing against him was absolutely awful until you got QSS - and then it was Malz who felt bad.

I think Riot did surprisingly well considering they kept his ultimate, but I highly doubt it's possible to create a healthy and satisfying champion with such a binary ability.

warmcorntortillaFeb 8, 20173 votes

It's not like Malzahar is/was the only mid mage Syndra Veigar with a "I'm gonna press R and you're gonna die now" button.

AimléssFeb 8, 20172 votes

I'm saying, the only balanced point and click ult in the game is Caitlyn's cause it barely does any damage and it can be blocked. All of the rest are just an ez way to get a kill without really doing anything. Tbh, all point and clicks need a weakness, and not through items, that's just stupid.

WoonStruckFeb 8, 20172 votes

You really think Cait's R barely does any damage?

Go look at the numbers.

Start blocking them as non-tanks. See what happens. lol

Its the most balanced because it can be blocked for sure, though.

MinaZer0Feb 8, 20176 votes

nah malz is a press R and the enemy team shows up and kills you now.

MirkhailFeb 9, 20171 votes

It's "I press r, you don't play league".

dunder killFeb 8, 20178 votes

Wlcome to the "our only defining attribute is R" club

TwistedFate Skarner Annie Galio Fiddlesticks Karthus Malphite Shen Tryndamere

Onkel MalteFeb 8, 20174 votes

naaah Malz still has ~~Space-Aids~~ Space-cold

John Senna1Feb 8, 20172 votes

{quoted}

Wlcome to the "our only defining attribute is R" club

Miss Fortune is missing there.

It Hertz When IPFeb 8, 20175 votes

Actually I have a lot of fun with her Double Up, and Strut is a nice tower-killing active.

MelledoneusFeb 8, 20172 votes

HEY!

I'll have you know that a 1.75 second dodge zone on a 16 second cooldown with a 40 energy cost that you can't even control the location of fully is a very useful ability and is a defining part of Shen's kit!

LordSirChipmunkFeb 9, 20171 votes

Bard 'sup?

dunder killFeb 9, 20172 votes

Magical Journey is a top tier normal ability

Erractic EickFeb 9, 20171 votes

His shrines are also unique. Bard can CREATE objectives.

LordSirChipmunkFeb 9, 20171 votes

It's interesting and strong, but I don't find it very iconic. His ultimate is kind of the defining characteristic of him, even if his other abilities are strong, too.

Erractic EickFeb 9, 20171 votes

Honestly, I think the "choose your buff" auto attack on TF is really cool. I just wish it classified as an on-hit effect, rather than an auto attack replacement, because I have a damage fetish and I think item 3124 is a cool item.

oSEXYPLATYPUSoFeb 8, 20174 votes

that is all he is to being with ?

SchmidttyGamesFeb 8, 20172 votes

Currently, his E-W-W combo is rather ridiculous. Within 3 seconds you'll have an army of voidlings eating you alive. But that's all about to change...

ChaddyFantomeFeb 8, 20174 votes

implying he wasn't a press R champion before.

If anything, the rework made him less of one since he had to do more then just press E and R every now and again.

XilixerFeb 8, 20173 votes

only problem is that the voidlings being on w with e cause less interaction and allows malzahar to farm way too safe.

Yordle XayahFeb 8, 20174 votes

Yeah because Malz never was a flash+R champion before

http://imgur.com/DDNBHCD

Big LincolnFeb 8, 20173 votes

and good riddance desu

one less mage scum to get picked

SkyroarFeb 8, 20178 votes

[{quoted}](name=Big Lincoln,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=nqA1klLo,comment-id=0003,timestamp=2017-02-08T05:22:47.167+0000)

and good riddance desu

one less mage scum to get picked

Yes, let's remove all "mage scums" from the game. I mean, why should league of legends have mage champions? No one likes them!

Arya RivenFeb 8, 20175 votes

It is a top lane bruiser circlejerk popularized on the boards by a couple select players. Who are convinced any damage roles(mage, skirmisher, marksman, assassin) should essentially be removed with nerfs and the game should consist of low skillcap bruisers and tanks slapping one another while supports enable them. For the sake of "strategy".

Got this on copy paste by this point.

RalanrFeb 8, 20171 votes

[{quoted}](name=Arya Riven,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=nqA1klLo,comment-id=000300000000,timestamp=2017-02-08T16:13:31.140+0000)

It is a top lane bruiser circlejerk popularized on the boards by a couple select players. Who are convinced any damage roles(mage, skirmisher, marksman, assassin) should essentially be removed with nerfs and the game should consist of low skillcap bruisers and tanks slapping one another while supports enable them. For the sake of "strategy".

Got this on copy paste by this point.

I don't even disagree with you and I still find that line ~~triggering~~ kinda insulting.

Are we top laners the republicans?

Arya RivenFeb 8, 20172 votes

I don't talk politics. The reason that line is included is because the people persisting in this circlejerk talk about how Marksman/Mage are easy and brainless and how Assassins/Skirmishers are no risk champions. A lot of them play champions like Garen and Morde who when strong, have gameplay consisting of "Walk towards" and when weak it consists of "walk away". The reason Morde and Garen are difficult right now is they are linear top laners without any tools, thus successful use of them is a talent. But overall they lack difficult mechanics. Even ADCs need orb walking to climb beyond wood 5.

As they are perfectly content saying every other class is easy, low risk or brainless. I am compelled to point out that Mundo has 2 fallible mechanics. His health costs and his cleavers missing. Beyond that his gameplay is "walk on them".

Some bruisers have improved. See Darius. He still has some serious issues in that he crowds out all other bruiser picks because he is jist better.

This is because he is less linear so his power budget is better. He has fallible mechanics.

Papa AndreiFeb 8, 201710 votes

You know I see you and Dominus alot, and everytime I do its you guys bitching about how your fighters, bruisers and tanks aren't op enough and to nerf/gut every other role.

Big LincolnFeb 8, 20172 votes

fighters and bruisers are bad except for vi rn, what are you complaining about lul

ExcusemeFellowsFeb 8, 20174 votes

[{quoted}](name=Big Lincoln,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=nqA1klLo,comment-id=000300010000,timestamp=2017-02-08T13:58:48.291+0000)

fighters and bruisers are bad except for vi rn, what are you complaining about lul

Key word: if.

Arya RivenFeb 8, 20175 votes

Big LincolnFeb 8, 20173 votes

bruisers are for real men and big boys

all other roles are tiny baby roles

Arya RivenFeb 8, 201711 votes

Good thing I am a girl and don't give a flying shit.

Over InnsmouthFeb 8, 201713 votes

Well, if the meta ever became super bruiser based, Darius would win basically every fight because Noxian Might was such a great idea.

200 AD for hitting someone 5 times. Good job Riot.

As well as having a heal that scales off defensive stats rather than offensive stats. Remember when Vladimir could build full HP and still heal a shit tonne?