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What could Malphite be?

Moody P·2/28/2019, 4:44:22 AM·8 votes·7,061 views

I was thinking about this earlier and I thought it might be worth making a discussion.

Malphite is more or less a complete blank slate to me. His lore is very outdated featuring him as an alien, meaning he has 0 place in current Runeterra so you could place him just about anywhere. His gameplay is very flat and IMO doesn't really have anything defining except for an AOE knockup which is frankly a generic trait. He has unique qualities for sure but they don't manifest in anything meaningful.

I'd like to talk more about his lore though. I think he would be very interesting being slotted into the category of spirits/demigods of the Freljord pantheon. He doesn't need to be located there, but given that he's a massive mountain and is quite powerful, retconning him into an earth elemental isn't a far stretch. It could also give him some nice characterization with Ornn, since he's noted in his own lore for reshaping the land around him out of a need to fight things that don't easily break.

What do you think? What are good potential lore connections for Malphite to slot into?

21 Comments

Stars Shaper2/28/2019, 8:52:16 AM8 votes

I would bind him to something related to World Runes magic rather than a Celestial or Targon guy.

EdgeLady2/28/2019, 5:35:02 AM2 votes

I've said this before, but I think the closest thing we likely have to Malphite in the current lore is Janna. Janna is a Runeterran elemental spirit goddess of wind and air, which is usually portrayed as the opposite of earth and stone (which Malphite obviously would be). He is currently labeled as just an "Elemental", so relabeling him as an elemental spirit god wouldn't be too big of a stretch.

Both Janna and the Freljordian gods seem to imply that elements are linked to certain aspirational attributes in Runeterra, such as how Anivia, a greater goddess, is the goddess of ice, snowstorms, wind, freedom, and hope, but Janna, a lesser one, embodies a simpler concept of wind and hope. Malphite would likely embody similar things to Ornn, perhaps representing strength, protection, and steadfastness, in correspondence to earth.

As for where he should be in Runeterra, I think either Freljord or Targon are the best bets, or he could be wandering all of Runeterra helping people.

Honestly though, I think the guy should get a rework along with a full visual and voice update when we learn about his lore. Even though I'd like to know more about him as soon as possible, in-game, he's also a mess, both visually and even kit-wise.

Alzon2/28/2019, 8:43:49 PM2 votes

Malphite can’t really be much of anything without some new voice lines. The existing VO would sound utterly out of place with any sort of viable backstory that portrays him as an actual person.

If he gets a full VU, that’s a different story. Yes he could be anything, but the name “Malphite” doesn’t seem very godly to me (then again, neither do “Janna” or snrk ”VOLIBEAR”). The most down-to-earth characterization would probably be as a member of some race of rock-golem beings. Maybe as guardians of some mystical place, like Bandle City?

Zapzya2/28/2019, 4:52:46 AM2 votes

I think he would fit quite well in Ionia, where the land has it's own soul.

DarkSoul19942/28/2019, 10:32:13 AM1 votes

World Runes, Targon, or a Nature Spirit like Maokai.

Warlord Rhinark2/28/2019, 10:35:03 AM1 votes

I'd imagine a literal mountain that came to life due to the World Runes, most likely during the Rune Wars.

Seeing the destruction left in their wake and sharing the pain of the earth, he makes it his duty to restore natural order to the world.

This would correlate nicely with his old lore of imposing order on Runeterra, and would explain his rather simple minded quotes like "Pain!" and "Hurt!", since he's being maddened by the endless torment he shares with the planet.

GreenLore2/28/2019, 11:21:35 AM1 votes

I guess Malphite could be either a spirit or a world-rune construct.

However what if Malphite actually keeps his otherworldly origin?What if he came to runeterra as a meteorite after his homeworld was destroyed?This could give us some insight about what the targonians/the void are up to on other planets, which could be really interesting.

RyzeTheSmurfMage2/28/2019, 11:39:24 AM1 votes

A rock

Iota Theta2/28/2019, 2:19:48 PM1 votes

I could see a result of a world rune as others suggested, bu I think you’re idea of slotting him into the pantheon of Ornn, Anivia, and Volibear could be interesting. Build an interesting dynamic between him and his older brother Ornn. I picture a sort of Bash Brothers thing, not as antagonistic with each other as Ornn and Volibear, but a sort of rivalry. After all, earth and fire/lava can play off of each other quite well. To me, there always felt this odd connection of a gameplay kit designed to run counter to physical damage, but his lore has him hating chaotic magic, which is why I think the demigod shift could fit well.

I know some people dread reworks, both lore and gameplay, but I anxiously look forward to the changes made to my first champ. I’ve always loved the idea of an earth being, and loved his armor scaling nature, but I feel more could be done with that (and his model needs some updating).

14daysuspensionk2/28/2019, 6:29:04 PM1 votes

Honestly why doesn't he just get a Mount Everest skin at this point.

Jerry SeinfeId2/28/2019, 8:14:36 PM1 votes

as long as he's rock solid he can be whatever he wants to be.

Forhonor3213/1/2019, 12:48:48 AM1 votes

My ideas:

  • Some magical elemental created over time and has finally awakened from the mountain of Targon (or what other mountain may be)

  • An offspring creation during the Rune War, maybe the energy within the conflict caused him to come to life

  • Basic golem like creature that existed long ago but may be the last one left simply due to time

  • Maybe an elemental god, similar to how Janna is an elemental of air (or something like that, I haven't really read Janna's lore)

But overall, he first needs a full rework if anything is to happen to his lore.

mrmeddyman2/28/2019, 8:40:51 AM1 votes

A Celestial or a literal sentient chunk of Mount Targon. It's a bit obvious but Mount Targon is not formed by tectonics like normal mountains. The reason the ascent is so steep is because it is being "pulled" from above by magic. That magic could be the gravitational influence from "The Monolith" which is what Malphite is currently associated with. It would be cool if Malphite could go around creating Aspects of his own without them needing to climb the mountain. I don't know if I want them to preserve the "agent of order and unity aspect" because Kayle has the emotional repressed judicator role filled now. He could be an excellent foil to Soraka though one of the celestials who sees the beauty in human failure and chaos while Malphite can't abide it/understand

Or you know... just make him a rock spirit or something

Saevum2/28/2019, 9:28:53 AM1 votes

I wish Malphite would be something like an immovable Titan. Very much like Baron Nashor and the Dragons interactions work: They cannot be disrupted. But it would need a full rework with something to complement that. Because it would defy a gameplay mechanic. But then again, it would stick more to the lore of this massive monolith of destruction.

zlumpy2/28/2019, 9:35:36 AM1 votes

The king of the earth elementals. Then they can do a whole elemental themed champ set. They dont even have to return con stories they can just say beings with elemental affinities built up factions of elementals and the build up caused an elemental nation to form out in the ocean or something. I mean if we have literal gods running around this sounds easy enough to implement.