Smolder vs Malzahar
Mid Lane Matchup
You
VS
Tap any portrait to switch perspective
Who Wins
- You win early 1v1s levels 1-3 with superior range and Q poke, forcing favorable trades when Malzahar approaches minions.
- At level 6, you must respect his R engage potential but can still win if you maintain distance and kite properly.
How to Trade
- Your optimal trading pattern involves poking with Q when Malzahar steps up for CS, then using your range advantage to avoid retaliation.
- When he uses E on minions, capitalize on the cooldown window to establish lane dominance.
Wave Control
- Maintain slow pushes to deny Malzahar's roam timers while stacking your passive safely from range.
- Avoid hard shoving into his waveclear as this gives him free recall timings and roam opportunities.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Never face-check bushes or river without vision after level 6, as Malzahar's R setup with jungle ganks is lethal.
- Don't get caught in extended trades near his voidlings, as they provide significant sustained damage output.
Created on 11/21/2025
🛠️ Something wrong?