Useful collision tank build: Malphite is not only there to click ultimate, but to make certain AD or front-to-back profiles far less playable, then remain relevant after impact. The cleaned build brings that second half of the champion back to the center.
Three builds, one right answer per draft. The advisor reads the five enemies (and your allies) and names who triggers what — the same rule as the Draft MVP sheet and Ask Nexus.
Best Malphite build (Baron Lane): Thornmail › Sunfire Aegis › Randuin's Omen › Abyssal Mask › Kaenic Rookern, boots Plated Steelcaps, keystone Grasp of the Undying. Three variants and when to pick each are below.
Standard build maximizing damage output. Use on neutral matchups or when ahead.
14,200 total cost
Nothing dominates on the other side: the standard build maximizes your damage.
Open this draft in the tool →Resistance build geared against physical damage (AD) compositions.
14,200 total cost
Physical-damage enemy team: Darius, Lee Sin, Lucian.
Open this draft in the tool →Resistance build geared against magic damage (AP) compositions.
14,250 total cost +50g
Scores out of 10: where this champion sits against the whole roster, phase by phase. The strip shows its own power ramp level by level — it does not compare across champions.
Your hardest matchups in this role, and the item from your situational list that answers each one.
Olaf
Mantle of the Twelfth Hour
Physical damage
Cho'Gath
Gargoyle Stoneplate
Magic damage
Dr. Mundo
Mantle of the Twelfth Hour
Physical damage
Gwen
Mantle of the Twelfth Hour
Physical damage
Best Malphite build (Mid Lane): Randuin's Omen › Abyssal Mask › Kaenic Rookern › Force of Nature › Dawnshroud, boots Plated Steelcaps, keystone Grasp of the Undying. Three variants and when to pick each are below.
Standard build maximizing damage output. Use on neutral matchups or when ahead.
14,050 total costNothing dominates on the other side: the standard build maximizes your damage.
Open this draft in the tool →Resistance build geared against physical damage (AD) compositions.
14,200 total cost +150gPhysical-damage enemy team: Darius, Lee Sin, Lucian.
Open this draft in the tool →Resistance build geared against magic damage (AP) compositions.
14,250 total cost +200gScores out of 10: where this champion sits against the whole roster, phase by phase. The strip shows its own power ramp level by level — it does not compare across champions.
Your hardest matchups in this role, and the item from your situational list that answers each one.
Morgana
Thornmail
Recurring healing
Cho'Gath
Gargoyle Stoneplate
Magic damage
Swain
Thornmail
Recurring healing
Vladimir
Thornmail
Recurring healing
Best Malphite build (Support): Bulwark of the Mountain › Zeke's Convergence › Yordle Trap › Locket of the Iron Solari › Knight's Vow, boots Plated Steelcaps, keystone Grasp of the Undying. Three variants and when to pick each are below.
Standard build maximizing damage output. Use on neutral matchups or when ahead.
11,000 total costNothing dominates on the other side: the standard build maximizes your damage.
Open this draft in the tool →Protection build, prioritizes peel tools for your carry.
10,900 total cost -100gDefensive build against enemy dives/engages.
11,200 total cost +200gScores out of 10: where this champion sits against the whole roster, phase by phase. The strip shows its own power ramp level by level — it does not compare across champions.
Your hardest matchups in this role, and the item from your situational list that answers each one.
Morgana
Thornmail
Recurring healing
Alistar
Mantle of the Twelfth Hour
Physical damage
Braum
Gargoyle Stoneplate
Magic damage
Milio
Thornmail
Recurring healing
Same advisor in the Draft (the MVP sheet applies it to your real draft) and in Ask Nexus, which explains the choice. On counters pages: the variant to take against each counter-pick.
Foundational item core, without recent situational additions — kept as a base for understanding the kit. For the up-to-date build, see the section above.
Malphite is one of the few tanks whose armor improves not only survivability but also part of his real threat.
Ruby Crystal
AoE slow on AA, Malphite sticks in melee after R
Damage reflect + anti-heal, synergizes with W's armor
Reduces enemy AS, combos with the armor shield passive
Plated Steelcaps
Mercurys Treads
›
›
trades courts with Q Seismic Shard activate Grasp to booster his HP massively.
The max-HP charge scales with your stacked armor — plates fall in two procs.
Lane sustain strengthened by passive Granite Shield for extreme durability.
Maximizes HP to that the R Unstoppable Force launches a massive resistance.
Spamming Q drains your mana — the stacked pool keeps a full R combo available.
Zeke's Convergence
Kaenic Rookern
Zeke's Convergence
Randuin's Omen
Plated Steelcaps
Mercury's Treads
Overgrowth
Perseverance
