This guide is rather old some parts maybe out of date...

This guide details how I play malzahar.I have played him almost exclusively
since he was introduced and since I have seen so many poorly played malzahars
I decided to make a guide


1. Masterys/runes
For malzahar I use a standard 9/0/21 caster Build. The extra cooldown
reduction and spell penetration really make this worthwhile.
Runewise I use AP for blue and quintessence. Flat hp for yellow and
magic penetration for red. This gives me the extra boost to survivablity
Malzahar needs early on while giving him some nasty damage aswell

2.Summoner Spells:
Personally I use cleanse and clarity but I will show how other summoner
spells can be useful too

Ignite: I'm not a fan of this. Extra damage is extra damage but I pefer to
lessen my weaknesses with my summoner spells instead of making my strenghs
stronger

Ghost: This can give you the speed you need to get into range with nether grasp
or help you to escape a gank.

Teleport: Never a bad choice. Can help you stop backdoorers or allow you to
get back quickly after a recall.

Flash: This has been heavily nerfed but it can still be useful. The enemy
champion may think he is safely out of nether grasps range and you can suprise
him with it

Clarity: This will make you mana problems dissapear as long as you arent
spamming call of the void on every cooldown

Cleanse: The bane of Malzahar and crowd control. iF you cast it just before
casting nether grasp the enemy will not be able to stop you from doing it.


3. Spell order
I learn my spells before level 6 in the following order
Lvl 1: Call of the void
Lvl 2: Malefic visions
Lvl 3: Malefic visions
Lvl 4: Call of the void
Lvl 5: Malefic visions
Lvl 6: Nether grasp

After the first six levels I finish leveling Malefic visons as quickly as I can
so farming and pushing become much quicker. Getting Nether grasp at 11 and 16
is a given. I dont level null zone until level 13 because the radius is
relativly small and is only really useful just before casting Nether grasp.
Call of the void should be leveled when malefic visions is not availible

4. Item build

My Item build is fairly standard of any nuke caster. it consists of the following
items (in order)

Dorans ring - this item combined with hp runes will give a starting HP of over 600
this also provides some ap and mana regen which is always good

Boots of Speed - by the first time you go back you should have enough gold to buy
this and an amplifying tome. upgrade these to the +20 spell pen boots after you complete soulstealer (if you go for it)

Amplifying Tome - depending on how well your early game goes you will upgrade this
into either mejai's soulstealer or rylai's crystal scepter

Rylai's crystal scepter - This item is amazing on malzahar it gives him the hp
needed to surive and the slow helps to keep people in the null zone.

Zhonya's Ring - This gives you a massive boost to your damage and a nice active
effect to stop people from focusing you

lich bane - This gives you another nuke allowing you to burst someone down more
easily the extra movement speed is useful too

The last item depends on the enemy team.It replaces dorans ring. Thornmail or
banshees veil are my usual choices


5. Strategy

A nice trick to do at the start of the match is to charge your passive in
the spawning pool until it is ready to be cast.

I play malzahar in mid whenever I can. If the enemy mid has cleanse you may
want to consider swaping as it isnt fun having your ultimate countered. Before
level 6 you should harrass with call of the void and farm with malefic visions.
Dont farm with malefic visions until you are lvl 3. The level one version of
the spell doesnt do enough damage to kill a melee creep even with auto attacks.

Once you reach lvl 6 you should start ganking the side lanes (or mid if you
are in a side lane).
In a teamfight remember you are squishy so stay back if your tank isnt having
his way. when the tank engages you should select a person and then use call of the void,
null zone, malefic visions and nether grasp in that order. This combo done correctly
will kill almost anybody. assuming they dont have cleanse/quicksilver sash.

Remember the stun part of nether grasp wont stop if you are interupted so this can
be used as a desperate getaway move. (NO LONGER WORKS)
Call of the void can be cast slightly outside of the target circle. use this to your
advantage
Null zone will give you vision of the area it is cast.(NOT ANYMORE) Call of the void will give
you brief vision at both ends of the casting line.
Dont use null zone on creeps! The minimun damage is very low and is not worth the mana cost
I hope you have learned somthing or at least enjoyed reading my guide to malzahar

EDIT: I have changed how I play malazhar slightly but most of the guide remains true
My stats with this build are quite good but he cant carry so my win/loss ratio isnt that impressive.
I use ignite combines with ghost now but the item build hasnt changed at alot

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I have learned nothing

I have learned something.

1. You haven't included Sorc boots option, BoS doesn't help you ulti much.
2. Deathfire ward (or whatever it name is) is godlike for Malhazar
3. NO LICHBANE
4. Cleanse doesn't help you to do your ulti.

Ignite is amazing - Simple because you can use while casting nether grasp.. I have played him exclusively aswell, and find him rather easy to play, but i disagree in a few things of yours.. A single point in nullzone before level 6 is somewhat a must, simply because it will make your day in low level ganking. Using nether grasp while they're in the zone, throwing Ignite while casting your Ulti will kill the most none-tank champions in the early game.

I watched Phreak.

For summoner spells Ignite / Flash or Flash / Ghost are the best choices IMO if you take ignite you may get more kills if you get ghost you have better chance to get away from chases other spells are not that effective on him if you ask me.

As for Boots I usually buy Mercury for some magic resistance and because I have a slightly better chance to get away from a stun or slow in one piece. Malzy doesn't have any escape mechanism so he needs all the help he can get from items and summoner spells.

I choose mostly those both summoner spells: teleport and flash

Flash is useful to escape for example pantheons jump or something else...
its important for me to stay alive or follow an enemy to kill him before he can run away
and tp is quite useful for destroy or defend towers for example.

LoL is a strategic team game and no "1-man army kills all game"^^