The new mobile-compatible League of Legends: Wild Rift reintroduces fan-favorite champions players can control, each with exciting abilities. League of Legends: Wild Rift is an online multiplayer battle arena and modified version of League of Legends for PC. Like in the original, in Wild Rift players will compete against other teams or AI in the world of Runeterra and fight through a group of enemies to destroy the other team's Nexus, located within their base. There are over 40 champions players can collect and take into battle. Each one comes with a specific class that dictates their fighting style and a level of difficulty for players to master. At the start of each match, a player's champion will be set to their lowest stats, and players can build up their power and abilities over the course of the match by eliminating enemies and picking up objects.
Malphite is one of the champions available in League of Legends: Wild Rift. He is a living shard from the Monolith and is a low-difficulty tank who can also deal a decent amount of damage. Malphite has become rather popular due to his ability to withstand heavy blows and his synergy with most kinds of team. He can also be extremely effective in the Jungle. Players can also choose to build Malphite as an AP mage instead. Here are some beginning tips, tricks, and strategies for being successful when playing Malphite in League of Legends: Wild Rift.
Tips, Tricks, and Strategies for Malphite in League of Legends: Wild Rift
Malphite is one of the most consistently reliable champion picks for Wild Rift. Analytics of his performance have him ranked as an S-Tier character based on how frequently he is selected, how often he wins, and how infrequently characters who use him are banned. He has five abilities, with one passive, three active, and one that is both. These are:
- Granite Shield: Malphite gains a shield based on maximum XP after spending a short time away from the battle
- Seismic Shard: Malphite deals magic damage to a single target, slowing this target and quickening his own pace for the same amount instead. This spell is unavoidable and therefore good for poking.
- Thunderclap: This is an active and passive spell. When used as a passive, Malphite gains armor. When activated, this spell creates a sonic boom that causes normal attacks to create shockwaves in front of him.
- Ground Slam: Malphite hits the ground with his fist, sending a shockwave of magic damage. This attack also temporarily reduces the Attack Speed of affected enemies.
- Unstoppable Force: Ultimate ability. Malphite charges, damaging enemies and launching them into the air.
Players can use a few of these attacks in combination to do increased damage against enemies. One option is to use Unstoppable Force, then wait until the very last second the enemies are in the air from the attack and use Ground Slam. This will maximize damage and inhibit enemies from dealing quite as much damage to the team. For another potential combo, players can cast Flash, then use Unstoppable Force to travel farther and appear unexpectedly.
By far the most damaging combo at Malphite's disposal is to start with Unstoppable Force, then use auto attack, followed by Thunderclap, Ground Slam, another auto attack, and Seismic Shard. This combo can slow down enemies considerably and control the flow of battle.
Players will likely want to pick up Ignite and Flash as Malphite's spells. Ignite is a good damage-dealing spell to use after using Unstoppable Force. Flash will allow Malphite more mobility as well as boosted offense and defense options.
Depending on whether players prefer a mage or tank build for Malphite, there are runes that will work best. For a tank build, players should make sure to get the following:
- Grasp of the Undying: Attacks sometimes deal bonus magic damage, heal, and permanently increase HP.
- Weakness: Slowing enemies' movement speed also causes them to take additional damage.
- Backbone: Grants additional resistance in whichever resistance category is lowest (for Malphite, likely magical).
- Aftershock: Gain a resistance bonus after using a crowd control ability.
- Spirit Resolve: Gain 50 maximum health and 20% slow resistance.
For a mage build, players should equip:
- Aery: Send Aery to a target, which will damage enemies and shield allies
- Regeneration: Regain missing health or mana depending on which is lower
- Manaflow Band: Increase maximum mana with every successful hit against an enemy
- Gathering Storm: Gain AD or AP every two minutes.
When choosing items to use to build Malphite, players should focus on the composition of the other team and select items that will help counteract their abilities. For example, when an opposing team has high Attack Damage, players may want to get Thornmail armor for Malphite, which will return a portion of their damage back to them. If the enemy team contains a lot of champions who can deal heavy magical damage, players will want to outfit Malphite with gear that improves defense against magical attacks. In addition, items that increase AD or AP, attack speed, HP, Mana, and magical resistance are generally good choices for Malphite.
If possible, players should pair Malphite on a team with Yasuo. This is because Yasuo's Last Breath attack can be used following Unstoppable Force to keep enemies in the air longer and prevent them from counterattacking immediately.
League of Legends: Wild Rift is available for iOS and Android devices. It will release in North America in March 2021.