Top Matchup

Malphite vs Gnar

Patch: 15.18 (25.18)
League: Platinum+
Malphite

Malphite

Shard of the Monolith
Top
Malphite Top Overall Win Rate
52.46%

Matchup Win Rate

55.3%
Malphite vs Gnar Wins
44.7%
Gnar vs Malphite Wins
Gnar

Gnar

the Missing Link
Top
Gnar Top Overall Win Rate
49.52%

Malphite vs Gnar - Top Matchup Guide Patch 15.18 (25.18)

Malphite Top vs Gnar Top - Who is stronger?

Malphite Top performs well against Gnar (55.3% win rate) based on 760 games. This matchup works well for Malphite players.

View detailed statistics below: items, runes, and counter builds for Malphite Top vs Gnar Top in patch 15.18 (25.18), including win rates and pick rates. With proper study, this can improve your chances of victory up to 80.8% in this matchup.

Statistical Matchup Analysis

Malphite dominates the meta (8th most popular, 5.2% pick rate) and regularly clashes with Gnar (3.5% pick rate). Understanding this common matchup forms the foundation of consistent gameplay for one of top lane's current powerhouses. Meta strength confirmed: Malphite's superior tier rating (S+ vs B) translates into a solid 55.3% matchup win rate. This performance explains why Malphite ranks 4th in win rate among Top champions. Malphite shows excellent consistency, combining a strong 52.5% overall win rate with matchup success. Amplify your advantage: The Arcane Comet + Manaflow Band rune setup achieves 63.2% win rate (12.7% popularity), while the core build Sunfire Aegis > Kaenic Rookern > Frozen Heart with Plated Steelcaps (80.8% win rate) lets you snowball advantages into guaranteed victories by 15 minutes.

Lane dominance: Malphite not only wins the matchup but crushes CS (6.47/min vs 5.78 for Gnar). This 0.69 CS/min advantage generates significant gold leads that compound your already favorable position. Complete superiority: Malphite dominates both win rate (55.3%) and damage output (800 vs 768/min, 2nd among Top). The 32 damage/min difference creates massive snowball potential. Statistical dominance: Malphite leads in both matchup win rate (55.3%) and KDA (2.50 vs 1.90) - complete superiority across all metrics.

Malphite vs Gnar - Top Stats Comparison

Malphite Top
Malphite Top
Versus
Gnar Top
Gnar Top
S+TierB
55.3%Matchup Winrate44.7%
52.46%Role Winrate49.52%
#4Winrate Rank#47
5.2%Pickrate3.5%
2.5Average KDA1.9
373Gold per Minute400
6.47CS/Min5.78
0.32Wards per Minute0.33
800Damage per Minute768

How to Beat Gnar as Malphite (Top)

The Malphite versus Gnar matchup in the top lane is favorable with proper positioning. Use your statistical advantage and prevent the opponent from realizing their potential.

The magic damage that Malphite deals remains relevant in the late game. Look for opportunities to initiate or counter-initiate. Gnar deals mainly physical damage (81.11%), additional items against this damage type may be required against snowballing or aggressive play.

An important advantage of Malphite is higher farming statistics (ranked 30th among role champions) (versus 55th for Gnar), which provides a stable gold advantage in extended games and allows faster access to key items. Meanwhile, their lower KDA (1.9 versus 2.5) suggests they are less effective in team fights.

Key aspects of the Malphite Top versus Gnar Top matchup

Despite the statistical advantage in the matchup, overconfidence can be the main mistake. It is important for the Malphite player to maintain constant pressure on Gnar, not allowing the opponent to safely scale up, and actively use the advantage gained to help their team.

Malphite vs Gnar: Top Lane Summoner Spells

Most Popular

Flash
Flash Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Teleport
Teleport After a brief channel, become untargetable and travel to an allied unit. Upgrades into Unleashed Teleport, which significantly increases travel speed.
56.8% Win Rate93.3% Pick Rate

Highest Win Rate

Flash
Flash Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Ignite
Ignite Deals true damage over time to target enemy champion and reduces healing effects on them for the duration.
67.3% Win Rate4.5% Pick Rate

Malphite vs Gnar: Top Lane Runes

Most Frequent Runes

Primary Path
Sorcery
Arcane Comet
Arcane Comet Damaging a champion with an ability hurls a comet at their location, or, if Arcane Comet is on cooldown, reduces its remaining cooldown.

Adaptive Damage: 30 - 130 based on level (+0.05 AP and +0.1 bonus AD)
Cooldown: 20 - 8s

Cooldown Reduction:
Single Target: 20%.
Area of Effect: 10%.
Damage over Time: 5%.

Arcane Comet

Damaging a champion with an ability hurls a comet at their location, or, if Arcane Comet …

Manaflow Band
Manaflow Band Hitting an enemy champion with an ability permanently increases your maximum mana by 25, up to 250 mana.

After reaching 250 bonus mana, restore 1% of your missing mana every 5 seconds.

Cooldown: 15 seconds

Manaflow Band

Hitting an enemy champion with an ability permanently increases your maximum ma…

Transcendence
Transcendence Gain bonuses upon reaching the following levels:
Level 5: +5 Ability Haste
Level 8: +5 Ability Haste
Level 11: On Champion takedown, reduce the remaining cooldown of basic abilities by 20%.

Transcendence

Gain bonuses upon reaching the following levels:Level 5: +5 Ability Haste Level…

Scorch
Scorch Your next damaging ability hit sets champions on fire dealing 20 - 40 bonus magic damage based on level after 1s.

Cooldown: 10s

Scorch

Your next damaging ability hit sets champions on fire dealing 20 - 40 bonus mag…

Secondary Path
Resolve
Second Wind
Second Wind After taking damage from an enemy champion, heal for 4% of your missing health +3 over 10s.

Second Wind

After taking damage from an enemy champion, heal for 4% of your missing health …

Overgrowth
Overgrowth Absorb life essence from monsters or enemy minions that die near you, permanently gaining 3 maximum health for every 8.

When you've absorbed 120 monsters or enemy minions, gain an additional 3.5% maximum health.

Overgrowth

Absorb life essence from monsters or enemy minions that die near you, permanent…

Adaptive
Attack Speed
Attack Speed Increases attack speed by 10%

Attack Speed

Increases attack speed by 10%

Scaling Health
Scaling Health Increases health from 10 to 180 HP across levels 1-18

Scaling Health

Increases health from 10 to 180 HP across levels 1-18

Scaling Health
Scaling Health Increases health from 10 to 180 HP across levels 1-18

Scaling Health

Increases health from 10 to 180 HP across levels 1-18

59.5% Win Rate71.3% Pick Rate

Best Win Rate Runes

Primary Path
Sorcery
Arcane Comet
Arcane Comet Damaging a champion with an ability hurls a comet at their location, or, if Arcane Comet is on cooldown, reduces its remaining cooldown.

Adaptive Damage: 30 - 130 based on level (+0.05 AP and +0.1 bonus AD)
Cooldown: 20 - 8s

Cooldown Reduction:
Single Target: 20%.
Area of Effect: 10%.
Damage over Time: 5%.

Arcane Comet

Damaging a champion with an ability hurls a comet at their location, or, if Arcane Comet …

Manaflow Band
Manaflow Band Hitting an enemy champion with an ability permanently increases your maximum mana by 25, up to 250 mana.

After reaching 250 bonus mana, restore 1% of your missing mana every 5 seconds.

Cooldown: 15 seconds

Manaflow Band

Hitting an enemy champion with an ability permanently increases your maximum ma…

Transcendence
Transcendence Gain bonuses upon reaching the following levels:
Level 5: +5 Ability Haste
Level 8: +5 Ability Haste
Level 11: On Champion takedown, reduce the remaining cooldown of basic abilities by 20%.

Transcendence

Gain bonuses upon reaching the following levels:Level 5: +5 Ability Haste Level…

Scorch
Scorch Your next damaging ability hit sets champions on fire dealing 20 - 40 bonus magic damage based on level after 1s.

Cooldown: 10s

Scorch

Your next damaging ability hit sets champions on fire dealing 20 - 40 bonus mag…

Secondary Path
Inspiration
Biscuit Delivery
Biscuit Delivery Biscuit Delivery: Gain a Total Biscuit of Everlasting Will every 2 mins, until 6 min.

Biscuits restore 12% of your missing health. Consuming or selling a Biscuit permanently increases your max health by 30.

Biscuit Delivery

Biscuit Delivery: Gain a Total Biscuit of Everlasting Will every 2 mins, until …

Cosmic Insight
Cosmic Insight +18 Summoner Spell Haste
+10 Item Haste

Cosmic Insight

+18 Summoner Spell Haste+10 Item Haste

Adaptive
Adaptive Force
Adaptive Force Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Adaptive Force

Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Adaptive Force
Adaptive Force Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Adaptive Force

Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Scaling Health
Scaling Health Increases health from 10 to 180 HP across levels 1-18

Scaling Health

Increases health from 10 to 180 HP across levels 1-18

63.2% Win Rate12.7% Pick Rate

Malphite vs Gnar: Top Lane Item Builds

Most Popular Build

Starting Items
Stealth Ward
Stealth Ward (0 gold) Active (210 - 120s, max 2 charges)
Places an Invisible Stealth Ward that grants vision for 90-120 seconds.
Doran's Ring
Doran's Ring (400 gold) 18 Ability Power
90 Health

Restoration
Restore 1.25 Mana every second. If you can't gain Mana, restore 0.55 Health instead.
Helping Hand
Attacks deal 5 bonus physical damage to minions.
Health Potion
Health Potion (50 gold) Consume
Restores 120 Health over 15 seconds.
59.4% Win Rate70.6% Pick Rate
Popular Boots
Plated Steelcaps
Plated Steelcaps (1200 gold) 25 Armor
45 Move Speed

Plating
Reduces incoming damage from Attacks by 10%.
57.8% Win Rate71.5% Pick Rate
Mercury's Treads
Mercury's Treads (1250 gold) 20 Magic Resist
45 Move Speed
30% Tenacity

61.0% Win Rate12.3% Pick Rate
Sorcerer's Shoes
Sorcerer's Shoes (1100 gold) 12 Magic Penetration
45 Move Speed

56.8% Win Rate9.9% Pick Rate
Core Build
Bami's Cinder
Bami's Cinder (900 gold) 150 Health
5 Ability Haste

Immolate
After taking or dealing damage, deal magic damage to nearby enemies for 3 seconds.
->
Sunfire Aegis
Sunfire Aegis (2700 gold) 350 Health
50 Armor
10 Ability Haste

Immolate
After taking or dealing damage, deal magic damage per second to nearby enemies for 3 seconds.
Thornmail
Thornmail (2450 gold) 150 Health
75 Armor

Thorns
When struck by an Attack, deal magic damage to the attacker and apply 40% Wounds for 3 seconds if they are a champion.
Frozen Heart
Frozen Heart (2500 gold) 75 Armor
400 Mana
20 Ability Haste

Winter's Caress
Reduce the Attack Speed of nearby champions by 20%.
66.3% Win Rate8.1% Pick Rate
Final Build
Jak'Sho, The Protean
Jak'Sho, The Protean (3200 gold) 350 Health
45 Armor
45 Magic Resist

Voidborn Resilience
After 5 seconds of champion combat, increase your bonus Armor and Magic Resist by 30% until end of combat.
73.7% Win Rate18.0% Pick Rate

Best Win Rate Build

Starting Items
Stealth Ward
Stealth Ward (0 gold) Active (210 - 120s, max 2 charges)
Places an Invisible Stealth Ward that grants vision for 90-120 seconds.
Doran's Ring
Doran's Ring (400 gold) 18 Ability Power
90 Health

Restoration
Restore 1.25 Mana every second. If you can't gain Mana, restore 0.55 Health instead.
Helping Hand
Attacks deal 5 bonus physical damage to minions.
Health Potion
Health Potion (50 gold) Consume
Restores 120 Health over 15 seconds.
59.4% Win Rate70.6% Pick Rate
Highest Winrate Boots
Ionian Boots of Lucidity
Ionian Boots of Lucidity (900 gold) 10 Ability Haste
45 Move Speed

Ionian Insight
Gain 10 Summoner Spell Haste.
78.4% Win Rate1.8% Pick Rate
Mercury's Treads
Mercury's Treads (1250 gold) 20 Magic Resist
45 Move Speed
30% Tenacity

61.0% Win Rate12.3% Pick Rate
Plated Steelcaps
Plated Steelcaps (1200 gold) 25 Armor
45 Move Speed

Plating
Reduces incoming damage from Attacks by 10%.
57.8% Win Rate71.5% Pick Rate
Core Build
Bami's Cinder
Bami's Cinder (900 gold) 150 Health
5 Ability Haste

Immolate
After taking or dealing damage, deal magic damage to nearby enemies for 3 seconds.
->
Sunfire Aegis
Sunfire Aegis (2700 gold) 350 Health
50 Armor
10 Ability Haste

Immolate
After taking or dealing damage, deal magic damage per second to nearby enemies for 3 seconds.
Kaenic Rookern
Kaenic Rookern (2900 gold) 400 Health
80 Magic Resist
100% Base Health Regen

Magebane
After not taking magic damage for 15 seconds, gain a magic shield.
Frozen Heart
Frozen Heart (2500 gold) 75 Armor
400 Mana
20 Ability Haste

Winter's Caress
Reduce the Attack Speed of nearby champions by 20%.
80.8% Win Rate1.5% Pick Rate
Final Build
Unending Despair
Unending Despair (2800 gold) 400 Health
25 Armor
25 Magic Resist
10 Ability Haste

Anguish
Every 4 seconds while in combat with champions, deal magic damage to nearby enemy champions and heal for 250% of the damage dealt.
75.1% Win Rate9.0% Pick Rate
Other Items
Kaenic Rookern
Kaenic Rookern (2900 gold) 400 Health
80 Magic Resist
100% Base Health Regen

Magebane
After not taking magic damage for 15 seconds, gain a magic shield.
79.7% Win Rate11.4% Pick Rate
Unending Despair
Unending Despair (2800 gold) 400 Health
25 Armor
25 Magic Resist
10 Ability Haste

Anguish
Every 4 seconds while in combat with champions, deal magic damage to nearby enemy champions and heal for 250% of the damage dealt.
75.1% Win Rate9.0% Pick Rate
Malignance
Malignance (2700 gold) 85 Ability Power
600 Mana
15 Ability Haste

Scorn
Gain 20 Ultimate Ability Haste.
Hatefog
Damaging a champion with your Ultimate burns the ground beneath them for 3s, dealing magic damage per second and reducing their Magic Resist.
49.8% Win Rate9.0% Pick Rate
Void Staff
Void Staff (3000 gold) 95 Ability Power
40% Magic Penetration

0.0% Win Rate6.7% Pick Rate
Winter's Approach
Winter's Approach (2400 gold) 550 Health
500 Mana
15 Ability Haste

Awe
Gain Health.
Manaflow (8s, max 4 charges)
Landing Attacks and Abilities grant 3 max Mana (doubled vs. champions).
Transforms into Fimbulwinter at 360 max Mana.
49.8% Win Rate4.6% Pick Rate
Rabadon's Deathcap
Rabadon's Deathcap (3600 gold) 130 Ability Power
Magical Opus
Increases your total Ability Power by 30%.
49.8% Win Rate4.6% Pick Rate

Malphite vs Gnar: Top Lane Skill (abilities) Orders

Most Frequent Skill Order

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Q
Q
Seismic Shard Malphite sends a shard of the earth through the ground at his foe, dealing damage upon impact and stealing Move Speed for 3 seconds.
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
W
W
Thunderclap Malphite attacks with such force that it creates a sonic boom. For the next few seconds, his attacks create aftershocks in front of him.
W
W
W
W
W
E
E
Ground Slam Malphite slams the ground, sending out a shockwave that deals magic damage based on his Armor and reduces the Attack Speed of enemies for a short duration.
E
E
E
E
E
R
R
Unstoppable Force Malphite launches himself to a location at high speed, damaging enemies and knocking them into the air.
R
R
R
Max Order: Q > E > W
56.0% Win Rate42.0% Pick Rate

Highest Win % Skill Order

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
R
Q
Seismic Shard Malphite sends a shard of the earth through the ground at his foe, dealing damage upon impact and stealing Move Speed for 3 seconds.
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
R
W
Thunderclap Malphite attacks with such force that it creates a sonic boom. For the next few seconds, his attacks create aftershocks in front of him.
W
W
W
W
W
R
E
Ground Slam Malphite slams the ground, sending out a shockwave that deals magic damage based on his Armor and reduces the Attack Speed of enemies for a short duration.
E
E
E
E
E
R
R
Unstoppable Force Malphite launches himself to a location at high speed, damaging enemies and knocking them into the air.
R
R
R
Max Order: Q > E > W
75.8% Win Rate2.5% Pick Rate

Malphite tips:

  • Armor naturally reduces the rate that attacks go through Granite Shield, so Brutal Strikes will strengthen the shield against physical damage.
  • Despite his abilities scaling on Armor, some games require Malphite to get Magic Resist. When those games occur, try getting Aegis of the Legion, Mercury's Treads, and Guardian Angel.

Playing Against Gnar

  • Gnar can't gain Rage for 15 seconds after he turns from big to little. Use this chance to engage on his team.
  • Gnar's animations and resource bar change as he gets closer to transforming.
  • Gnar's ultimate stuns if he hits you into a wall. Be careful when fighting him near one.