Mid Matchup

Xerath vs Malzahar

Patch: 15.18 (25.18)
League: Platinum+
Xerath

Xerath

the Magus Ascendant
Mid
Xerath Mid Overall Win Rate
51.67%

Matchup Win Rate

53.2%
Xerath vs Malzahar Wins
⚔
46.8%
Malzahar vs Xerath Wins
Malzahar

Malzahar

the Prophet of the Void
Mid
Malzahar Mid Overall Win Rate
51.40%

Xerath vs Malzahar - Mid Matchup Guide Patch 15.18 (25.18)

Xerath Mid vs Malzahar Mid - Who is stronger?

Xerath Mid performs well against Malzahar (53.2% win rate) based on 1141 games. This matchup works well for Xerath players.

View detailed statistics below: items, runes, and counter builds for Xerath Mid vs Malzahar Mid in patch 15.18 (25.18), including win rates and pick rates. With proper study, this can improve your chances of victory up to 70%+ in this matchup.

Statistical Matchup Analysis

With 3.8% popularity, Xerath constantly encounters meta-dominant Malzahar (6.2%, 7th place out of 61 Mid champions). Understanding how to play against this popular champion becomes essential for consistent Xerath performance in the current patch. Optimize for consistency: Arcane Comet paired with Manaflow Band (65.8% win rate, 3.3% popularity) provides the stats you need, while the item sequence Luden's Companion > Shadowflame > Mejai's Soulstealer with Sorcerer's Shoes delivers 70%+ win rate against Malzahar.

Win through macro: Xerath takes the matchup (53.23%) despite falling behind in CS (6.95 vs 7.76/min). Your victories come through roaming, team fighting, and map pressure rather than 1v1 lane dominance. Quality over quantity: Xerath wins through smart play rather than raw damage - despite lower DPS (819 vs 836/min), the 53.2% win rate shows superior utility, positioning, and team fight impact. Statistical dominance: Xerath leads in both matchup win rate (53.2%) and KDA (3.10 vs 2.20) - complete superiority across all metrics.

Xerath vs Malzahar - Mid Stats Comparison

Xerath Mid
Xerath Mid		Versus
Malzahar Mid
Malzahar Mid
A+TierS
53.2%Matchup Winrate46.8%
51.67%Role Winrate51.40%
#17Winrate Rank#18
3.8%Pickrate6.2%
3.1Average KDA2.2
433Gold per Minute407
6.95CS/Min7.76
0.30Wards per Minute0.37
819Damage per Minute836

How to Beat Malzahar as Xerath (Mid)

The Xerath versus Malzahar matchup in the mid lane is favorable with proper positioning. Use your statistical advantage and prevent the opponent from realizing their potential.

The magic damage that Xerath deals remains relevant in the late game. Look for opportunities to initiate or counter-initiate. Meanwhile, Malzahar deals primarily magic damage (96.11%), additional magic resistance may be required.

Consider the farming superiority demonstrated by Malzahar, ranking 5th (versus 18th for Xerath) in farming efficiency among champions in this role. This means the opponent can build gold advantages more quickly. Meanwhile, their lower KDA (2.2 versus 3.1) suggests they are less effective in team fights.

Key aspects of the Xerath Mid versus Malzahar Mid matchup

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

Xerath vs Malzahar: Mid 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.
51.0% Win Rate89.3% Pick Rate

Highest Win Rate

Exhaust
Exhaust Slows target enemy champion and reduces their damage dealt.
Flash
Flash Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
66.1% Win Rate0.4% Pick Rate

Xerath vs Malzahar: Mid 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
Precision
Presence of Mind
Presence of Mind Damaging an enemy champion restores 6-50 (80% for ranged) mana or 6 energy.

Takedowns restore 15% of your maximum mana or energy.

Cooldown for damage restoration: 8s

Presence of Mind

Damaging an enemy champion restores 6-50 (80% for ranged) mana or 6 energy.Take…

Coup de Grace
Coup de Grace Deal 8% more damage to champions who have less than 40% health.

Coup de Grace

Deal 8% more damage to champions who have less than 40% health.

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

52.9% Win Rate54.0% 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
Domination
Cheap Shot
Cheap Shot Damaging champions with impaired movement or actions deals 10 - 45 bonus true damage (based on level).

Cooldown: 4s
Activates on damage occurring after the impairment.

Cheap Shot

Damaging champions with impaired movement or actions deals 10 - 45 bonus true d…

Ultimate Hunter
Ultimate Hunter Your ultimate gains 6 Ability Haste, plus an additional 5 Ability Haste per Bounty Hunter stack. Bounty Hunter stacks are earned the first time you get a takedown on each enemy champion.

Ultimate Hunter

Your ultimate gains 6 Ability Haste, plus an additional 5 Ability Haste per Bou…

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

65.8% Win Rate3.3% Pick Rate

Xerath vs Malzahar: Mid 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.
52.1% Win Rate93.3% Pick Rate
Popular Boots
Sorcerer's Shoes
Sorcerer's Shoes (1100 gold) 12 Magic Penetration
45 Move Speed
51.2% Win Rate91.4% Pick Rate
Ionian Boots of Lucidity
Ionian Boots of Lucidity (900 gold) 10 Ability Haste
45 Move Speed
Ionian Insight
Gain 10 Summoner Spell Haste.
45.8% Win Rate1.9% Pick Rate
Boots of Swiftness
Boots of Swiftness (1000 gold) 60 Move Speed
Fleetfooted
Reduce the effectiveness of Slows by 25%.
49.3% Win Rate0.3% Pick Rate
Core Build
Lost Chapter
Lost Chapter (1200 gold) 40 Ability Power
300 Mana
10 Ability Haste
Enlighten
Levelling up restores 20% max Mana over 3 seconds.
->
Luden's Companion
Luden's Companion (2850 gold) 100 Ability Power
600 Mana
10 Ability Haste
Fire
Damaging Abilities fire 6 Shots that deal bonus magic damage to the target and nearby enemies. Remaining Shots fire on the primary target, dealing 20% damage.
Shadowflame
Shadowflame (3200 gold) 110 Ability Power
15 Magic Penetration
Cinderbloom
Magic and true damageCritically Strikes enemies below 40% Health, dealing 20% increased damage.
Rabadon's Deathcap
Rabadon's Deathcap (3600 gold) 130 Ability Power
Magical Opus
Increases your total Ability Power by 30%.
57.9% Win Rate26.0% Pick Rate
Final Build
Void Staff
Void Staff (3000 gold) 95 Ability Power
40% Magic Penetration
61.4% Win Rate26.1% 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.
52.1% Win Rate93.3% Pick Rate
Highest Winrate Boots
Sorcerer's Shoes
Sorcerer's Shoes (1100 gold) 12 Magic Penetration
45 Move Speed
51.2% Win Rate91.4% Pick Rate
Boots of Swiftness
Boots of Swiftness (1000 gold) 60 Move Speed
Fleetfooted
Reduce the effectiveness of Slows by 25%.
49.3% Win Rate0.3% Pick Rate
Ionian Boots of Lucidity
Ionian Boots of Lucidity (900 gold) 10 Ability Haste
45 Move Speed
Ionian Insight
Gain 10 Summoner Spell Haste.
45.8% Win Rate1.9% Pick Rate
Core Build
Lost Chapter
Lost Chapter (1200 gold) 40 Ability Power
300 Mana
10 Ability Haste
Enlighten
Levelling up restores 20% max Mana over 3 seconds.
->
Luden's Companion
Luden's Companion (2850 gold) 100 Ability Power
600 Mana
10 Ability Haste
Fire
Damaging Abilities fire 6 Shots that deal bonus magic damage to the target and nearby enemies. Remaining Shots fire on the primary target, dealing 20% damage.
Shadowflame
Shadowflame (3200 gold) 110 Ability Power
15 Magic Penetration
Cinderbloom
Magic and true damageCritically Strikes enemies below 40% Health, dealing 20% increased damage.
Mejai's Soulstealer
Mejai's Soulstealer (1500 gold) 20 Ability Power
100 Health
Glory
Takedowns grant Glory, up to 25. 10 Glory is lost on death.
Gain 5 Ability Power per Glory and 10% Move Speed at 10 or higher Glory.
86.2% Win Rate2.8% Pick Rate
Final Build
Stormsurge
Stormsurge (2900 gold) 90 Ability Power
15 Magic Penetration
4% Move Speed
Stormraider
Dealing 25% of a champion's maximum Health within 2.5s applies Squall to them and grants 25% Move Speed for 1.5 seconds.
Squall
After 2 seconds, deal magic damage. If the target dies before Squall triggers, it damages nearby enemies and grants 30 gold.
85.7% Win Rate10.0% Pick Rate
Other Items
Zhonya's Hourglass
Zhonya's Hourglass (3250 gold) 105 Ability Power
50 Armor

Time Stop
Enter Stasis for 2.5 seconds.
52.7% Win Rate12.0% Pick Rate
Stormsurge
Stormsurge (2900 gold) 90 Ability Power
15 Magic Penetration
4% Move Speed
Stormraider
Dealing 25% of a champion's maximum Health within 2.5s applies Squall to them and grants 25% Move Speed for 1.5 seconds.
Squall
After 2 seconds, deal magic damage. If the target dies before Squall triggers, it damages nearby enemies and grants 30 gold.
85.7% Win Rate10.0% Pick Rate
Horizon Focus
Horizon Focus (2700 gold) 75 Ability Power
25 Ability Haste
Hypershot
Dealing Ability damage to champions at 600 range or greater Reveals them for 6 seconds.
Deal 10% increased damage to enemies Revealed by this item.
Focus
When Hypershot is triggered, Reveal all other enemy champions within 1400 range of them for 3 seconds.
66.2% Win Rate8.4% Pick Rate
Mejai's Soulstealer
Mejai's Soulstealer (1500 gold) 20 Ability Power
100 Health
Glory
Takedowns grant Glory, up to 25. 10 Glory is lost on death.
Gain 5 Ability Power per Glory and 10% Move Speed at 10 or higher Glory.
63.0% Win Rate5.6% Pick Rate
Liandry's Torment
Liandry's Torment (3000 gold) 70 Ability Power
300 Health
Torment
Damaging Abilities burn enemies for 2% max Health magic damage per second for 3 seconds.
Suffering
For each second in combat with enemy champions, deal 2% bonus damage, up to 6%.
33.3% Win Rate4.3% Pick Rate
Banshee's Veil
Banshee's Veil (3000 gold) 105 Ability Power
40 Magic Resist
Annul
Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy Ability.
65.5% Win Rate4.2% 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.
32.8% Win Rate2.1% Pick Rate

Xerath vs Malzahar: Mid 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
Arcanopulse Fires a long-range beam of energy, dealing magic damage to all targets hit.
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
W
W
Eye of Destruction Calls down a barrage of arcane energy, slowing and dealing magic damage to all enemies in an area. Targets in the middle receive additional damage and a stronger slow.
W
W
W
W
W
E
E
Shocking Orb Deals magic damage to an enemy and stuns them.
E
E
E
E
E
R
R
Rite of the Arcane Xerath immobilizes himself and gains numerous long-range barrages.
R
R
R
Max Order: Q > W > E
52.6% Win Rate60.6% 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
Arcanopulse Fires a long-range beam of energy, dealing magic damage to all targets hit.
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
R
W
Eye of Destruction Calls down a barrage of arcane energy, slowing and dealing magic damage to all enemies in an area. Targets in the middle receive additional damage and a stronger slow.
W
W
W
W
W
R
E
Shocking Orb Deals magic damage to an enemy and stuns them.
E
E
E
E
E
R
R
Rite of the Arcane Xerath immobilizes himself and gains numerous long-range barrages.
R
R
R
Max Order: Q > W > E
77.3% Win Rate0.7% Pick Rate

Xerath tips:

  • It's easier to land Arcanopulse on an enemy when they're moving toward or away from you, rather than side to side.
  • Eye of Destruction will make landing Arcanopulse easier as the target will be slowed.
  • If you stun an enemy with Shocking Orb, follow up with a guaranteed center hit on Eye of Destruction.

Playing Against Malzahar

  • When Malzahar hits a spell on enemies affected by Malefic Visions, the Visions are refreshed.
  • Avoid minion waves that have been affected by Malefic Visions. You never know when they may die and pass the Visions onto you.
  • Malzahar is especially dangerous when he has built up his Void Swarm.

Xerath Mid other Matchups

Xerath
+8.6%
Anivia

Xerath vs Anivia

Xerath
+8.5%
Mel

Xerath vs Mel

Xerath
+7.0%
Azir

Xerath vs Azir

Xerath
+6.9%
Vladimir

Xerath vs Vladimir

Xerath
+6.8%
Taliyah

Xerath vs Taliyah

Xerath
+5.2%
Yasuo

Xerath vs Yasuo

Xerath
+4.9%
Annie

Xerath vs Annie

Xerath
+3.9%
Lux

Xerath vs Lux

Xerath
+3.3%
Veigar

Xerath vs Veigar

Xerath
+2.6%
Ryze

Xerath vs Ryze

Xerath
+2.6%
Hwei

Xerath vs Hwei

Xerath
+2.2%
Orianna

Xerath vs Orianna

Xerath
+2.0%
Sylas

Xerath vs Sylas

Xerath
+2.0%
Lissandra

Xerath vs Lissandra

Xerath
+1.9%
Ahri

Xerath vs Ahri

Xerath
+1.6%
Viktor

Xerath vs Viktor

Xerath
-1.3%
Akali

Xerath vs Akali

Xerath
-1.4%
Zoe

Xerath vs Zoe

Xerath
-1.6%
Katarina

Xerath vs Katarina

Xerath
-1.9%
Twisted Fate

Xerath vs Twisted Fate

Xerath
-2.0%
Syndra

Xerath vs Syndra

Xerath
-2.1%
LeBlanc

Xerath vs LeBlanc

Xerath
-2.4%
Ekko

Xerath vs Ekko

Xerath
-3.1%
Galio

Xerath vs Galio

Xerath
-3.4%
Aurora

Xerath vs Aurora

Xerath
-4.1%
Yone

Xerath vs Yone

Xerath
-5.0%
Zed

Xerath vs Zed

Xerath
-5.2%
Diana

Xerath vs Diana

Xerath
-7.0%
Vex

Xerath vs Vex

Xerath
-7.4%
Fizz

Xerath vs Fizz