Irelia vs Malphite Matchup Guide

Irelia

Irelia

Top Lane Skirmisher

The Blade Dancer — mobile duelist who stacks Ionian Fervor off spell hits and chains Bladesurge resets through marked targets

VS
Malphite

Malphite

Top Lane Tank

The Shard of the Monolith — Thunderclap brawler who maxes W with Lethal Tempo for sustained auto trades, stacks armor to negate on-hit, and delivers game-turning Unstoppable Force engages

VerdictSkill matchup EarlyIrelia Favored MidSkill Matchup LateMalphite Favored Updated Jul 20, 2026

Champ Select Cheat Sheet — Irelia vs Malphite

Runes
ConquerorConquerorGain stacks of adaptive force when attacking enemy champions. After reaching 12 stacks, heal for a portion of damage you deal to champions. stacks naturally during extended autos against Malphite's high-armor base. TriumphTriumphTakedowns restore 5% of your missing health and grant an additional 20 gold. recoups HP after dive kills, Legend: AlacrityLegend: AlacrityTakedowns on enemies grant permanent Attack Speed. offsets Ground Slam's attack speed cripple, Last StandLast StandDeal more damage to champions while you are low on health. rewards fighting through his E slow at low HP.
Secondary: Resolve secondary: Second WindSecond WindAfter taking damage from an enemy champion heal back some missing health over time. regenerates HP Malphite's Seismic ShardQ – Seismic ShardMalphite sends a shard of the earth through the ground at his foe, dealing damage upon impact and stealing Move Speed for 3 seconds. chips away, RevitalizeRevitalizeGain 5% Heal and Shield Power.Heals and shields you cast or receive are 10% stronger on targets below 40% health. amplifies sustain through CometCometDamaging a champion with an ability hurls a damaging comet at their location. poke patterns. Shards: attack speed to fight through Ground SlamE – Ground SlamMalphite 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., adaptive force, flat health.
Summoners
FlashFlashTeleports you a short distance toward your cursor. + IgniteIgniteDeals true damage over time to target enemy champion and reduces healing effects on them for the duration. or FlashFlashTeleports you a short distance toward your cursor. + TeleportTeleportAfter a brief channel, become untargetable and travel to an allied unit. Upgrades into Unleashed Teleport, which significantly increases travel speed.
Start
Doran's BladeDoran's BladeGood starting item for attackers (450g) + Health PotionHealth PotionConsume to restore Health over time
Core Build
BotRK first; its percent-current-HP on-hit bypasses Malphite's Granite Shield and armor stacking where flat AD falls off. Wit's End second adds MR that absorbs Seismic Shard and Ground Slam magic damage while stacking more on-hit against his armor pile.
Trade Pattern
Short trade: wait Granite Shield down > E stun > Q in > 2–3 autos (passive stacked) > Q to minion out
Exit before Ground Slam returns (~7s CD early); re-enter when passive is stacked and shield is down again
Danger Levels
Respect Malphite at levels 6, 9
First Back
Recurve Bow (1000g)
Ideal Back (1200–1500g)

Matchup Dynamics

How This Matchup Works

Irelia pressures Malphite early with stacked Ionian FervorP – Ionian FervorWhen Irelia strikes enemies with spells she gains stacking bonus Attack Speed. At maximum stacks she also gains bonus damage on hit. and Q – BladesurgeQ – BladesurgeIrelia dashes forward to strike her target, healing herself. If the target is Marked or dies to Bladesurge, its cooldown refreshes. resets before armor items arrive. Malphite's E – Ground SlamE – Ground SlamMalphite 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. directly cripples attack speed, cutting on-hit DPS. The matchup pivots at level 6 when R – Unstoppable ForceR – Unstoppable ForceMalphite launches himself to a location at high speed, damaging enemies and knocking them into the air. becomes a gank and roam weapon, and again at first item (~10–11 min) when BotRK percent-HP on-hit contests armor stacking.

Early Game (1-5)

Irelia Favored - Stack passive through minion Q resets; trade when Granite ShieldP – Granite ShieldMalphite is shielded by a layer of rock which absorbs damage up to 10% of his maximum Health. If Malphite has not been hit for a few seconds, this effect recharges. breaks; dodge CometCometDamaging a champion with an ability hurls a damaging comet at their location. with Q repositioning; pressure before armor components arrive.

Mid Game (6-11)

Skill Matchup - BotRK percent-HP on-hit carves through Malphite's armor pile where flat damage stalls. Ping every Unstoppable ForceR – Unstoppable ForceMalphite launches himself to a location at high speed, damaging enemies and knocking them into the air. roam; one unanswered R onto mid lane flips the game. Side-lane when Malphite groups for objectives; channel Defiant DanceW – Defiant DanceIrelia charges a strike that deals more damage as she charges. She takes reduced physical damage during the charge. through his Seismic ShardQ – Seismic ShardMalphite sends a shard of the earth through the ground at his foe, dealing damage upon impact and stealing Move Speed for 3 seconds. into Ground SlamE – Ground SlamMalphite 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. burst if he contests.

Late Game (12+)

Malphite Favored - Unstoppable ForceR – Unstoppable ForceMalphite launches himself to a location at high speed, damaging enemies and knocking them into the air. teamfight engage outscales side-lane splitting; split opposite objectives; avoid clustered fights where R hits multiple allies.

Key Interactions

  • Trade when Granite ShieldP – Granite ShieldMalphite is shielded by a layer of rock which absorbs damage up to 10% of his maximum Health. If Malphite has not been hit for a few seconds, this effect recharges. breaks: Watch Malphite's passive recharge (~8s out of combat); Q – BladesurgeQ – BladesurgeIrelia dashes forward to strike her target, healing herself. If the target is Marked or dies to Bladesurge, its cooldown refreshes. in with full Ionian FervorP – Ionian FervorWhen Irelia strikes enemies with spells she gains stacking bonus Attack Speed. At maximum stacks she also gains bonus damage on hit. stacks once shield pops; exit with E – Flawless DuetE – Flawless DuetIrelia sends out two blades which converge on each other. Enemies caught in between are damaged, stunned and Marked. stun before Ground SlamE – Ground SlamMalphite 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. returns.
  • Dodge CometCometDamaging a champion with an ability hurls a damaging comet at their location. with Q – BladesurgeQ – BladesurgeIrelia dashes forward to strike her target, healing herself. If the target is Marked or dies to Bladesurge, its cooldown refreshes.: CometCometDamaging a champion with an ability hurls a damaging comet at their location. Malphite fires the projectile after Q – Seismic ShardQ – Seismic ShardMalphite sends a shard of the earth through the ground at his foe, dealing damage upon impact and stealing Move Speed for 3 seconds. lands; Q to a nearby minion to sidestep the cometCometDamaging a champion with an ability hurls a damaging comet at their location.; denies his primary poke pattern and keeps HP for all-ins.
  • W – Defiant DanceW – Defiant DanceIrelia charges a strike that deals more damage as she charges. She takes reduced physical damage during the charge. through Ground SlamE – Ground SlamMalphite 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.: Channel W when Malphite commits E – Ground SlamE – Ground SlamMalphite 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.; damage reduction absorbs the magic damage and the AS slow is irrelevant during channel; release for counter-damage.
  • Respect R – Unstoppable ForceR – Unstoppable ForceMalphite launches himself to a location at high speed, damaging enemies and knocking them into the air. gank coordination: Malphite R locks you in place for jungle follow-up; ward deep when pushing; ping every roam since a single R onto mid lane changes the entire game state.

Irelia

Strengths

  • Q – BladesurgeQ – BladesurgeIrelia dashes forward to strike her target, healing herself. If the target is Marked or dies to Bladesurge, its cooldown refreshes. resets through marked targets; stacks Ionian FervorP – Ionian FervorWhen Irelia strikes enemies with spells she gains stacking bonus Attack Speed. At maximum stacks she also gains bonus damage on hit. rapidly for burst trades
  • BotRK percent-HP on-hit bypasses Malphite's armor stacking
  • E – Flawless DuetE – Flawless DuetIrelia sends out two blades which converge on each other. Enemies caught in between are damaged, stunned and Marked. stun sets up all-ins and peels against Ground SlamE – Ground SlamMalphite 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. engage
  • W – Defiant DanceW – Defiant DanceIrelia charges a strike that deals more damage as she charges. She takes reduced physical damage during the charge. absorbs Malphite's magic-damage burst from Q and E

Weaknesses

  • E – Ground SlamE – Ground SlamMalphite 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. AS reduction directly counters Ionian FervorP – Ionian FervorWhen Irelia strikes enemies with spells she gains stacking bonus Attack Speed. At maximum stacks she also gains bonus damage on hit. on-hit DPS
  • R – Unstoppable ForceR – Unstoppable ForceMalphite launches himself to a location at high speed, damaging enemies and knocking them into the air. locks Irelia down for gank chains; no cleanseCleanseRemoves all disables (excluding suppression and airborne) and summoner spell debuffs affecting your champion and gives Tenacity. in kit
  • Needs minion wave for Q resets; vulnerable in cleared lanes
  • Falls off in 5v5 teamfights where Malphite R hits grouped allies

Malphite

Strengths

  • W – ThunderclapW – ThunderclapMalphite attacks with such force that it creates a sonic boom. For the next few seconds, his attacks create aftershocks in front of him. max with Lethal TempoLethal TempoAttacking an enemy champion grants you Attack Speed, up to 6 stacks. At max stacks, deal bonus adaptive damage On-Attack. creates sustained auto DPS that contests Irelia in extended trades; empowered cleave punishes her for fighting inside the wave
  • E – Ground SlamE – Ground SlamMalphite 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. AS reduction directly counters Ionian FervorP – Ionian FervorWhen Irelia strikes enemies with spells she gains stacking bonus Attack Speed. At maximum stacks she also gains bonus damage on hit. on-hit stacking
  • ThornmailThornmail150 Health75 ArmorThornsWhen struck by an Attack, deal magic damage to the attacker and apply 40% Wounds for 3 seconds if they are a champion. rush reflects auto damage and applies Grievous Wounds; shuts down BotRK lifesteal mid-fight
  • R – Unstoppable ForceR – Unstoppable ForceMalphite launches himself to a location at high speed, damaging enemies and knocking them into the air. guarantees engage and gank coordination; Irelia has no cleanseCleanseRemoves all disables (excluding suppression and airborne) and summoner spell debuffs affecting your champion and gives Tenacity. in kit

Weaknesses

  • Levels 1-2 without W rank or armor components; full-passive Irelia trades chunk hard
  • Doran's RingDoran's RingGood starting item for casters start provides mana sustain but no combat stats against physical damage early
  • Lethal TempoLethal TempoAttacking an enemy champion grants you Attack Speed, up to 6 stacks. At max stacks, deal bonus adaptive damage On-Attack. needs ramp time; short burst trades before it stacks favor Irelia
  • BotRK percent-HP on-hit bypasses armor stacking; 1v1 post-BotRK requires ThornmailThornmail150 Health75 ArmorThornsWhen struck by an Attack, deal magic damage to the attacker and apply 40% Wounds for 3 seconds if they are a champion. completed

Power Curve Comparison EXPERIMENTAL

Power Curve Visualization

Win Conditions

Irelia's Win Condition

  • Stack Ionian FervorP – Ionian FervorWhen Irelia strikes enemies with spells she gains stacking bonus Attack Speed. At maximum stacks she also gains bonus damage on hit. via minion Q resets then trade when Granite ShieldP – Granite ShieldMalphite is shielded by a layer of rock which absorbs damage up to 10% of his maximum Health. If Malphite has not been hit for a few seconds, this effect recharges. is down; exit before Ground SlamE – Ground SlamMalphite 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. returns
  • Rush BotRK; percent-HP on-hit bypasses armor stacking; fight in side lane with wave access for Q resets
  • Ping every Malphite roam; shove and follow or take plates; one unanswered R mid swings the game
  • Split opposite objectives post-14; draw Malphite to side lane where 1v1 favors on-hit DPS

Malphite's Win Condition

  • Max W and run Lethal TempoLethal TempoAttacking an enemy champion grants you Attack Speed, up to 6 stacks. At max stacks, deal bonus adaptive damage On-Attack.; extended auto trades with ThunderclapW – ThunderclapMalphite attacks with such force that it creates a sonic boom. For the next few seconds, his attacks create aftershocks in front of him. empowered hits contest Irelia through armor and attack speed
  • Rush ThornmailThornmail150 Health75 ArmorThornsWhen struck by an Attack, deal magic damage to the attacker and apply 40% Wounds for 3 seconds if they are a champion.; Grievous Wounds guts BotRK lifesteal and reflect damage punishes every auto she throws
  • Coordinate R with jungle at 6; chain CC through Irelia's Q dash windows for guaranteed kills
  • Group for 5v5 post-two items; Unstoppable ForceR – Unstoppable ForceMalphite launches himself to a location at high speed, damaging enemies and knocking them into the air. engage value exceeds Irelia's split pressure in most comps

Laning Phase Guide

Level/Phase Irelia Malphite
Level 1 Open E – Flawless DuetE – Flawless DuetIrelia sends out two blades which converge on each other. Enemies caught in between are damaged, stunned and Marked. for the stun and passive stack (alt: Q for sustain farm). Build the wave into Malphite's tower and punish Seismic ShardQ – Seismic ShardMalphite sends a shard of the earth through the ground at his foe, dealing damage upon impact and stealing Move Speed for 3 seconds. cooldowns; ward river by 2:20. Malphite: start Q for poke or E if contesting level 1. Granite ShieldP – Granite ShieldMalphite is shielded by a layer of rock which absorbs damage up to 10% of his maximum Health. If Malphite has not been hit for a few seconds, this effect recharges. absorbs chip damage. No W yet — avoid extended trades.
Level 2 Take Q; E stun into Q reset for 2-hit passive stack; exit before Malphite retaliates with Ground SlamE – Ground SlamMalphite 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.; hold wave 6–8 minions from tower for long-lane chase angles. Malphite: take W – ThunderclapW – ThunderclapMalphite attacks with such force that it creates a sonic boom. For the next few seconds, his attacks create aftershocks in front of him.. First empowered-auto trade window: Q slow into W-empowered auto, disengage. Lethal TempoLethal TempoAttacking an enemy champion grants you Attack Speed, up to 6 stacks. At max stacks, deal bonus adaptive damage On-Attack. not stacked yet — keep it short.
Level 3 Unlock W – Defiant DanceW – Defiant DanceIrelia charges a strike that deals more damage as she charges. She takes reduced physical damage during the charge.; full combo available: E stun > Q reset > W absorb > Q out; stack 4 passive hits before committing; crash wave 3 for recall or plates. Malphite: full kit. W-empowered auto into E AS slow when Irelia commits. Lethal TempoLethal TempoAttacking an enemy champion grants you Attack Speed, up to 6 stacks. At max stacks, deal bonus adaptive damage On-Attack. starts stacking in longer fights. Back off if she has 4+ passive stacks.
Level 4-5 Shove the cannon wave into Malphite's tower by 3:30 and recall for Recurve Bow or Vampiric Scepter; if ahead, freeze the bounce and deny his Cloth ArmorCloth ArmorSlightly increases Armor economy. Malphite: W rank 2-3, damage climbs. First recall target: Bramble VestBramble Vest30 ArmorThornsWhen hit by an Attack, deal magic damage to the attacker and apply 40% Wounds for 3 seconds if they are a champion. (800g) to cut lifesteal. Doran's RingDoran's RingGood starting item for casters mana sustain keeps Q poke available. Trade when her passive drops.
Level 6 R – Vanguard's EdgeR – Vanguard's EdgeIrelia fires a massive number of blades that explode outward upon hitting an enemy champion. Enemies hit by the blades are damaged and Marked. marks targets for Q resets and zones Malphite; all-in with E > R > Q chain if Malphite is <65% and FlashFlashTeleports you a short distance toward your cursor. is down; ward deep to track jungle. Malphite: R – Unstoppable ForceR – Unstoppable ForceMalphite launches himself to a location at high speed, damaging enemies and knocking them into the air. + jungle = guaranteed kill. Solo kill if Irelia below 50% without minion wave for Q escape. Otherwise hold R for coordination or roam mid on cannon crash.
Level 7-8 Complete BotRK (~3200g); percent-HP on-hit spikes 1v1; fight in side lane with minion wave; deep wardDeep WardYour wards in the enemy jungle are Deep, gaining Health and Duration.Level 9: Wards in the river are also Deep. Krugs/Gromp 7:30–8:30 to track R roams. Malphite: ThornmailThornmail150 Health75 ArmorThornsWhen struck by an Attack, deal magic damage to the attacker and apply 40% Wounds for 3 seconds if they are a champion. components arrive. W trades increasingly favorable with Lethal TempoLethal TempoAttacking an enemy champion grants you Attack Speed, up to 6 stacks. At max stacks, deal bonus adaptive damage On-Attack. ramp. Q slow + Approach VelocityApproach VelocityBonus MS towards nearby enemy champions that are movement impaired, increased for enemy champions that you impair. sticks for full auto chain. Anti-healHealRestores Health and grants Move Speed to you and target allied champion. punishes her lifesteal.
Level 9 Max Q; shove then look for cross-map plays; contest Herald 8:00–10:00; fight only with wave access for Q resets. Malphite: W max — ThunderclapW – ThunderclapMalphite attacks with such force that it creates a sonic boom. For the next few seconds, his attacks create aftershocks in front of him. damage peaks. ThornmailThornmail150 Health75 ArmorThornsWhen struck by an Attack, deal magic damage to the attacker and apply 40% Wounds for 3 seconds if they are a champion. + Steelcaps complete; auto trades heavily favored. Shove and threaten R roam or force fights.

Power Spikes

Level Spikes

Irelia Malphite
Level Description Level Description
3 Minor Full kit online; E stun into Q reset with W damage reduction creates first real all-in window 3 Minor Full kit online; W empowered autos + E AS slow create first real trade window against Irelia
6 Major R wall traps Malphite inside his own Granite ShieldP – Granite ShieldMalphite is shielded by a layer of rock which absorbs damage up to 10% of his maximum Health. If Malphite has not been hit for a few seconds, this effect recharges. zone; markMarkThrow a snowball in a straight line at your enemies. If it hits an enemy, they become marked, granting True Sight, and your champion can quickly travel to the marked target as a follow up. resets let Irelia chain him down before Unstoppable ForceR – Unstoppable ForceMalphite launches himself to a location at high speed, damaging enemies and knocking them into the air. comes online 5 Minor W rank 3; ThunderclapW – ThunderclapMalphite attacks with such force that it creates a sonic boom. For the next few seconds, his attacks create aftershocks in front of him. damage spikes; Lethal TempoLethal TempoAttacking an enemy champion grants you Attack Speed, up to 6 stacks. At max stacks, deal bonus adaptive damage On-Attack. extended trades turn favorable with Bramble VestBramble Vest30 ArmorThornsWhen hit by an Attack, deal magic damage to the attacker and apply 40% Wounds for 3 seconds if they are a champion.
9 Major Q max with BotRK complete; percent-HP on-hit + low-CD dashes shred Malphite in side lane 6 Major R – Unstoppable ForceR – Unstoppable ForceMalphite launches himself to a location at high speed, damaging enemies and knocking them into the air. enables gank coordination; guaranteed kill with jungle chain CC
13 Critical Two-item (BotRK + Wit's EndWit's EndResist magic damage and claw your way back to life.); on-hit DPS peaks; mixed damage resists Malphite's pure-armor stacking 9 Major W max — ThunderclapW – ThunderclapMalphite attacks with such force that it creates a sonic boom. For the next few seconds, his attacks create aftershocks in front of him. damage peaks; ThornmailThornmail150 Health75 ArmorThornsWhen struck by an Attack, deal magic damage to the attacker and apply 40% Wounds for 3 seconds if they are a champion. + Steelcaps complete; auto trades heavily Malphite-favored

Item Spikes

Irelia Malphite
Item Description Item Description
Blade of the Ruined KingBlade of The Ruined KingDeals damage based on target's Health, can steal Move Speed (3200g) Percent-current-HP on-hit punishes Malphite's armor growth where flat AD stalls; lifesteal restores HP that Seismic ShardQ – Seismic ShardMalphite sends a shard of the earth through the ground at his foe, dealing damage upon impact and stealing Move Speed for 3 seconds. chips away ThornmailThornmail150 Health75 ArmorThornsWhen struck by an Attack, deal magic damage to the attacker and apply 40% Wounds for 3 seconds if they are a champion. (2450g) First item — reflects auto damage and applies Grievous Wounds; guts BotRK lifesteal and punishes every Irelia auto
Wit's EndWit's EndResist magic damage and claw your way back to life. (2800g) MR soaks Seismic ShardQ – Seismic ShardMalphite sends a shard of the earth through the ground at his foe, dealing damage upon impact and stealing Move Speed for 3 seconds. poke and Ground SlamE – Ground SlamMalphite 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. burst; the on-hit proc stacks with Ionian FervorP – Ionian FervorWhen Irelia strikes enemies with spells she gains stacking bonus Attack Speed. At maximum stacks she also gains bonus damage on hit. to cut through Granite ShieldP – Granite ShieldMalphite is shielded by a layer of rock which absorbs damage up to 10% of his maximum Health. If Malphite has not been hit for a few seconds, this effect recharges. faster Plated SteelcapsPlated SteelcapsEnhances Move Speed and reduces incoming basic attack damage (1200g) AA damage reduction; rush alongside ThornmailThornmail150 Health75 ArmorThornsWhen struck by an Attack, deal magic damage to the attacker and apply 40% Wounds for 3 seconds if they are a champion. components
Death's DanceDeath's Dance60 Attack Damage50 Armor15 Ability HasteIgnore PainA percentage of damage taken is dealt to you over 3 seconds instead.DefyWhen a champion that you damaged within 3 seconds dies, cleanse Ignore Pain's... (3300g) Bleed passive absorbs Malphite's Unstoppable ForceR – Unstoppable ForceMalphite launches himself to a location at high speed, damaging enemies and knocking them into the air. into Ground SlamE – Ground SlamMalphite 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. burst combo; takedown healHealRestores Health and grants Move Speed to you and target allied champion. lets Irelia chain BladesurgeQ – BladesurgeIrelia dashes forward to strike her target, healing herself. If the target is Marked or dies to Bladesurge, its cooldown refreshes. resets after surviving the engage Jak'Sho, The ProteanJak'Sho, The Protean350 Health45 Armor45 Magic ResistVoidborn ResilienceAfter 5 seconds of champion combat, increase your bonus Armor and Magic Resist by 30% until end of combat. (3200g) Resist-stacking passive; extended fights become increasingly favorable as stacks ramp
Guardian AngelGuardian AngelPeriodically revives champion upon death (3200g) Revive punishes Malphite R commit; buy when ahead to deny shutdown gold Frozen HeartFrozen HeartMassively increases Armor and slows enemy basic attacks (2500g) AS slow aura stacks with Ground SlamE – Ground SlamMalphite 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.; Irelia's attack speed drops to near-zero in range

Best Build for Irelia

Starting Items

Doran's BladeDoran's BladeGood starting item for attackers (450g) + Health PotionHealth PotionConsume to restore Health over time

Core Items

BotRK first; its percent-current-HP on-hit bypasses Malphite's Granite ShieldP – Granite ShieldMalphite is shielded by a layer of rock which absorbs damage up to 10% of his maximum Health. If Malphite has not been hit for a few seconds, this effect recharges. and armor stacking where flat AD falls off. Wit's EndWit's EndResist magic damage and claw your way back to life. second adds MR that absorbs Seismic ShardQ – Seismic ShardMalphite sends a shard of the earth through the ground at his foe, dealing damage upon impact and stealing Move Speed for 3 seconds. and Ground SlamE – Ground SlamMalphite 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. magic damage while stacking more on-hit against his armor pile.

Runes

Primary: ConquerorConquerorGain stacks of adaptive force when attacking enemy champions. After reaching 12 stacks, heal for a portion of damage you deal to champions. stacks naturally during extended autos against Malphite's high-armor base. TriumphTriumphTakedowns restore 5% of your missing health and grant an additional 20 gold. recoups HP after dive kills, Legend: AlacrityLegend: AlacrityTakedowns on enemies grant permanent Attack Speed. offsets Ground Slam's attack speed cripple, Last StandLast StandDeal more damage to champions while you are low on health. rewards fighting through his E slow at low HP.

Secondary: Resolve secondary: Second WindSecond WindAfter taking damage from an enemy champion heal back some missing health over time. regenerates HP Malphite's Seismic ShardQ – Seismic ShardMalphite sends a shard of the earth through the ground at his foe, dealing damage upon impact and stealing Move Speed for 3 seconds. chips away, RevitalizeRevitalizeGain 5% Heal and Shield Power.Heals and shields you cast or receive are 10% stronger on targets below 40% health. amplifies sustain through CometCometDamaging a champion with an ability hurls a damaging comet at their location. poke patterns. Shards: attack speed to fight through Ground SlamE – Ground SlamMalphite 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., adaptive force, flat health.

Summoner Spells

FlashFlashTeleports you a short distance toward your cursor. + IgniteIgniteDeals true damage over time to target enemy champion and reduces healing effects on them for the duration. or FlashFlashTeleports you a short distance toward your cursor. + TeleportTeleportAfter a brief channel, become untargetable and travel to an allied unit. Upgrades into Unleashed Teleport, which significantly increases travel speed.

Priority Build Path

1
Blade of the Ruined King

Rush item; BotRK passive ignores Malphite's armor pile and the lifesteal outheals his CometCometDamaging a champion with an ability hurls a damaging comet at their location.-Seismic ShardQ – Seismic ShardMalphite sends a shard of the earth through the ground at his foe, dealing damage upon impact and stealing Move Speed for 3 seconds. poke pattern between trades

2
Plated Steelcaps

Reduces auto-attack damage from ThunderclapW – ThunderclapMalphite attacks with such force that it creates a sonic boom. For the next few seconds, his attacks create aftershocks in front of him. empowered hits; lane survivability

3
Wit's End

Absorbs Seismic ShardQ – Seismic ShardMalphite sends a shard of the earth through the ground at his foe, dealing damage upon impact and stealing Move Speed for 3 seconds. and Ground SlamE – Ground SlamMalphite 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. magic damage while stacking on-hit with Ionian FervorP – Ionian FervorWhen Irelia strikes enemies with spells she gains stacking bonus Attack Speed. At maximum stacks she also gains bonus damage on hit. to carve through Granite ShieldP – Granite ShieldMalphite is shielded by a layer of rock which absorbs damage up to 10% of his maximum Health. If Malphite has not been hit for a few seconds, this effect recharges.

4
Death's Dance

Bleed passive spreads Unstoppable ForceR – Unstoppable ForceMalphite launches himself to a location at high speed, damaging enemies and knocking them into the air. follow-up burst over time; takedown healHealRestores Health and grants Move Speed to you and target allied champion. after surviving the knockup chain lets Irelia reset through the fight

Situational Adjustments

  • Mercury's TreadsMercury's TreadsIncreases Move Speed and reduces duration of disabling effects: Heavy CC or AP jungle + AP mid; swap Steelcaps
  • Guardian AngelGuardian AngelPeriodically revives champion upon death: Ahead and Malphite commits R for shutdown; revive punishes the trade
  • Sterak's GageSterak's GageShields against large bursts of damage: Into heavy burst comps; Lifeline shield absorbs follow-up after Malphite R

Key Patterns

Lethal Combos

Irelia Full Combo (Level 6+):

Stack 4 passive (minion Qs) > E – Flawless Duet > R – Vanguard's Edge > Q reset chain through marks > W to absorb retaliation > Ignite

Lethal from ~60–65% if BotRK complete and Malphite has no R; ~50% with IgniteIgniteDeals true damage over time to target enemy champion and reduces healing effects on them for the duration. and full passive
Malphite Escape/Counter Combo:

R – Unstoppable Force knockup > E – Ground Slam > W – Thunderclap auto chain with Lethal Tempo > Q slow to stick

With jungle follow-up: guaranteed kill at any HP. Solo kill from ~50% if W active and no escape minions; Lethal TempoLethal TempoAttacking an enemy champion grants you Attack Speed, up to 6 stacks. At max stacks, deal bonus adaptive damage On-Attack. DPS closes it

Trading Combos

Irelia Short Trade:

Short trade: wait Granite Shield down > E stun > Q in > 2–3 autos (passive stacked) > Q to minion out

Exit before Ground SlamE – Ground SlamMalphite 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. returns (~7s CD early); re-enter when passive is stacked and shield is down again
Malphite Quick Trade:

W – Thunderclap activate > empowered auto > E – Ground Slam if she fights > Q slow to stick or disengage

Let Lethal TempoLethal TempoAttacking an enemy champion grants you Attack Speed, up to 6 stacks. At max stacks, deal bonus adaptive damage On-Attack. stack over 3-4 autos; W cleave + AS ramp outtrades Irelia when she lacks passive stacks

Lethal Thresholds

  • Irelia Kill Range: All-in lethal ~65% pre-armor items; ~50% with BotRK + IgniteIgniteDeals true damage over time to target enemy champion and reduces healing effects on them for the duration. if passive is fully stacked and R marks land
  • Malphite Kill Range: Solo kill from ~50% with W active + Lethal TempoLethal TempoAttacking an enemy champion grants you Attack Speed, up to 6 stacks. At max stacks, deal bonus adaptive damage On-Attack. stacked and no escape minions; R + jungle coordination guarantees kill at any HP
  • Critical Levels: 3 (full kit), 6 (R all-in), 9 (Q max + BotRK), 13 (two-item on-hit spike)

Level by Level Game Plan

Level Primary Goal Lane Position Trading Opportunities Kill Windows Setup Opportunities
1 Establish passive stacking through E or Q Slow push wave 1; hold wave outside tower E stun for 2 passive stacks; alt Q sustain farm; trade after Malphite uses Q on wave Low; only with massive minion advantage and IgniteIgniteDeals true damage over time to target enemy champion and reduces healing effects on them for the duration. Ward river 2:20; winning: build a slow push into Malphite's tower; neutral: freeze and zone him off Seismic ShardQ – Seismic ShardMalphite sends a shard of the earth through the ground at his foe, dealing damage upon impact and stealing Move Speed for 3 seconds. farm; losing: concede the wave and farm under tower
2 E > Q short trade combo Hold wave 6–8 minions from tower E stun > Q in > 1–2 autos > Q to minion; exit before Ground SlamE – Ground SlamMalphite 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. Low–Medium with IgniteIgniteDeals true damage over time to target enemy champion and reduces healing effects on them for the duration. if Malphite wastes E Track jungle 2:45; Ahead: zone off minions; Even: farm; Behind: play safe near tower
3 Full combo access with W damage reduction Prepare cannon wave crash E > Q > W absorb > Q out; stack 4 passive hits before full commit Medium with IgniteIgniteDeals true damage over time to target enemy champion and reduces healing effects on them for the duration. and full passive stacks Deep wardDeep WardYour wards in the enemy jungle are Deep, gaining Health and Duration.Level 9: Wards in the river are also Deep. before push; Ahead: crash and plate; Even: bounce; Behind: freeze
4-5 Pre-6 item advantage Crash Wave 4 (first cannon) then bounce or freeze Full-passive trades only; avoid fighting without wave for Q resets Medium on bounce with IgniteIgniteDeals true damage over time to target enemy champion and reduces healing effects on them for the duration. Reset for Recurve Bow (1000g) or Long Sword components; Ahead: plate; Even: base; Behind: freeze near tower
6 Leverage R – Vanguard's EdgeR – Vanguard's EdgeIrelia fires a massive number of blades that explode outward upon hitting an enemy champion. Enemies hit by the blades are damaged and Marked. zone and marks Control brush; threaten all-in from markMarkThrow a snowball in a straight line at your enemies. If it hits an enemy, they become marked, granting True Sight, and your champion can quickly travel to the marked target as a follow up. chains E > R > Q chain through marks; all-in if Malphite <65% and FlashFlashTeleports you a short distance toward your cursor. down High vs Flashless Malphite without R Ward deep for jungle; Ahead: dive with R zone; Even: trade ults; Behind: hold R defensively
7-8 Complete BotRK spike Side lane with minion wave for Q resets Extended fights with BotRK on-hit; W through Ground SlamE – Ground SlamMalphite 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. burst High in side lane with BotRK Deep wardDeep WardYour wards in the enemy jungle are Deep, gaining Health and Duration.Level 9: Wards in the river are also Deep. Krugs/Gromp 7:30–8:30; track Malphite R roams; ping missing
9+ Transition to perma-split with Q max Push and rotate; fight only with wave access Q max lowers CD; extended on-hit fights favor BotRK High in side lane; medium in skirmishes Contest Herald 8:00–10:00; Ahead: invade topside; Even: match; Behind: farm and scale
Mid Game (11-16) Split opposite objectives; track Malphite R Side lane opposite Baron/Dragon Fight 1v1 with BotRK + Wit's EndWit's EndResist magic damage and claw your way back to life.; avoid grouped fights High on isolates in side lane TP for objectives post-14; Ahead: draw 2 and trade; Even: match split; Behind: group only with TP advantage
Late Game (16+) Split or flank; avoid front-to-back into Malphite R Side lane with TP; flank from fog if teamfighting On-hit DPS peaks with 3+ items; side-lane 1v1 still favored Medium–High on carries via flank; low in front-to-back Control wards in flanking paths; Ahead: end through split; Even: flank picks; Behind: peel and disengage

First Back Goals

Ideal Back (1200–1500g)

  • Recurve Bow (1000g)
  • Long Sword (350g)
  • Control Ward (75g)

Shove the cannon wave into Malphite's tower around 3:15 and recall; the item lead matters more than missing one wave of Granite ShieldP – Granite ShieldMalphite is shielded by a layer of rock which absorbs damage up to 10% of his maximum Health. If Malphite has not been hit for a few seconds, this effect recharges. chip

Standard Back (800–1100g)

  • Vampiric Scepter (900g)
  • Control Ward (75g)

Base on wave bounce; sustain through Q poke; keep TP for cross-map if running TP

Defensive Back (600–900g)

  • Long Sword (350g)
  • Doran's BladeDoran's BladeGood starting item for attackers (450g)
  • Control Ward (75g)

Forced base after bad trade or gank; double Doran's stabilizes lane; avoid extending

Teamfight Tips

Aspect Irelia Malphite
Primary Role Split away from teammates so Unstoppable ForceR – Unstoppable ForceMalphite launches himself to a location at high speed, damaging enemies and knocking them into the air. cannot multi-knockup; enter after Malphite spends R, then flank onto carries with BladesurgeQ – BladesurgeIrelia dashes forward to strike her target, healing herself. If the target is Marked or dies to Bladesurge, its cooldown refreshes. chains Primary engage with R – Unstoppable ForceR – Unstoppable ForceMalphite launches himself to a location at high speed, damaging enemies and knocking them into the air.; follow with W – ThunderclapW – ThunderclapMalphite attacks with such force that it creates a sonic boom. For the next few seconds, his attacks create aftershocks in front of him. auto chain and E – Ground SlamE – Ground SlamMalphite 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. AS zone
Target Priority Backline carries after Malphite wastes Unstoppable ForceR – Unstoppable ForceMalphite launches himself to a location at high speed, damaging enemies and knocking them into the air. on a different target
Isolated squishies in side lane where Ground SlamE – Ground SlamMalphite 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. cannot protect grouped allies
Malphite himself only when Unstoppable ForceR – Unstoppable ForceMalphite launches himself to a location at high speed, damaging enemies and knocking them into the air. is on cooldown and he wanders from his team		 Irelia after R commit (chain CC during Q dashes)
Enemy carries clustered for multi-man R
Objective DPS with E AS slow
Objective Control Pull Malphite to a side lane opposite Dragon or Baron; BotRK on-hit wins the 1v1 and his Unstoppable ForceR – Unstoppable ForceMalphite launches himself to a location at high speed, damaging enemies and knocking them into the air. is wasted on you instead of grouped carries
If forced into a 5v5, wait in fog until Malphite commits Unstoppable ForceR – Unstoppable ForceMalphite launches himself to a location at high speed, damaging enemies and knocking them into the air., then BladesurgeQ – BladesurgeIrelia dashes forward to strike her target, healing herself. If the target is Marked or dies to Bladesurge, its cooldown refreshes. through marks onto the exposed backline		 Start fights with FlashFlashTeleports you a short distance toward your cursor. > R on grouped targets
Zone chokes with E AS slow; peel carries
Positioning Stand apart from teammates so Unstoppable ForceR – Unstoppable ForceMalphite launches himself to a location at high speed, damaging enemies and knocking them into the air. hits at most one person; enter through jungle entrance after the knockup lands
Keep a minion wave nearby for BladesurgeQ – BladesurgeIrelia dashes forward to strike her target, healing herself. If the target is Marked or dies to Bladesurge, its cooldown refreshes. exits; open lane against Malphite means Seismic ShardQ – Seismic ShardMalphite sends a shard of the earth through the ground at his foe, dealing damage upon impact and stealing Move Speed for 3 seconds. slows you into a Ground SlamE – Ground SlamMalphite 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. with no escape		 Approach from fog/brush; FlashFlashTeleports you a short distance toward your cursor. > R on 2+ grouped targets
Peel backline with E AS slow and Q slow
Other Tips Spread from teammates pre-fight; enter after Malphite R is spent; chain Q resets through R marks on backline
W through initial CC burst if caught; Q to marked minion to escape follow-up		 Hold R for Irelia commit; she dashes into range and becomes predictable during Q chains
E immediately after R knockup to layer AS slow on the entire enemy team
Activate W before engaging; ThunderclapW – ThunderclapMalphite attacks with such force that it creates a sonic boom. For the next few seconds, his attacks create aftershocks in front of him. empowered autos with Lethal TempoLethal TempoAttacking an enemy champion grants you Attack Speed, up to 6 stacks. At max stacks, deal bonus adaptive damage On-Attack. provide sustained DPS through the fight