MacroMind matchup data: real ranked games, not opinions
Cho'Gath vs Malzahar
What is Cho'Gath's win rate vs Malzahar?
In Top, Cho'Gath wins 56% against Malzahar across 95 observed ranked games.
Global ranked sample: games from every region and every rank pooled together, not one server's stats. Data runs through patch 26.12; curves updated 2026-08-07.
By 15 minutes the median game has Cho'Gath ahead by 121 gold.
Cho'Gath at 15:00
- Gold: +121
- CS: -9
- XP: +81
Typical gap to Malzahar, from 95 games that reached 15:00.
Does Cho'Gath counter Malzahar?
Too close to call. Cho'Gath sits at 56% over 95 games, so neither pick counters the other here. The lane goes to whoever wins the spots below, like the gold lead at 10:00 or staying alive until 15:00, so play for those and let the pick argument go.
How to beat Malzahar as Cho'Gath
When Cho'Gath is ahead in gold at 10:00, this matchup runs 66% over 50 games; behind, it drops to 44% over 45.
| The spot | Win rate | Games |
|---|---|---|
| Ahead in gold at 10:00 | 66% | 50 |
| Behind in gold at 10:00 | 44% | 45 |
| First blood | 54% | 46 |
| +CS at 10:00 | 68% | 40 |
The median first death in this lane comes at 7:27; the level 6 spike lands around 5:19. Respect the all-in window until your spike is online.
What does Cho'Gath build in Top?
The most-finished Cho'Gath core is Hextech Rocketbelt, Riftmaker, Dead Man's Plate: 59.5% across 1,263 games when all three got done. All matchups, patches 26.1-26.12.
Most games start Doran's Ring + Health Potion + Health Potion; the first finished item is usually Heartsteel (8,795 games).
Skill plan: Cho'Gath players max E first and take E at level 1.