MacroMind matchup data — real ranked games, not opinions
Gangplank vs Malzahar
Gangplank vs Malzahar in Mid: who wins more often?
Across 262 ranked games in Mid, Gangplank beats Malzahar in 50% of them. Observed from real matches — the sample size sits next to the rate, here and on every number below.
By 15 minutes the median game has Gangplank ahead by 786 gold.
Does Gangplank counter Malzahar?
No counter call here: Gangplank lands at 50% over 262 games, inside the noise band for a sample this size. Neither pick wins the lane on its own — the swing lives in the spots below, so take the side you play better and use the receipts.
Your Gangplank game plan against Malzahar
With a 300-gold lead at 10:00, Gangplank wins 55% of 173 games in this matchup. Down 300 at the same mark, the rate drops to 39% over 89.
| The spot | Win rate | Games |
|---|---|---|
| 300 gold up at 10:00 | 55% | 173 |
| 300 gold down at 10:00 | 39% | 89 |
| First blood | 56% | 169 |
| +kills at 10:00 | 54% | 115 |
| +CS at 10:00 | 60% | 82 |
| 0 deaths at 10:00 | 57% | 135 |
| 0 deaths at 15:00 | 67% | 70 |
In the median game here, the first death comes near 9:40 and level 6 lands around 5:10. Until your spike is online, treat the all-in window with respect.
Gangplank in Mid: the items that actually get built
Into Malzahar specifically, Gangplank finishes Essence Reaver first most often: 50.7% over 146 games of this matchup.
The most-finished core in this exact matchup is Essence Reaver, The Collector, Infinity Edge: 50.0% across 46 games.
The most-finished Gangplank core is Essence Reaver, The Collector, Infinity Edge: 53.9% across 842 games when all three got done. All matchups, patches 16.1-16.12.
Most games start Doran's Blade + Health Potion; the first finished item is usually Essence Reaver (3,358 games).
Skill plan: Gangplank players max Q first and take E at level 1.