MacroMind matchup data — real ranked games, not opinions
Malzahar vs Irelia
How often does Malzahar beat Irelia in Top?
Malzahar into Irelia in Top: 49% observed win rate across 142 ranked games. Counted from real matches, and every number here shows its sample size.
By 15 minutes the median game has Malzahar behind by 1,806 gold.
Does Malzahar counter Irelia?
Too close for a counter call: Malzahar sits at 49% over 142 games, inside the noise band. On this sample neither pick counters the other — the swing lives in the conditions below, so play the side you know better.
Beating Irelia: the Malzahar game plan
| The spot | Win rate | Games |
|---|---|---|
| 300 gold down at 10:00 | 45% | 117 |
| First blood | 60% | 40 |
Someone usually dies here around 3:46 in the median game, and level 6 lands near 5:48. Until your spike is online, respect the all-in.
Malzahar's Top build, with receipts
Into Irelia specifically, Malzahar finishes Blackfire Torch first most often: 50.0% over 40 games of this matchup.
The most-finished Malzahar core is Blackfire Torch, Liandry's Torment, Rylai's Crystal Scepter: 55.7% across 540 games when all three got done. All matchups, patches 16.1-16.12.
Most games start Doran's Ring + Health Potion + Health Potion; the first finished item is usually Blackfire Torch (2,251 games).
Skill plan: Malzahar players max E first and take E at level 1.