League of Legends: Choosing Between Malzahar and Zilean for Players from chengmin's blog

League of Legends (LoL) is a popular multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game developed by Riot Games. Set in the fantasy world of Runeterra, the game features a rich lore and diverse champions. Players form teams of five to compete in strategic, fast-paced matches with the ultimate goal of destroying the enemy team's Nexus. When you embark on your journey, mmowow gold can lend a helping hand when you need help.

Champion Lore: Malzahar and Zilean
Malzahar: Known as the Prophet of the Void, Malzahar was once a seer who, driven by visions of the Void, now serves as its harbinger. He seeks to summon the Void to consume Runeterra, using dark magic and summoning Void creatures.

Zilean: The Chronokeeper, Zilean, is an ancient sorcerer obsessed with time. After witnessing the destruction of his homeland, he seeks to manipulate time to prevent such disasters. Zilean uses his temporal magic to protect his allies and disrupt his enemies.

Champion Roles and Playstyles
Malzahar: Typically played as a mid-layer or support, Malzahar excels at pushing lanes and crowd control. His abilities allow him to suppress enemies and deal significant damage over time.

Zilean: Often played as a support or mid-layer, Zilean provides utility through his time-manipulating abilities. He can speed up allies, slow enemies, and even revive fallen teammates.

Detailed Abilities and Playstyles
Malzahar's Abilities
Passive - Void Shift: After avoiding damage or crowd control for a period, Malzahar gains a shield that negates the next incoming attack or spell.
Q - Call of the Void: Malzahar opens two portals, dealing damage and silencing enemies hit.
W - Void Swarm: Malzahar summons Voidlings that attack nearby enemies.
E - Malefic Visions: Deals damage over time to a target, spreading to nearby enemies if the target dies.
R - Nether Grasp: Suppresses a target, dealing damage over time.
Skill Order: Max E first for wave clear and damage, followed by Q for poke and silence. W is maxed last but take one point early for Voidlings.

Rune Recommendations:

Keystone: Arcane Comet (poke) or Summon Aery (consistent damage)

Primary Path: Sorcery

Manaflow Band (mana sustain)
Transcendence (CDR)
Scorch (additional poke)
Secondary Path: Domination

Taste of Blood (sustain)
Ultimate Hunter (R cooldown reduction)
Item Build:

Core Items: Landry's Anguish (damage over time), Rylai’s Crystal Scepter (slow and healthy)
Situational Items: Morellonomicon (anti-heal), Zhonya’s Hourglass (survivability)
Early Game: Focus on farming and harassing E. Use Voidlings to push the wave and gain lane control.

Mid Game: Roam and assist other lanes with your R. Secure objectives with your team, using your crowd control to catch enemies.

Late Game: In team fights, use R to lock down high-priority targets. Stay at the backline, using Q and E to deal consistent damage.

Zi Lean's Abilities
Passive - Time in a Bottle: Zilean stores experience over time, which he can grant to an ally to level them up.
Q - Time Bomb: Zilean places a bomb on a target area, dealing AoE damage after a delay. If two bombs are placed on the same target, the second bomb detonates immediately, stunning all enemies hit.
W - Rewind: Reduces the cooldown of Zilean’s other abilities.
E - Time Warp: Increases an ally’s movement speed or slows an enemy.
R - Chronoshift: Places a protective time rune on an ally, reviving them if they die while under its effect.
Skill Order: Max Q first for damage and crowd control, followed by E for utility. W is maxed last but take one point early for cooldown reduction.

Rune Recommendations:

Keystone: Summon Aery (utility) or Guardian (protection in support role)

Primary Path: Sorcery

Manaflow Band (mana sustain)
Transcendence (CDR)
Scorch (poke)
Secondary Path: Inspiration

Biscuit Delivery (sustain)
Cosmic Insight (CDR)
Item Build:

Core Items: Shurelya’s Battlesong (engage/disengage), Ardent Censer (buffing allies)
Situational Items: Redemption (team healing), Zhonya’s Hourglass (survivability)
Early Game: Focus on landing Q for poke and controlling the lane. Use E to speed up your ADC or yourself to dodge skill shots.

Mid Game: Roam to assist other lanes and set up kills with double Q. Use R to save key allies during skirmishes.

Late Game: In team fights, use Q to poke and stun enemies. Use R to revive your carries, turning the tide of fights.

Playstyles and Tactics
Malzahar:

Early Game: Poke with E and Q, and use W for wave control. Maintain your passive shield to avoid damage.
Mid Game: Roam with R to secure kills. Use your abilities to control objectives.
Late Game: Use R to suppress key targets. Position yourself to avoid being caught, and deal consistent damage with E and Q.
Zilean:

Early Game: Poke with Q, and use E for utility. Maintain control of the lane with well-timed Q bombs.
Mid Game: Roam and use your Q+W+Q combo to stun enemies. Save allies with R during skirmishes.
Late Game: Focus on landing double bombs for stuns. Use R to protect your carries and ensure they can continue fighting.
Team Composition and Synergies
Strong Engage Composition:

Malzahar: Works well with initiators like Malphite or Sejuani, providing follow-up suppression.
Zilean: Synergizes with champions who can dive and need protection, like Hecarim or Rengar.
Scaling/Development Composition:

Malzahar: Fits well with hyper-carries like Jinx or Kai’Sa, offering crowd control and damage over time.
Zilean: Complements late-game champions like Vayne or Kog’Maw, providing speed and revival.
Individual Skill Expression Composition:

Malzahar: Combines well with assassins like Talon or Zed, providing suppression to secure kills.
Zilean: Pairs effectively with champions who benefit from mobility, like Yasuo or Yone.
Conclusion
Advantages and Disadvantages:

Malzahar:

Advantages: Strong lane control, reliable crowd control, consistent damage over time.
Disadvantages: Relatively immobile, reliant on R for significant impact.
Recommendation: Malzahar’s reliable crowd control and damage make him a solid choice for players seeking a consistent mid-laner with good utility.
Zilean:

Advantages: High utility, strong crowd control, game-changing ultimate.
Disadvantages: Requires good positioning, and less damage compared to other mages.
Recommendation: Zilean’s utility and ability to save allies make him a valuable asset in any team composition, suitable for players who enjoy a supportive, strategic play style.

Facing Olaf: Malzahar and Zilean Strategies
Olaf is a powerful melee bruiser known for his strong early game and relentless aggression. Here, we'll discuss how to handle the planning phase, mid-game, and late-game strategies for Malzahar and Zilean against Olaf, as well as how to manage team fights involving Olaf.

Malzahar vs. Olaf
Early Game:

Laning Phase: Malzahar should focus on farming safely and poking Olaf with E - Malefic Visions whenever possible. Keep your distance to avoid his axes and use Q - Call of the Void to silence him if he tries to engage.
Tips:
Use W - Void Swarm to block Olaf's path and deter him from engaging.
Position yourself near your tower for safety, as Olaf excels in chasing down enemies.
Mid Game:

Roaming and Objectives: Malzahar should roam to assist other lanes, using R - Nether Grasp to lock down high-priority targets. During team fights, stay at the backline and use Q and W to peel for yourself and your team.
Tips:
Use E and W to push waves quickly and pressure objectives.
Save R to suppress Olaf or another key enemy during team fights.
Late Game:

Team Fights: In late-game team fights, Malzahar should focus on suppressing Olaf with R and dealing consistent damage with E and Q. Position yourself carefully to avoid getting caught by Olaf's engagement.
Tips:
Stay near your team's carries and use E and Q to peel for them.
Communicate with your team to coordinate engagement and focus on targets.
Zilean vs. Olaf
Early Game:

Laning Phase: Zilean should focus on poking Olaf with Q - Time Bomb while staying safe from his axes. Use E-Time Warp to speed up allies or slow Olaf if he tries to engage.
Tips:
Position yourself behind minions to avoid Olaf's axes.
Use W - Rewind to reduce the cooldown of Q and apply double bombs for increased damage.
Mid Game:

Roaming and Objectives: Zilean should prioritize roaming to assist other lanes with his speed boosts and crowd control. Use R - Chronoshift to save allies who are caught out by Olaf's engagement.
Tips:
Use Q to poke and zone enemies during skirmishes around objectives.
Save R for key allies who are at risk of being burnt down by Olaf.
Late Game:

Team Fights: In late-game team fights, Zilean should focus on peeling for his team with Q and E, while using R to revive allies who are targeted by Olaf. Position yourself carefully to avoid getting caught out.
Tips:
Save E to speed up allies who are being chased by Olaf or to slow him down if he tries to engage.
Communicate with your team to coordinate engagement and focus on targets.
Facing Different Champions with Olaf
Engage Champions (e.g., Malphite): Against engage champions, Malzahar and Zilean should use their crowd control abilities (R for Malzahar, Q, and E for Zilean) to disrupt their engagement and protect their team.

Assassin Champions (e.g., Zed): Against assassins, Malzahar and Zilean should stay grouped with their team and use their crowd control and utility to peel for their carries and prevent the assassins from reaching them.

Tank Champions (e.g., Maokai): Against tanky champions, Malzahar and Zilean should focus on dealing damage to their team's carries and providing utility to their team to enable them to shred through the tanks.

Playstyles and Tactics
Malzahar:

Early Game: Focus on farming and poking, using E and Q to harass Olaf while staying safe.
Mid Game: Roam to assist other lanes, using R to lock down high-priority targets during team fights.
Late Game: Focus on suppressing Olaf and dealing consistent damage with E and Q, while positioning yourself carefully to avoid getting caught.
Zilean:

Early Game: Poke Olaf with Q while staying safe from his engagement. Use E to speed up allies or slow Olaf if he tries to engage.
Mid Game: Roam to assist other lanes, using R to save allies caught by Olaf's engage.
Late Game: Focus on peeling for your team with Q and E, while using R to revive allies targeted by Olaf. However, when some players choose to explore further and become familiar with heroes, some players will choose to buy league of legends accounts for sale from a safe and reliable supplier

Conclusion
When facing Olaf in the top lane or jungle, both Malzahar and Zilean have the tools to handle his aggression and provide utility and crowd control for their team. By understanding their strengths and weaknesses and playing to their abilities, players can effectively manage the laning phase, mid-game, and late-game team fights against Olaf. Whether it's locking down key targets with Malzahar's R or providing speed boosts and revives with Zilean's E and R, these champions offer unique playstyles that can turn the tide of battles against the relentless aggression of Olaf.