Malzahar

Malzahar The Prophet of the Void is a Champion in League of Legends.

Background
Many men have gone mad beneath the glare of the Shurima sun, but it was during the night's chilling embrace that Malzahar relinquished his sanity. Malzahar was born a seer, blessed with the gift of prophecy. His talent, though unrefined, promised to be one of Runeterra's greatest boons, but destiny plotted him another course; his sensitivity to the roiling tides of fate allowed other, unwelcome things to tug at his subconscious mind. In his dreams, where the veil of separation is thinnest, a sinister thing beckoned. For some time, Malzahar was able to resist its prodding, but with each passing night the voice grew louder, or perhaps deeper, until he could withstand the call no more.

He ventured into the desert without supplies, drawn by the lure of a specious charm. His destination: a lost civilization to the east, known to ancient texts as Icathia. Few believed such a place ever existed, and those who did were certain that the sands had long since devoured whatever remained. When Malzahar's cracked feet finally failed him, he found himself kneeling at the base of a bizarre crumbling obelisk. Beyond it lain the alien geometry of a ruined city and the giant decaying idols of dark and horrific gods. His eyes, seeing what others cannot, and what none should, were filled with the essence of the Void. His once shifting visions of the future were replaced with the immutable promise of Valoran beset by creatures of the Void. Standing alone, but not alone, amidst the echoing dunes, he noticed the familiar voice escape his own lips in a parched rasp, bearing three words whose weight trembled his knees: League of Legends. Now infused with the power of the void itself, Malzahar set off to the north to seek his fate.

"The land may melt, the sea may swell, the sky may fall... but, mmm, they will come." -Malzahar

Development
An announcement was made on May 17, 2010
 * Summoners!


 * This is a public service announcement regarding a shady looking fellow that may have made his way onto the Field of Justice. If you see a shrouded, floating man with a generally poor disposition, exercise caution… particularly if you see any dark, sinister portals or hideous creatures of the void milling about. This may be none other than Malzahar, Prophet of the Void, and he's probably not the type of bloke you want to run into on your way back to your stool from the men's room.


 * On the other hand, if you like dark matter, bottomless pits, exoskeletal monsters, menacing sacrificial daggers, or moving without touching the ground, you may want to take a moment to let this gentleman know that you're a fan of his work. Look for Malzahar in the upcoming patch!

Two Days later Malzahar was revealed in the Examiner.com, and on the same day Riot Games made the proper announcement.

Strategy

 * Try to use a summoner spell to force your opponent to use Cleanse before using your Ultimate.
 * Malzahar's Ultimate is like a ranged Warwick Ultimate.
 * You can use the stun on Nether Grasp to hold the target in place for your Null Zone ability.
 * Putting Malefic Visions on an enemy creep that is about to die, is a good way to farm minion kills, because of its chain reaction.

Quotes
Upon Selection Movement/Attacking Taunt Joke
 * "Oblivion Awaits"
 * "At once."
 * "Persia beckons."
 * "Second sight ordains it."
 * "We are timeless."
 * "Without question."
 * "In due course."
 * "Do not challenge me!"
 * "Inevitable."
 * "It is done."
 * "Their time is short."
 * "As was foreseen."
 * "It is in motion."
 * "I am the Prince of Icathia!"
 * *burps* I think a Voidling just came out."''

Trivia

 * Before his official announcement, he was named Al'Zahar on the Public Test Realm.
 * His Dance resembles one of Michael Jackson's, but is also similar to MC Hammer's famous "Can't Touch This" Dance. Another possibility is that it is the dance from the Utah Saints Something Good video.
 * and Malzahar have strong similarities, like their appearance and abilities.
 * Malzahar's Voidlings highly resemble the Spider-ants from the game Borderlands or a Dragoon/Immortal from the Starcraft series or kind of like a Ravager from the game World of Warcraft.
 * Malzahar is most likely inspired by the Lovecraftian character Abdul Alhazred, The Mad Arab.
 * Malzahar was the only Champion who caused malfunctions on the Public Test Realm due to its changes, like the previous name Al'Zahar.
 * Malzahar's clothes and dagger resemble the equipment from Prince of Persia (2008).
 * Malzahar's taunt ("I am the Prince of Icathia!") is an allusion to Prince of Persia.
 * Malzahar's backstory resembles that of Prince of Persia The Sands of Time, where the main character finds a power with destructive force whom no-one else could use, causing havoc to his own people, in Malzahar's case, Runeterra.
 * Malzahar's selection quote is said by Anub'arak, a hero of DotA and Warcraft 3.
 * Malzahars Vizier skin may be a reference to the new Prince of Persia from the Forgotten Sands game and movie, or a reference to Jafar from the Aladdin Disney series. His Shadow prince skin is a reference to the original Sands of Times Prince from Prince of Persia.