Talk:Malzahar/@comment-23923487-20160518191242/@comment-1876049-20160521125730

Except they specifically wanted to remove his ability to instagib people in the Mage Rework and switched his damage patterns from burst to sustained damage, because they felt burst damage on a champion with a point and click supress was unhealthy.

The passive was made because, as a short range, no-mobility mage that deals sustained damage, Malzahar NEEDED something to keep him alive in the middle of a fight. They may have overdone it, but the effect is 100% fitting with his new playstyle.