Talk:Malzahar/@comment-3554826-20110815044024/@comment-4082970-20110815073532

I like to start with a Meki Pendant and a couple of health potions. I'll try to stay in lane long enough to get Boots of Speed and a Tear of the Goddess on my first trip back. I get health potions every trip back if I need them. After Tear, I get Sorcerer's Shoes. My next item is based on how I'm doing. If I'm getting harassed too much, I'll get a Negatron Cloak or a Chain Vest depending on what type of damage is bothering me the most. If I'm doing fine, I'll just complete the Archangel's Staff for the AP and so I can spam spells with impunity. If I went with the defensive item then I'll complete AAS right afterwards. After that it's mostly played by ear for me. Usually I'll get a Banshee's Veil right after AAS then just nice AP items like a Deathcap or a Void Staff.

For summoner spells, Flash is a good choice. It can help you get in range for his ultimate or run away from stuff (which is especially nice since Malzahar doesn't have any escape abilities). Ghost is good for the same reasons. Ignite's good at helping you kill things better (you can use it during your ultimate too), but it's shorter range than your ultimate, so if you cast your ultimate at max range then use ignite, Malzahar will move and your ultimate will be wasted. While there are probably better choices, I like Teleport. There are a lot of times in most games I play where I just need to be somewhere asap.

For skill order, I like to start with Call of the Void and cast it a few times in base so I can pop my voidling out as soon as I want to early on. After that I prioritize R>E>Q>W. Malefic Visions is a great farming ability. It makes farming easy while also not pushing your lane too hard. Plus it restores mana so you can harass with your Q.