Malzahar, the Prophet of the Void
Overview:
Malzahar's a unique style of mage who has only become more distinct and exciting with age, especially after his most recent update put more of a focus on his voidling-summoning capabilities while toning down his proclivity for throwing purple magic around everywhere (since that's kind of Kassadin's thing).
I'll be pushing the summoner angle even further with these changes while expanding on the nature of the alien creatures Malzahar calls forth. These changes will also be following in the footsteps of my initial redesign, focusing on Malz's niche as a potent anti-structure mage, but this time with a preference for simpler mechanics that are already a part of his current kit.
-
To put more emphasis on the voidlings Malzahar summons, he's made a new friend: the Zz'Rot Queen. Now acting as a locus for most of Malz's effectiveness, the Queen plays a defensive role similar to his current Innate while also providing a weak spot for enemies who want to curb his lane-swarming ability.
Diversifying Malz's portfolio of summonable creatures was a big focus of this (re)redesign, with Void Swarm becoming a bit more intricate and providing more decision-making possibilities. Now, he can either choose to throw out weaker voidlings to constantly keep his lane pushed, or save up for a massive wave that includes a more powerful variant of Zz'Rot minion that is certain to put a dent in the nearest structure.
All values in blue are meant to give a general idea of the ability's properties, and are subject to change.
Class: Battlemage
Recommended Positions: Solo Midlane, Jungle
Complexity: Medium
Innate: Queen of the Swarm
Malzahar summons a Zz'Rot Queen to accompany him. The Zz'Rot Queen will follow Malzahar closely and will move to stand between him and the nearest enemy when possible. Once slain, a new Zz'Rot Queen will be summoned after 30 to 12 (based on level) seconds, accelerated by 2 seconds whenever Malzahar kills a minion or monster.
The Zz'Rot Queen has 260 to 804 (based on level) + (30% AP) health, and siphons
20 to 256 (based on level) + (20% AP) health from the closest enemy within 400 units every 1.6 seconds.
Call of the Void and Void Swarm are only available while the Zz'Rot Queen is alive.
Q: Call of the Void
Malzahar commands the Zz'Rot Queen to open two portals that are each 200 units perpendicular from the target location. After a 0.4 second delay, all enemies between the portals take 70/105/140/175/210 + (65% AP) magic damage and are silenced for 1/1.25/1.5/1.75/2 seconds.
Range: 900
Targeting Type: Skill Shot - Perpendicular Line
Cooldown: 6
Cost: 80 mana
W: Void Swarm
PASSIVE: Every 10/9/8/7/6 seconds, the Zz'Rot Queen stores 1 Swarm Essence. The Queen can store up to 12 Swarm Essence and 4 Volatile Essence at once. If the Queen is slain, all Essence is lost.
ACTIVE: The Zz'Rot Queen consumes up to 6 Swarm Essence and 2 Volatile Essence to summon up to 3 Zz'Rot Swarmers and 1 Zz'Rot Sapper that travel down the nearest lane for up to 8/8/9/9/10 seconds, and will prioritize attacking enemies infected with Malefic Visions.
Zz'Rot Swarmers have 65 to 201 (based on level) + (15% AP) health and deal 5 to 65 (based on level) + 12/14/16/18/20 + (20% AP) magic damage every 1.6 seconds with a 125 range attack. Upon getting within attack range of a tower, they will dive into it and explode, dealing 300% of their attack's damage as
magic damage.
Zz'Rot Sappers have 130 to 402 (based on level) + (30% AP) health and deal 10 to 130 (based on level) + 24/28/32/36/40 + (40% AP) magic damage every 1.6 seconds with a 650 range attack. Upon getting within attack range of a tower, they will launch their abdomen at it after 2.5 seconds, dealing 300% of their attack's damage as magic damage and dying in the process.
Range: 150
Targeting Type: Skill Shot - Placement
Cooldown: 8
Cost: 40/45/50/55/60 mana
E: Malefic Visions
Malzahar infects the enemy's mind, dealing 80/115/150/185/220 + (80% AP) magic damage to them every 0.5 seconds over 4 seconds. Damaging a target with Call of the Void or Nether Grasp will refresh the duration of Malefic Visions.
If the target dies during this time, they pass Malefic Visions onto the closest enemy, refreshing the duration and restoring 2% of Malzahar's mana. If the target is a minion or monster, they will also grant the Zz'Rot Queen a Swarm Essence. Cannon minions and large monsters instead grant a Volatile Essence.
Zz'Rot Swarmers and Zz'Rot Sappers will prioritize attacking enemies inflicted with Malefic Visions, extending their own duration by 1 second with each attack.
Range: 650
Targeting Type: Targeted
Cooldown: 15/13/11/9/7
Cost: 60/70/80/90/100 mana
R: Nether Grasp
Malzahar channels for up to 2.5/3/3.5 seconds, overwhelming his target with warped energy and moving at 80/60/40% reduced speed for the duration.
Targeting an enemy champion will silence, disarm, and nearsight them while slowing them by 40/60/80%. The slow decays over 2 seconds once the channel ends.
Targeting an enemy turret will disable it and cause Malzahar's Zz'Rot minions to move towards it and attack it 200% more quickly.
Range: 700
Targeting Type: Targeted
Cooldown: 140/110/80
Cost: 100 mana