Vladimir vs Malphite Counter Pick

The 61.1% figure is a wide margin and also the least certain kind, because it rests on 126 games on patch 16.13.1. What it points at is a resistance mismatch. Malphite carries 28 magic resist at level one, far softer than his 40 armor, and Vladimir deals magic damage exclusively, so the champion built to absorb physical pressure is standing in front of the wrong opponent.

Granite Shield absorbs up to a tenth of Malphite’s maximum health and rebuilds when he goes unhit for a few seconds, which suits slow attrition rather than the concentrated window Hemoplague creates by increasing incoming damage before it detonates. Ground Slam scales its magic damage off his armor and cuts enemy attack speed, a strong effect against attack based opponents and a weak one against output coming from Transfusion and Tides of Blood. Unstoppable Force knocks up on arrival, and Sanguine Pool answers it with two seconds of untargetability when the timing is right. Seismic Shard steals move speed for three seconds, the one tool he has for holding a 330 move speed target in place while his own 335 closes. Malphite opens heavier at 665 health to 600 with 40 armor to 24, though Vladimir passes him by level 18, 2,470 against 2,433, and reaches him from 450 units against 125. Difficulty reads 2 against 7. Kits: Vladimir, Malphite.