Malzahar vs Irelia MID Matchup Guide | LaneStomp

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Malzahar

VS

Mid

Irelia

Malzahar vs Irelia

Updated May 31, 2026

Overview

Malzahar is a control mage who wins by pushing midlane permanently and using R for lockdown to punish Irelia's all-ins.
Maintain medium lane pressure to deny Irelia safe passive stacking and Q reset paths, limiting her all-in threat.

Trading pattern

Push with E and W, then threaten trades by silencing Irelia with Q when she steps forward.
Punish Irelia if she misses E or uses Q without reset by following up with R lockdown.
Avoid trading when Irelia has passive stacks and low-health minions enabling her Q resets.

Danger windows

Irelia is most dangerous when she has low-health minions for Q resets and E or R marks on you.
Avoid extended trades when Irelia has passive stacks or after she uses R to engage.
Your R channel can be interrupted by Irelia's crowd control; position to minimize this risk.

Early game

Use E and W to push the wave early and keep Irelia under tower, minimizing her Q mobility options.
Respect Irelia's high early agency and avoid extended trades before level 6 when her E and Q resets are strongest.
Avoid predictable patterns that allow Irelia to punish your voidlings or force you under tower.

Power spikes

Malzahar spikes at level 6 with R and upon first completed mana/AP item.
Respect Irelia's level 2 power spike with Q and E access and her level 6 Irelia R for strong all-ins.
Irelia's first fighter item increases her kill threat; play cautiously around these spikes.

Win conditions

Keep midlane pushed to deny Irelia minion setups for Q resets and force her to fight on your terms.
Use R to lockdown Irelia when she overextends or misses E, enabling kills or roams.
Control wave and cooldowns to prevent Irelia from stacking passive and engaging safely with Q resets.