Talon vs Malzahar MID Matchup Guide | LaneStomp

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Champion

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Talon

VS

Mid

Malzahar

Talon vs Malzahar

Updated Jun 1, 2026

Overview

Talon is a mobile AD assassin who wants to push the wave and create roam pressure against Malzahar's control mage style.
Focus on denying Malzahar a calm, passive lane by using wave pressure and your terrain mobility to avoid his predictable patterns.

Trading pattern

Start trades by landing W for passive bleed and threaten Q follow-up to force Malzahar back.
Punish Malzahar when he uses Malzahar Q or Malzahar W aggressively by all-inning before his spell shield resets.
Avoid trading when Malzahar's spell shield (Void Shift) is active or when his Malzahar R is available.

Danger windows

Respect Malzahar R lockdown as a lethal all-in threat.
Avoid extended trades when Malzahar's spell shield is up, as it blocks your key damage.
Be cautious when visible in lane without flank angles, as Talon is vulnerable to Malzahar's ranged control.

Early game

Use level 2 Q plus W to pressure Malzahar early and force him under turret by killing his Voidlings.
Avoid extended trades before level 6 as Malzahar's silence and spell shield punish overcommitment.
Push the wave to open roam opportunities and prevent Malzahar from safely pushing.

Power spikes

Talon's major spikes are level 2 access to Q plus W and level 6 R for burst and stealth.
First lethality item completion significantly increases Talon's kill threat.
Respect Malzahar's level 6 Malzahar R suppression and first completed AP/mana item power spike.

Win conditions

Push the wave aggressively to deny Malzahar safe scaling and create roam opportunities using E.
Use your R stealth and burst to punish Malzahar when his spell shield or ultimate is down.
Leverage your terrain mobility to flank and surprise Malzahar, avoiding his predictable lane pattern.