Malphite vs Garen TOP Matchup Guide | LaneStomp

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Garen

Malphite vs Garen

Updated Jun 3, 2026

Overview

This is a control vs teamfight matchup where Malphite must survive early pressure and blunt Garen's physical trades with armor stacking.
Malphite should avoid giving Garen passive scaling by maintaining a stable lane and preparing for level 6 engage windows.

Trading pattern

Take low-risk trades when your passive shield is up and (E) is active to reduce Garen's damage output.
Avoid extended trades after (Q) silence and (E) spin damage end to prevent being punished.
Use (Q) to slow Garen and disengage after short poke, preventing his follow-up all-in attempts.

Danger windows

Respect (Q) silence window, which can deny your defensive spells and open him for short trades.
Beware of Garen's level 6 execute (R) when your health is low or after taking chip damage.
Avoid extended trades when your passive shield is down or (R) is on cooldown, as your threat and durability are significantly reduced.

Early game

Play safe and farm with measured (Q) poke, avoiding extended trades before your first armor item.
Use (E) to reduce Garen's attack speed and auto damage during his short trade windows.
Conserve mana and shield health to preserve lane presence until (R) becomes available.

Power spikes

At level 6, use (R) to create guaranteed engage opportunities or set up kills in teamfights rather than low-value poke.
After your first armor item, increase trade safety by blunting Garen's physical damage and forcing him to respect your durability.
Respect Garen's level 6 execute threat with (R) and his ability to silence with (Q), spacing accordingly to avoid lethal trades.

Win conditions

Survive early lane pressure by using armor stacking and (E) attack speed reduction to blunt Garen's physical trades.
Use level 6 (R) to engage in grouped fights or secure kills with coordinated follow-up.
Maintain lane control and stable health/mana to reach mid-game teamfights where your engage and tankiness decide outcomes.