Malphite should focus on surviving Olaf's early aggression and avoid extended trades before armor stacks.
This is a control vs snowball matchup where Malphite aims to blunt Olaf's physical damage and win through teamfight engages.
Trading pattern
Take low-risk trades when (Q) is on cooldown or missed to punish his reduced chase potential.
Use (E) to weaken Olaf's auto-attacks and (Q) slow to kite and avoid extended fights.
Avoid committing before level 6; rely on measured poke and wait to use (R) for impactful engages with team follow-up.
Danger windows
Olaf is most dangerous when (Q) lands and he can pick it up to extend trades; avoid chasing him in these windows.
Respect (R) duration as it grants crowd control immunity and enables all-ins; avoid engaging during this time.
Be cautious when Malphite's passive shield is down or (R) is on cooldown, as threat and engage potential are reduced.
Early game
Prioritize farming safely and using (Q) to poke and slow Olaf, avoiding all-ins before level 6.
Use (E) to reduce Olaf's attack speed and mitigate his auto-attack damage in short trades.
Preserve mana and passive shield to withstand Olaf's early pressure and avoid losing health unnecessarily.
Power spikes
At level 6, use (R) for guaranteed knockup engage to set up kills or objective fights; respect (R) crowd control immunity by engaging when Olaf cannot disengage.
After first armor item, increase armor to blunt Olaf's physical damage and take safer trades.
Respect Olaf's level 6 (R) and first fighter item spikes by maintaining spacing and avoiding prolonged fights without cooldowns.
Win conditions
Survive early lane pressure by using (E) and armor stacking to blunt Olaf's damage.
Use (Q) poke and slows to control Olaf's movement and punish missed (Q) axes.
Reach level 6 and coordinate (R) engages with team follow-up to win fights and secure objectives, leveraging Malphite's teamfight strength.
Tip: For Malphite vs Olaf, read overview, trading pattern, and danger windows first for a fast Top lane check.
