Orianna vs Malzahar MID Matchup Guide | LaneStomp

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Opponent

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Orianna

VS

Mid

Malzahar

Orianna vs Malzahar

Updated May 31, 2026

Overview

Orianna is a control mage who must manage ball placement to control the lane and create teamfight opportunities.
Malzahar wants to keep midlane pushed permanently, so Orianna should deny him a passive lane and avoid letting him freely push.

Trading pattern

Use Q and W for poke and zoning, then shield or speed yourself with E to safely trade back.
Punish Malzahar early when his Q and W are on cooldown or when his Voidlings are vulnerable.
Respect Malzahar R suppression by avoiding extended trades when it is available.

Danger windows

Malzahar level 6 R suppression is a lethal threat; keep ball and positioning safe to avoid lockdown.
Avoid extended trades when Malzahar's Q silence is off cooldown.
Be cautious when using Q with longer cooldown early, as Orianna can be punished if abilities are used recklessly.

Early game

Focus on controlling the wave and ball position to punish Malzahar's early push attempts by targeting his Voidlings with area damage.
Avoid reckless ability use before level 6 to prevent being punished by Malzahar's silence and suppression.
Use E shield to mitigate poke and sustain through early trades.

Power spikes

Orianna's major spike is level 6 R for impactful teamfight displacement.
Orianna also spikes after her first completed mage item for stronger poke and shield.
Malzahar's major spike is level 6 R suppression, which Orianna must respect to avoid all-ins.

Win conditions

Control the lane with precise ball placement to zone Malzahar and deny his push.
Punish Malzahar's early cooldowns and Voidling spawns to keep him under tower.
Reach level 6 and item spikes to leverage R for teamfight impact and lane dominance.