TFTraits// Recommended builds
The best trait and item combination at every level, 2 stars, by effective health.
28,035effective health
Blackthorn 4
Monolith 1Sacrifice: tank 2-cost 2-star28,035effective healthBlackthorn 4Monolith 1Sacrifice: tank 2-cost 2-star28,035effective healthBlackthorn 4Monolith 1Sacrifice: tank 2-cost 2-star28,035effective healthBlackthorn 4Monolith 1Sacrifice: tank 2-cost 2-star// Top items
What each item adds on its own, in effective health, with no other item.
Bloodthirster+5,006Crownguard+4,802
Spirit Visage+4,719
Gargoyle Stoneplate+4,686Dragon's Claw+4,495Warmog's Armor+3,909
Protector's Vow+3,895
Adaptive Helm+3,382
Sterak's Gage+3,230
Nashor's Tooth+2,635
Steadfast Heart+1,612
Bramble Vest+1,463Builds by level
Every combination of Malphite's own traits that a comp of the chosen level can reach, ranked by the effective health of its best defensive build under the chosen incoming damage stream (half physical, half magic). Numbers open the Tank Calculator with the same inputs. Levels 4 to 7 only use champions you can find at that level: up to 2-costs at level 4, 3-costs at levels 5 and 6, 4-costs at level 7.
| # | Traits | Best build | Effective health · no items | Effective health · with build | Death | Open |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackthorn 4Monolith 1Sacrifice: tank 2-cost 2-star | | 11,220 | 28,035 | survives the round | CalculatorFind the comp | |
| Blackthorn 2Monolith 1Sacrifice: tank 2-cost 2-star | | 10,823 | 27,237 | survives the round | CalculatorFind the comp | |
| Monolith 1 | | 6,699 | 22,127 | survives the round | CalculatorFind the comp |
No comp at this level can field Malphite.
// Cast timeline
From the mana bar filling until mana can come in again. No mana comes in during this time. The mana lock lasts as long as the shield holds, at most 4.00 s. Attacks continue.
0/80- attack animation
- attack lands
- attack recovery
- cast window (mana locked)
- mana locked (no mana while the effect runs)
- effect
First cast at 28.03 s with 0.55 attacks per second. Items, traits and damage taken change the mana pace; the cast, effect and channel windows do not.
Step by step, in words
- Mana reaches 80/80: the cast starts and the mana lock goes on (no mana from attacks, ticks or damage taken).
- 0.00 to 0.70 s: cast window. The unit plays its cast animation and its return to idle; it cannot auto attack.
- 0.05 s: the ability's effect fires (projectile launch, damage, shield...).
- 0.70 to up to 4.00 s: the shield keeps the mana lock on until it breaks or expires. Attacks land, no mana comes in.
- 0.70 s: unlock. Mana starts again (overflow kept) and a fresh attack starts from zero; it lands at 1.45 s at base attack speed (the attack delay is 42% of the attack animation).
- Attack loop: the attack lands at 42% of the attack animation (mana granted) and unlocks at 42%; a cast that becomes possible at the landing starts at that unlock point, cutting the rest of the attack.
- Mana gain: 5 per attack; combat starts at 0/80.
- Overflow is banked: mana past 80 from attacks or regen is kept through the cast (78/80 plus 5 casts and comes back with 3). Same rule for every champion; only the amounts differ by role.
Monolith: Data tables
Numbers in the trait text
| Value | |
|---|---|
| Resists | 10 |
Warmog's ArmorGargoyle StoneplateSpirit Visage4-cost AP Tank (game role tag). Tanks take the frontline item set. Mana lock 4.00 s per cast; tanks fill mainly from damage taken (1% of pre-mitigation and 3% of pre-shield damage per hit, capped at 50), so the lock length matters more than item mana. The classic main tank trio: a huge Health pool, resists that grow as more enemies focus the tank, and healing amplification to stay standing longest.
Main Tank picks can also serve as a Support Tank, holding debuff auras on the carry's side of the board.