Thornmail Malphite Build

ARAM Build Guide for champion Malphite and build Thornmail.

Thornmail Malphite build with runes and items. Thornmail Malphite guide offers in-depth how-to play, skill order and tips. Play Thornmail Malphite build in League of Legends Patch 14.21!

Updated: 2024-09-29 ()

TLDR

Starting items
Bramble Vest should be final item in your build.
Ruby Crystal should be final item in your build.
Quick Skill Order
Malphite ability Thunderclap should be leveled first.
W
Malphite ability Ground Slam should be leveled second.
E
Malphite ability Seismic Shard should be leveled third.
Q
Final items
Thornmail should be final item in your build.
Abyssal Mask should be final item in your build.
Randuin's Omen should be final item in your build.
Jak'Sho, The Protean should be final item in your build.
Dead Man's Plate should be final item in your build.
Sunfire Aegis should be final item in your build.
Quick Runes
Major rune Grasp of the Undying from Resolve tree.
Minor rune Domination.
Summoner spells
Pick Mark as your Summoner Spell.
Pick Flash as your Summoner Spell.

Thornmail Malphite Runes

Resolve
Resolve major tree Grasp of the Undying rune.
Resolve major tree Aftershock rune.
Resolve major tree Guardian rune.
Resolve major tree Demolish rune.
Resolve major tree Font of Life rune.
Resolve major tree Shield Bash rune.
Resolve major tree Conditioning rune.
Resolve major tree Second Wind rune.
Resolve major tree Bone Plating rune.
Resolve major tree Overgrowth rune.
Resolve major tree Revitalize rune.
Resolve major tree Unflinching rune.
Domination
Domination minor tree Cheap Shot rune.
Domination minor tree Taste of Blood rune.
Domination minor tree Sudden Impact rune.
Domination minor tree Zombie Ward rune.
Domination minor tree Ghost Poro rune.
Domination minor tree Eyeball Collection rune.
Domination minor tree Treasure Hunter rune.
Domination minor tree Relentless Hunter rune.
Domination minor tree Ultimate Hunter rune.
Passive
Passive tree Adaptive Force rune (+9 Adaptive Force).
Passive tree Attack Speed rune (+10% Attack Speed).
Passive tree Ability Haste rune (+8 Ability Haste).
Passive tree Adaptive Force rune (+9 Adaptive Force).
Passive tree Move Speed rune (+2 Movement Speed).
Passive tree Health Scaling rune (+10-180 Health (based on level)).
Passive tree Health rune (+65 Health).
Passive tree Tenacity And Slow Resist rune (+10 Tenacity and Slow Resist).
Passive tree Health Scaling rune (+10-180 Health (based on level)).

How it works

General
  1. You rush Thornmail.
  2. You go full Armor.
  3. Hit or miss. Works only if an enemy team is full of physical damage dealers (preferably auto-attackers).
  4. If an enemy team is full of mages/AP damage, play regular tank build instead.

How to play

General
  1. How is this Thornmail build for Malphite different to regular tank builds? Item order, Armor stacking and countering enemy physical damage dealers!
  2. This build is aimed to counter AD comps. Since you don't know the enemy team, you need to adapt in game. It is hit or miss. If they are heavy AP - just play regular tank.
  3. Late game, you can consider selling boots for 6th item - for even more sweet Thornmail damage!
  4. Remember to consume your Grasp of the Undying procs!
Malphite Thornmail specific
  1. You can rush Thornmail as the first item against a full AD team.
  2. Against AD team, you can max E, or even W for sweet Thornmail damage.
  3. You are the spikiest when your Granite Shield (Passive) is up, thanks to tons of additional Armor from your Thunderclap (W).
  4. You don't need boots for this build. You have good mobility - Q for speed, Snowball/Ult for reach.

Tips and Tricks

General
  1. You can surprise enemies by facing other directions before using your Unstoppable Force (R).
  2. Universal skill order: default Q, E for countering auto attackers, W for Armor stacking builds.
  3. Wait for your Granite Shield (Passive) to be up, before engaging or going in and to prevent poke. You will be more tanky and survive longer.
Riot
  1. Armor naturally reduces the rate that attacks go through Granite Shield, so Brutal Strikes will strengthen the shield against physical damage.
  2. Despite his abilities scaling on Armor, some games require Malphite to get Magic Resist. When those games occur, try getting Aegis of the Legion, Mercury's Treads, and Guardian Angel.

Skill Order

  • Malphite [object Object] ability.
    Q
    Seismic Shard
  • Malphite [object Object] ability.
    W
    Thunderclap
  • Malphite [object Object] ability.
    E
    Ground Slam
  • Malphite [object Object] ability.
    R
    Unstoppable Force

Items

Starting items
Bramble Vest item.
Ruby Crystal item.
Rush this
Thornmail item.
Good tank items
Warmog's Armor item.
Fimbulwinter item.
Jak'Sho, The Protean item.
Good MR items
Hollow Radiance item.
Spirit Visage item.
Abyssal Mask item.
Kaenic Rookern item.
Force of Nature item.
Good Armor items
Iceborn Gauntlet item.
Frozen Heart item.
Dead Man's Plate item.
Sunfire Aegis item.
Randuin's Omen item.
Thornmail item.
Unending Despair item.
Situational items
Titanic Hydra item.
Zhonya's Hourglass item.
For the last fight
Additional considerations for these items is advised!
Elixir of Iron item.
Elixir of Sorcery item.
Example final build
Thornmail item.
Abyssal Mask item.
Randuin's Omen item.
Jak'Sho, The Protean item.
Dead Man's Plate item.
Sunfire Aegis item.