I know we're all a little nervous about the preseason changes, but let's stay positive!

See, the thing about Malzahar mains (and mage players in general) is that we are really titchy about our favorite champions. We tend to like to be special snowflakes in a blizzard of ADC/assassin players, so whenever changes are discussed we just get really nervous that they're going to break our champ.

If you look at the stink Karma mains broke when the rework hit (I guarantee you there were maybe 5 actual karma mains complaining and 1000 people just crying because the status quo got broken), or what Cass mains whined about when those changes hit, you can easily see what I mean. We just really like our combos and playstyles. But sometimes we miss the fact that there are things that are just plain wrong or bad about our favorite champions, and a rework could really help them.

I like Malzahar's kit. I really do. I don't see much of a way to change it. Whatever Riot might have planned is a total mystery to me. However, I think we need to keep a few points in mind, as Malz mains.

Number one: A rework could expose or emphasize Malzahar's high skill ceiling.

As mains, we know that Malzahar has a fairly high skill ceiling, and that it's hard to get bored playing the champion. I always feel useful, and I always feel like I have some trick up my sleeve (mainly thanks to voidlings). However, to most League players, Malz is a toxic and boring champion. Many people pick malz and do this:

1. E the wave.
2. Sit under turret.
3. Let your 30% efficiency free CS^(TM) roll in
4. If someone tries to attack you, press all your buttons on them. They die.
5. Strangle the lane all the way to the nexus and pray nobody buys a QSS.

As mains, we should be hoping for an end to this practice. A higher-skill rework will be a pain for us temporarily, but we're going to come out of it 10x stronger because a.) high skill champions are stronger and b.) people will stop being idiots and playing Malzahar the ez (and broken) way.

Number two: A rework will bring Malzahar closer in line with his champion concept.

Malzahar is a void prophet. Right now his skills are reasonably in line with this concept...but it could be even more.

His schtick is stopping people from doing things while his personal Void army and horrific Void spells rip them apart at the seams. Riot knows this. They aren't going to change the things that make Malzahar Malzahar.

What they might change is his overall direction. If they decide to rework Malzahar, they could potentially change a lot of his mechanics. I can easily guesstimate that Riot could:

1. Emphasize timing and prediction. He's called a Void Prophet, not a Void Reactionary, after all. Prophets predict things.
2. Emphasize his utility. Right now his only hard crowd control spell is his ultimate. While it's a decently defining ultimate, with many strengths, it is just one spell.
3. Emphasize his voidlings. I'm salivating just thinking about what Riot might be able to do on the voidling-micro front. Voidlings could have a spell that shoots a laser, or a leap, or a special attack that they use - just like Heimer turrets. I'd love new and interesting ways to control voidlings. He has 4 spells+an autoattack, after all!

Number three: A rework could emphasize Malzahar's sex appeal.

Let's all be honest with ourselves. We play this champion because he is a sexy beast. Don't lie to me and say you haven't spent at least one loading-screen's worth of time staring at his juicy thick biceps and chiseled abdominal wall.

(I actually don't think this is going to happen...but Swolezahar is definitely real.)

Number Four: The mage rework will come with item additions and changes which could greatly benefit Malzahar.

Just look at Lucian. He went almost completely untouched in the ADC reworks, but he's top tier again because the new items are great on him.

Malzahar also has strong wave-control identity and is known and loved for his high %maxhp damage. Those things won't be going away - just look at the Poppy rework for a good example of how the toxic and annoying elements were reworked into something a little more fair but still fun. That tanky little midget shit is going to be pretty much just as unkillable as she used to be...