Malphite vs Riven Top Matchup

Why Malphite is favored

Riven's short trades and all-ins rely on physical hits and passive-empowered attacks; Malphite's armor reduces that damage, while Ground Slam(E) cuts the attack speed she uses to weave those attacks. Once Malphite survives the early levels and buys armor, Riven has a much harder time turning early pressure into a lasting duel advantage.

How to play as Malphite

Survive Riven's early pressure without giving her a kill before your first armor purchase. Afterward, use Ground Slam(E) to slow her attack speed and avoid chasing her away from the wave; save Unstoppable Force(R) for a clear fight.

Riven's damage is almost entirely physical, so Malphite's armor purchases blunt her burst and make repeated duels less favorable for her.

Ground Slam(E) reduces enemy attack speed, limiting how many passive-empowered basic attacks Riven can weave into a trade.

How to play as Riven

Use the early levels to pressure Malphite before he buys armor; once he has Plated Steelcaps or another armor component, protect your health and farm through the wave, proxying or roaming instead of forcing repeated duels.

Sources

These notes come from r/Rivenmains and r/malphitemains, checked against the champions' abilities.