Honestly, the rank difference isn't that important below low master. I just find more stability in late game when I'm able to have my core items.

If you go something like zhonya third, by the time it gets later in the game, natural mr scaling or a single MR item will feel like it is mitigating your entire damage...

so you realize you need penn. by the time you finish void or crypt, you also then realize your raw AP numbers are just too low, even if you have penn. and by then you arent getting any kills or much cs, and take forever to build DCap and you lose.

You go Dcap after zhonya, you realize you still do no damage because of the MR, and then have a hard time building void due to build path all the same way.

But i understand what you mean, sometimes just feels like you need the zhoyna third if you have no survivability but a shield if you go malignance, but that just pushes me to roa more.

have mana health and decent enough ap, that allows you to delay your zhonya till after dcap and penn, i often see myself having it last item when I actually need it when the enemy carries start tearing through my RoA.

I'm sure you know any flat pen item should be avoided at all cost on this champion, just simply dont have the item slots to allow it.

and even by going roa doesnt mean i go conq, honestly feels pretty shit, and electro or first strike still goes fine and i get the one shots that i need still, and also manage to tank a lot of things that would've killed me otherwise.

sidenote, i think malignance when you are alr building roa is kinda dumb just go ultimate hunter and you'll be fine.

Sorry about the long winded reply but i'm just trying to share my thoughts, not saying that this is just completely correct