Matchup

Heavy AD damageSustained DPS

Build vs Zeri

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Doran's Ring
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Luden's Echo
1Mage
Shadowflame
2vs Tank
Rabadon's Deathcap
3Mage

Standard

Sorcerer's Shoes
4Magic pen
Malignance
5Mage

Summoner spells

41258%
41441%

Anti AD

Plated Steelcaps
4vs AD
Zhonya's Hourglass
5vs AD

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Anti Tank

Stormsurge
5vs Tank
Void Staff
vs Tank

DPS

Malignance
Mage
Hextech Rocketbelt
Mage tank
Blackfire Torch
Mage
Cosmic Drive
Mage tank

Other options

Mejai's Soulstealer
100.0% WR2 games
DominationDomination
ElectrocuteElectrocute
Taste of BloodTaste of Blood
Grisly MementosGrisly Mementos
Ultimate HunterUltimate Hunter
SorcerySorcery
TranscendenceTranscendence
Manaflow BandManaflow Band
Attack SpeedAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
AhriAhri
ZeriZeri
Aggressive
Neutral
Passive

Zeri's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Living Battery (P)

Zeri's Attacks deal magic damage and are treated as Abilities. Moving and casting Burst Fire stores up energy in Zeri's Sparkpack. When fully charged her next Attack deals bonus damage.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
30s12s24s
60s12s24s1m20
90s11s24s1m20
110s10s24s1m15
160s8s21s1m10
180s8s18s1m10

Playing against Zeri

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

1

Point-and-click CC is the best counter to Zeri: she's too mobile for skillshots when her R is active.

2

Her E can go through walls but has a long cooldown — punish her after the dash.

3

Zeri is weak in the early game and needs items to be effective — force fights early.

4

Her R speed disappears out of combat — disengage and re-engage when R expires.

Source: op.gg + LTL Engine · Patch 16.9.1 · May 9, 2026