Matchup

Heavy AP damageHeavy CCSustained DPSHeavy poke

You are stronger late game — farm safe and avoid early trades.

Build vs Zyra

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Doran's Ring
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Hextech Rocketbelt
1Mage tank
Zhonya's Hourglass
2vs AD
Mejai's Soulstealer
3

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Hollow Radiance
5vs AP

Summoner spells

41253%
41433%

Anti AD

Plated Steelcaps
4vs AD
Frozen Heart
5vs AD

Anti Heal

Thornmail
6vs Hybride

Anti AP

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC
Hollow Radiance
5vs AP

Anti Tank

Shadowflame
5vs Tank
Stormsurge
vs Tank

DPS

Riftmaker
Mage tank
Rabadon's Deathcap
Mage
Lich Bane
Mage
100.0% WR1 games
SorcerySorcery
Stormraider's SurgeStormraider's Surge
Manaflow BandManaflow Band
TranscendenceTranscendence
ScorchScorch
ResolveResolve
UnflinchingUnflinching
Second WindSecond Wind
Adaptive ForceAdaptive ForceHealth

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
GalioGalio
ZyraZyra
Neutral
Neutral
Favorable

Zyra's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Garden of Thorns (P)

Seeds spawn around Zyra periodically, becoming faster with level. Zyra can cast Deadly Spines or Grasping Roots near seeds to grow plants, who fight for Zyra.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
37s0s11s
66s0s11s1m50
95s0s11s1m50
115s0s11s1m40
165s0s11s1m30
185s0s11s1m30

Playing against Zyra

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

1

Destroy her plants by auto-attacking them (1-2 autos) — without plants, her damage is significantly reduced.

2

Her E root is a linear skillshot: stay behind minions or side-step.

3

Zyra is extremely squishy: direct engages kill her in one combo.

4

Her R has a 2s delay before the knockup: get out of the zone if you can, or Flash.

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