Matchup

Heavy AD damageSustained DPS

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

Build vs Zeri

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Doran's Shield
Health Potion

Core build

Hextech Rocketbelt
1Mage tank
Dusk and Dawn
2Mage tank
Zhonya's Hourglass
3vs AD

Standard

Sorcerer's Shoes
4Magic pen
Riftmaker
5Mage tank

Summoner spells

41450%
61250%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Anti Tank

Void Staff
5vs Tank
Stormsurge
vs Tank

DPS

Riftmaker
Mage tank
Nashor's Tooth
DPS
Rabadon's Deathcap
Mage
Cosmic Drive
Mage tank
0.0% WR1 games
PrecisionPrecision
ConquerorConqueror
Presence of MindPresence of Mind
Legend: AlacrityLegend: Alacrity
Coup de GraceCoup de Grace
InspirationInspiration
Magical FootwearMagical Footwear
Cosmic InsightCosmic Insight
Attack SpeedAdaptive ForceHealth

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
GwenGwen
ZeriZeri
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral

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