Matchup

Heavy AD damageSustained DPS

Build vs Zeri

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Gustwalker Hatchling

Core build

Dark Seal
1
Redemption
2
Moonstone Renewer
3HP

Standard

Ionian Boots of Lucidity
4CDR
Echoes of Helia
5HP

Summoner spells

411100%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

DPS

Cosmic Drive
Mage tank
Rylai's Crystal Scepter
Mage tank

Other options

Echoes of Helia
HP
Dawncore
Ardent Censer
Shurelya's Battlesong
Mejai's Soulstealer
100.0% WR1 games
SorcerySorcery
Summon AerySummon Aery
Nimbus CloakNimbus Cloak
TranscendenceTranscendence
WaterwalkingWaterwalking
DominationDomination
Relentless HunterRelentless Hunter
Grisly MementosGrisly Mementos
Ability HasteAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
IvernIvern
ZeriZeri
Favorable
Favorable
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