Jax vs Zaahen
You are stronger late game. Farm safe and avoid early trades.
Build vs Zaahen
The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup
Recommended items for Jax: Trinity Force, Sundered Sky, Zhonya's Hourglass, Plated Steelcaps, Blade of The Ruined King, Death's Dance, Sterak's Gage, Guardian Angel.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Zaahen's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Zaahen's attacks and abilities against enemy champions grant him stacks of Determination, gaining bonus Attack Damage per stack. When filled with Determination, Zaahen gains increased Attack Damage and can revive.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 10s | 14s | 10s | – |
| 6 | 8s | 14s | 10s | 1m50 |
| 9 | 6s | 13.5s | 10s | 1m50 |
| 11 | 6s | 13s | 10s | 1m35 |
| 16 | 6s | 12s | 9s | 1m20 |
| 18 | 6s | 12s | 8s | 1m20 |
Playing as Jax
Tips to maximize your impact
- Start trades with Counter Strike
Start your trades with Counter Strike (E): you dodge autos and take less area damage, and each dodged auto adds damage to the stunning counterattack.
- Look for long trades
Look for long trades: each consecutive auto increases your attack speed thanks to Relentless Assault (passive).
- Ward hop to escape
To escape, place a ward and jump to it with Leap Strike (Q): it can target any unit or ward, allied or enemy.
- Activate your R up close
Activate Grandmaster-at-Arms (R) up close: it only grants armor and magic resist if it hits a champion, and your bonus hits then land every other auto.
Playing against Zaahen
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Get out of his stab's line
Get out of the line of Dreaded Return (W): the stab damages you, then pulls you toward him for a second hit.
- Back off after his first Glaive
Back off once he has cast The Darkin Glaive (Q): if he recasts the spell, his next auto knocks you into the air.
- Avoid the edge of his slice
Avoid the edge of the Aureate Rush (E) slice: at the tip, you take bonus damage based on your max health.
- Plan to kill him twice
Save spells to finish him a second time: at max Determination stacks, Cultivation of War (passive) can bring him back to life.
Patch 16.21.1