Matchup

Heavy CCCountered by spell shieldHeavy AP damage

Build vs Zilean

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Doran's Helm
Health Potion

Core build

Iceborn Gauntlet
1vs AD
Jak'Sho, The Protean
2vs Hybride
Thornmail
3vs Hybride

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Kaenic Rookern
5vs AP

Summoner spells

41279%
41412%

Anti AD

Plated Steelcaps
4vs AD
Randuin's Omen
5vs AD
Unending Despair
vs AD
Dead Man's Plate
vs AD

Anti AP

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC
Kaenic Rookern
5vs AP
Spirit Visage
vs AP
Force of Nature
vs AP

Other options

Zeke's Convergence
Tank
Protoplasm Harness
Survival
100.0% WR2 games
ResolveResolve
Grasp of the UndyingGrasp of the Undying
Shield BashShield Bash
Second WindSecond Wind
OvergrowthOvergrowth
PrecisionPrecision
Last StandLast Stand
TriumphTriumph
Attack SpeedHealth ScalingHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
KSanteK'Sante
ZileanZilean
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral

Zilean's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Time In A Bottle (P)

Zilean stores time as Experience and can grant it to his allies. When he has enough Experience to finish an ally's level up, he can right-click them to impart it. Zilean receives as much Experience as he gives.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
310s14s15s
69s14s15s2m
98s12s15s2m
118s10s15s1m30
168s6s15s1m
188s6s15s1m

Playing against Zilean

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

1

Track his R (revive): it has a long cooldown (120-60s). Engage when it's on CD.

2

If an enemy has Zilean's R (golden aura), don't burst that target — focus someone else and come back after.

3

Double bombs are his only CC: if he misses, he has nothing impactful left.

4

Focus Zilean first in fights to prevent him from R'ing his carry.

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