Locke vs Zoe

Locke
vs
Not enough games
Zoe
High burstHeavy AP damageCountered by spell shieldHeavy poke

You are stronger early. Look to snowball before your opponent scales.

Build vs Zoe

The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup

Recommended items for Locke: Lich Bane, Shadowflame, Zhonya's Hourglass, Sorcerer's Shoes, Rabadon's Deathcap, Void Staff, Banshee's Veil, Stormsurge.

Starting items

Scorchclaw Pup
Health Potion

Core build

Lich Bane
1
Shadowflame
2
Zhonya's Hourglass
3

Standard

Sorcerer's Shoes
4Magic pen
Rabadon's Deathcap
5

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Rabadon's Deathcap
Void Staff
Banshee's Veil
Stormsurge

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Zoe's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

More Sparkles! (P)

Zoe's next basic attack after casting a spell deals bonus magic damage.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
38.5s0.25s18s–
67.5s0.25s18s11s
96.5s0.25s18s11s
116.5s0.25s18s8s
166.5s0.25s16s5s
186.5s0.25s14s5s

Playing as Locke

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Nails first, then Pursuit

    Cast Ritual Nails (Q) before Ashen Pursuit (E): your hits consume the nails stuck in the target, and each extra nail adds damage.

  2. Finish them with autos

    Finish off wounded targets with autos: Silver Stake (passive) adds magic damage that grows with their missing health.

  3. Activate W as the trade starts

    Activate Soul Ignition (W) at the start of a trade: it costs you health, but at the end, you heal back part of the last damage taken, plus more based on your missing health.

  4. Save E for a kill or a gank

    Save Ashen Pursuit (E) for a sure kill or to escape a gank: it's your only instant movement, it has a 10-second cooldown, and only a takedown resets it.

  5. Save Purgatory to finish

    Save Purgatory (R) to finish: it seals marked enemies below a health threshold, and when you pick up the artifact, each sealed champion raises that threshold for good.

Playing against Zoe

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Dodge her bubble

    Dodge Sleepy Trouble Bubble (E): asleep, you take double damage from the hit that wakes you, often her Paddle Star! (Q).

  2. Aim at her return point

    During Portal Jump (R), aim at her starting position: she returns there after 1 second, and can't move in the meantime.

  3. Don't step on her bubbles

    Don't walk onto a bubble left on the ground: a Sleepy Trouble Bubble (E) that hits nothing turns into a trap.

  4. Ward behind the walls

    Ward the hidden spots behind walls near your lane: Sleepy Trouble Bubble (E) reaches farther over a wall, and Zoe hides there to set it up.

Patch 16.21.1