Matchup

Heavy AD damageHigh burstCountered by stasisDive threat

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

Build vs Zed

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Doran's Blade
Health Potion

Core build

Titanic Hydra
1Bruiser
Blade of The Ruined King
2DPS
The Collector
3vs Tank

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Terminus
5vs Tank

Summoner spells

414100%

Anti AD

Plated Steelcaps
4vs AD
Death's Dance
5vs AD
Guardian Angel
vs AD

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Anti Tank

Terminus
5vs Tank
Profane Hydra
vs Tank
Lord Dominik's Regards
vs Tank

DPS

Kraken Slayer
DPS
Infinity Edge
DPS
Experimental Hexplate
Bruiser

Other options

Guinsoo's Rageblade
100.0% WR1 games
DominationDomination
Hail of BladesHail of Blades
Sudden ImpactSudden Impact
Grisly MementosGrisly Mementos
Treasure HunterTreasure Hunter
PrecisionPrecision
Legend: AlacrityLegend: Alacrity
TriumphTriumph
Attack SpeedAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
MasterYiMaster Yi
ZedZed
Passive
Neutral
Aggressive

Zed's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Contempt for the Weak (P)

Zed's basic attacks against low health targets deals bonus Magic Damage. This effect can only occur once every few seconds against the same enemy champion.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
36s20s5s
66s20s5s2m
96s19s5s2m
116s18s5s1m50
166s16s4s1m40
186s16s3s1m40

Playing against Zed

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

1

Buy Zhonya's Hourglass: it completely negates Death Mark damage if activated before the pop triggers.

2

After his R, Zed always reappears behind you — place your CC or skillshot at that spot to hit him as soon as he exits invulnerability.

3

If Zed uses his W (shadow) in lane, he loses all his trade potential for 20s — punish him aggressively.

4

Control Wards and Oracle Lens disable his shadow vision-wise, but his W is still a dash — focus on timing his cooldowns instead.

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