Mordekaiser vs Zed
Build vs Zed
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Mordekaiser: Rylai's Crystal Scepter, Riftmaker, Liandry's Torment, Plated Steelcaps, Zhonya's Hourglass, Thornmail, Dusk and Dawn, Experimental Hexplate.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Zed's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
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
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 6s | 20s | 5s | – |
| 6 | 6s | 20s | 5s | 2m |
| 9 | 6s | 19s | 5s | 2m |
| 11 | 6s | 18s | 5s | 1m50 |
| 16 | 6s | 16s | 4s | 1m40 |
| 18 | 6s | 16s | 3s | 1m40 |
Playing as Mordekaiser
Tips to maximize your impact
- Hit a lone enemy with your Q
Aim Obliterate (Q) at a lone enemy: if only one enemy is hit, the damage increases.
- Activate your passive, then stay close
Hit champions or monsters three times, then stay close: Darkness Rise (passive) then surrounds you with a damage aura and gives you move speed.
- Pull them into your Q
Pull your targets into the Obliterate (Q) zone with Death's Grasp (E): each spell that hits also counts toward Darkness Rise (passive).
- Tank with Indestructible
Cast Indestructible (W) when you're taking damage: it turns stored damage into a shield, and a recast converts part of it into health.
- Isolate the carry in your R
Cast Realm of Death (R) on their carry, or their jungler near an objective: you isolate them with you, steal part of their stats, and keep them if you kill them.
Playing against Zed
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Trade when his shadow is down
Take a trade when he has used Living Shadow (W): while it's on cooldown, he has no double shuriken and no way out.
- Don't stay in lane at low health
Back rather than staying in lane at low health against him: Contempt for the Weak (passive) adds magic damage to his autos against low-health targets.
- Get ready for his mark to pop
If you have invulnerability or a shield, use it right before Death Mark (R) pops, 3 seconds after his dash: it repeats part of the damage he dealt you.
- Watch the shadow from his mark
After his dash onto you, spot the shadow left at his starting point: if he recasts Death Mark (R), that's where he reappears.
Other Mordekaiser matchups
Patch 16.21.1