Matchup

Heavy AD damageHigh burstCountered by stasisDive threat

Build vs Zed

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Doran's Blade
Health Potion

Core build

Eclipse
1DPS
Death's Dance
2vs AD
Maw of Malmortius
3vs AP

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Spear of Shojin
5Bruiser

Summoner spells

41478%
41217%

Anti AD

Plated Steelcaps
4vs AD
Guardian Angel
5vs AD
Randuin's Omen
vs AD
Dead Man's Plate
vs AD

Anti AP

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC
Spirit Visage
5vs AP

Anti Tank

Black Cleaver
5vs Tank
Voltaic Cyclosword
vs Tank
Profane Hydra
vs Tank
Serpent's Fang
vs Tank
Youmuu's Ghostblade
vs Tank

DPS

Spear of Shojin
Bruiser
Stridebreaker
Bruiser
Sundered Sky
Bruiser
Blade of The Ruined King
DPS
Endless Hunger
DPS

Other options

Sterak's Gage
Survival
Zeke's Convergence
Tank
Bramble Vest
100.0% WR2 games
PrecisionPrecision
ConquerorConqueror
TriumphTriumph
Legend: AlacrityLegend: Alacrity
Last StandLast Stand
ResolveResolve
UnflinchingUnflinching
Bone PlatingBone Plating
Adaptive ForceAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
RenektonRenekton
ZedZed
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral

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