Matchup

Heavy AP damageHeavy CCSustained DPSHeavy poke

Build vs Zyra

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Doran's Ring
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Liandry's Torment
1Mage tank
Bloodletter's Curse
2vs Tank
Zhonya's Hourglass
3vs AD

Standard

Sorcerer's Shoes
4Magic pen
Shadowflame
5vs Tank

Summoner spells

41467%
41233%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Anti Tank

Shadowflame
5vs Tank

DPS

Hextech Rocketbelt
Mage tank
Rabadon's Deathcap
Mage
Riftmaker
Mage tank

Other options

Dark Seal
Morellonomicon
vs Heal
100.0% WR1 games
SorcerySorcery
Deathfire TouchDeathfire Touch
Nimbus CloakNimbus Cloak
Absolute FocusAbsolute Focus
ScorchScorch
ResolveResolve
UnflinchingUnflinching
Bone PlatingBone Plating
Adaptive ForceAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
RumbleRumble
ZyraZyra
Aggressive
Careful
Careful

Zyra's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Garden of Thorns (P)

Seeds spawn around Zyra periodically, becoming faster with level. Zyra can cast Deadly Spines or Grasping Roots near seeds to grow plants, who fight for Zyra.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
37s0s11s
66s0s11s1m50
95s0s11s1m50
115s0s11s1m40
165s0s11s1m30
185s0s11s1m30

Playing against Zyra

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

1

Destroy her plants by auto-attacking them (1-2 autos) — without plants, her damage is significantly reduced.

2

Her E root is a linear skillshot: stay behind minions or side-step.

3

Zyra is extremely squishy: direct engages kill her in one combo.

4

Her R has a 2s delay before the knockup: get out of the zone if you can, or Flash.

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