Sylas vs Zed

Sylas
vs
Not enough games
Zed
High burstCountered by stasisHeavy AD damageDive threat

Build vs Zed

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

Recommended items for Sylas: Hextech Rocketbelt, Riftmaker, Zhonya's Hourglass, Ionian Boots of Lucidity, Dark Seal, Shadowflame, Bloodletter's Curse, Lich Bane.

Starting items

Doran's Ring
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Hextech Rocketbelt
1
Riftmaker
2
Zhonya's Hourglass
3

Standard

Ionian Boots of Lucidity
4CDR
Dark Seal
5

Summoner spells

FlashDot74%
FlashTeleport18%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Dark Seal
Shadowflame
Bloodletter's Curse
Lich Bane
Stormsurge
Seeker's Armguard
Dusk and Dawn
Rabadon's Deathcap
Cosmic Drive
Banshee's Veil
PrecisionPrecision
ConquerorConqueror
Presence of MindPresence of Mind
Legend: HasteLegend: Haste
Last StandLast Stand
ResolveResolve
UnflinchingUnflinching
Second WindSecond Wind
Adaptive ForceAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

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 as Sylas

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. An auto after each spell

    Weave an auto after each spell: Petricite Burst (passive) turns it into a chain swing around you, with bonus magic damage.

  2. Save Kingslayer for low health

    Save Kingslayer (W) to finish or to save yourself when your health drops: its healing grows with your missing health.

  3. Abscond, then throw your chain

    To engage, cast Abscond (E), then recast within 3.5 seconds: Abduct (E) pulls you to the first enemy hit and knocks them into the air.

  4. Steal the ult that decides the fight

    Cast Hijack (R) on the enemy whose ult can turn a teamfight: you keep a copy of it, cast with your own stats.

Playing against Zed

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

Patch 16.21.1