Sylas vs Zed
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
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 Sylas
Tips to maximize your impact
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- 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 Sylas matchups
Patch 16.21.1