Matchup

Heavy CCCountered by spell shieldHeavy AP damage

Build vs Zilean

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Doran's Ring
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Statikk Shiv
1DPS
Nashor's Tooth
2DPS
Liandry's Torment
3Mage tank

Standard

Sorcerer's Shoes
4Magic pen
Malignance
5Mage

Summoner spells

41490%
4127%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Anti Tank

Shadowflame
5vs Tank
Void Staff
vs Tank
Stormsurge
vs Tank

DPS

Malignance
Mage
Rabadon's Deathcap
Mage
Dusk and Dawn
Mage tank
Blackfire Torch
Mage

Other options

Dark Seal
Morellonomicon
vs Heal
100.0% WR2 games
PrecisionPrecision
Press the AttackPress the Attack
TriumphTriumph
Legend: AlacrityLegend: Alacrity
Last StandLast Stand
ResolveResolve
OvergrowthOvergrowth
Bone PlatingBone Plating
Attack SpeedAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
TeemoTeemo
ZileanZilean
Careful
Careful
Aggressive

Zilean's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Time In A Bottle (P)

Zilean stores time as Experience and can grant it to his allies. When he has enough Experience to finish an ally's level up, he can right-click them to impart it. Zilean receives as much Experience as he gives.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
310s14s15s
69s14s15s2m
98s12s15s2m
118s10s15s1m30
168s6s15s1m
188s6s15s1m

Playing against Zilean

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

1

Track his R (revive): it has a long cooldown (120-60s). Engage when it's on CD.

2

If an enemy has Zilean's R (golden aura), don't burst that target — focus someone else and come back after.

3

Double bombs are his only CC: if he misses, he has nothing impactful left.

4

Focus Zilean first in fights to prevent him from R'ing his carry.

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