Matchup

Heavy AD damageHigh burstCountered by stasisDive threat

You are stronger early — look to snowball before your opponent scales.

Build vs Zed

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Doran's Blade
Health Potion

Core build

Ravenous Hydra
1DPS
Yun Tal Wildarrows
2DPS
Infinity Edge
3DPS

Standard

Berserker's Greaves
4AS
Lord Dominik's Regards
5vs Tank

Summoner spells

41476%
4618%

Anti AD

Plated Steelcaps
4vs AD
Death's Dance
5vs AD
Guardian Angel
vs AD

Anti Heal

Mortal Reminder
6vs Hybride

Anti AP

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC
Mercurial Scimitar
5vs AP

Anti Tank

Lord Dominik's Regards
5vs Tank
Profane Hydra
vs Tank
The Collector
vs Tank
Serylda's Grudge
vs Tank
Voltaic Cyclosword
vs Tank

DPS

Phantom Dancer
DPS
Essence Reaver
DPS
Navori Flickerblade
DPS
Blade of The Ruined King
DPS
Kraken Slayer
DPS
Endless Hunger
DPS
Stridebreaker
Bruiser
100.0% WR2 games
DominationDomination
Hail of BladesHail of Blades
Sudden ImpactSudden Impact
Grisly MementosGrisly Mementos
Treasure HunterTreasure Hunter
PrecisionPrecision
Last StandLast Stand
Legend: AlacrityLegend: Alacrity
Adaptive ForceAdaptive ForceHealth

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
TryndamereTryndamere
ZedZed
Careful
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