Matchup

Heavy AD damageHigh burstCountered by stasisDive threat

Build vs Zed

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Doran's Ring
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Stridebreaker
1Bruiser
Spear of Shojin
2Bruiser
Death's Dance
3vs AD

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Hullbreaker
5Bruiser

Summoner spells

41452%
41230%

Anti AD

Plated Steelcaps
4vs AD
Unending Despair
5vs AD
Iceborn Gauntlet
vs AD
Dead Man's Plate
vs AD
Randuin's Omen
vs AD

Anti AP

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC
Spirit Visage
5vs AP

DPS

Hullbreaker
Bruiser
Liandry's Torment
Mage tank
Malignance
Mage
Trinity Force
DPS
Hextech Rocketbelt
Mage tank
Rabadon's Deathcap
Mage
Cosmic Drive
Mage tank
Riftmaker
Mage tank

Other options

Fimbulwinter
Survival
Jak'Sho, The Protean
vs Hybride
100.0% WR1 games
ResolveResolve
Grasp of the UndyingGrasp of the Undying
Shield BashShield Bash
Second WindSecond Wind
RevitalizeRevitalize
InspirationInspiration
Triple TonicTriple Tonic
Approach VelocityApproach Velocity
Adaptive ForceAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
UdyrUdyr
ZedZed
Passive
Favorable
Favorable

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