Matchup

Heavy AD damageHigh burstCountered by stasisDive threat

You are stronger late game — farm safe and avoid early trades.

Build vs Zed

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Doran's Blade
Health Potion

Core build

Experimental Hexplate
1Bruiser
Essence Reaver
2DPS
Infinity Edge
3DPS

Standard

Berserker's Greaves
4AS
Blade of The Ruined King
5DPS

Summoner spells

4647%
3438%

Anti AD

Plated Steelcaps
4vs AD
Jak'Sho, The Protean
5vs Hybride
Randuin's Omen
vs AD
Guardian Angel
vs AD

Anti Heal

Mortal Reminder
6vs Hybride

Anti AP

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

Anti Tank

Terminus
5vs Tank
Lord Dominik's Regards
vs Tank
Voltaic Cyclosword
vs Tank
Hubris
vs Tank

DPS

Blade of The Ruined King
DPS
Stormrazor
DPS
Trinity Force
DPS
Fiendhunter Bolts
DPS
Kraken Slayer
DPS
Phantom Dancer
DPS
Immortal Shieldbow
DPS
Hexoptics C44
DPS

Other options

Guinsoo's Rageblade
100.0% WR4 games
PrecisionPrecision
Lethal TempoLethal Tempo
TriumphTriumph
Legend: AlacrityLegend: Alacrity
Coup de GraceCoup de Grace
ResolveResolve
ConditioningConditioning
OvergrowthOvergrowth
Attack SpeedAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
VayneVayne
ZedZed
Passive
Neutral
Aggressive

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