Vel'Koz vs Zed

Vel'Koz
vs
52.7%

over 55 games

Zed

Skill matchup

High burstCountered by stasisHeavy AD damageDive threat

You are stronger late game. Farm safe and avoid early trades.

Build vs Zed

Build adapted to this matchup

Recommended items for Vel'Koz: Luden's Echo, Shadowflame, Zhonya's Hourglass, Sorcerer's Shoes, Blackfire Torch, Rabadon's Deathcap, Dark Seal, Liandry's Torment.

Starting items

Doran's Ring
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Luden's Echo
1
Shadowflame
2
Zhonya's Hourglass
3

Standard

Sorcerer's Shoes
4Magic pen
Blackfire Torch
5

Summoner spells

FlashBarrier44%
FlashTeleport28%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Blackfire Torch
Rabadon's Deathcap
Dark Seal
Liandry's Torment
Horizon Focus
Stormsurge
Seeker's Armguard
Malignance
Oblivion Orb
Void Staff
Seraph's Embrace
Banshee's Veil
33.3% WR6 games
SorcerySorcery
Arcane CometArcane Comet
Manaflow BandManaflow Band
TranscendenceTranscendence
ScorchScorch
DominationDomination
Ultimate HunterUltimate Hunter
Cheap ShotCheap Shot
Adaptive ForceAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

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 as Vel'Koz

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Three spells for the burst

    Hit the same target with three spells: at three stacks, Organic Deconstruction (passive) bursts and deals true damage to them.

  2. Poke and farm with your rift

    Stay back and poke with Void Rift (W): its two charges let you kill minions while stacking your passive on your opponent.

  3. Split your plasma to hit at an angle

    Recast Plasma Fission (Q) to split it: the two bolts fly off at 90 degrees, which lets you hit a target hiding behind their minions.

  4. Start your ray after a knock-up

    Cast Life Form Disintegration Ray (R) after the Tectonic Disruption (E) knock-up: your target can't escape, and the ray deals true damage to targets of Organic Deconstruction (passive).

Playing against Zed

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

Patch 16.21.1