Vel'Koz vs Zoe
You are stronger late game. Farm safe and avoid early trades.
Build vs Zoe
The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup
Recommended items for Vel'Koz: Luden's Echo, Shadowflame, Zhonya's Hourglass, Sorcerer's Shoes, Blackfire Torch, Horizon Focus, Banshee's Veil, Dark Seal.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Zoe's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Zoe's next basic attack after casting a spell deals bonus magic damage.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 8.5s | 0.25s | 18s | – |
| 6 | 7.5s | 0.25s | 18s | 11s |
| 9 | 6.5s | 0.25s | 18s | 11s |
| 11 | 6.5s | 0.25s | 18s | 8s |
| 16 | 6.5s | 0.25s | 16s | 5s |
| 18 | 6.5s | 0.25s | 14s | 5s |
Playing as Vel'Koz
Tips to maximize your impact
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 Zoe
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Dodge her bubble
Dodge Sleepy Trouble Bubble (E): asleep, you take double damage from the hit that wakes you, often her Paddle Star! (Q).
- Aim at her return point
During Portal Jump (R), aim at her starting position: she returns there after 1 second, and can't move in the meantime.
- Don't step on her bubbles
Don't walk onto a bubble left on the ground: a Sleepy Trouble Bubble (E) that hits nothing turns into a trap.
- Ward behind the walls
Ward the hidden spots behind walls near your lane: Sleepy Trouble Bubble (E) reaches farther over a wall, and Zoe hides there to set it up.
Other Vel'Koz matchups
Patch 16.21.1