Vel'Koz vs Zoe

Vel'Koz
vs
Not enough games
Zoe
High burstHeavy AP damageCountered by spell shieldHeavy poke

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

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

FlashTeleport43%
FlashBarrier36%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Blackfire Torch
Horizon Focus
Banshee's Veil
Dark Seal
Rabadon's Deathcap
Stormsurge
Void Staff
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

Zoe's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

More Sparkles! (P)

Zoe's next basic attack after casting a spell deals bonus magic damage.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
38.5s0.25s18s–
67.5s0.25s18s11s
96.5s0.25s18s11s
116.5s0.25s18s8s
166.5s0.25s16s5s
186.5s0.25s14s5s

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 Zoe

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Dodge her bubble

    Dodge Sleepy Trouble Bubble (E): asleep, you take double damage from the hit that wakes you, often her Paddle Star! (Q).

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

Patch 16.21.1