Matchup

Heavy CCCountered by spell shieldHeavy AP damage

Build vs Zilean

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Doran's Bow
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Blade of The Ruined King
1DPS
Infinity Edge
2DPS
Immortal Shieldbow
3DPS

Standard

Berserker's Greaves
4AS
Mortal Reminder
5vs Hybride

Summoner spells

41445%
41232%

Anti AD

Plated Steelcaps
4vs AD
Death's Dance
5vs AD
Guardian Angel
vs AD

Anti Heal

Mortal Reminder
6vs Hybride

Anti AP

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

DPS

Yun Tal Wildarrows
DPS
Hullbreaker
Bruiser
Kraken Slayer
DPS
Phantom Dancer
DPS

Other options

Jak'Sho, The Protean
vs Hybride
100.0% WR1 games
PrecisionPrecision
Lethal TempoLethal Tempo
Absorb LifeAbsorb Life
Legend: AlacrityLegend: Alacrity
Last StandLast Stand
ResolveResolve
Second WindSecond Wind
OvergrowthOvergrowth
Attack SpeedAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
YoneYone
ZileanZilean
Aggressive
Careful
Careful

Zilean's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Time In A Bottle (P)

Zilean stores time as Experience and can grant it to his allies. When he has enough Experience to finish an ally's level up, he can right-click them to impart it. Zilean receives as much Experience as he gives.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
310s14s15s
69s14s15s2m
98s12s15s2m
118s10s15s1m30
168s6s15s1m
188s6s15s1m

Playing against Zilean

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

1

Track his R (revive): it has a long cooldown (120-60s). Engage when it's on CD.

2

If an enemy has Zilean's R (golden aura), don't burst that target — focus someone else and come back after.

3

Double bombs are his only CC: if he misses, he has nothing impactful left.

4

Focus Zilean first in fights to prevent him from R'ing his carry.

Source: op.gg + LTL Engine · Patch 16.9.1 · May 9, 2026