Matchup

Heavy AD damageSustained DPS

Build vs Zeri

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Scorchclaw Pup
Health Potion

Core build

Sunfire Aegis
1vs AD
Spirit Visage
2vs AP
Riftmaker
3Mage tank

Standard

Ionian Boots of Lucidity
4CDR
Hextech Rocketbelt
5Mage tank

Summoner spells

411100%

Anti AD

Plated Steelcaps
4vs AD
Thornmail
5vs Hybride
Randuin's Omen
vs AD
Unending Despair
vs AD

Anti AP

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC
Jak'Sho, The Protean
5vs Hybride

DPS

Hextech Rocketbelt
Mage tank

Other options

Protoplasm Harness
Survival
100.0% WR1 games
PrecisionPrecision
ConquerorConqueror
TriumphTriumph
Legend: HasteLegend: Haste
Last StandLast Stand
InspirationInspiration
Magical FootwearMagical Footwear
Cosmic InsightCosmic Insight
Ability HasteAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
ZacZac
ZeriZeri
Favorable
Favorable
Passive

Zeri's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Living Battery (P)

Zeri's Attacks deal magic damage and are treated as Abilities. Moving and casting Burst Fire stores up energy in Zeri's Sparkpack. When fully charged her next Attack deals bonus damage.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
30s12s24s
60s12s24s1m20
90s11s24s1m20
110s10s24s1m15
160s8s21s1m10
180s8s18s1m10

Playing against Zeri

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

1

Point-and-click CC is the best counter to Zeri: she's too mobile for skillshots when her R is active.

2

Her E can go through walls but has a long cooldown — punish her after the dash.

3

Zeri is weak in the early game and needs items to be effective — force fights early.

4

Her R speed disappears out of combat — disengage and re-engage when R expires.

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