Zed vs Vel'Koz

Not enough games

Heavy pokeHeavy AP damageHigh burstSustained DPS

Build vs Vel'Koz

The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup

Starting items

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Core build

1—

2—

3—

Standard

4CDR

5—

Anti CC

4vs CC

Other options

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Strength by game phase

Passive, spells and ultimate

Organic Deconstruction (P)

Vel'Koz's abilities apply Organic Deconstruction to enemies on hit. If 3 stacks are accumulated, the enemy will take a burst of true damage.

Cooldowns by spell rank

Level	Q	W	E	R
3	7s	1.5s	12s	–
6	7s	1.5s	12s	1m40
9	7s	1.5s	12s	1m40
11	7s	1.5s	12s	1m30
16	7s	1.5s	11s	1m20
18	7s	1.5s	10s	1m20

Tips to maximize your impact

Combo with two shadows
To kill, cast Death Mark (R), then Living Shadow (W), Shadow Slash (E) and Razor Shuriken (Q): with two shadows, you throw three shurikens.
Dodge with Death Mark
Cast Death Mark (R) just as the enemy casts their decisive spell: during the dash, you're untargetable.
Save the swap back to your shadow
After Death Mark (R), save the recast to get out: you swap places with the shadow left at your starting point, far from the fight.
Save your energy
Save enough energy for a full combo rather than casting your spells for nothing: Living Shadow (W) refunds energy when you and your shadow hit the same target.
Flank to reach the carry
In teamfights, go around the sides and save Death Mark (R) for an isolated target: going in from the front exposes you to the whole team's CC.

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

Watch both branches of his plasma
Get out of the line of Plasma Fission (Q) and watch its sides too: the bolt splits into two branches at 90 degrees when it hits a target or he recasts it.
Back off before the third stack
Back off after taking two of his spells: at the third Organic Deconstruction (passive) stack, you take a burst of true damage.
Engage after Tectonic Disruption
If you can engage, go in after Tectonic Disruption (E): it's his only spell to push back someone charging him, and he has no dash to escape.
Interrupt his ray
If you have a stun, a silence or a knock-up, save it for Life Form Disintegration Ray (R): any of them interrupts the ray.

Patch 16.21.1