Zilean vs Zyra

Zilean
vs
49.1%

over 287 games

Zyra

Skill matchup

Heavy AP damageHeavy pokeHeavy CCHigh burst

Build vs Zyra

Build adapted to this matchup

Recommended items for Zilean: Shurelya's Battlesong, Bandlepipes, Imperial Mandate, Ionian Boots of Lucidity, Solstice Sleigh, Zaz'Zak's Realmspike, Celestial Opposition, Locket of the Iron Solari.

Starting items

Health Potion
x2

Core build

Shurelya's Battlesong
1
Bandlepipes
2
Imperial Mandate
3

Standard

Ionian Boots of Lucidity
4CDR
Solstice Sleigh
5

Summoner spells

FlashHeal63%
ExhaustFlash26%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Solstice Sleigh
Zaz'Zak's Realmspike
Celestial Opposition
Locket of the Iron Solari
Mikael's Blessing
Luden's Echo
Seraph's Embrace
Cosmic Drive
Tear of the Goddess
Knight's Vow
Redemption
Frozen Heart
Oblivion Orb
Dark Seal
Dream Maker
Fimbulwinter
Dead Man's Plate
Morellonomicon
Archangel's Staff
Zeke's Convergence
Kaenic Rookern
Seeker's Armguard
Zhonya's Hourglass
Mejai's Soulstealer
Banshee's Veil
Ardent Censer
Staff of Flowing Water
Actualizer
69.2% WR13 games
SorcerySorcery
Summon AerySummon Aery
Manaflow BandManaflow Band
TranscendenceTranscendence
WaterwalkingWaterwalking
DominationDomination
Relentless HunterRelentless Hunter
Cheap ShotCheap Shot
Ability HasteAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Zyra's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Garden of Thorns (P)

Seeds spawn around Zyra periodically, becoming faster with level. Zyra can cast Deadly Spines or Grasping Roots near seeds to grow plants, who fight for Zyra.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
37s0s11s–
66s0s11s1m50
95s0s11s1m50
115s0s11s1m40
165s0s11s1m30
185s0s11s1m30

Playing as Zilean

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Double bomb to stun

    Place Time Bomb (Q), reset it with Rewind (W), then place the second one on the same target: the first explodes instantly and stuns enemies around it.

  2. Speed up an ally or slow an enemy

    Cast Time Warp (E) on the ally who needs to catch up or escape, or on the enemy to slow: the same spell does both.

  3. Place your ult just before they die

    Place Chronoshift (R) on your carry right before they die: too early and the enemy switches targets, and if they die with the rune, they revive after a stasis.

  4. Give your XP at the right time

    Give the Time In A Bottle (passive) experience to an ally who is close to leveling up: you receive as much as you give.

Playing against Zyra

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Dodge her roots

    Get out of the line of Grasping Roots (E): the roots pass through minions and root every enemy hit, then her plants hit the trapped target.

  2. Step on her seeds

    Step on her seeds to destroy them before she grows them: Rampant Growth (W) seeds reveal you for a moment, but leave her no plant.

  3. Kill her plants

    Take down the plants born from Garden of Thorns (passive), or back off until they die: they take fixed damage, like a ward, and don't live long.

  4. Get out of her thorns

    Get out of the Stranglethorns (R) zone as soon as it appears: the vines knock you into the air 2 seconds later, and her plants are empowered inside.

  5. Engage when her plants are far

    If you can engage, go for Zyra when her plants are far from her: the Thorn Spitter from Deadly Spines (Q) only fires at 575 range.

Patch 16.21.1