Zoe vs Mel
Skill matchup
You are stronger early. Look to snowball before your opponent scales.
Build vs Mel
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Zoe: Luden's Echo, Lich Bane, Shadowflame, Sorcerer's Shoes, Dark Seal, Zhonya's Hourglass, Stormsurge, Rabadon's Deathcap.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Mel's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Whenever Mel uses an ability, she gains three bonus projectiles (up to nine maximum) on her next attack.When Mel deals damage through an ability or attack, she applies Overwhelm, which can stack infinitely. If the enemy is hit by Mel with enough Overwhelm damage, the stacks are consumed to execute the target.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 10s | 38s | 11s | – |
| 6 | 8s | 38s | 11s | 2m |
| 9 | 6s | 35s | 11s | 2m |
| 11 | 6s | 33s | 11s | 1m40 |
| 16 | 6s | 26s | 10s | 1m20 |
| 18 | 6s | 26s | 9s | 1m20 |
Playing as Zoe
Tips to maximize your impact
- Lengthen your star's path
Cast Paddle Star! (Q) behind you, then recast it toward your target: its damage grows with the distance the star travels.
- Poke from your Portal Jump
Cast Portal Jump (R) to poke from closer: you can cast your spells from there, and you blink back to your starting position 1 second later.
- Pick up spell shards
Pick up the shards enemies drop after using a summoner spell or an item active: Spell Thief (W) lets you cast that spell or item once.
- Sleep, then wake them with a big hit
Put your target to sleep with Sleepy Trouble Bubble (E), then wake them with your biggest hit, a long-range Paddle Star! (Q): the hit that wakes them deals double damage.
Playing against Mel
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Dodge her snare's orb
Dodge the orb of Solar Snare (E): a direct hit roots you, and its aura slows and damages around it.
- Don't shoot into her barrier
If you have projectiles, don't fire them into Rebuttal (W): the barrier reflects champion projectiles back at their caster.
- Let her marks expire
At low health, back off for a few seconds to let Overwhelm expire: with enough stacks, Searing Brilliance (passive) executes you on her next hit.
- Jump on her if you can
If you can engage, jump on her: Mel has no dash or leap, only the move speed Rebuttal (W) gives her.
Other Zoe matchups
Patch 16.21.1