Zoe vs Yasuo
Skill matchup
You are stronger early. Look to snowball before your opponent scales.
Build vs Yasuo
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Zoe: Luden's Echo, Lich Bane, Shadowflame, Sorcerer's Shoes, Dark Seal, Zhonya's Hourglass, Rabadon's Deathcap, Blackfire Torch.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Yasuo's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Yasuo's Critical Strike Chance is increased. Additionally, Yasuo builds toward a shield whenever he is moving. The shield triggers when he takes damage from a champion or monster.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 4s | 25s | 0.5s | – |
| 6 | 4s | 25s | 0.5s | 1m10 |
| 9 | 4s | 23s | 0.5s | 1m10 |
| 11 | 4s | 21s | 0.5s | 50s |
| 16 | 4s | 17s | 0.3s | 30s |
| 18 | 4s | 17s | 0.1s | 30s |
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 Yasuo
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Pop his shield first
Hit him with a cheap attack to trigger the Way of the Wanderer (passive) shield, then start the real trade: otherwise, it absorbs your best damage.
- Wait for his Wind Wall
If you have projectiles, save them for after Wind Wall (W): it blocks them all for 4 seconds, on a 25 to 17 second cooldown. Other spells go through it.
- Don't give him minions
Don't stand right behind your minions: each one gives him a target for Sweeping Blade (E), and he gets closer to you with every dash.
- Dodge his whirlwind
Get out of the line of his whirlwind, the third Steel Tempest (Q): without a knock-up, he can't cast Last Breath (R).
- Judge him by his crit items
Judge his threat by his crit items more than his level: Way of the Wanderer (passive) raises his critical strike chance, so each crit item does more for him.
Other Zoe matchups
Patch 16.21.1