Are you ready to harness the power of shadows and become a master of precision as Zed, the Master of Shadows? Zed is a high-skill, high-reward assassin known for his burst damage, mobility, and ability to outplay opponents. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore Zed’s abilities, the best builds and runes, and strategies for each stage of the game. Whether you’re an experienced Zed player or looking to become a shadowy assassin, this guide will help you achieve dominance on the rift.
Zed Abilities
Let’s begin by delving into the shadowy abilities of Zed:
Passive: Contempt for the Weak
Zed’s passive ability allows his basic attacks to deal bonus magic damage to enemies below a certain health threshold. It synergizes well with his burst combo.
Q: Razor Shuriken
Zed’s Q ability is a skillshot that throws a shuriken forward, dealing damage to all enemies hit. It can be used to poke in lane or initiate trades.
W: Living Shadow
Living Shadow is Zed’s mobility ability. He can cast it twice: once to place the shadow, and again to dash to it. Properly using Living Shadow is essential for positioning and outplaying opponents.
E: Shadow Slash
Shadow Slash is an area-of-effect ability that damages all nearby enemies around Zed. It provides a slow to enemies hit, aiding his dueling and chasing potential.
R: Death Mark
Zed’s ultimate ability marks an enemy champion. After a brief delay, Zed can reactivate the ability to dash to the target, dealing damage based on the damage dealt during the mark duration. It’s perfect for assassinating high-priority targets.
Best Zed Builds
Zed’s build can adapt based on the game circumstances and your playstyle, but here are some of the most effective ones:
Standard AD Assassin Build
- Duskblade of Draktharr
- Ionian Boots of Lucidity
- Eclipse
- Youmuu’s Ghostblade
- Guardian Angel
Sustained Damage Build
- Eclipse
- Ionian Boots of Lucidity
- Ravenous Hydra
- The Collector
- Guardian Angel
Split Push Build
- Eclipse
- Ionian Boots of Lucidity
- Serylda’s Grudge
- Ravenous Hydra
- Guardian Angel
Best Zed Runes Set
Customize your runes to maximize Zed’s burst damage and mobility:
Domination
- Keystone: Electrocute
- Sudden Impact
- Eyeball Collection
- Ravenous Hunter
Precision
- Triumph (for clutch healing)
- Coup de Grace (for bonus damage to low-health targets)
Champions Who Counter Zed
While Zed is a formidable assassin, certain champions can make his life challenging:
- Lulu: Lulu’s polymorph ability can turn Zed into a harmless squirrel, rendering him unable to assassinate targets.
- Malzahar: Malzahar’s suppress ultimate can lock down Zed and prevent him from using his abilities.
- Fizz: Fizz’s mobility and playful/trickster ability can make it difficult for Zed to land his skillshots and burst him down.
Champions Zed Counters
Zed excels against champions who are immobile or rely on skillshots:
- Lux: Zed can dodge Lux’s skillshots and engage when she’s vulnerable after using her abilities.
- Veigar: Zed can engage on Veigar before he can stack his passive and become a late-game threat.
- Ahri: Zed can outmaneuver Ahri and avoid her charm, making it difficult for her to escape his all-ins.
Early Game Playstyles
In the early game, focus on farming and using your Q ability to poke and harass your opponent. Zed’s level 3 all-in potential is strong, so look for opportunities to engage and secure kills.
Mid Game Playstyles
As you transition into the mid game, roam to other lanes and use your mobility to secure kills and objectives. Zed’s Living Shadow can be used to initiate or disengage fights, making him a versatile assassin.
Late Game Playstyles
In the late game, Zed excels at assassinating key targets in team fights. Wait for your team to engage, and then use your mobility to dive into the enemy backline and eliminate high-priority threats. Properly timing your ultimate, Death Mark, is crucial for securing kills.
Mastering Zed’s shadow mechanics, mobility, and burst damage will help you become a formidable assassin on the rift. Embrace the shadows and unleash your inner Master of Shadows as Zed!
