10 Best Champions To Counter Zed In League of Legends

Zed is a deadly assassin in League of Legends, known for his high burst damage, mobility, and ability to outplay opponents with Living Shadow (W) and Death Mark (R). His kit allows him to quickly eliminate squishy targets and reposition with ease, making him a major threat in the mid and late game. However, Zed has clear weaknesses—he is reliant on landing skill shots, struggles against champions with strong crowd control, and can be countered by champions with shields or invulnerability. In this article, we’ll cover the 10 best champions to counter Zed, explaining how to shut him down and prevent him from taking over the game.

#10: Anivia

Anivia is a strong counter to Zed because she can punish his all-ins, control the lane with her zoning tools, and survive his burst with her passive. Zed relies on quick assassinations, but Rebirth (Passive) allows Anivia to revive after being killed, making it difficult for Zed to secure a kill and snowball.

Anivia’s crowd control and zoning abilities also make it hard for Zed to engage effectively. Flash Frost (Q) can stun him, Crystallize (W) can block his escape routes, and Glacial Storm (R) can slow him, making it difficult for Zed to maneuver in fights. If Zed tries to engage with Death Mark (R), Anivia can counter with a well-timed Q stun or W wall to prevent him from escaping.

To win this matchup, Anivia players should focus on farming safely, keeping Zed at a distance with Q and R, and using W to disrupt his movement. If played correctly, Anivia can neutralize Zed’s all-ins and make it difficult for him to get kills.

#9: Cassiopeia

Cassiopeia is a strong counter to Zed because she can punish his engages, out-sustain him in trades, and lock him down with crowd control. Zed relies on quick burst damage and mobility, but Cassiopeia’s Miasma (W) completely grounds him, preventing him from using Living Shadow (W) to reposition or escape after an all-in.

Another advantage Cassiopeia has is her sustained damage and healing. Twin Fang (E) allows her to continuously deal damage and heal, making it difficult for Zed to finish her off even after using Death Mark (R). If Zed ever tries to go all-in, Petrifying Gaze (R) can stun him, allowing Cassiopeia to quickly burst him down.

To win this matchup, Cassiopeia players should focus on keeping Zed at a distance with Q and W, using E for sustain, and saving R to punish his all-ins. If played correctly, Cassiopeia can completely shut down Zed’s mobility and prevent him from snowballing.

#8: Orianna

Orianna is a strong counter to Zed because she can shield his burst, poke him from a distance, and disrupt his all-ins with crowd control. Zed thrives on quick assassinations, but Command: Protect (E) provides a shield that can mitigate his Death Mark (R) damage, reducing his ability to secure kills.

Another advantage Orianna has is her zoning and crowd control tools. With Command: Attack (Q) and Command: Dissonance (W), she can poke Zed from a safe distance, making it difficult for him to find an opportunity to engage. If Zed tries to dive in, Command: Shockwave (R) can pull him back into a bad position, forcing him to take unnecessary damage or preventing his escape.

To win this matchup, Orianna players should focus on poking Zed in lane, using E to shield his all-ins, and saving R to disrupt his engages. If played correctly, Orianna can deny Zed’s assassination attempts and control the pace of the lane.

#7: Lux

Lux is a strong counter to Zed because she can poke him from a safe distance, shield his burst, and lock him down with crowd control. Zed relies on getting close to assassinate squishy targets, but Lux’s Light Binding (Q) can root him in place, preventing him from engaging or escaping.

Another major advantage Lux has is Prismatic Barrier (W), which provides a shield to absorb Zed’s Death Mark (R) damage for herself and her allies. If Zed tries to engage, Lux can use Q to root him, W to shield herself, and E to slow him down, making it difficult for him to land his full combo. Additionally, Final Spark (R) can punish Zed if he tries to escape with low health.

To win this matchup, Lux players should focus on keeping their distance, poking Zed with E and auto-attacks, and saving Q to root him when he tries to engage. If played correctly, Lux can completely shut down Zed’s assassination attempts and make it hard for him to find kills.

#6: Vladimir

Vladimir is a strong counter to Zed because he can avoid Zed’s all-ins, sustain through poke, and outscale him in team fights. Zed thrives on quick assassinations, but Vladimir’s Sanguine Pool (W) makes him untargetable, allowing him to completely dodge Death Mark (R) and negate Zed’s burst damage.

Another major advantage Vladimir has is his sustain. Transfusion (Q) provides constant healing, making it difficult for Zed to poke him down in lane. Additionally, Vladimir scales extremely well into the late game, while Zed falls off if he doesn’t snowball early. Once Vladimir reaches level 9 and gets some ability haste, he can sustain through trades and punish Zed for failed all-ins.

To win this matchup, Vladimir players should focus on farming safely, using W to dodge Zed’s R, and outlasting him in fights. If played correctly, Vladimir can completely deny Zed’s assassination potential and take over the game in the later stages.

#5: Syndra

Syndra is a strong counter to Zed because she can poke him from range, crowd control him to prevent engages, and burst him down before he can retaliate. Zed thrives on quick assassinations, but Syndra’s Scatter the Weak (E) can stun him mid-dash, preventing him from executing his full combo.

Another major advantage Syndra has is her long-range poke with Dark Sphere (Q) and Force of Will (W). She can constantly harass Zed in lane, forcing him to stay back and making it difficult for him to find an all-in opportunity. Additionally, Unleashed Power (R) can instantly burst Zed down, especially if she lands a stun beforehand.

To win this matchup, Syndra players should focus on poking Zed from a distance, using E to disrupt his engages, and saving R to eliminate him before he can use Death Mark (R). If played correctly, Syndra can completely shut down Zed’s assassination attempts and make it difficult for him to play aggressively.

#4: Ahri

Ahri is a strong counter to Zed because she can kite him, outmaneuver his engages, and burst him down before he can escape. Zed relies on quick assassinations, but Ahri’s Spirit Rush (R) gives her three dashes, allowing her to easily reposition and dodge his skill shots or escape his Death Mark (R).

Another major advantage Ahri has is her crowd control. Charm (E) can disrupt Zed’s all-ins, preventing him from executing his full combo and forcing him to retreat. If Zed tries to engage with Living Shadow (W) into Death Mark (R), Ahri can charm him mid-combo, leaving him vulnerable to a counterattack.

To win this matchup, Ahri players should focus on poking Zed with Q, saving E to stop his engages, and using R to avoid his burst damage. If played correctly, Ahri can completely deny Zed’s assassination attempts and punish him every time he tries to all-in.

#3: Annie

Annie is a strong counter to Zed because she can burst him down instantly, block his Death Mark (R) damage with her shield, and lock him down with stuns. Zed relies on quick assassinations, but Annie’s Molten Shield (E) gives her bonus resistances, reducing his damage output significantly.

One of Annie’s biggest strengths in this matchup is her crowd control. With Pyromania (Passive), she can stun Zed with Disintegrate (Q) or Summon: Tibbers (R), preventing him from escaping after engaging. Since Zed has no sustain, a well-timed stun combo can quickly eliminate him before he can do any real damage.

To win this matchup, Annie players should focus on farming safely, saving her stun for when Zed engages, and using R to burst him down before he can escape. If played correctly, Annie can completely neutralize Zed’s assassination potential and turn fights in her favor.

#2: Malzahar

Malzahar is a strong counter to Zed because he can completely block Zed’s burst, lock him down with suppression, and force him to play defensively. Zed relies on quick assassinations, but Malzahar’s Passive (Void Shift) provides a spell shield, making it impossible for Zed to poke or engage on him without first breaking the shield.

Another major advantage Malzahar has is his point-and-click suppression from Nether Grasp (R). If Zed tries to engage with Death Mark (R), Malzahar can immediately suppress him, preventing him from dealing damage and allowing his team to collapse on Zed before he can escape. Additionally, Malefic Visions (E) provides consistent poke, forcing Zed to play passively in lane.

To win this matchup, Malzahar players should focus on maintaining their passive shield, using R to shut down Zed’s engages, and pushing lane constantly with E and Void Swarm (W). If played correctly, Malzahar can completely negate Zed’s assassination potential and make him useless in fights.

#1: Lissandra

Lissandra is the best counter to Zed because she can completely shut down his engages, escape his all-ins, and lock him down with hard crowd control. Zed thrives on quick assassinations, but Lissandra’s Frozen Tomb (R) allows her to self-cast an invulnerability, completely negating Death Mark (R) damage and preventing Zed from executing her.

Another major advantage Lissandra has is her consistent crowd control. Ring of Frost (W) roots Zed in place, making it impossible for him to escape after engaging, and Glacial Path (E) allows her to reposition, making it difficult for Zed to stick to her. Additionally, Lissandra’s AoE poke from Ice Shard (Q) lets her harass Zed in lane and force him to play passively.

To win this matchup, Lissandra players should focus on farming safely, saving R for when Zed engages, and using W to keep him locked down. If played correctly, Lissandra can completely neutralize Zed’s assassination attempts and make him ineffective in team fights.

Conclusion

Zed is a dangerous assassin with high burst damage, mobility, and outplay potential, but his weaknesses—reliance on skill shots, vulnerability to crowd control, and struggles against shields or invulnerability—make him counterable with the right champions. Lissandra and Malzahar can completely shut down his engages, while Annie and Syndra can burst him before he has a chance to escape. Additionally, champions like Vladimir and Ahri can outmaneuver his all-ins and avoid his ultimate damage. By using hard crowd control, shields, and invulnerability tools, you can neutralize Zed’s assassination potential and prevent him from snowballing. Choosing the right counter will make it much easier to shut down Zed and control the game.