League of Legends: Zed Guide

Zed stands as one of the most dominant mid-laners in League of Legends, known for his incredible versatility and lethal kit. His ability to outplay opponents in almost any situation makes him a prime pick for climbing the ranks in ranked games. Zed fits seamlessly into a variety of team compositions, and many one-trick Zed players thrive in high elo, showcasing the effectiveness of his mechanics.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down everything you need to master Zed, including the best build, items, runes, and gameplay strategies to help you unlock his full potential. Let’s dive in and learn how to dominate with Zed!

Zed Overview

Zed is a highly mobile assassin who excels at bursting down priority targets and outplaying his opponents. His kit revolves around shadows, precise execution, and skillful combos. He also has one of the best skins in the game, making him a favorite among stylish assassins. Below is an overview of Zed’s abilities and how they work:

• Passive: Contempt for the Weak
Zed’s basic attacks against enemies below 50% health deal bonus magic damage. This makes him extremely effective at finishing off low-health targets.
• Q: Razor Shuriken
Zed and his shadows throw shurikens that deal damage to all enemies hit. Each subsequent enemy hit by the same shuriken takes reduced damage. Positioning is key to maximize damage with this ability.
• W: Living Shadow
Zed deploys a shadow that mimics his abilities. He can reactivate the ability to swap places with the shadow. This skill is essential for outplays, combos, and mobility.
• E: Shadow Slash
Zed and his shadows slash nearby enemies, dealing area-of-effect damage and slowing them. This ability synergizes well with W for burst damage and crowd control.
• R: Death Mark
Zed dashes to a target enemy, leaving a shadow at his starting position. After three seconds, the mark triggers, dealing a portion of the damage Zed inflicted during that time as additional damage. This ultimate is Zed’s primary tool for assassinating high-value targets.

Mastering Zed’s abilities and shadow mechanics allows players to dominate both the laning phase and team fights, making him a deadly force in League of Legends. However, despite his high outplay potential, certain champions can exploit his weaknesses and counter him in lane.

Best Zed Build

Zed thrives as a high-burst assassin with strong mobility and outplay potential. Building the right items ensures he can delete squishy targets while maintaining the utility needed to reposition or escape after engaging. Below is the optimal build to maximize Zed’s impact on the game.

Core Items

• Youmuu’s Ghostblade
This item offers lethality, attack damage, and a powerful active that boosts movement speed, allowing Zed to close gaps or escape quickly. Its passive provides increased mobility out of combat, helping Zed rotate effectively.
• Duskblade of Draktharr
The go-to Mythic item for Zed, providing lethality, ability haste, and bonus damage on attacks after leaving stealth or losing target vision. Its invisibility effect on takedowns makes it perfect for resetting in fights.
• Edge of Night
This item grants lethality and a spell shield that blocks an enemy ability. It’s a crucial defensive option against champions with crowd control or burst spells, enabling safer engagements.

Core Damage Items

• Serylda’s Grudge
This item provides armor penetration and a slow effect on abilities. It’s essential for shredding through tankier opponents and landing follow-up damage with ease.
• Black Cleaver
Great for extended skirmishes, it offers health, attack damage, and armor shredding. The stacking armor reduction benefits both Zed and his team, making it a versatile choice.
• Ravenous Hydra
This item increases wave clear and sustain through omnivamp. Its AOE passive makes Zed even more dangerous in team fights and split-push scenarios.

Situational Items

• Maw of Malmortius
Perfect against heavy AP compositions, this item provides a shield to absorb magic damage when Zed falls low, along with bonus lifesteal and attack damage.
• Guardian Angel
This item grants a second life after being taken down, making it invaluable for aggressive plays where you dive the backline and need to survive after securing kills.
• Prowler’s Claw
An alternative Mythic choice for aggressive Zed players, allowing him to dash toward a target and deal additional damage. Best used in matchups where mobility is essential for securing kills.

This build enhances Zed’s assassination potential while offering the durability and mobility needed to excel in any game. Adjust situational items based on the enemy team composition to ensure Zed remains a deadly force throughout the match.

Best Zed Runes

Selecting the right rune setup is crucial for Zed to dominate the mid-lane and execute his role as an assassin. Here’s the optimal rune page for Zed:

Primary Tree: Domination
• Electrocute
Electrocute enhances Zed’s burst damage by triggering additional magic damage after landing three separate attacks or abilities on an enemy within a short time.
• Taste of Blood
Provides sustain during the laning phase, healing Zed whenever he damages an enemy champion.
• Eyeball Collection
Grants bonus attack damage as Zed earns takedowns, scaling his damage output as he secures kills and assists.
• Ultimate Hunter
Reduces the cooldown of Zed’s ultimate, Death Mark, allowing him to execute high-priority targets more frequently.

Secondary Tree: Precision
• Presence of Mind
Restores energy after securing takedowns, ensuring Zed has enough resources for follow-up abilities in extended fights.
• Coup de Grace
Increases damage to low-health enemies, enabling Zed to finish off squishy targets more efficiently.

Bonus Stats
• +9 Adaptive Force
• +9 Adaptive Force
• +8 Armor or +8 Magic Resist (based on the matchup)

This rune setup is optimized to enhance Zed’s burst damage, sustain during fights, and energy management, allowing him to secure kills consistently and maintain pressure throughout the game. Adjust defensive runes (armor or magic resist) based on the opponent in the mid-lane.

How to Play Zed in League of Legends

Zed is a high-skill assassin who thrives in eliminating squishy targets and creating pressure across the map. To play Zed effectively, you need to master his mechanics, positioning, and decision-making. Here’s a breakdown of how to play Zed like a pro:

Laning Phase

In the early game, focus on farming safely while looking for opportunities to poke your opponent with Razor Shuriken (Q) and Living Shadow (W). Use Living Shadow (W) to create distance from dangerous matchups or to harass opponents when they overextend. Once you unlock Death Mark (R) at level six, look for kill opportunities on low-health enemies or coordinate with your jungler to secure objectives.

Keep an eye on your energy bar and avoid spamming abilities unnecessarily. Use Shadow Slash (E) in close-range trades to deal damage and slow enemies, ensuring they can’t escape your follow-up combo. Zed excels against squishy champions, so try to isolate your target for maximum damage output.

Combos

To succeed with Zed, you must execute his combos smoothly:
• Basic Trade Combo:
W > E > Q
Use Living Shadow (W) to position aggressively, slow your enemy with Shadow Slash (E), and land Razor Shuriken (Q) for damage.
• All-In Combo:
R > W > E > Q
Cast Death Mark (R) on your target, immediately throw out Living Shadow (W), and follow up with Shadow Slash (E) and Razor Shuriken (Q). Your Death Mark detonation will amplify the damage dealt during the combo.
• Escape Combo:
W > R > W
Use Living Shadow (W) to engage or bait an opponent. If the situation turns bad, activate Death Mark (R) and then return to your Living Shadow for a quick disengage.

Mid-Game

In the mid-game, roam to other lanes and apply pressure. Use your mobility and high damage to pick off isolated targets, especially squishy ADCs and Supports. Ward strategically to control the map and deny vision in areas where you’re likely to roam.

Keep split-pushing when your ultimate is on cooldown to create pressure. Zed excels at taking down turrets quickly due to his attack damage scaling. Be cautious about overextending without vision, as Zed can be vulnerable to crowd control.

Late Game

In team fights, Zed’s role is to assassinate the enemy backline and create chaos. Use Death Mark (R) to eliminate high-priority targets like the enemy ADC or Mage. Position yourself carefully, waiting for key enemy crowd control abilities to be used before diving in.

If team fights are not favorable, focus on split-pushing to draw enemy attention. Use your mobility and shadows to escape sticky situations while continuing to create pressure on the map.

Tips for Success
• Vision Control: Always carry a Control Ward or sweeper to clear vision, especially before attempting a flank or assassination.
• Energy Management: Zed’s abilities cost energy, so make sure to manage it effectively, especially during extended trades or fights.
• Mind Games: Use your shadows creatively to confuse opponents and dodge skill shots.
• Patience: Don’t engage recklessly. Wait for the right opportunity to dive in and maximize your damage.

By mastering Zed’s combos, timing, and positioning, you can dominate games and carry your team to victory.

Conclusion

Zed is one of the most dynamic and rewarding champions in League of Legends, offering unmatched assassination potential and outplay opportunities. With the right build, runes, and an understanding of his combos and playstyle, Zed can dominate the mid lane and carry games effortlessly. Mastering his kit requires practice, precision, and good decision-making, but once you unlock his full potential, you’ll be a force to be reckoned with on the Rift. Whether you’re climbing ranked or enjoying casual games, this guide equips you with everything needed to unleash Zed’s shadowy power.