Good patterns
- Threatens reachable priority targets through burst, mobility or an unusual angle.
- Rewards using the kit's main range, timing and target pattern deliberately.
Game patch 26.20Data Dragon 16.20.1
Reference patch 16.20.1
Zed
the Master of Shadows
Zed is a burst-focused champion who looks for a reachable priority target and a route back out. This overview keeps the explanation practical and leaves patch-sensitive numbers to Riot's structured data and the current in-game tooltip.
Usual roleMid◆ClassAssassin
7DifficultyMedium · 7/10
◎Basic attacksMeleeMelee basic attacks · 125 range.
◈Damage profileMostly physical damageMost normal kit pressure is physical. Armour may help, but check whether attacks or abilities are the main source.
#Reference patch16.20.1
Strengths and limits
What Zed does well, and what can go wrong
These are kit-level patterns, not a promise that every lane or matchup plays the same way.
Limits to respect
- A failed commitment can leave no clean exit and little value until cooldowns return.
- Basic attacks require close access, so enemy range, slows and displacement can deny a clean trade.
Riot ally tips
Use these while learning the championSaving energy and spell cooldowns until you use your ultimate will maximize Death Mark's damage.
Quickly double tapping Living Shadow will teleport Zed to his shadow immediately for rapid escapes.
Placing a Living Shadow before using Death Mark can give Zed a safe escape from combat.
Riot opponent tips
What an opponent is told to watch forZed receives bonus effect from Attack Damage items he purchases, so Armor is super effective against him.
After Zed uses his Living Shadow, he is at his most vulnerable as his damage, slow, and mobility are both dependent upon it.
Zed's Shadow Slash can only slow you if his shadow hits you with it.
Practical champion reading
How to read Zed in a real fight
Use these patterns to ask better questions before choosing an item, target or commitment. They describe the kit, not a guaranteed result.
Primarily physical pressure
Armour can reduce the broad physical profile. Separate basic attacks from physical abilities before relying on an item passive that only affects attacks.
One short window carries much of the threat
Track the key setup and highest-impact cooldown. A missed or blocked opening can create a safer window before the full rotation returns.
Needs close access for basic attacks
Range, slows, displacement and terrain can deny the clean contact this champion wants. Plan the route in as carefully as the damage after arrival.
Threaten a reachable priority target
A clean angle matters more than attacking the nearest unit immediately. Keep an exit, reset or follow-up route in mind before committing.
Identify the exact movement restriction
Tenacity can shorten only eligible control. Displacements, airborne effects and repeated slows need their own positioning, blocking or movement answer.
Check whether recovery changes the fight
Anti-heal or anti-shielding is situational. Buy it only when the effect is materially protecting targets and your champion can apply the answer reliably.
Energy and cooldowns both matter
A spell being available does not mean the complete sequence is sustainable. Watch the resource bar as well as the setup and escape cooldowns.
Defensive item reference
What can help against Zed?
Start with the threat that is actually affecting the match. These are conditional comparisons, not an automatic counter build.
DEFENSIVE BOOTS
Neither pair is automatic
This champion is not cleanly answered by the passive on either defensive pair.
Use Plated Steelcaps for meaningful basic attacks, Mercury's Treads for magic damage or reducible control, or keep the build's normal Boots.Normal Draft and Ranked role map
Where Zed fits on Summoner's Rift
Each lane is assessed separately. Open a role to reach its queue-specific build and matchup preparation.
TopUnestablished route
Historical reference. Recommendation review pending. Zed is normally played Mid and does not currently have a reviewed Top route. Top usually needs independent laning, durable trading or reliable side-lane pressure. Treat this as a deliberate experiment, not a standard recommendation.
JungleSecondary
Historical reference. Recommendation review pending. Zed Jungle is a reviewed secondary role with a real clear and assassin gank pattern, while Mid remains his primary role. This label describes a deliberate playable route, not a claim that it is equally reliable.
MidPrimary role
Historical reference. Recommendation review pending. Zed has an established central-lane plan with access to waves, both sides of the river and meaningful pressure between objectives.
BotUnestablished route
Historical reference. Recommendation review pending. Zed is normally played Mid and does not currently have a reviewed Bot route. Bot usually needs dependable duo-lane scaling and sustained damage with shared early pressure. Treat this as a deliberate experiment, not a standard recommendation.
SupportUnestablished route
Historical reference. Recommendation review pending. Zed is normally played Mid and does not currently have a reviewed Support route. Support usually needs useful engage, peel or utility while operating on low gold income. Treat this as a deliberate experiment, not a standard recommendation.
Kit reference
Zed abilities
Ability names, descriptions and numeric fields come from Riot Data Dragon. Practical reads are independently written; the current in-game tooltip remains authoritative.
Abilities Data Dragon 16.20.1Cooldown / Cost / Range Data Dragon 16.20.1
P
Passive
Contempt for the Weak
What it doesZed's basic attacks against low health targets deals bonus Magic Damage. This effect can only occur once every few seconds against the same enemy champion.
Practical readContempt for the Weak is an automatic part of the kit involving damage. Track when its condition is active instead of treating every fight the same way.
Q
Q ability
Razor Shuriken
What it doesZed and his shadows throw their shurikens. Each shuriken deals damage to every enemy hit.
Practical readRazor Shuriken contributes damage. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.
Cooldown6 secCost75/70/65/60/55Listed range900 units
W
W ability
Living Shadow
What it doesPassive: Zed gains energy whenever he and his shadows strike an enemy with the same ability. Energy can only be gained once per cast ability. Active: Zed's shadow dashes forward, remaining in place for a few seconds. Reactivating Living Shadow will cause Zed to switch positions with this shadow.
Practical readLiving Shadow is part of Zed's W pattern. Read its listed effect first, then track the cooldown and condition that make the next use valuable.
Cooldown20/19/18/17/16 secCost40/35/30/25/20Listed range650 units
Movement
The cast changes position or access. Account for where the champion finishes, not only where the ability begins.
E
E ability
Shadow Slash
What it doesZed and his Shadows slash, dealing damage to nearby enemies. Enemies hit by a Shadow's slash are slowed.
Practical readShadow Slash contributes a slowing effect and damage. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.
Cooldown5/4.5/4/3.5/3 secCost40Listed range290 units
R
Ultimate
Death Mark
What it doesZed becomes untargetable and dashes to an enemy champion, marking them. After 3 seconds the mark triggers, repeating a portion of all the damage Zed dealt to the target while they were marked.
Practical readDeath Mark contributes damage. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.
Cooldown120/110/100 secListed range625 units
Movement
The cast changes position or access. Account for where the champion finishes, not only where the ability begins.
Levels 1–18
Zed · Health / Energy · Abilities
Base values exclude items, runes, temporary buffs and mode-specific modifiers. Cooldowns are the listed base cooldown before ability haste.
Cooldown Data Dragon 16.20.1
Basic abilityRazor Shuriken
Can receive its first point from level 1. Later ranks normally become available at levels 3, 5, 7 and 9.
All ranks6 sec
Basic abilityLiving Shadow
Can receive its first point from level 1. Later ranks normally become available at levels 3, 5, 7 and 9.
Rank 120 secRank 219 secRank 318 secRank 417 secRank 516 sec
Basic abilityShadow Slash
Can receive its first point from level 1. Later ranks normally become available at levels 3, 5, 7 and 9.
Rank 15 secRank 24.5 secRank 34 secRank 43.5 secRank 53 sec
UltimateDeath Mark
First rank becomes available at level 6; later ranks normally become available at levels 11 and 16.
Rank 1120 secRank 2110 secRank 3100 sec
Open every levelHealth and energy from level 1 to 18
| Level | Health | Energy | Ability milestone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 654 | 200 Energy | Choose the first basic ability |
| 2 | 725 | 200 Energy | Add another basic ability or rank |
| 3 | 800 | 200 Energy | Add another basic ability or rank |
| 4 | 878 | 200 Energy | Spend one ability point |
| 5 | 960 | 200 Energy | Spend one ability point |
| 6 | 1,045 | 200 Energy | First ultimate rank normally available |
| 7 | 1,134 | 200 Energy | Spend one ability point |
| 8 | 1,226 | 200 Energy | Spend one ability point |
| 9 | 1,321 | 200 Energy | Spend one ability point |
| 10 | 1,420 | 200 Energy | Spend one ability point |
| 11 | 1,523 | 200 Energy | Second ultimate rank normally available |
| 12 | 1,629 | 200 Energy | Spend one ability point |
| 13 | 1,738 | 200 Energy | Spend one ability point |
| 14 | 1,851 | 200 Energy | Spend one ability point |
| 15 | 1,967 | 200 Energy | Spend one ability point |
| 16 | 2,087 | 200 Energy | Final ultimate rank normally available |
| 17 | 2,210 | 200 Energy | Spend one ability point |
| 18 | 2,337 | 200 Energy | Spend one ability point |
Choose the next question
Turn the profile into a pre-game plan
Choose a queue-aware build, compare a lane opponent, or return to the full champion library.