Game patch 26.21Data Dragon 16.21.1

Reference patch 16.20.1

Zed Mid · Swiftplay

Zed has an established central-lane plan with access to waves, both sides of the river and meaningful pressure between objectives.

Primary roleFaster starting rules and queue evidence

Champion overview

Review patch unknownRecommendation review pending

These patches track recommendation review, build validation and item lookup separately. Updating item data does not complete a build review.

Recommendation patch: — Data Dragon
Build validation patch: 16.19.1 Data Dragon
Item lookup patch: 16.20.1 Data Dragon

Recommendation review pending

Runes and summoner spells

Runes and summoner spellsZedMid

Create one clean burst window after managing the Mid wave instead of forcing every cooldown into the lane.

Swiftplay

Primary tree

Domination

Electrocute

Sudden Impact

Grisly Mementos

Ultimate Hunter

Secondary tree

Sorcery

Transcendence

Scorch

Summoner spells

Flash

Ignite

Choose pressure or recovery

Ignite supports a short kill window; Teleport supports recall and map timing; Barrier protects against immediate burst.

Protect the wave plan

A more aggressive spell pair does not replace safe wave timing, river vision or an escape route.

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 (s) / Cost / Listed range (units) Data Dragon 16.20.1

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.

Q ability

Razor Shuriken

What it doesZed and his shadows throw their shurikens. Each shuriken deals damage to every enemy hit.

Cooldown (s)6Cost75/70/65/60/55Listed range (units)900

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.

Cooldown (s)20/19/18/17/16Cost40/35/30/25/20Listed range (units)650

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.

Cooldown (s)5/4.5/4/3.5/3Cost40Listed range (units)290

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.

Cooldown (s)120/110/100Listed range (units)625

Adapt the plan

What to do when the game changes

Judge the whole lane or map state, not only personal kills. Choose the situation closest to the current game.

Even plan

Manage the wave and keep both sides of the map visible

Lane

Trade when your key ability and minion position favour you; an even lane does not require a forced solo kill.

Map play

Move on a completed wave and return before several waves are lost to the tower.

Fights

Position for the champion's reliable damage or control instead of beginning with the lowest-percentage spell.

Pings, movement and objectives

Zed Mid map plan

Mid can reach either side, but the wave pays for every move. Communicate the opponent first, then move only when the route and destination are credible.

Ahead

Use priority to arrive first, not recklessly

Ping: Ping Enemy Missing when the opponent leaves, On My Way before entering river and Danger on the route the opponent may use.
Stay or roam: Roam after clearing the wave and choose the side where allies can participate. Return before several waves are lost.
Objective: Reach river with the Jungler, control one entrance and preserve the spell that stops an enemy engage or secures the first target.

Even

Turn one managed wave into map pressure

Ping: Use Enemy Missing immediately, then On My Way only when you are genuinely moving rather than considering it.
Stay or roam: Move after the wave is handled. If following requires entering fog alone, ping Danger and take the safe route instead.
Objective: Help establish river vision before the start. Do not burn the only control spell on poke if it is needed to protect the entrance.

Behind

Clear safely and warn both side lanes

Ping: Ping Enemy Missing early and repeat Danger on the threatened side. Use Retreat if matching the roam would expose you to another kill.
Stay or roam: Follow through established vision or remain Mid and recover farm. A late blind follow often loses both positions.
Objective: Approach behind the front line and use reliable control or range. Trade the objective if the team cannot safely enter river.

Objective setup

Four calls, in order

Pings create a shared plan; they do not replace checking waves, vision and who can move.

1
Handle the wave
Push, catch or communicate the wave before leaving so the opponent does not gain a free move and free income.
2
Signal the route
Use On My Way for the route you are actually taking and Danger where an unseen opponent may arrive.
3
Enter together
Move through controlled vision with the Jungler or another ally instead of face-checking the objective alone.
4
Choose the job
Decide whether you are engaging, front-lining, flanking or protecting a carry before the fight begins.

Later objectives: Repeat the same process around later major objectives: handle nearby income, communicate the route, enter through vision and agree on the fight before committing.

Use the guide

Put Zed into a real matchup

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