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Mid · SwiftplayMatchup guidePatch 16.20.1

Vladimir vs Zed

Build, runes, abilities and practical pre-game checks in one queue-aware reference.

VladimirVSZed

Matchup guide

Choose the matchup

Search every champion, choose the assigned role, then open the exact queue page.

VS
Role
Selected laneMid

Choose two champions from the list.

Role fit

MidVladimir

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

Primary role
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

Swiftplay · Mid

Manaless battle mage

Follow the completed-item order as a pre-game reference. Components and owned items do not create extra inventory slots.

Primary role
S
Swiftplay opening · separate from item 1

Guardian's Orb

950 gold

Adds ability power, health and mana regeneration for repeated spell use in Swiftplay; manaless champions receive health regeneration instead.

1
First item

Hextech Rocketbelt

2,650 gold

Adds health and movement for the first committed spell rotation.

2
Boots

Sorcerer's Shoes

1,100 gold

Adds early magic penetration against low-resistance targets.

3
Repeated spells

Cosmic Drive

3,000 gold

Adds movement and haste for repeated spell rotations.

4
Late power

Rabadon's Deathcap

3,500 gold

Adds late ability power after the core is complete.

5
Vs resistance

Void Staff

3,000 gold

Answers meaningful magic resistance later in the match.

6
Control and health

Rylai's Crystal Scepter

2,600 gold

Completes the six-item inventory with health and a slow for spellcasters who need repeated control.

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

Complete build choices

Choose the route before play

Recommendation review pending

AlternativeToo much healingMorellonomicon applies anti-heal. Buy it earlier only when healing is already deciding fights.View full route

Best when: Morellonomicon applies anti-heal. Buy it earlier only when healing is already deciding fights.

  1. First itemHextech Rocketbelt
  2. BootsSorcerer's Shoes
  3. Morellonomicon
  4. Late powerRabadon's Deathcap
  5. Vs resistanceVoid Staff
  6. Control and healthRylai's Crystal Scepter

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

AlternativeThey burst meZhonya's stasis can absorb a committed dive or lethal burst window.View full route

Best when: Zhonya's stasis can absorb a committed dive or lethal burst window.

  1. First itemHextech Rocketbelt
  2. BootsSorcerer's Shoes
  3. Zhonya's Hourglass
  4. Late powerRabadon's Deathcap
  5. Vs resistanceVoid Staff
  6. Control and healthRylai's Crystal Scepter

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

AlternativeOne spell stops meBanshee's spell shield can protect the first important cast against you.View full route

Best when: Banshee's spell shield can protect the first important cast against you.

  1. First itemHextech Rocketbelt
  2. BootsSorcerer's Shoes
  3. Repeated spellsCosmic Drive
  4. Banshee's Veil
  5. Vs resistanceVoid Staff
  6. Control and healthRylai's Crystal Scepter

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

Complete build comparison

Complete build comparison

Recommendation review pending

Build review neededManaless battle mageRecommendation review pendingView full route

Recommendation review pending

  1. First itemHextech Rocketbelt
  2. BootsSorcerer's Shoes
  3. Repeated spellsCosmic Drive
  4. Late powerRabadon's Deathcap
  5. Vs resistanceVoid Staff
  6. Control and healthRylai's Crystal Scepter

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

AlternativeToo much healingMorellonomicon applies anti-heal. Buy it earlier only when healing is already deciding fights.View full route

Best when: Morellonomicon applies anti-heal. Buy it earlier only when healing is already deciding fights.

  1. First itemHextech Rocketbelt
  2. BootsSorcerer's Shoes
  3. Morellonomicon
  4. Late powerRabadon's Deathcap
  5. Vs resistanceVoid Staff
  6. Control and healthRylai's Crystal Scepter

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

AlternativeThey burst meZhonya's stasis can absorb a committed dive or lethal burst window.View full route

Best when: Zhonya's stasis can absorb a committed dive or lethal burst window.

  1. First itemHextech Rocketbelt
  2. BootsSorcerer's Shoes
  3. Zhonya's Hourglass
  4. Late powerRabadon's Deathcap
  5. Vs resistanceVoid Staff
  6. Control and healthRylai's Crystal Scepter

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

AlternativeOne spell stops meBanshee's spell shield can protect the first important cast against you.View full route

Best when: Banshee's spell shield can protect the first important cast against you.

  1. First itemHextech Rocketbelt
  2. BootsSorcerer's Shoes
  3. Repeated spellsCosmic Drive
  4. Banshee's Veil
  5. Vs resistanceVoid Staff
  6. Control and healthRylai's Crystal Scepter

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

Runes and summoner spells

Runes and summoner spellsVladimirMid

This battle-mage page rewards extended spell contact and enough resources to remain useful after the first rotation.

Swiftplay
Primary tree

Precision

ConquerorPresence of MindLegend: HasteLast Stand
Secondary tree

Sorcery

TranscendenceGathering Storm
Summoner spells
FlashTeleport
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.

Matchup notes

What changes when Zed is opposite you?

Pre-game kit comparison
Reviewed interaction

Can deny the burst window

Sanguine Pool can avoid a decisive part of Zed's commitment while Vladimir scales through the lane.

Late game

The answer becomes more dependable with levels, completed items or stronger grouped-fight scaling.

Your plan

Use the route you prepared

Treat Vex as one part of the map state. Their Jungler, nearby waves and which teammates can move determine whether the same trade or rotation is safe.

Ability reminders

Vladimir reminders

  • Transfusion instantly deals damage to the enemy before healing Vladimir, making it one of the best last hitting tools in the game.
  • Cast Hemoplague where it will afflict the most units.
  • Sanguine Pool pops incoming missiles, so it can be used to dodge disables.
Ability reminders

Against Zed

  • Zed 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.

Static alternatives

Compare the problem before changing the plan

These choices are not selected from live scores. Use one only after you identify the stated match problem yourself.

Only when enemy healing is deciding fights

Oblivion Orb

Oblivion Orb supplies healing reduction without committing to a completed Morellonomicon. Skip both when healing is not the problem or an ally already covers your target reliably. Healing reduction does not reduce shields.

Conditional component, not a core item. Complete Morellonomicon only when its stats and slot efficiency justify delaying another purchase.
They burst me

Zhonya's Hourglass

Zhonya's stasis can absorb a committed dive or lethal burst window.

One spell stops me

Banshee's Veil

Banshee's spell shield can protect the first important cast against you.

Ability reference

Compare both kits

Ability reference Data Dragon 16.20.1

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

Vladimir

  1. P
    Crimson Pact

    Every 30 points of bonus Health gives Vladimir 1 Ability Power and every 1 point of Ability Power gives Vladimir 1.6 bonus Health (does not stack with itself).

  2. Q
    Transfusion

    Vladimir steals life from the target enemy. When Vladimir's resource is full, Transfusion will benefit from massively increased damage and healing for a brief time.

    Cooldown (s) 9/7.9/6.8/5.7/4.6 · Listed range (units) 600
  3. W
    Sanguine Pool

    Vladimir sinks into a pool of blood, becoming untargetable for 2 seconds. Additionally, enemies on the pool are slowed and Vladimir siphons life from them.

    Uses health. Check the current ability tooltip for the health amount and any additional resource cost.

    Cooldown (s) 28/25/22/19/16 · Listed range (units) 350
  4. E
    Tides of Blood

    Vladimir pays his own health to charge up a reservoir of blood which, when released, deals damage in the area around him but can be blocked by enemy units.

    Uses health. Check the current ability tooltip for the health amount and any additional resource cost.

    Cooldown (s) 13/11/9/7/5 · Listed range (units) 600
  5. R
    Hemoplague

    Vladimir infects an area with a virulent plague. Affected enemies take increased damage for the duration. After a few seconds, Hemoplague deals magic damage to infected enemies and heals Vladimir for each enemy Champion hit.

    Cooldown (s) 120 · Listed range (units) 625

Zed

  1. P
    Contempt for the Weak

    Zed'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.

  2. Q
    Razor Shuriken

    Zed and his shadows throw their shurikens. Each shuriken deals damage to every enemy hit.

    Cooldown (s) 6 · Cost 75/70/65/60/55 · Listed range (units) 900
  3. W
    Living Shadow

    Passive: 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) 20/19/18/17/16 · Cost 40/35/30/25/20 · Listed range (units) 650
  4. E
    Shadow Slash

    Zed and his Shadows slash, dealing damage to nearby enemies. Enemies hit by a Shadow's slash are slowed.

    Cooldown (s) 5/4.5/4/3.5/3 · Cost 40 · Listed range (units) 290
  5. R
    Death Mark

    Zed 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) 120/110/100 · Listed 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

1
Lane

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

2
Map play

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

3
Fights

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

Pings, movement and objectives

Vladimir 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. 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. 2
    Signal the route

    Use On My Way for the route you are actually taking and Danger where an unseen opponent may arrive.

  3. 3
    Enter together

    Move through controlled vision with the Jungler or another ally instead of face-checking the objective alone.

  4. 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.

Keep preparing

Use the champion page or choose another opponent

The matchup page is a pre-game reference. It does not predict the result or alter its recommendation from changing live match data.

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