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Top · Normal DraftMatchup guidePatch 16.20.1

Poppy vs Zed

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

PoppyVSZed

Matchup guide

Choose the matchup

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

VS
Role
Selected laneTop

Choose two champions from the list.

Role fit

TopPoppy

Poppy has an established solo-lane plan with the income and space needed to trade, manage waves and influence a side lane.

Established 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

Normal Draft · Top

Reviewed Poppy durable Top

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

Established role
S
Draft / Ranked opening · separate from item 1

Doran's Helm

450 gold

Adds the defensive stats and sustain of the current Top-lane starter.

1
First item

Sundered Sky

3,100 gold

Adds health and a repeatable empowered attack with healing.

2
Boots

Plated Steelcaps

1,200 gold

Reduces physical basic-attack pressure; swap Boots when that is not the draft problem.

3
Core

Iceborn Gauntlet

2,900 gold

Adds armour, health and a slowing spellblade attack.

4
Second core

Thornmail

2,450 gold

Adds armour and anti-heal when attack-heavy enemies must hit you.

5
Late power

Spirit Visage

2,700 gold

Adds magic resistance and improves incoming and self-healing.

6
Flexible

Unending Despair

2,800 gold

Adds health and repeated healing during longer front-line fights.

Complete build choices

Choose the route before play

Recommendation review pending

AlternativeToo much healingChempunk Chainsword adds anti-heal without abandoning attack damage and health.View full route

Best when: Chempunk Chainsword adds anti-heal without abandoning attack damage and health.

  1. First itemSundered Sky
  2. BootsPlated Steelcaps
  3. Chempunk Chainsword
  4. Second coreThornmail
  5. Late powerSpirit Visage
  6. FlexibleUnending Despair
AlternativePhysical burstDeath's Dance delays physical damage so takedowns can stabilise the fight.View full route

Best when: Death's Dance delays physical damage so takedowns can stabilise the fight.

  1. First itemSundered Sky
  2. BootsPlated Steelcaps
  3. Death's Dance
  4. Second coreThornmail
  5. Late powerSpirit Visage
  6. FlexibleUnending Despair
AlternativeSustained magic damageKaenic Rookern is a defensive answer when repeated magic damage is the real problem.View full route

Best when: Kaenic Rookern is a defensive answer when repeated magic damage is the real problem.

  1. First itemSundered Sky
  2. BootsPlated Steelcaps
  3. CoreIceborn Gauntlet
  4. Kaenic Rookern
  5. Late powerSpirit Visage
  6. FlexibleUnending Despair
AlternativeThey stack armourBlack Cleaver shreds armour during extended fights.View full route

Best when: Black Cleaver shreds armour during extended fights.

  1. First itemSundered Sky
  2. BootsPlated Steelcaps
  3. Black Cleaver
  4. Second coreThornmail
  5. Late powerSpirit Visage
  6. FlexibleUnending Despair

Complete build comparison

Complete build comparison

Recommendation review pending

Build review neededReviewed Poppy durable TopRecommendation review pendingView full route

Recommendation review pending

  1. First itemSundered Sky
  2. BootsPlated Steelcaps
  3. CoreIceborn Gauntlet
  4. Second coreThornmail
  5. Late powerSpirit Visage
  6. FlexibleUnending Despair
AlternativeToo much healingChempunk Chainsword adds anti-heal without abandoning attack damage and health.View full route

Best when: Chempunk Chainsword adds anti-heal without abandoning attack damage and health.

  1. First itemSundered Sky
  2. BootsPlated Steelcaps
  3. Chempunk Chainsword
  4. Second coreThornmail
  5. Late powerSpirit Visage
  6. FlexibleUnending Despair
AlternativePhysical burstDeath's Dance delays physical damage so takedowns can stabilise the fight.View full route

Best when: Death's Dance delays physical damage so takedowns can stabilise the fight.

  1. First itemSundered Sky
  2. BootsPlated Steelcaps
  3. Death's Dance
  4. Second coreThornmail
  5. Late powerSpirit Visage
  6. FlexibleUnending Despair
AlternativeSustained magic damageKaenic Rookern is a defensive answer when repeated magic damage is the real problem.View full route

Best when: Kaenic Rookern is a defensive answer when repeated magic damage is the real problem.

  1. First itemSundered Sky
  2. BootsPlated Steelcaps
  3. CoreIceborn Gauntlet
  4. Kaenic Rookern
  5. Late powerSpirit Visage
  6. FlexibleUnending Despair
AlternativeThey stack armourBlack Cleaver shreds armour during extended fights.View full route

Best when: Black Cleaver shreds armour during extended fights.

  1. First itemSundered Sky
  2. BootsPlated Steelcaps
  3. Black Cleaver
  4. Second coreThornmail
  5. Late powerSpirit Visage
  6. FlexibleUnending Despair

Runes and summoner spells

Runes and summoner spellsPoppyTop

Take measured lane trades, scale durability and keep a route back to the map.

Normal Draft
Primary tree

Resolve

Grasp of the UndyingDemolishSecond WindOvergrowth
Secondary tree

Precision

TriumphLast Stand
Summoner spells
FlashTeleport
Long-lane safety

Teleport preserves recalls and side-lane access. Ignite is a deliberate pressure trade-off, not a universal upgrade.

Respect the matchup

Keep the defensive secondary runes when repeated poke or one committed trade can decide the lane.

Matchup notes

What changes when Zed is opposite you?

Pre-game kit comparison
Strategic interaction

Control committed movement

Durability and movement denial can punish opponents who need to enter melee range.

All-round

The kit can contribute through lane, first objectives and later grouped fights without relying on one narrow power window.

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

Poppy reminders

  • Iron Ambassador tends to land near walls, try to take advantage of this with Heroic Charge.
  • Keeper's Verdict can be released immediately to send the enemy straight up, take advantage of this in duels.
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.

Too much healing

Chempunk Chainsword

Chempunk Chainsword adds anti-heal without abandoning attack damage and health.

Physical burst

Death's Dance

Death's Dance delays physical damage so takedowns can stabilise the fight.

Sustained magic damage

Kaenic Rookern

Kaenic Rookern is a defensive answer when repeated magic damage is the real problem.

They stack armour

Black Cleaver

Black Cleaver shreds armour during extended fights.

Ability reference

Compare both kits

Ability reference Data Dragon 16.20.1

Cooldown / Cost / Range Data Dragon 16.20.1

Poppy

  1. P
    Iron Ambassador

    Iron Ambassador is an automatic part of the kit involving protection or sustain. Track when its condition is active instead of treating every fight the same way.

  2. Q
    Hammer Shock

    Hammer Shock contributes a slowing effect and damage. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.

    Cooldown 8/7/6/5/4 · Cost 35/40/45/50/55 · Listed range 430
  3. W
    Steadfast Presence

    Steadfast Presence contributes movement or repositioning and a slowing effect. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.

    Cooldown 20/18/16/14/12 · Cost 50 · Listed range 400
  4. E
    Heroic Charge

    Heroic Charge is part of Poppy's E pattern. Read its listed effect first, then track the cooldown and condition that make the next use valuable.

    Cooldown 14/13/12/11/10 · Cost 70 · Listed range 475
  5. R
    Keeper's Verdict

    Keeper's Verdict is part of Poppy's R pattern. Read its listed effect first, then track the cooldown and condition that make the next use valuable.

    Cooldown 140/120/100 · Cost 100 · Listed range 500

Zed

  1. P
    Contempt for the Weak

    Contempt 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.

  2. Q
    Razor Shuriken

    Razor Shuriken contributes damage. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.

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

    Living 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.

    Cooldown 20/19/18/17/16 · Cost 40/35/30/25/20 · Listed range 650
  4. E
    Shadow Slash

    Shadow 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.

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

    Death Mark contributes damage. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.

    Cooldown 120/110/100 · Listed range 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

Trade around the wave and your strongest cooldowns

1
Lane

Keep health and minions balanced so one poor trade does not decide the lane.

2
Map play

Move after the wave is handled and communicate if the opposing Top laner leaves first.

3
Fights

Choose between front-line duty, side pressure and carry access according to the champion kit.

Pings, movement and objectives

Poppy Top map plan

Manage the long lane before leaving it. A useful move begins with a handled wave, a visible route and a teammate who knows you are coming.

Ahead

Use the side-lane lead without donating it

Ping
Ping Enemy Missing when the opposing Top leaves, then On My Way before a flank or objective move.
Stay or move
Push the wave before moving. Stay if leaving would hand several minions or your tower back to the opponent.
Objective
Arrive through a known route and mark whether you are front-lining, flanking or protecting a carry. Do not enter alone before the team can follow.
Even

Make the wave create the first move

Ping
Use Enemy Missing early, Danger on the route they may take, and On My Way only after your own wave is handled.
Stay or move
Move after pushing or on a shared recall. Do not follow through unwarded river merely because the opponent left first.
Objective
Tell the team whether you can move before the objective starts. Approach with vision and save the cooldown needed for the first real commitment.
Behind

Protect experience and communicate the pressure

Ping
Ping Enemy Missing immediately and Retreat if teammates are about to meet the stronger Top laner without you.
Stay or move
Do not match a stronger opponent through darkness. Clear the safe wave, then group by the shortest controlled route.
Objective
State early if you cannot contest. If the team still fights, provide control or protection instead of attempting an isolated flank.
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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