Zed is the iconic AD assassin. His shadow mechanics create outplay potential, and R Death Mark stores damage dealt to pop for a killing blow 3 seconds later.
Abilities
Skills Overview
P
Contempt for the Weak
Passive
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.
Contempt for the Weak: auto-attacks on targets below 50% HP deal bonus damage.
Q
Razor Shuriken
Skillshot · Shadow Copy
Zed and his shadows throw their shurikens.Each shuriken deals damage to every enemy hit.
CD: 6 · Cost: 75/70/65/60/55
Q throws shurikens. Shadows also throw Q. Double/triple Q for burst.
W
Living Shadow
Shadow Clone · Swap
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.
CD: 20/19/18/17/16 · Cost: 40/35/30/25/20
W places a shadow clone. Recast to SWAP positions. Shadow copies Q and E.
E
Shadow Slash
AoE · Shadow Copy · Slow
Zed and his Shadows slash, dealing damage to nearby enemies. Enemies hit by a Shadow's slash are slowed.
CD: 5/4.5/4/3.5/3 · Cost: 40
E slashes around you. Shadow also E's. Overlapping E slows.
R
Death Mark
Mark · Untargetable · Swap
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.
CD: 120/110/100 · Cost: 0
R dashes to target, marks them, goes untargetable. Mark POPS after 3s dealing bonus % of damage dealt during mark.
Skill Leveling Order — Max Q first, then W, then E · R at 6 / 11 / 16
| Level | Q | W | E | R | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Take Q | ||||
| 2 | Take W — shadow | ||||
| 3 | Take E | ||||
| 4 | Level Q | ||||
| 5 | Level Q | ||||
| 6 | R — Death Mark | ||||
| 7 | Level Q | ||||
| 8 | Level E | ||||
| 9 | Q maxed ✓ | ||||
| 10 | Level E | ||||
| 11 | R rank 2 | ||||
| 12 | Level E | ||||
| 13 | Level E | ||||
| 14 | E maxed ✓ | ||||
| 15 | Level W | ||||
| 16 | R rank 3 | ||||
| 17 | Level W | ||||
| 18 | W maxed ✓ |
Itemization
Recommended Builds
Core Build
Duskblade of Draktharr
Lethality + invis on kill.
3100g
Ionian Boots
CDR for W uptime.
950g
Edge of Night
Spell shield.
2900g
Youmuu's Ghostblade
Lethality + MS.
2900g
Situational
Death's Dance
Bleed passive.
3300g
Lord Dominik's Regards
Armor pen.
2900g
Guardian Angel
Revive.
3200g
Full lethality. R → WEQ triple shuriken → death mark pop.
Runes
Domination Primary
Electrocute
Q + E + auto procs.
Sudden Impact
Lethality after R/W.
Eyeball Collection
Free AD.
Ultimate Hunter
Lower R CD.
Precision Secondary
Triumph
Heal on kill.
Last Stand
Bonus when low.
Shards
Adaptive Force · Adaptive Force · Health
Gameplay
How to Play Zed
01
Early Game
W + Q Poke, Farm
- W + Q double shuriken for ranged poke.
- Farm with Q through minions.
- E slow for trades. W + E = ranged slow.
- Save W — it's your ONLY escape pre-6.
- Level 6 all-in: R → W behind → E → Q (triple shuriken) → auto → death mark pop.
02
Mid Game
R → WEQ Assassination
- R → W → E → Q → auto = full assassination combo.
- Death mark stores 100% of damage dealt during mark. More damage = bigger pop.
- W swap back to safety after combo.
- Roam with W + R mobility for kills.
- Duskblade invis on kill for escape.
03
Late Game
Flank Assassin
- Flank → R the carry → full combo → death mark pop → Duskblade invis → gone.
- W swap for escape after assassination.
- R untargetable dodges key abilities.
- You fall off vs tanks. Focus squishies only.
- Triple Q (you + shadow + R shadow) = devastating burst.
Teamfighting
How to Teamfight as Zed
Zed flanks, R the carry, full combo, death mark pops, Duskblade invis escape.
1
Flank — Position Behind
Setup
01
Flank from fog of war.
02
Wait for CC to be used.
03
Identify the carry.
Don't R into 5 people with CC available. One stun during combo = dead Zed.
2
Burst — R → WEQ
Assassination
01
R onto carry (untargetable).
02
W behind them for triple shuriken angle.
03
E + Q + auto during death mark.
3
Escape — W Swap + Duskblade
Get out
01
W swap back to shadow location.
02
Duskblade invis on kill.
03
Death mark pops 3s later for the kill.
Triple Q: your Q + W shadow Q + R shadow Q = 3 shurikens hitting the same target. This is maximum burst.
Tips & Tricks
Advanced Mechanics & Hidden Tech
Advanced mechanics for Zed.
Basic
W + Q Poke
W throws shadow → Q from both you AND shadow. Double shuriken from range.
Intermediate
R Death Mark
R marks target. After 3s, mark pops dealing bonus damage based on damage dealt during mark. More damage = bigger pop.
Advanced
Triple Q
R + W = 2 shadows. All 3 throw Q. Triple shuriken = maximum burst.
Basic
W Swap
W swap to your shadow's location. Use for escape after combo.
Intermediate
R Untargetable
During R dash, you're untargetable. Dodge abilities like Syndra R, Karthus R.
Advanced
Shadow Positioning
Place W BEHIND the enemy during R. Q from 3 angles = triple hit guaranteed.
Matchups
Counters & Matchups
Zed struggles against Zhonya's rush, point-and-click CC, and tanks. He excels against immobile squishies.
Click any matchup to expand tips & how to play against them
Loses Against
R self-cast counters your R.
Bait her R, then all-in.
R suppresses. Passive blocks Q.
QSS. Pop passive with W + E.
Too tanky. W taunt catches you.
Roam instead of fighting Galio.
Wins Against
W through cage. R dodges his R.
W through cage → R → dead.
No escape from your combo.
R → WEQ → dead.
Squishy, immobile.
R → combo → dead.