Zeri is the most mobile ADC. Her Q replaces auto-attacks as a skillshot, E dashes over walls, and R makes her faster with every hit. At peak R stacks, she runs at 700+ MS while dealing AoE damage.
Abilities
Skills Overview
P
Living Battery
Passive
Zeri's Attacks deal magic damage and are treated as Abilities. Moving and casting Burst Fire stores up energy in Zeri's Sparkpack. When fully charged her next Attack deals bonus damage.
Living Battery: picking up enemy shields gives you shield. Move speed converts to damage.
Q
Burst Fire
Skillshot · Replace Auto
Burst Fire shoots a burst of 7 rounds that deal attack damage to the first enemy hit. This Ability is treated as an Attack.
CD: 0 · Cost: 0
Q replaces your auto-attack. It's a skillshot that fires in a burst. You aim every auto.
W
Ultrashock Laser
Long Range · Pierce · Slow
Zeri fires an electric pulse that slows and damages the first enemy hit. If the pulse hits a wall it expands into a long range laser.
CD: 12/11/10/9/8 · Cost: 50/60/70/80/90
W fires a long-range laser that slows. Pierces through first target. Use for poke.
E
Spark Surge
Dash · Wall Hop
Zeri dashes a short distance and energizes her next 3 shots of Burst Fire, causing them to pierce through enemies. She will vault and grind over any terrain she touches.
CD: 22/21/20/19/18 · Cost: 90/85/80/75/70
E dashes over terrain. If you dash over a wall, you gain bonus AS. Your escape tool.
R
Lightning Crash
AoE · MS Stack · Chain Lightning
Zeri discharges a nova of electricity and overcharges herself, gaining increased damage and stacking Move Speed that refreshes and gets stronger every time she hits an enemy champion. While overcharged, Burst fire becomes a faster triple shot that chains lightning between enemies.
CD: 80/75/70 · Cost: 100
R electrifies you: chain lightning on hits, stacking MS per hit. You become faster and faster during R.
Skill Leveling Order — Max Q first, then E, then W · R at 6 / 11 / 16
| Level | Q | W | E | R | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Take Q | ||||
| 2 | Take E — dash | ||||
| 3 | Take W — laser | ||||
| 4 | Level Q | ||||
| 5 | Level Q | ||||
| 6 | R — Lightning Crash | ||||
| 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
Trinity Force
Sheen proc on Q. MS + AD synergy.
3333g
Berserker's Greaves
AS.
1100g
Runaan's Hurricane
Bolts apply chain lightning during R.
2600g
Infinity Edge
Q crits.
3400g
Situational
Lord Dominik's Regards
Armor pen.
2900g
Bloodthirster
Lifesteal.
3400g
Maw of Malmortius
Magic shield.
2800g
Trinity → Runaan's → IE. Q spam + R chain lightning = AoE DPS at 700 MS.
Runes
Precision Primary
Lethal Tempo
Stacking AS for faster Q spam.
Triumph
Heal on takedown.
Legend: Alacrity
AS.
Coup de Grace
Execute.
Sorcery Secondary
Celerity
Bonus MS amplifies R stacking.
Gathering Storm
Free AD scaling.
Shards
Attack Speed · Adaptive Force · Health
Gameplay
How to Play Zeri
01
Early Game
Q Farm, Survive Lane
- Q replaces your auto. Practice aiming every auto as a skillshot.
- E dashes over terrain. Use for escapes and repositioning.
- W long-range poke for lane harass.
- You're weak early. Farm safely.
- E over walls gives bonus AS. Use in fights near terrain.
02
Mid Game
E Wall Hops, R Fights
- R during fights: every Q hit stacks MS. You get faster and faster.
- R chain lightning deals AoE. The longer you fight, the more damage you deal.
- E wall-hop for flanks and escapes. You can hop every wall.
- Runaan's + R chain lightning = AoE destruction.
- Fight near walls for E wall-hop AS bonus.
03
Late Game
700 MS AoE DPS
- R at max stacks: 700+ MS. You're literally uncatchable while dealing massive AoE.
- Q spam + R chain lightning + Runaan's = the entire enemy team takes damage.
- E makes you the most mobile ADC. You can reposition over any terrain.
- R lasts as long as you keep hitting enemies. Don't stop auto-attacking during R.
- You outDPS most ADCs in extended fights thanks to R stacking.
Teamfighting
How to Teamfight as Zeri
Zeri R stacks MS and chain lightning in extended fights. The longer you fight, the faster and stronger you get.
1
Start — R Activate
Begin stacking
01
R at the start of the fight.
02
Every Q hit stacks MS.
03
Chain lightning hits nearby enemies.
Don't R before the fight. R duration depends on hitting enemies. R too early = it expires.
2
Ramp — Q Spam
Stacking speed
01
Q spam to stack R MS.
02
The more you hit, the faster you go.
03
Runaan's bolts also stack R.
3
Peak — 700+ MS
Unstoppable
01
At max stacks you're the fastest champion.
02
Chain lightning AoE + Q crits.
03
E over walls to reposition while at max speed.
R MS stacks have no cap. In long teamfights, you can reach 800+ MS. You're literally a lightning bolt.
Tips & Tricks
Advanced Mechanics & Hidden Tech
Advanced mechanics for Zeri.
Basic
Q is Your Auto
Q REPLACES your auto-attack. You aim every auto as a skillshot. Practice this — it's Zeri's core mechanic.
Intermediate
R Stacking
R gives MS per Q hit. The longer you fight, the faster you get. Don't disengage during R — keep hitting.
Basic
E Wall Hop
E dashes over terrain. Every wall in the game is hoppable. Use for escapes, flanks, and repositioning.
Advanced
E Wall AS
E over a wall gives bonus attack speed. Position near walls in fights for the AS bonus.
Basic
W Poke
W is a long-range laser. Use for poke in lane and to check bushes.
Intermediate
P Shield Steal
Passive gives you a shield when you damage enemy shields. You counter shield-heavy comps.
Matchups
Counters & Matchups
Zeri struggles against point-and-click CC that ignores her mobility. She excels in extended fights where R stacking makes her unstoppable.
Click any matchup to expand tips & how to play against them
Loses Against
Caitlyn outranges you and traps limit your E mobility.
Farm safely. Outscale at 3 items.
Draven's early damage overwhelms you.
Don't trade. Farm to 2 items.
Jhin W root stops your mobility. 4th shot burst hurts.
E dodge his W. All-in when 4th shot used.
Wins Against
Kog can't escape your MS or E mobility.
Run circles around him. He can't hit you at 700 MS.
Her slow doesn't matter when you're at 700 MS.
R stacking negates her slow.
You outscale and outmobile Sivir.
Farm equally. Your late game is stronger.