Zoe one-shots from range. E sleep sets up guaranteed Q, and max-range Q deals 70% HP. R portals for better Q angles. She's a poke mage who can kill from a screen away.
Abilities
Skills Overview
P
More Sparkles!
Passive
Zoe's next basic attack after casting a spell deals bonus magic damage.
More Sparkles: after casting an ability, next auto deals bonus magic damage.
Q
Paddle Star!
Skillshot · Redirect · Distance Damage
Zoe fires a missile that she can redirect in flight. Deals more damage the longer it flies in a straight line.
CD: 8.5/8/7.5/7/6.5 · Cost: 40/45/50/55/60
Q fires a star. RECAST to redirect it. The FARTHER Q travels, the MORE damage. Max range Q = one-shot.
W
Spell Thief
Pickup · Summ Spells · Item Actives
Zoe can pick up the remnants of enemy summoner spell and active item casts and cast them once herself. Whenever she casts a summoner spell, she gains 3 missiles that fire at the nearest target.
CD: 0.25 · Cost: 0
W picks up summoner spells and item actives that enemies drop. Use them as your own.
E
Sleepy Trouble Bubble
Skillshot · Sleep · Through Walls
Causes the target to become drowsy, then fall asleep. While asleep, the target's Magic Resist is reduced. The first source of damage that breaks the sleep is doubled, up to a cap.
CD: 16/15/14/13/12 · Cost: 80
E throws a drowsy bubble. Targets HIT fall asleep after 1.4s. Sleep = guaranteed Q. E through walls extends range.
R
Portal Jump
Portal · Reposition · Snap Back
Blink to a nearby position for 1 second. Then blink back.
CD: 11/8/5 · Cost: 40
R portals forward then SNAPS you back after 1s. Use for Q angle/range. You ALWAYS return to starting point.
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 — sleep | ||||
| 3 | Take W — pickup | ||||
| 4 | Level Q | ||||
| 5 | Level Q | ||||
| 6 | R — Portal Jump | ||||
| 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
Malignance
R CDR for more Q angle setups.
2700g
Sorcerer's Shoes
Magic pen.
1100g
Rabadon's Deathcap
AP multiplier for Q nuke.
3600g
Void Staff
Magic pen.
2800g
Situational
Lich Bane
Passive auto proc after Q.
3000g
Zhonya's Hourglass
Stasis.
3250g
Banshee's Veil
Spell shield.
2600g
Malignance → Deathcap → Void. Max range Q with full AP = 70% HP.
Runes
Domination Primary
Electrocute
E + Q + auto procs.
Taste of Blood
Sustain.
Eyeball Collection
Free AP.
Treasure Hunter
Gold.
Sorcery Secondary
Manaflow Band
Mana.
Transcendence
CDR.
Shards
Adaptive Force · Adaptive Force · Health
Gameplay
How to Play Zoe
01
Early Game
E Sleep + Q Poke
- E sleep + Q for burst trades.
- Q from max range = more damage. Cast Q backward, then redirect.
- W picks up summoner spells from minion kills. Free Flash/Ignite/etc.
- Passive auto after abilities for bonus damage.
- Q through wave for CS.
02
Mid Game
E → R → Q One-Shot
- E through walls for long-range sleep + Q snipe.
- R portal → Q backward → redirect through R for max range = 70% HP.
- W picked-up spells create huge outplay potential.
- E sleep + Q + passive auto + Electrocute = one-shot squishies.
- Catch enemies from fog of war with E through walls.
03
Late Game
Screen-Distance Burst
- Max range Q deals 1200+ damage at full AP.
- E through walls catches enemies from impossible angles.
- R → Q max range = screen-distance one-shot.
- W picked-up spells (Flash, Ignite, Heal) give random advantages.
- One E sleep on the carry = dead carry. Game-winning picks.
Teamfighting
How to Teamfight as Zoe
Zoe E sleeps from fog of war, then max-range Q one-shots the sleeping target.
1
Pick — E Sleep
Guaranteed setup
01
E through walls for surprise sleep.
02
1.4s drowsy → 2.2s sleep.
03
Sleeping target = guaranteed Q.
E through walls extends range. Always throw E through terrain for maximum distance.
2
Burst — Max Range Q
One-shot
01
Q backward → redirect toward sleeping target.
02
Farther Q travels = more damage.
03
R portal for extra distance = even more Q damage.
3
Cleanup — Passive + W
Follow-up
01
Passive auto after Q for bonus damage.
02
W picked-up spells for extra damage/utility.
03
R snaps you back — safe positioning.
R → Q backward → Q redirect forward through R portal. This makes Q travel your R distance + full Q range = maximum damage. Screen-distance one-shot.
Tips & Tricks
Advanced Mechanics & Hidden Tech
Advanced mechanics for Zoe.
Basic
Q Distance
Q deals MORE damage the farther it travels. Cast Q backward, then redirect for max range = max damage.
Intermediate
E Through Walls
E through terrain extends its range. Always cast E through walls for longer sleep range.
Advanced
R + Q Combo
R portal forward → Q backward → Q redirect through R portal. Maximum Q travel distance = maximum damage.
Basic
R Snap-Back
R ALWAYS snaps you back to starting position. You return after 1 second no matter what.
Intermediate
W Pickups
W picks up summoner spells from minions and enemy casts. Free Flash, Ignite, etc.
Basic
Passive Auto
After each ability, next auto deals bonus damage. Weave autos between Q and E.
Matchups
Counters & Matchups
Zoe struggles against mobile champions who dodge E and tanky champions who survive Q. She excels against immobile mages she can sleep.
Click any matchup to expand tips & how to play against them
Loses Against
Fizz E dodges E sleep and Q.
E before he E's. Timing is key.
Windwall blocks E and Q.
Bait windwall, then combo.
Zed R dodges E sleep. Burst kills you.
E when he R appears. Zhonya's.
Wins Against
Immobile. E sleep lands freely.
E sleep → max range Q = dead.
Immobile. Free E + Q combo.
E sleep → Q one-shot from range.
Squishy, immobile.
E sleep → Q. Dead instantly.