Generic But, How Does a Mid Laner Beat Zed?

I like Diana or fizz into him. They both can handle his garbage.

Double Doran's Ring into Seeker's Armguard for mana sustain and to mitigate poke. You don't have to immediately build into Zhonya's Hourglass; just build whatever items you would normally purchase.

Take Exhaust or Barrier to survive an all-in attempt.

Take armor seals (Flat or Scaling).

When he uses his ultimate on you, he will always appear behind you after a set delay. Hit him with CC the instant he lands.

While this isn't applicable for most mid laners, there are a few who can rush Frozen Heart. This makes them extremely difficult for Zed to kill while providing mana and CDR.

Well, there aren't really hard counters to him from what I've found, but playing champs with a stun usually works for me. Once we both hit 6 (lets say I'm Malzahar) he ults me, I flash back under turret and face forward (so that he will appear behind me) then use my cc move. This will usually kill him with tower.

Otherwise, Heimerdinger with barrier is a great pick. Swain can also do pretty well because of his sustain and cc (you would put your stun on you as soon as he ults, or on his shadow).

I don't mid lane so I dont know the specifics to beating him in lane, but usually playing safe and playing a counter will work.

Be Karthus, hit 6 and then don't leave fountain.

He's pretty good at being an anti-mage, I think your best bet is Talon or a mage tank thing like Cho'gath or AP Malphite.

Pick a champ who can farm safely and have an impact later on. Zed is designed to be good in lane and snowball if he gets kills, but otherwise doesn't bring much to the table compared to someone like orianna if he doesn't manage to get super fed.

I'd give up on the idea of killing him in lane unless he does something stupid and suicides into you while trying to be flashy.

pick lissandra? everything lissandra does counters zed from the lane poke behind minions, instant bind, ult that not only makes untargetable but heals, a blink of her own to outplay

plus she builds roa which makes he tankier very quickly, run 22 armor runes (armor quints, armor seals, magic pen reds, FLAT AP BLUES to still have 11 AP instead of the usual 15, no MR but u dont need it)

Diana shits on him if you know what your doing. she can just all in him really easily. and she can take his poke because of her sield