Why Zoe is not OP ( Serious Discussion )
There are many who I've came across who consistantly flame throughout an entire game over me using Zoe, and throw out there the "Shes broken" "What have you done rito" "balance team sucks" lines. Here is my opinion of why Zoe is not OP and please do feel free to comment kindly.
+"Zoe is a 1 shot champ."+
Firstly lets define 1 shot, even if you don't agree with this definition (because for some reason people don't agree on what it means) for the sake of this conversation a 1 shot is a single engagement with a champion, 1 exchange of spells/abilities. This is partially true, Zoe is a one shot champ. As long as she is ahead in items, lands her avoidable E, throws back her skill shot, lands a basic attack, hits skill shot, then basic attacks again. That combo works on most ADC and Mid champs, however it DOES NOT work on champs who are tanks or tanky supports that build magic resist. It also does not work as well if Zoe misses her E which has a decent cooldown when compared to Lux's root , Zyras root, or Morgana's root.
People who define 1 shot as a 1 hit 1 kill ability mistaken her Q for one. Firstly, it does high damage it has to be thrown over a distance. This can be countered by running towards Zoe, not away. Secondly, Zoe landing her E is detrimental to scoring yourself a kill, because the E increases the damage the Q deals drastically, this can be avoided by side stepping and staying away from walls when you see a Zoe walking towards a wall. Third, Zoe's sleep is long, however the next attack from an enemy champion wakes up your champion, canceling her E. Her E also has a relatively long cooldown unless landed, in which the cooldown is decreased from around 10-15 seconds to 6-10. The E has also already been nerfed to take longer to hit the ground should you miss it.
People seem to not realize the amount of damage Zoe does in a full combo is equal or lesser when compared to champs like Zed, Kha'zix, Nasus, Vayne, Draven, Lux, Shyvana, Katarina, Evelyn, Gangplank, Vi, Akali, Veigar, Diana, Fizz, Kayn, Orianna, Quinn, Talon, Xerath, Rengar, and Swain. All of the champion I've listed all have 1 shot potential equivalent to that of Zoe. Their abilities may be executed in different ways however you cannot deny at the end of a combo they dont all do similar damage to a non-tank. Especially champs like Veigar and Nasus' whose stacks have no ceiling.
+"Zoe has no counters."+
Below I will list Zoe's counters.
Heimerdinger - Place turrets stategically to block skill shots.
Malzahar - Spawns can be used to block skill shots.
Talon - 1 shot from lvl 6.
Zed - 1 shot from lvl 6.
Xerath - Massive damage from the beginning.
Lux - Predicts Zoe's R's with Q's and a combo.
Veigar - Easy to trap and 1 shot zoe.
Nasus - (Late game) 1 shot Zoe, tanks hits even without MR.
Fizz - Untargetable, massive damage, R does between 50% and 70% for the duration of the game. Can hop over R's and Q's.
Swain - lifesteal, vision, slows, pulls, he sort of counters 50% of champs right now.
+"Zoe takes no skill."+
Zoe's two damaging abilities are skill shots. Zoe is super squishy and later in the game can easily be one shot by maybe 80% of champs. Zoe's Q's range moves with her champ. She can't be entirely out of harms way when using them. Roots work on Zoe while she R's, she comes back out of her other portal rooted/stunned/etc. Zoe needs to keep her distance while maintaining pressure which in high elos is very difficult with such a squishy champ. Zoe is almost always the target of junglers early game and the target of adcs late game.
Advice to people playing against Zoe: Apply pressure the entire game and have Cleanse if she is in your lane. The further away you let her go the more damage her Q will do. Always put a minion inbetween you and Zoe. If Zoe is running right at you or no moving she has her E. Play her to learn her range and disadvantageous scenarios. Playing her for your first 15 games or so will show you what I mean.
To all, good luck and have fun.
