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I want to get into playing Zed, and would like some tips.

Shinjusuke··4 votes·1,209 views

Obviously there's always room for refinement through shadow positioning and whatnot, but more specifically, I'm looking for tips for over the progression of a game.

For example, it's fairly common knowledge that if you fall behind as Zed, he feels insanely weak. But, when I'm going even, it still seems like it feels like my damage is lackluster.

Is he designed for his "ideal" trade burst, meaning hitting both Qs without minions and an E, to be his "expected" burst as well? It seems like my pokes barely tickle unless I get his "ideal" poke off, whereas when I play a champ like, for example, Syndra, my typical poke/trade hurts WAY more. Or perhaps is he meant to be a complete non-threat without his ult unless he's snowballing?

Obviously there's tradeoffs in damage for Zed being very mobile and not using mana, but I feel like I'm doing something wrong, whether it be how I approach trades/pokes, or build order, or when and where I roam, etc.

So, Zed players who've been playing him far longer, could you offer advice as to how to play the champion for the most effective damage, namely in lane phase?

Thanks everyone!

4 Comments

Wheatloaf1 votes

I'm no expert on Zed (I play more mage-types), so I was planning on letting others respond to you here, but your thread has been up a while with no response, so I'll give you what pointers I can.

Never neglect farming, especially pre-6. Zed needs his items to get rolling.

Poke whenever convenient. It will help you keep track of how much damage you're dealing, allowing you to calculate for all-ins better.

Never Ult someone without a plan. You can always reactivate it to escape, but it's a valuable cool down.

Roam, if your lane opponent lets you. Assassins are great at creating pressure just by being MIA.

Armor pen and CDR above flat AD. Zed is an AD caster more than a heavy auto attacker, so those two stats will work well in his favor. Don't neglect to get a BF Sword or two, though, if your enemies lack armor. (Assassins choose whatever they have available to kill. Sometimes that's going to be a tank.)

That's all I've really got, and it's more general tips than ones specifically for Zed, but I hope they help a little.

MrBuffington1 votes

Every time I watch Faker play Zed, I get inspired to try to learn him again, but I still suck T-T. I would recommend you watch Faker, Bjergsen, etc. play Zed; from what I gather, like most bursty champions, you want to poke the enemy down until you can all in them. From what I see of pro play, you want to WQEE (or WEQE, not sure which, but your E cooldown typically comes back up before your shadow expires, so you can get some extra damage off, since most people don't pay attention to the shadow placement). That's typically how Zed pokes.

For all ins/larger trades, there seems to be some way where you can time your second W cast (to swap shadows) with your E cast in such a way that your target takes damage from both your shadow's E, and your own E (based on some careful timing with the swap).

Aside from this, I think it's just a lot of practice learning to be aware of where your shadows are in the middle of a fight so you can swap and juke around, so practice :D.

EDIT: Here's a pretty good Bjerg game; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRV7WJXsk6Q

He shows you some pretty good general tips on Zed, but also how to play from behind (I mean, he was monsterously ahead, but the rest of the team was losing their match ups). There are some weird sound issues in the middle/end of the video, but there's a lot of good information in it regardless

Calabok1 votes

Don't play that crap champ. Play a worthwhile and fun champ like, BRAND

soulbanana81 votes

For laning phase, I try to fake last hits while really throwing a Q for harass. Don't be afraid to trade, but don't go to aggressive either. Harass with W-Q combo only if you're close to turret, as not many people will gank you under turret. If you're up against a skillshot heavy lane, start boots 4. If not, go longsword 3 unless the matchup is really, really hard, in which this case go either boots 4 or doran's shield 1(doran's shield 1 if you're up against someone who like AAing). For roaming, only roam if you have pushed lane/have made it into a state where the lane softpushes all while the enemy is gone/too low to do anything. Don't be afraid to dive as you have ulti shadow, flash, and W to escape. Splitpush only if you are looking for picks so as to get neutral objectives like Dragon or Baron. If you get a pick bot, ping for Dragon. If you get a pick top and another pick is made somewhere else, go Baron(if you're high enough level). There is no real need to rush Items as Zed until you hit mid-late game. Usually, Cutlass-Brutalizer-mobis- BotRK-Yommus is a good path. If you're struggling, get a hexdrinker, but don't finish it till the late game.

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