[Champion Concept] - Zeran, The Pure Elder Wizard
Zeran is the last of what many call, the "pure wizards". These wizards were masters of all elements and were able to manipulate them to their will.
Zeran is a mage caster who depends on mixing the elements to create various spells.
Passive - Knowledge of the Elements/Self Overload Zeran's basic attacks gain bonuses for when an element is first toggled. Each spell has a cooldown but can (when off cooldown) be cast in quick succession, depending on how fast you toggle the elements. Cooldowns are shown as icons above ability bar. Zeran burdened with vast knowledge of the elements, only takes half of the cooldown reduction gained from items, masteries, and runes.
- Q - Fire: basic attacks deal bonus magic damage. Element Fire is toggled. (stops after spell is cast)
- W - Ice: Next basic attack slows an enemy by 10%. Element Ice is toggled.
- E - Lightning: Zeran gains max attack speed for the next 3 basic attacks. Element Lightning is toggled.
- R - Cast: This does not give a basic attack bonus but casts a spell determined by the order of the toggled elements. 2 element spells cost 45 mana, while 3 element spells cost 70 mana. Self Overload: If Zeran casts more than 5 spells within 10 seconds, he becomes silenced for 5 seconds.
Q - Fire Spell Book (These spells have a 5 second cooldown)
- (Q+W) - Fire Blast: Zeran blasts an area dealing damage to all hit, in a small area.
- (Q+E) - Fire Bolt: Fires a spear of fire in a straight line damaging enemies it passes through. Enemies struck by Fire bolt, take bonus damage when struck by another fire ability.
- (Q+W+E) - Blazing Cyclone: Zeran conjures a fiery cyclone in front of him, damaging and knocking back enemies struck.
- (Q+E+W) - Inferno Bomb: Zeran lobs a ball of fire to a target area, exploding and dealing damage after a short delay.
W - Ice Spell Book (These spells have a 12 second CD)
- (W+Q) - Ice Shards: Zeran shoots three shards, slowing the first enemy hit by each shard.
- (W+E) - Frosty Shout: Zeran shouts freezing all enemies directly in front of him.
- (W+Q+E) - Ice Boulder: Summons an ice boulder that stuns enemies struck. Excelerating over time.
- (W+E+Q) - Frozen Gust: Zeran freezes a small area, knocking up enemies.
E - Lightning Spell Book (These Spells have a 15 second CD)
- (E+Q) - Lightning Ball: Summons a sphere of lightning at a targeted location. Shocking enemies nearby, periodically over 5 seconds.
- (E+W) - Chain Lightning: Zeran's next three basic attacks deal magic damage and can strike up to 3 targets.
- (E+Q+W) - E.M.P: Zeran releases two electric pulses around his location. Enemies struck by the first wave have their movement slowed. Enemies struck by both waves become silenced for a short duration.
- (E+W+Q) - Glide Lightning: Zeran moves himself to a target location, through a lightning strike. (Short distance). Can do this two times, second cast costs nothing. If you toggle an element before you cast the second glide, Glide Lightning goes on cooldown.
**Zeran's Weaknesses ** Zeran automatically starts with his Ultimate Cast but will not be able to use it until level two (when he obtains a second element). Although Zeran has 12 abilities (not including basic attack bonuses) only 6 deal damage. Fire abilities are the primary damage abilities but deal the most damage when enemies are marked by Fire Bolt. Zeran suffers from mana costs as he has low base mana and mana regen. Even with 5 abilities based around cc, Zeran cannot be the only cc on your team. Most are skill shots and all cc durations wouldn't exceed fractions of a second. Unlike other champions, Zeran's skills have to be memorized and toggled in an order to be able to cast. Glide Lightning, with both uses, collectively only goes up to 250 range. Meaning his mobility is still not the best.
Zeran's Strengths/tips He has 12 spells that touch on many areas. E.M.P can be channeled while using Glide Lightning. Abilities can be cast in quick succession depending on how fast you toggle the elements. But be too fast and you'll have no spells to cast for 5 seconds. Unlike other champions, when Zeran is silenced he cannot use his R but can use (toggle) his elements Q,W, and E. When leveling up, Zeran only levels his Q,W, and E. When (Q) Fire is being level, fire damage is increased. When (W) ice is being leveled, ice spells gain increased range and cc duration. When (E) Lightning is being leveled, Lightning spells have their width, cc durations, and/or damage increased. R can be toggled before the elements to quickly cast 2 element spells faster. Zeran is best played using smart cast, to cast more efficiently.
Zeran's Playstyle Unlike his kit may suggest, Zeran is best later in game when teamfights happen. He excels as a disengager/peeler for the back lines. In lane, zoning is his best asset of survival. With mana problems and self overload, poking an enemy down with his fire elements isn't an option. Instead he should focus on deterring the enemy from striking him down, with his elemental basic attacks. Controlling the flow of the lane to allow his jungler, either to capitalize/help Zeran capitalize on the zoned enemy. As a disengager, Zeran can escape from enemies with ease without being unable to catch. Blazing Cyclone and Glide Lightning are some of his abilities that allow him to stay safe, but at the cost of the majority of his mana.
Bread and Butter Combos Yes, it's like you'd be playing mortal combat with this guy: E.M.P. and Glide Lightning - spreading the silence much easier. Blazing Cyclone and Glide Lightning - Simple disengage and relatively the easiest to learn. (Q+W+E+R) then (E+W+Q+R) Frozen Gust,Inferno Bomb , and Fire Bolt - Gust would allow IB to detonate with Bolt's bonus damage.
