HOW TO COUNTER ZED IN-DEPTH GUIDE

How to counter Zed, the master of shadows. A highly mobile assassin in League of Legends that requires a combination of strategy, game knowledge, and quick reflexes. Here’s a detailed guide on how to effectively counter Zed and win against him.

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1) Zed Abilities Overview:

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  • Contempt for the Weak (Passive):
  • Zed’s passive, Contempt for the Weak, enhances his basic attacks against low-health targets, dealing bonus magic damage. This encourages Zed to finish off weakened enemies quickly, rewarding him with burst potential in skirmishes and team fights.

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  • Razor Shuriken (Q):
  • Razor Shuriken is Zed’s primary poking and wave-clear ability. It’s a skill shot that deals physical damage to the first enemy hit. Zed can cast this ability twice in quick succession, making it versatile for both harassment and all-in engagements. Skilled Zed players can aim their shurikens to hit multiple targets or poke from unexpected angles.

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  • Living Shadow (W):
  • Living Shadow provides Zed with mobility and outplay potential. Zed’s shadow dashes forward, mimicking his abilities and basic attacks for a short duration. This ability allows Zed to harass enemies from a safe distance, set up plays, and escape sticky situations. Mastering Living Shadow is crucial for Zed players to maximize their damage output and survivability.

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  • Shadow Slash (E):
  • Shadow Slash is Zed’s area-of-effect ability, dealing damage to nearby enemies around him. When Zed hits enemies with both his own slash and his shadow’s slash, he gains bonus damage. This ability is essential for wave-clearing, trading in lane, and applying pressure in team fights. Skilled Zed players use Shadow Slash in combination with Living Shadow to position themselves for optimal damage output.

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  • Death Mark (R):
  • Death Mark is Zed’s signature ultimate ability, allowing him to mark an enemy champion and dash to them after a short delay. Upon arrival, Zed detonates the mark, dealing a significant amount of physical damage based on the target’s maximum health and Zed’s attack damage. Death Mark also grants Zed increased attack damage for a few seconds, amplifying his burst potential. This ability defines Zed’s playstyle as an assassin, enabling him to swiftly eliminate priority targets and snowball fights in his team’s favor.

2) Zed Power Spikes

  • Level 3:
  • At level 3, Zed unlocks all three of his basic abilities: Razor Shuriken (Q), Living Shadow (W), and Shadow Slash (E). This grants him a significant increase in his kill potential and trading capabilities in lane.

  • With access to his full kit, Zed can effectively poke, harass, and all-in his opponents. He can use Living Shadow to close the gap, Shadow Slash to deal area-of-effect damage, and Razor Shuriken to poke from a distance.

  • Level 3 is a crucial moment for Zed players to exert pressure on their opponents, especially if they have been conserving their energy and health in the early levels.

  • Level 6:
  • Zed’s ultimate ability, Death Mark, becomes available at level 6, marking a significant power spike for him. Death Mark allows Zed to mark an enemy champion and dash to them after a brief delay, dealing massive physical damage upon arrival.

  • With Death Mark, Zed gains the ability to execute low-health targets or initiate all-in engagements with confidence. The threat of Zed’s ultimate forces opponents to play more cautiously and respect his kill potential.

  • Level 6 is when Zed becomes a formidable threat in both solo skirmishes and team fights, as he can quickly eliminate priority targets and snowball the game in his team’s favor.

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3) Item Spikes:


  1. Duskblade of Draktharr:

    • Duskblade of Draktharr is a core item for Zed, providing lethality, attack damage, and a unique passive that grants bonus damage after being unseen by enemy champions. Completing Duskblade significantly increases Zed’s burst potential and assassination capabilities.

    • The passive from Duskblade synergizes well with Zed’s hit-and-run playstyle, allowing him to deal burst damage from the shadows and quickly vanish before his opponents can retaliate.

    • Zed players often prioritize rushing Duskblade to maximize their kill pressure and snowball the game in their favor.

  2. Youmuu’s Ghostblade:
    • Youmuu’s Ghostblade is another core item for Zed, providing lethality, attack damage, and an active ability that grants bonus movement speed and attack speed for a short duration.

    • The active from Youmuu’s Ghostblade enhances Zed’s mobility and dueling potential, allowing him to quickly engage or disengage from fights. This item complements Zed’s hit-and-run playstyle and makes him even more elusive and difficult to catch.

    • Completing Youmuu’s Ghostblade further amplifies Zed’s burst damage and roaming potential, enabling him to exert pressure on multiple lanes and secure kills across the map.

4) General Strategies to Counter Zed

Champion Selection:

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  1. High Mobility Champions:
    • Champions with dashes, blinks, or high mobility abilities can evade Zed’s skill shots and ultimate, making it difficult for him to land his combos effectively. Examples include Ahri, LeBlanc, and Yasuo.

  2. Crowd Control (CC) Champions:
    • Champions with reliable crowd control abilities can lock down Zed, preventing him from dealing damage or escaping. Stuns, roots, silences, and knock-ups disrupt Zed’s combos and limit his mobility. Consider champions like Lissandra, Malzahar, and Veigar.

  3. Tanky Bruisers:
    • Tanky champions with sustain and dueling potential can withstand Zed’s burst damage and outlast him in trades. Building armor and health items reduces the effectiveness of Zed’s all-in attempts. Examples include Galio, Sett, and Mordekaiser.

  4. Burst Mages:
    • Some burst mages possess enough burst damage to quickly burst down Zed before he can kill them with his ultimate. These champions can punish Zed’s aggressive plays and force him to play defensively. Consider champions like Syndra, Annie, and Viktor.

5) Lane Management:

  • Positioning:
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  1. Stay behind minions to block Zed’s Razor Shuriken (Q) and reduce his poke and wave-clear potential. Minimize opportunities for Zed to land his abilities by maintaining proper spacing and utilizing terrain to your advantage.

  2. Roaming Awareness:

    • Keep track of Zed’s movements and alert your teammates when he goes missing from lane. Zed excels at roaming and snowballing other lanes with his mobility and burst damage. Use pings and communicate with your team to prevent Zed from securing kills in other lanes.

      Itemization:

6) Zed Counter Itemization:

  1. Seeker’s Armguard:
    • Rush Seeker’s Armguard against Zed to gain armor and bonus ability power based on unit kills. This item provides much-needed survivability against Zed’s physical damage and increases your trading potential in lane. Upgrade it to Zhonya’s Hourglass later for the active ability to negate Zed’s Death Mark damage.

  2. Ninja Tabi:
    • Consider purchasing Ninja Tabi to reduce Zed’s basic attack damage and mitigate his auto-attack harass in lane. Ninja Tabi provides armor and reduces incoming damage from basic attacks, making it an effective defensive option against Zed’s physical damage.

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3. Guardian Angel:

  • Buying Guardian Angel later in the game provides a second life, making Zed think twice about diving onto you. Guardian Angel’s passive revive effect can turn the tide of team fights and discourage Zed from targeting you as his primary focus.




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7) Gameplay Tips to Counter Zed Successfully:

  1. Watch Zed’s Energy:
    • Zed’s abilities cost energy, which is a finite resource. Punish Zed when he’s low on energy, as he won’t be able to retaliate effectively or continue trading aggressively. Manage your health and cooldowns accordingly to capitalize on Zed’s resource limitations.

  2. Predictive Movement:
    • Anticipate Zed’s movements and skill shots to dodge them effectively. Sidestepping Zed’s Razor Shuriken (Q) and Living Shadow (W) can significantly reduce his damage output and create opportunities for counterattacks. Use your mobility and positioning to outmaneuver Zed and force him into unfavorable engagements.

  3. Save Crowd Control:
    • If you’re playing a champion with crowd control abilities, save them for when Zed uses Death Mark to prevent him from following up with additional damage. Timing crowd control effects such as stuns, silences, or knock-ups can interrupt Zed’s combos and give your team the upper hand in skirmishes and team fights.

  4. Coordinate with Team:
    • Communicate with your team to focus Zed in team fights and peel for your carries to prevent Zed from assassinating them. Coordinate crowd control abilities, item actives, and defensive spells to protect high-priority targets and shut down Zed’s assassination attempts.



CONCLUSION

Remember, to counter Zed requires a mix of champion selection, game knowledge, and mechanical skill. Practice these strategies, and you’ll find yourself more capable of dealing with the Master of Shadows.

ALL IRELIA COUNTERS ( AND HOW TO PLAY AGAINST HER! )

Countering Irelia requires a mix of understanding her strengths and weaknesses, as well as utilizing effective strategies both in lane and during team fights. Here’s a detailed guide on how to counter Irelia:


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Understanding Irelia in-depth involves dissecting her kit, analyzing her strengths and weaknesses, and recognizing her playstyle patterns. Here’s an expanded breakdown:

1. Abilities:

1.1 Ionian Fervor (Passive):

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  • Irelia gains increased attack speed based on the number of enemies nearby. This allows her to duel effectively in skirmishes and team fights.

  • It also encourages Irelia players to engage multiple targets to maximize her passive benefits.

1.2 Bladesurge (Q):

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  • Irelia dashes to a target, dealing physical damage. If the target is marked or dies to Bladesurge, its cooldown refreshes partially.

  • This ability provides Irelia with significant mobility and can be used both for engaging onto enemies and escaping unfavorable situations.

1.3 Defiant Dance (W):

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  • Passively, this ability grants Irelia bonus magic damage on-hit based on her attack damage. When activated, Irelia reduces incoming physical damage and, upon full charge, deals magic damage in an area around her based on damage taken while channeling.

  • This ability allows Irelia to mitigate damage and trade effectively in extended fights, especially against physical damage champions.

1.4 Flawless Duet (E):

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  • Irelia sends out two blades that converge, damaging and stunning enemies caught in between. Hitting an enemy with both blades grants additional damage and a longer stun duration.

  • Flawless Duet is a crucial ability for Irelia’s trading and all-in potential, as it sets up her combo and allows her to stick to her target.

1.5 Vanguard’s Edge (R):

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  • Irelia throws her ultimate in a line, dealing magic damage and marking enemy champions hit. If the blades pass through terrain, they form a wall that slows enemies that pass through it.

  • Upon completion of the cast or hitting an enemy champion, Irelia gains increased movement speed for a short duration.

  • Vanguard’s Edge is Irelia’s primary team fighting tool, providing both damage and crowd control to control the battlefield.

2. Strengths:

2.1 Mobility and Stickiness: Irelia’s kit offers her high mobility with her Q resets and the ability to stick to targets with her E stun.

2.2 Mixed Damage: She deals a combination of physical and magic damage, making it difficult for opponents to itemize against her effectively.

2.3 Dueling Potential: With her passive and sustained damage from Q resets, Irelia excels in extended trades and duels, especially against champions with limited crowd control or burst damage.

3. Weaknesses:

3.1 Vulnerability to Crowd Control: Irelia is susceptible to crowd control effects, which can disrupt her combo and prevent her from sticking to targets.

3.2 High Skill Ceiling: Irelia’s kit requires precise timing and execution to maximize her effectiveness, making her more challenging to master compared to some other champions.

3.3 Reliance on Resets: Irelia heavily relies on landing her Q to reset its cooldown and maintain mobility in fights. Missing Qs can significantly impact her ability to stick to targets or escape.

4. Playstyle Patterns:

4.1 Trading Patterns: Irelia players often look to land E stun into Q for burst damage, utilizing her Q resets for extended trades.

4.2 All-In Potential: At level 6, Irelia gains a significant power spike with her ultimate, which can turn the tide of fights, especially when combined with her other abilities.

4.3 Roaming and Split Pushing: Irelia can be a potent split pusher due to her mobility and dueling potential. Understanding when she’s likely to roam or split push can help predict her movements and counteract them.

By thoroughly understanding Irelia’s abilities, strengths, weaknesses, and typical playstyle patterns, you can better anticipate her actions and formulate strategies to counter her effectively in lane and team fights.



5. Strategies to Counter Irelia:


5.1 Early Lane Dominance:

  • Trade Wisely: Irelia’s power spikes at level 2 and level 6, but she can still be vulnerable before then. Look for opportunities to trade when her abilities are on cooldown or when she misuses them.

  • Exploit Cooldowns: Punish her whenever she misses her E (Flawless Duet) or uses her Q (Bladesurge) to farm, as these are her primary trading tools.

  • Freeze the Wave: By keeping the minion wave close to your tower, you limit Irelia’s ability to engage on you without risking overextension. This also exposes her to ganks from your jungler.

5.2 Itemization:

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  • Ninja Tabi: These boots reduce basic attack damage, which is significant against Irelia, who relies heavily on auto-attacks for damage.

  • Seeker’s Armguard (AP champions): Provides armor and can be built into Zhonya’s Hourglass later, mitigating Irelia’s burst damage potential.

  • Bramble Vest: Effective against Irelia’s sustain from her passive and itemization like Blade of the Ruined King, reducing her ability to trade effectively.

5.3 Wave Management:

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  • Control the Wave: Avoid pushing the wave too hard early on, as this exposes you to ganks and makes it easier for Irelia to engage on you. Instead, try to freeze the wave near your tower.

  • Call for Jungler Assistance: If you’re struggling in lane, ask your jungler for help. Irelia can be susceptible to ganks, especially if she’s pushed up without vision.

5.4 Positioning in Team Fights:

  • Spread Out: Irelia excels in fights with multiple targets due to her passive. By staying spread out, you reduce the effectiveness of her passive and ultimate (Vanguard’s Edge).

  • Focus on CC: Crowd control effects can disrupt Irelia’s mobility and make it easier to burst her down. Coordinate with your team to chain CC and focus her in team fights.

5.4 Vision Control:

  • Warding: Place wards in key locations to track Irelia’s movements and prevent her from roaming or flanking. Deep wards in the enemy jungle can also provide valuable information about her whereabouts.

  • Clear Vision: Deny vision around objectives like Dragon and Baron to limit Irelia’s opportunities to flank or engage in team fights.
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5.5 Team Composition:

  • CC and Peel: Draft champions with strong crowd control and peel to neutralize Irelia in team fights. Champions like Nautilus, Leona, or Lulu can help lock her down or keep her away from priority targets.

  • Kiting and Disengage: Champions with abilities to kite effectively or disengage from fights can make it difficult for Irelia to engage and stick to targets. Champions like Janna, Ezreal, or Ashe can excel in this regard.

5.6 Adaptation and Communication:

  • Adapt to Irelia’s Build: Keep track of Irelia’s itemization and adjust your build accordingly. If she’s building defensively, consider focusing on objectives or looking for plays elsewhere on the map.

  • Communicate with Your Team: Effective communication is key to countering Irelia. Coordinate with your team to capitalize on opportunities, respond to Irelia’s movements, and secure objectives.

By implementing these strategies and adapting your gameplay accordingly, you can effectively counter Irelia and minimize her impact on the game. Understanding her strengths and weaknesses is crucial, but it’s equally important to execute these strategies effectively as a team.


6. Counter Picks:


6.1 Tanks and Bruisers:

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  • Malphite: Malphite’s high armor and his Ground Slam (E) ability, which reduces the attack speed of nearby enemies, make him a solid pick against Irelia. His ultimate, Unstoppable Force, provides a powerful engage tool to lock down Irelia in team fights.

  • Maokai: Maokai’s sustain, crowd control, and innate tankiness make him a strong pick against Irelia. His Twisted Advance (W) can be used to root Irelia in place, disrupting her engages, while his ultimate, Nature’s Grasp, provides additional crowd control and zoning potential in team fights.

  • Garen: Garen’s tankiness and sustain from his passive, Perseverance, allow him to withstand Irelia’s damage in lane. His silence from Decisive Strike (Q) can interrupt Irelia’s combo, while his ultimate, Demacian Justice, provides a finishing blow against low-health targets.

6.2 Range and Poke Champions:

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  • Jayce: Jayce’s ranged poke and ability to switch between melee and ranged forms make him a strong pick against Irelia. He can harass Irelia from a distance with Shock Blast (Q) and Acceleration Gate (E), while his Hammer Stance (E) provides disengage tools to keep Irelia at bay.

  • Gnar: Gnar’s ranged poke and kiting abilities make him a formidable opponent for Irelia. He can harass Irelia with Boomerang Throw (Q) and Boulder Toss (Mega Gnar Q) while using his mobility and crowd control in Mini Gnar form to kite Irelia and avoid extended trades.

  • Vladimir: Vladimir’s sustain, ranged poke, and ability to pool to avoid Irelia’s engages make him a strong pick in this matchup. He can harass Irelia with Transfusion (Q) while sustaining through her damage with his passive, Crimson Rush, and Tides of Blood (E).

6.3 Control Mages:

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  • Orianna: Orianna’s range, poke, and crowd control make her a strong pick against Irelia. She can harass Irelia with Command: Attack (Q) and Command: Dissonance (W) while using Command: Shockwave (R) to disrupt her engages and turn team fights in her team’s favor.

  • Syndra: Syndra’s long-range poke and burst damage make her a potent threat to Irelia. She can harass Irelia with Dark Sphere (Q) and Scatter the Weak (E) while using Unleashed Power (R) to burst her down in team fights.

  • Anivia: Anivia’s wave clear, crowd control, and zoning potential make her a strong pick against Irelia. She can harass Irelia with Flash Frost (Q) and Frostbite (E) while using Crystallize (W) and Glacial Storm (R) to control the battlefield and prevent Irelia from engaging on her team.



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Choosing the right champion to counter Irelia involves considering factors such as lane matchups, team compositions, and individual playstyles. Tanks and bruisers with crowd control, ranged and poke champions with kiting abilities, and control mages with zoning potential can all effectively neutralize Irelia’s threats and contribute to their team’s success. Ultimately, it’s essential to play to your champion’s strengths and capitalize on Irelia’s weaknesses to secure victory in lane and team fights.

A Guide to Reworked Skarner in League of Legends

Introduction


Skarner, the Crystal Vanguard, has long been a stalwart presence on the Fields of Justice. However, with the recent rework, he has emerged with a refreshed kit and renewed potential to dominate the game. In this guide, we’ll delve into the intricacies of the reworked Skarner, exploring his abilities, optimal build paths, gameplay strategies, and more. Whether you’re a seasoned Skarner main or a newcomer looking to harness the power of the Crystal Scarab, this guide will equip you with the knowledge to thrive on the Summoner’s Rift.


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Understanding Skarner’s Abilities:


Before diving into gameplay strategies, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with Skarner’s revamped abilities:


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Passive – Crystal Spires: Crystal Spires periodically spawn in the jungle and around objectives. When controlled by Skarner’s team, they grant bonus stats and empower his abilities.

Q – Crystal Slash: Skarner lashes out with his claws, dealing damage to all nearby enemies. If cast while standing on a Crystal Spire, Crystal Slash gains bonus damage and attack speed.

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W – Crystalline Exoskeleton: Skarner gains a shield and increased movement speed for a short duration. When cast on a Crystal Spire, the shield is increased and grants bonus attack speed.

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E – Fracture: Skarner launches a projectile that damages and slows the first enemy hit. If the projectile passes through a Crystal Spire, it explodes upon hitting an enemy, dealing bonus damage and stunning them.

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R – Impale: Skarner impales an enemy champion with his stinger, suppressing and dragging them towards his location. If cast while standing on a Crystal Spire, Impale’s cooldown is significantly reduced.


Optimal Build Paths:

When building Skarner, prioritizing items that enhance his durability, crowd control, and damage output is key. Here’s a suggested build path:

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1. Starter Items: Begin with Mosstomper Seedling and Refillable Potion for sustain in the jungle.

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2. Core Items: Build Sunfire Cape and Iceborn for increased tankiness and target access. Follow up with Plated Steelcaps or Mercury’s Treads depending on the enemy team composition.

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3. Situational Items: Adapt your build based on the game’s progression and enemy composition. Consider items like Dead Man’s Plate for additional mobility or Thornmail for anti-healing against high sustain champions.


Gameplay Strategies:

Now that you understand Skarner’s abilities and optimal build paths, let’s explore some gameplay strategies to maximize his effectiveness on the Rift:

1. Control Crystal Spires: Skarner’s kit revolves around controlling Crystal Spires to empower his abilities. Prioritize securing these objectives to gain a strategic advantage over the enemy team.

2. Coordinate with Your Team: Communication is key when playing Skarner. Coordinate with your team to execute well-timed engages and capitalize on your crowd control abilities.

3. Prioritize Objectives: Skarner excels at securing objectives like Dragon and Baron Nashor. Use your ability to control the map and secure these objectives to propel your team to victory.

4. Peel for Your Carries: As a frontline tank with crowd control abilities, Skarner excels at protecting his team’s carries. Position yourself between your carries and the enemy team to disrupt their engages and peel for your allies.

5. Capitalize on Picks: Skarner’s ultimate, Impale, is a powerful tool for picking off priority targets. Look for opportunities to catch out enemy champions and secure kills for your team.


Conclusion:

With his reworked kit, Skarner has emerged as a formidable force on the Summoner’s Rift. By understanding his abilities, optimal build paths, and gameplay strategies, you can harness the power of the Crystal Vanguard to dominate your opponents. Whether you’re locking in Skarner for the first time or refining your skills as a seasoned main, remember to control the map, coordinate with your team, and capitalize on opportunities to secure victory for your team.

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