Mid Matchup

Mel vs Zed

Patch: 15.18 (25.18)
League: Platinum+
Mel

Mel

the Soul's Reflection
Mid
Mel Mid Overall Win Rate
47.53%

Matchup Win Rate

47.0%
Mel vs Zed Wins
53.0%
Zed vs Mel Wins
Zed

Zed

the Master of Shadows
Mid
Zed Mid Overall Win Rate
49.17%

Mel vs Zed - Mid Matchup Guide Patch 15.18 (25.18)

Mel Mid vs Zed Mid - Who is stronger?

Mel Mid has trouble against Zed (47.0% win rate) based on 968 games. This is a tough matchup for Mel players.

View detailed statistics below: items, runes, and counter builds for Mel Mid vs Zed Mid in patch 15.18 (25.18), including win rates and pick rates. With proper study, this can improve your chances of victory up to 74.6% in this matchup.

Statistical Matchup Analysis

Current meta showdown: Mel (4.6% pick rate, 15th most popular out of 61 Mid champions) versus Zed (7.0%, 4th place). These two mid lane titans clash constantly, making matchup mastery a decisive factor in your climb. Challenging situation: Mel's weak 47.5% overall win rate compounds with this difficult matchup, creating serious obstacles for climbing. Every edge matters: In this tough matchup, the proven First Strike + Magical Footwear combination (53.8% win rate) plus optimal itemization Luden's Companion, Liandry's Torment, Shadowflame, and Sorcerer's Shoes boosts your chances from 47.0% to 74.6% - potentially game-changing.

Farm your way back: Mel's superior farming (7.35 vs 6.79/min, 11th among Mid) offers a comeback path. Focus on safe CSing and capitalize on your 0.56 CS/min natural advantage. Outclassed across the board: Zed leads in both matchup win rate (53.0%) and damage (806 vs 773/min). Mel must seek alternative win conditions through macro play and team coordination. Strong individual performance: Mel maintains better KDA (2.40, 24th place vs 36th for Zed), but loses the matchup overall. High KDA without wins suggests difficulty translating individual advantages into victory conditions.

Mel vs Zed - Mid Stats Comparison

Mel Mid
Mel Mid
Versus
Zed Mid
Zed Mid
CTierB
47.0%Matchup Winrate53.0%
47.53%Role Winrate49.17%
#60Winrate Rank#51
4.6%Pickrate7.0%
2.4Average KDA2.3
415Gold per Minute421
7.35CS/Min6.79
0.33Wards per Minute0.27
773Damage per Minute806

How to Beat Zed as Mel (Mid)

Difficult matchup requiring deep understanding of game mechanics and flawless execution. Patience and proper macro play are the keys to victory in this confrontation.

The magic damage that Mel deals remains relevant in the late game. Look for opportunities to initiate or counter-initiate. Zed deals mainly physical damage (87.22%), additional items against this damage type may be required against snowballing or aggressive play.

An important advantage of Mel is higher farming statistics (ranked 11th among role champions) (versus 21st for Zed), which provides a stable gold advantage in extended games and allows faster access to key items. Meanwhile, their lower KDA (2.3 versus 2.4) suggests they are less effective in team fights.

Key aspects of the Mel Mid versus Zed Mid matchup

In this difficult confrontation, it is critically important for the Mel player to avoid attempts to force trades and all-ins with the Zed player, as the matchup requires a patient and calculated approach. Extended trades without clear tactical advantage often lead to unfavorable consequences, and ignoring opportunities to receive team support can be a fatal mistake for game progression.

Mel vs Zed: Mid Lane Summoner Spells

Most Popular

Flash
Flash Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Teleport
Teleport After a brief channel, become untargetable and travel to an allied unit. Upgrades into Unleashed Teleport, which significantly increases travel speed.
45.8% Win Rate90.2% Pick Rate

Highest Win Rate

Exhaust
Exhaust Slows target enemy champion and reduces their damage dealt.
Flash
Flash Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
62.2% Win Rate1.9% Pick Rate

Mel vs Zed: Mid Lane Runes

Most Frequent Runes

Primary Path
Sorcery
Arcane Comet
Arcane Comet Damaging a champion with an ability hurls a comet at their location, or, if Arcane Comet is on cooldown, reduces its remaining cooldown.

Adaptive Damage: 30 - 130 based on level (+0.05 AP and +0.1 bonus AD)
Cooldown: 20 - 8s

Cooldown Reduction:
Single Target: 20%.
Area of Effect: 10%.
Damage over Time: 5%.

Arcane Comet

Damaging a champion with an ability hurls a comet at their location, or, if Arcane Comet …

Manaflow Band
Manaflow Band Hitting an enemy champion with an ability permanently increases your maximum mana by 25, up to 250 mana.

After reaching 250 bonus mana, restore 1% of your missing mana every 5 seconds.

Cooldown: 15 seconds

Manaflow Band

Hitting an enemy champion with an ability permanently increases your maximum ma…

Transcendence
Transcendence Gain bonuses upon reaching the following levels:
Level 5: +5 Ability Haste
Level 8: +5 Ability Haste
Level 11: On Champion takedown, reduce the remaining cooldown of basic abilities by 20%.

Transcendence

Gain bonuses upon reaching the following levels:Level 5: +5 Ability Haste Level…

Scorch
Scorch Your next damaging ability hit sets champions on fire dealing 20 - 40 bonus magic damage based on level after 1s.

Cooldown: 10s

Scorch

Your next damaging ability hit sets champions on fire dealing 20 - 40 bonus mag…

Secondary Path
Precision
Presence of Mind
Presence of Mind Damaging an enemy champion restores 6-50 (80% for ranged) mana or 6 energy.

Takedowns restore 15% of your maximum mana or energy.

Cooldown for damage restoration: 8s

Presence of Mind

Damaging an enemy champion restores 6-50 (80% for ranged) mana or 6 energy.Take…

Coup de Grace
Coup de Grace Deal 8% more damage to champions who have less than 40% health.

Coup de Grace

Deal 8% more damage to champions who have less than 40% health.

Adaptive
Scaling Cooldown Reduction
Scaling Cooldown Reduction +8 Ability Haste

Scaling Cooldown Reduction

+8 Ability Haste

Adaptive Force
Adaptive Force Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Adaptive Force

Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Scaling Health
Scaling Health Increases health from 10 to 180 HP across levels 1-18

Scaling Health

Increases health from 10 to 180 HP across levels 1-18

45.9% Win Rate77.9% Pick Rate

Best Win Rate Runes

Primary Path
Inspiration
First Strike
First Strike Attacks or abilities against an enemy champion within 0.25s of entering champion combat grant 10 gold and First Strike for 3 seconds, causing you to deal 7% extra damage against champions, and granting 50% (35% for ranged champions) of bonus damage dealt as gold.

Cooldown: 25 - 15s

First Strike

Attacks or abilities against an enemy champion within 0.25s of entering champion combat g…

Magical Footwear
Magical Footwear You get free Slightly Magical Footwear at 12 min, but you cannot buy boots before then. For each takedown you acquire the boots 45s sooner.

Slightly Magical Footwear grants you an additional 10 Move Speed.

Magical Footwear

You get free Slightly Magical Footwear at 12 min, but you cannot buy boots befo…

Biscuit Delivery
Biscuit Delivery Biscuit Delivery: Gain a Total Biscuit of Everlasting Will every 2 mins, until 6 min.

Biscuits restore 12% of your missing health. Consuming or selling a Biscuit permanently increases your max health by 30.

Biscuit Delivery

Biscuit Delivery: Gain a Total Biscuit of Everlasting Will every 2 mins, until …

Cosmic Insight
Cosmic Insight +18 Summoner Spell Haste
+10 Item Haste

Cosmic Insight

+18 Summoner Spell Haste+10 Item Haste

Secondary Path
Sorcery
Manaflow Band
Manaflow Band Hitting an enemy champion with an ability permanently increases your maximum mana by 25, up to 250 mana.

After reaching 250 bonus mana, restore 1% of your missing mana every 5 seconds.

Cooldown: 15 seconds

Manaflow Band

Hitting an enemy champion with an ability permanently increases your maximum ma…

Gathering Storm
Gathering Storm Every 10 min gain AP or AD, adaptive.

10 min: + 8 AP or 5 AD
20 min: + 24 AP or 14 AD
30 min: + 48 AP or 29 AD
40 min: + 80 AP or 48 AD
50 min: + 120 AP or 72 AD
60 min: + 168 AP or 101 AD
etc...

Gathering Storm

Every 10 min gain AP or AD, adaptive.10 min: + 8 AP or 5 AD 20 min: + 24 AP or …

Adaptive
Scaling Cooldown Reduction
Scaling Cooldown Reduction +8 Ability Haste

Scaling Cooldown Reduction

+8 Ability Haste

Adaptive Force
Adaptive Force Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Adaptive Force

Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Scaling Health
Scaling Health Increases health from 10 to 180 HP across levels 1-18

Scaling Health

Increases health from 10 to 180 HP across levels 1-18

53.8% Win Rate10.6% Pick Rate

Mel vs Zed: Mid Lane Item Builds

Most Popular Build

Starting Items
Stealth Ward
Stealth Ward (0 gold) Active (210 - 120s, max 2 charges)
Places an Invisible Stealth Ward that grants vision for 90-120 seconds.
Doran's Ring
Doran's Ring (400 gold) 18 Ability Power
90 Health

Restoration
Restore 1.25 Mana every second. If you can't gain Mana, restore 0.55 Health instead.
Helping Hand
Attacks deal 5 bonus physical damage to minions.
Health Potion
Health Potion (50 gold) Consume
Restores 120 Health over 15 seconds.
44.6% Win Rate88.9% Pick Rate
Popular Boots
Sorcerer's Shoes
Sorcerer's Shoes (1100 gold) 12 Magic Penetration
45 Move Speed

47.9% Win Rate67.9% Pick Rate
Ionian Boots of Lucidity
Ionian Boots of Lucidity (900 gold) 10 Ability Haste
45 Move Speed

Ionian Insight
Gain 10 Summoner Spell Haste.
44.0% Win Rate21.2% Pick Rate
Plated Steelcaps
Plated Steelcaps (1200 gold) 25 Armor
45 Move Speed

Plating
Reduces incoming damage from Attacks by 10%.
37.8% Win Rate3.8% Pick Rate
Core Build
Lost Chapter
Lost Chapter (1200 gold) 40 Ability Power
300 Mana
10 Ability Haste

Enlighten
Levelling up restores 20% max Mana over 3 seconds.
->
Blackfire Torch
Blackfire Torch (2800 gold) 80 Ability Power
600 Mana
20 Ability Haste

Baleful Blaze
Damaging Abilities deals bonus magic damage for 3 seconds.
Blackfire
For each enemy champion, epic and large monster affected by your Baleful Blaze, gain 4% Ability Power.
Liandry's Torment
Liandry's Torment (3000 gold) 70 Ability Power
300 Health

Torment
Damaging Abilities burn enemies for 2% max Health magic damage per second for 3 seconds.
Suffering
For each second in combat with enemy champions, deal 2% bonus damage, up to 6%.
Shadowflame
Shadowflame (3200 gold) 110 Ability Power
15 Magic Penetration

Cinderbloom
Magic and true damageCritically Strikes enemies below 40% Health, dealing 20% increased damage.
49.1% Win Rate11.4% Pick Rate
Final Build
Rabadon's Deathcap
Rabadon's Deathcap (3600 gold) 130 Ability Power
Magical Opus
Increases your total Ability Power by 30%.
59.2% Win Rate28.6% Pick Rate

Best Win Rate Build

Starting Items
Stealth Ward
Stealth Ward (0 gold) Active (210 - 120s, max 2 charges)
Places an Invisible Stealth Ward that grants vision for 90-120 seconds.
Health Potion
Health Potion (50 gold) Consume
Restores 120 Health over 15 seconds.
66.6% Win Rate0.8% Pick Rate
Highest Winrate Boots
Sorcerer's Shoes
Sorcerer's Shoes (1100 gold) 12 Magic Penetration
45 Move Speed

47.9% Win Rate67.9% Pick Rate
Ionian Boots of Lucidity
Ionian Boots of Lucidity (900 gold) 10 Ability Haste
45 Move Speed

Ionian Insight
Gain 10 Summoner Spell Haste.
44.0% Win Rate21.2% Pick Rate
Boots of Swiftness
Boots of Swiftness (1000 gold) 60 Move Speed
Fleetfooted
Reduce the effectiveness of Slows by 25%.
40.3% Win Rate1.4% Pick Rate
Core Build
Lost Chapter
Lost Chapter (1200 gold) 40 Ability Power
300 Mana
10 Ability Haste

Enlighten
Levelling up restores 20% max Mana over 3 seconds.
->
Luden's Companion
Luden's Companion (2850 gold) 100 Ability Power
600 Mana
10 Ability Haste

Fire
Damaging Abilities fire 6 Shots that deal bonus magic damage to the target and nearby enemies. Remaining Shots fire on the primary target, dealing 20% damage.
Liandry's Torment
Liandry's Torment (3000 gold) 70 Ability Power
300 Health

Torment
Damaging Abilities burn enemies for 2% max Health magic damage per second for 3 seconds.
Suffering
For each second in combat with enemy champions, deal 2% bonus damage, up to 6%.
Shadowflame
Shadowflame (3200 gold) 110 Ability Power
15 Magic Penetration

Cinderbloom
Magic and true damageCritically Strikes enemies below 40% Health, dealing 20% increased damage.
74.6% Win Rate2.8% Pick Rate
Final Build
Mejai's Soulstealer
Mejai's Soulstealer (1500 gold) 20 Ability Power
100 Health

Glory
Takedowns grant Glory, up to 25. 10 Glory is lost on death.
Gain 5 Ability Power per Glory and 10% Move Speed at 10 or higher Glory.
65.8% Win Rate2.7% Pick Rate
Other Items
Zhonya's Hourglass
Zhonya's Hourglass (3250 gold) 105 Ability Power
50 Armor


Time Stop
Enter Stasis for 2.5 seconds.
43.4% Win Rate22.4% Pick Rate
Void Staff
Void Staff (3000 gold) 95 Ability Power
40% Magic Penetration

65.8% Win Rate16.1% Pick Rate
Cosmic Drive
Cosmic Drive (3000 gold) 70 Ability Power
350 Health
25 Ability Haste
4% Move Speed

Spelldance
Dealing magic or true damage to champions grants Move Speed for 4 seconds.
19.8% Win Rate4.5% Pick Rate
Cryptbloom
Cryptbloom (2850 gold) 60 Ability Power
30% Magic Penetration
15 Ability Haste

Life from Death
When a champion that you damaged within 3 seconds dies, a nova spreads from their corpse that heals.
19.7% Win Rate4.4% Pick Rate
Horizon Focus
Horizon Focus (2700 gold) 75 Ability Power
25 Ability Haste

Hypershot
Dealing Ability damage to champions at 600 range or greater Reveals them for 6 seconds.
Deal 10% increased damage to enemies Revealed by this item.
Focus
When Hypershot is triggered, Reveal all other enemy champions within 1400 range of them for 3 seconds.
39.7% Win Rate4.4% Pick Rate
Luden's Companion
Luden's Companion (2850 gold) 100 Ability Power
600 Mana
10 Ability Haste

Fire
Damaging Abilities fire 6 Shots that deal bonus magic damage to the target and nearby enemies. Remaining Shots fire on the primary target, dealing 20% damage.
33.0% Win Rate2.7% Pick Rate
Mejai's Soulstealer
Mejai's Soulstealer (1500 gold) 20 Ability Power
100 Health

Glory
Takedowns grant Glory, up to 25. 10 Glory is lost on death.
Gain 5 Ability Power per Glory and 10% Move Speed at 10 or higher Glory.
65.8% Win Rate2.7% Pick Rate

Mel vs Zed: Mid Lane Skill (abilities) Orders

Most Frequent Skill Order

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Q
Q
Radiant Volley Mel fires a barrage of projectiles that explode around a target location, dealing damage repeatedly to enemies within the area.
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
W
W
Rebuttal Mel forms a barrier around herself that reflects enemy projectiles back at the attacker, prevents her from taking damage, and grants her movement speed.
W
W
W
W
W
E
E
Solar Snare Mel fires a radiant orb forward, rooting those at its center while the area around it slows enemies and deals damage over time.
E
E
E
E
E
R
R
Golden Eclipse Mel strikes all enemies marked with Overwhelm regardless of their distance from her, dealing additional damage for each stack of Overwhelm.

Ranks of Golden Eclipse increase Overwhelm's damage.
R
R
R
Max Order: Q > E > W
46.4% Win Rate63.3% Pick Rate

Highest Win % Skill Order

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
R
Q
Radiant Volley Mel fires a barrage of projectiles that explode around a target location, dealing damage repeatedly to enemies within the area.
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
R
W
Rebuttal Mel forms a barrier around herself that reflects enemy projectiles back at the attacker, prevents her from taking damage, and grants her movement speed.
W
W
W
W
W
R
E
Solar Snare Mel fires a radiant orb forward, rooting those at its center while the area around it slows enemies and deals damage over time.
E
E
E
E
E
R
R
Golden Eclipse Mel strikes all enemies marked with Overwhelm regardless of their distance from her, dealing additional damage for each stack of Overwhelm.Ranks of Golden Eclipse increase Overwhelm's damage.
R
R
R
Max Order: Q > E > W
71.8% Win Rate0.7% Pick Rate

Mel tips:

  • Mel can reflect enemy projectiles, including powerful spells. Wait until she casts Rebuttal before throwing powerful projectiles her way.
  • The more Mel hits you, the more Overwhelm stacks she applies. If your health drops too low her next hit will kill you, so back off for a couple seconds to let the Overwhelm stacks fall off.

Playing Against Zed

  • Zed receives bonus effect from Attack Damage items he purchases, so Armor is super effective against him.
  • After Zed uses his Living Shadow, he is at his most vulnerable as his damage, slow, and mobility are both dependent upon it.
  • Zed's Shadow Slash can only slow you if his shadow hits you with it.