Mid Matchup

Talon vs Zed

Patch: 15.24 (25.24)
League: Platinum+
Talon

Talon

the Blade's Shadow
Mid
Talon Mid Overall Win Rate
51.21%

Matchup Win Rate

52.2%
Talon vs Zed Wins
⚔
47.8%
Zed vs Talon Wins
Zed

Zed

the Master of Shadows
Mid
Zed Mid Overall Win Rate
49.30%

Talon vs Zed - Mid Matchup Guide Patch 15.24 (25.24)

Talon Mid vs Zed Mid - Who is stronger?

Talon Mid has an advantage against Zed (52.2% win rate) based on 666 games. The matchup leans toward Talon.

View detailed statistics below: items, runes, and counter builds for Talon Mid vs Zed Mid in patch 15.24 (25.24), including win rates and pick rates. With proper study, this can improve your chances of victory up to 61.3% in this matchup.

Statistical Matchup Analysis

While Talon remains a niche pick (1.5% pick rate, 42nd place out of 58 Mid champions), Zed dominates the current meta mid lane with 5.9% popularity. Mastering this matchup is crucial for Talon players - you'll face Zed in the majority of your games. Meta strength confirmed: Talon's superior tier rating (B+ vs B) translates into a solid 52.2% matchup win rate. This performance explains why Talon ranks 23rd in win rate among Mid champions. Optimize for consistency: Electrocute paired with Sudden Impact (61.5% win rate, 3.6% popularity) provides the stats you need, while the item sequence Youmuu's Ghostblade > Opportunity > Serpent's Fang with Ionian Boots of Lucidity delivers 61.3% win rate against Zed.

Win through macro: Talon takes the matchup (52.16%) despite falling behind in CS (6.74 vs 6.84/min). Your victories come through roaming, team fighting, and map pressure rather than 1v1 lane dominance. Complete superiority: Talon dominates both win rate (52.2%) and damage output (894 vs 812/min, 2nd among Mid). The 82 damage/min difference creates massive snowball potential. Skill-based matchup: Identical KDA (2.30) with 52.2% win rate indicates that macro play, team coordination, and clutch moments determine outcomes more than individual mechanics.

Talon vs Zed - Mid Stats Comparison

Talon Mid
Talon Mid		Versus
Zed Mid
Zed Mid
B+TierB
52.2%Matchup Winrate47.8%
51.21%Role Winrate49.30%
#23Winrate Rank#44
1.5%Pickrate5.9%
2.3Average KDA2.3
437Gold per Minute446
6.74CS/Min6.84
0.22Wards per Minute0.25
894Damage per Minute812

How to Beat Zed as Talon (Mid)

The Talon versus Zed matchup in the mid lane is favorable with proper positioning. Use your statistical advantage and prevent the opponent from realizing their potential.

Except for rare builds, Talon deals physical damage. Focus on eliminating enemy carries. Zed deals mainly physical damage (88.63%), additional items against this damage type may be required against snowballing or aggressive play.

Consider the farming superiority demonstrated by Zed, ranking 23rd (versus 27th for Talon) in farming efficiency among champions in this role. This means the opponent can build gold advantages more quickly.

Key aspects of the Talon Mid versus Zed Mid matchup

Despite the statistical advantage in the matchup, overconfidence can be the main mistake. It is important for the Talon player to maintain constant pressure on Zed, not allowing the opponent to safely scale up, and actively use the advantage gained to help their team.

Talon vs Zed: Mid Lane Summoner Spells

Most Popular

Flash
Flash Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Ignite
Ignite Deals true damage over time to target enemy champion and reduces healing effects on them for the duration.
48.6% Win Rate94.8% Pick Rate

Highest Win Rate

Flash
Flash Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Ignite
Ignite Deals true damage over time to target enemy champion and reduces healing effects on them for the duration.
48.6% Win Rate94.8% Pick Rate

Talon vs Zed: Mid Lane Runes

Most Frequent Runes

Primary Path
Domination
Electrocute
Electrocute Hitting a champion with 3 separate attacks or abilities within 3s deals bonus adaptive damage.

Damage: 70 - 240 (+0.1 bonus AD, +0.05 AP) damage.
Cooldown: 20s

'We called them the Thunderlords, for to speak of their lightning was to invite disaster.'

Electrocute

Hitting a champion with 3 separate attacks or abilities within 3s deals bonus adaptive da…

Sudden Impact
Sudden Impact Damaging basic attacks and abilities deal a bonus 20 - 80 True Damage based on level to enemy champions after using a dash, leap, blink, teleport, or when leaving stealth for 4s.

Cooldown: 10s

Sudden Impact

Damaging basic attacks and abilities deal a bonus 20 - 80 True Damage based on …

Grisly Mementos
Grisly Mementos Collect 1 memento on champion takedowns, up to 18 total.

Gain 6 Trinket Haste for each collected. In game modes where vision Trinkets do not exist, instead gain 3 Summoner Spell Haste.

Grisly Mementos

Collect 1 memento on champion takedowns, up to 18 total.Gain 6 Trinket Haste fo…

Ultimate Hunter
Ultimate Hunter Your ultimate gains 6 Ability Haste, plus an additional 5 Ability Haste per Bounty Hunter stack. Bounty Hunter stacks are earned the first time you get a takedown on each enemy champion.

Ultimate Hunter

Your ultimate gains 6 Ability Haste, plus an additional 5 Ability Haste per Bou…

Secondary Path
Sorcery
Absolute Focus
Absolute Focus While above 70% health, gain an adaptive bonus of up to 18 Attack Damage or 30 Ability Power (based on level).

Grants 1.8 Attack Damage or 3 Ability Power at level 1.

Absolute Focus

While above 70% health, gain an adaptive bonus of up to 18 Attack Damage or 30 …

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…

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

Adaptive Force

Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

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

Adaptive Force

Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

+65 Health
+65 Health +65 Health

+65 Health

+65 Health

48.3% Win Rate67.1% Pick Rate

Best Win Rate Runes

Primary Path
Domination
Electrocute
Electrocute Hitting a champion with 3 separate attacks or abilities within 3s deals bonus adaptive damage.

Damage: 70 - 240 (+0.1 bonus AD, +0.05 AP) damage.
Cooldown: 20s

'We called them the Thunderlords, for to speak of their lightning was to invite disaster.'

Electrocute

Hitting a champion with 3 separate attacks or abilities within 3s deals bonus adaptive da…

Sudden Impact
Sudden Impact Damaging basic attacks and abilities deal a bonus 20 - 80 True Damage based on level to enemy champions after using a dash, leap, blink, teleport, or when leaving stealth for 4s.

Cooldown: 10s

Sudden Impact

Damaging basic attacks and abilities deal a bonus 20 - 80 True Damage based on …

Grisly Mementos
Grisly Mementos Collect 1 memento on champion takedowns, up to 18 total.

Gain 6 Trinket Haste for each collected. In game modes where vision Trinkets do not exist, instead gain 3 Summoner Spell Haste.

Grisly Mementos

Collect 1 memento on champion takedowns, up to 18 total.Gain 6 Trinket Haste fo…

Ultimate Hunter
Ultimate Hunter Your ultimate gains 6 Ability Haste, plus an additional 5 Ability Haste per Bounty Hunter stack. Bounty Hunter stacks are earned the first time you get a takedown on each enemy champion.

Ultimate Hunter

Your ultimate gains 6 Ability Haste, plus an additional 5 Ability Haste per Bou…

Secondary Path
Resolve
Bone Plating
Bone Plating After taking damage from an enemy champion, the next 3 spells or attacks you receive from them deal 30-60 (based on level) less damage.

Duration: 1.5s
Cooldown: 55s

Bone Plating

After taking damage from an enemy champion, the next 3 spells or attacks you re…

Overgrowth
Overgrowth Absorb life essence from monsters or enemy minions that die near you, permanently gaining 3 maximum health for every 8.

When you've absorbed 120 monsters or enemy minions, gain an additional 3.5% maximum health.

Overgrowth

Absorb life essence from monsters or enemy minions that die near you, permanent…

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

Adaptive Force

Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

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

Adaptive Force

Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

+65 Health
+65 Health +65 Health

+65 Health

+65 Health

61.5% Win Rate3.6% Pick Rate

Talon 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 Blade
Doran's Blade (450 gold) 10 Attack Damage
80 Health
3% Life Steal
Health Potion
Health Potion (50 gold) Consume
Restores 120 Health over 15 seconds.
48.0% Win Rate58.8% Pick Rate
Popular Boots
Ionian Boots of Lucidity
Ionian Boots of Lucidity (900 gold) 10 Ability Haste
45 Move Speed
Ionian Insight
Gain 10 Summoner Spell Haste.
48.5% Win Rate45.0% Pick Rate
Boots of Swiftness
Boots of Swiftness (1000 gold) 60 Move Speed
Fleetfooted
Reduce the effectiveness of Slows by 25%.
53.7% Win Rate23.8% Pick Rate
Plated Steelcaps
Plated Steelcaps (1200 gold) 25 Armor
45 Move Speed
Plating
Reduces incoming damage from Attacks by 10%.
45.4% Win Rate15.3% Pick Rate
Core Build
Serrated Dirk
Serrated Dirk (1000 gold) 20 Attack Damage
10 Lethality
->
Youmuu's Ghostblade
Youmuu's Ghostblade (2800 gold) 55 Attack Damage
18 Lethality
4% Move Speed
Haunt
Gain Move Speed while out of combat.
Wraith Step
Gain Move Speed and Ghosting for seconds.
Opportunity
Opportunity (2700 gold) 55 Attack Damage
15 Lethality
Preparation
After being out of combat with Champions for 8 seconds gain Lethality. This Lethality lasts for 3 seconds after dealing damage to champions.
Extraction
When a champion that you damaged within 3 seconds dies, gain 200 decaying Move Speed for 1.5 seconds.
Edge of Night
Edge of Night (3000 gold) 50 Attack Damage
15 Lethality
250 Health
Annul
Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy Ability.
56.9% Win Rate19.2% Pick Rate
Final Build
Serpent's Fang
Serpent's Fang (2500 gold) 55 Attack Damage
15 Lethality
Shield Reaver
Damaging an enemy champion reduces Shields they gain by % for 3 seconds.
If they were not already affected by Shield Reaver, reduce Shields on them by %.
53.4% Win Rate19.6% 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.
Doran's Shield
Doran's Shield (450 gold) 110 Health
Enduring Focus
Restore 4 Health every 5 seconds.
After taking damage from a champion, restore Health over 8 seconds.
Helping Hand
Attacks deal 5 bonus physical damage to minions.
Health Potion
Health Potion (50 gold) Consume
Restores 120 Health over 15 seconds.
50.1% Win Rate1.8% Pick Rate
Highest Winrate Boots
Berserker's Greaves
Berserker's Greaves (1100 gold) 25% Attack Speed
45 Move Speed
98.2% Win Rate0.2% Pick Rate
Symbiotic Soles
Symbiotic Soles (900 gold) 40 Move Speed
Voidborn
Gain Empowered Recall.
Symbiosis
After traveling 150000 units of distance, transform into Synchronized Souls.
58.9% Win Rate2.0% Pick Rate
Boots of Swiftness
Boots of Swiftness (1000 gold) 60 Move Speed
Fleetfooted
Reduce the effectiveness of Slows by 25%.
53.7% Win Rate23.8% Pick Rate
Core Build
Serrated Dirk
Serrated Dirk (1000 gold) 20 Attack Damage
10 Lethality
->
Youmuu's Ghostblade
Youmuu's Ghostblade (2800 gold) 55 Attack Damage
18 Lethality
4% Move Speed
Haunt
Gain Move Speed while out of combat.
Wraith Step
Gain Move Speed and Ghosting for seconds.
Opportunity
Opportunity (2700 gold) 55 Attack Damage
15 Lethality
Preparation
After being out of combat with Champions for 8 seconds gain Lethality. This Lethality lasts for 3 seconds after dealing damage to champions.
Extraction
When a champion that you damaged within 3 seconds dies, gain 200 decaying Move Speed for 1.5 seconds.
Serpent's Fang
Serpent's Fang (2500 gold) 55 Attack Damage
15 Lethality
Shield Reaver
Damaging an enemy champion reduces Shields they gain by % for 3 seconds.
If they were not already affected by Shield Reaver, reduce Shields on them by %.
61.3% Win Rate4.5% Pick Rate
Final Build
Black Cleaver
Black Cleaver (3000 gold) 40 Attack Damage
400 Health
20 Ability Haste
Carve
Dealing physical damage to champions reduces their Armor by 6% for 6 seconds. (stacks 5 times).
Fervor
Dealing physical damage grants 20 Move Speed for 2 seconds.
79.7% Win Rate4.0% Pick Rate
Other Items
Axiom Arc
Axiom Arc (3000 gold) 55 Attack Damage
18 Lethality
20 Ability Haste
Flux
When a champion that you damaged within 3 seconds dies, refund some of your Ultimate Ability's total cooldown.
46.4% Win Rate13.8% Pick Rate
Serylda's Grudge
Serylda's Grudge (3000 gold) 45 Attack Damage
35% Armor Penetration
15 Ability Haste
Bitter Cold
Damaging Abilities Slow enemies below 50% Health by 30% for 1 second.
44.4% Win Rate7.3% Pick Rate
Guardian Angel
Guardian Angel (3200 gold) 55 Attack Damage
45 Armor
Rebirth
Upon taking lethal damage, restores 50% base Health and 100% max Mana after 4 seconds of Stasis.
25.0% Win Rate6.4% Pick Rate
Eclipse
Eclipse (2900 gold) 60 Attack Damage
15 Ability Haste
Ever Rising Moon
Hitting a champion with 2 separate Attacks or Abilities within 2 seconds grants you a Shield for 2 seconds.
32.9% Win Rate4.9% Pick Rate
Profane Hydra
Profane Hydra (3200 gold) 60 Attack Damage
18 Lethality
10 Ability Haste
Cleave
Attacks deal physical damage to nearby enemies.
Heretical Cleave
Deal physical damage around you.
60.5% Win Rate4.1% Pick Rate
Black Cleaver
Black Cleaver (3000 gold) 40 Attack Damage
400 Health
20 Ability Haste
Carve
Dealing physical damage to champions reduces their Armor by 6% for 6 seconds. (stacks 5 times).
Fervor
Dealing physical damage grants 20 Move Speed for 2 seconds.
79.7% Win Rate4.0% Pick Rate

Talon 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
Noxian Diplomacy Talon stabs the target unit. If they are within melee range, this attack deals critical damage. If they are outside melee range, Talon will leap at his target before stabbing them. Talon refunds some health and cooldown if this ability kills the target.
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
W
W
Rake Talon sends out a volley of daggers that then return back to him, dealing physical damage every time it passes through an enemy. The returning blades deal bonus damage and slow units hit.
W
W
W
W
W
E
E
Assassin's Path Talon vaults over any terrain or structure, up to a max distance. This ability has a low cooldown, but puts the used terrain on a long cooldown.
E
E
E
E
E
R
R
Shadow Assault Talon disperses a ring of blades and becomes Invisible while gaining additional Move Speed. When Talon emerges from Invisibility, the blades converge on his location. Each time the blades move, Shadow Assault deals physical damage to enemies hit by at least one blade.
R
R
R
Max Order: W > Q > E
44.3% Win Rate47.7% 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
Noxian Diplomacy Talon stabs the target unit. If they are within melee range, this attack deals critical damage. If they are outside melee range, Talon will leap at his target before stabbing them. Talon refunds some health and cooldown if this ability kills the target.
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
R
W
Rake Talon sends out a volley of daggers that then return back to him, dealing physical damage every time it passes through an enemy. The returning blades deal bonus damage and slow units hit.
W
W
W
W
W
R
E
Assassin's Path Talon vaults over any terrain or structure, up to a max distance. This ability has a low cooldown, but puts the used terrain on a long cooldown.
E
E
E
E
E
R
R
Shadow Assault Talon disperses a ring of blades and becomes Invisible while gaining additional Move Speed. When Talon emerges from Invisibility, the blades converge on his location. Each time the blades move, Shadow Assault deals physical damage to enemies hit by at least one blade.
R
R
R
Max Order: W > Q > E
93.8% Win Rate1.2% Pick Rate

Talon tips:

  • You can use Assassin's Path to get behind the enemy and set up for Noxian Diplomacy's melee attack.
  • Shadow Assault is a powerful escape tool, but can also be offensively used to assault a group.
  • Remember to pick your target before the fight. Focusing all of Talon's abilities on one target can be very rewarding, but splitting them up between many may leave you helpless.

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.

Talon Mid other Matchups

Talon
+9.1%
Yone

Talon vs Yone

Talon
+7.9%
Malzahar

Talon vs Malzahar

Talon
+3.5%
Akali

Talon vs Akali

Talon
+3.5%
Orianna

Talon vs Orianna

Talon
+3.5%
Yasuo

Talon vs Yasuo

Talon
+2.5%
Ahri

Talon vs Ahri

Talon
+1.8%
Viktor

Talon vs Viktor

Talon
+1.7%
Sylas

Talon vs Sylas

Talon
-1.5%
Katarina

Talon vs Katarina

Talon
-1.8%
Aurora

Talon vs Aurora

Talon
-2.5%
Twisted Fate

Talon vs Twisted Fate

Talon
-2.6%
Mel

Talon vs Mel