Mid Matchup

Yasuo vs Zed

Patch: 15.18 (25.18)
League: Platinum+
Yasuo

Yasuo

the Unforgiven
Mid
Yasuo Mid Overall Win Rate
49.31%

Matchup Win Rate

52.0%
Yasuo vs Zed Wins
⚔
48.0%
Zed vs Yasuo Wins
Zed

Zed

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

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

Yasuo Mid vs Zed Mid - Who is stronger?

Yasuo Mid has an advantage against Zed (52.0% win rate) based on 2257 games. The matchup leans toward Yasuo.

View detailed statistics below: items, runes, and counter builds for Yasuo 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 58.2% in this matchup.

Statistical Matchup Analysis

Current meta showdown: Yasuo (8.7% pick rate, 1st 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. Even tiers, uneven results: Both champions sit at B-tier, but Yasuo claims a meaningful 52.0% vs 48.0% advantage. Yasuo's kit synergizes better in this specific head-to-head matchup. Optimize for consistency: Lethal Tempo paired with Absorb Life (50.7% win rate, 93.5% popularity) provides the stats you need, while the item sequence Kraken Slayer > Immortal Shieldbow > Infinity Edge with Berserker's Greaves delivers 58.2% win rate against Zed.

Lane dominance: Yasuo not only wins the matchup but crushes CS (7.79/min vs 6.79 for Zed). This 1.00 CS/min advantage generates significant gold leads that compound your already favorable position. Quality over quantity: Yasuo wins through smart play rather than raw damage - despite lower DPS (674 vs 806/min), the 52.0% win rate shows superior utility, positioning, and team fight impact. Intriguing anomaly: Yasuo wins the matchup (52.0%) despite a lower KDA (1.60 vs 2.30). This suggests you win through macro influence and clutch plays in key moments rather than consistent individual performance.

Yasuo vs Zed - Mid Stats Comparison

Yasuo Mid
Yasuo Mid		Versus
Zed Mid
Zed Mid
BTierB
52.0%Matchup Winrate48.0%
49.31%Role Winrate49.17%
#50Winrate Rank#51
8.7%Pickrate7.0%
1.6Average KDA2.3
436Gold per Minute421
7.79CS/Min6.79
0.27Wards per Minute0.27
674Damage per Minute806

How to Beat Zed as Yasuo (Mid)

While statistically Yasuo is slightly stronger than Zed in the mid lane, neither champion has an overwhelming advantage in this matchup. The winner is determined by player skill and understanding the intricacies of the confrontation. Studying this guide will improve your chances of success.

Except for rare builds, Yasuo deals physical damage. Focus on eliminating enemy carries. 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 Yasuo is higher farming statistics (ranked 4th 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 higher KDA (2.3 versus 1.6) suggests they participate more effectively in team fights.

Key aspects of the Yasuo Mid versus Zed Mid matchup

Despite the statistical advantage in the matchup, overconfidence can be the main mistake. It is important for the Yasuo 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.

Yasuo 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.
49.2% Win Rate65.1% Pick Rate

Highest Win Rate

Flash
Flash Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Barrier
Barrier Gain a brief Shield.
61.2% Win Rate0.8% Pick Rate

Yasuo vs Zed: Mid Lane Runes

Most Frequent Runes

Primary Path
Precision
Lethal Tempo
Lethal Tempo Attacking an enemy champion grants you [6% Melee || 4% Ranged] Attack Speed for 6 seconds, up to 6. At max stacks, deal [9 - 30 Melee || 6 - 24 Ranged] bonus adaptive damage On-Attack, increased by 1% per 1% Bonus Attack Speed.

Lethal Tempo

Attacking an enemy champion grants you [6% Melee || 4% Ranged] Attack Speed for 6 seconds…

Absorb Life
Absorb Life Killing a target heals you for @HealAmount@.

Absorb Life

Killing a target heals you for @HealAmount@.

Legend: Alacrity
Legend: Alacrity Gain 3% attack speed plus an additional 1.5% for every Legend stack (max 10 stacks).

Earn progress toward Legend stacks for every champion takedown, epic monster takedown, large monster kill, and minion kill.

Legend: Alacrity

Gain 3% attack speed plus an additional 1.5% for every Legend stack (max 10 sta…

Last Stand
Last Stand Deal 5% - 11% increased damage to champions while you are below 60% health. Max damage gained at 30% health.

Last Stand

Deal 5% - 11% increased damage to champions while you are below 60% health. Max…

Secondary Path
Resolve
Second Wind
Second Wind After taking damage from an enemy champion, heal for 4% of your missing health +3 over 10s.

Second Wind

After taking damage from an enemy champion, heal for 4% of your missing health …

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
Attack Speed
Attack Speed Increases attack speed by 10%

Attack Speed

Increases attack speed by 10%

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

50.7% Win Rate93.5% Pick Rate

Best Win Rate Runes

Primary Path
Precision
Lethal Tempo
Lethal Tempo Attacking an enemy champion grants you [6% Melee || 4% Ranged] Attack Speed for 6 seconds, up to 6. At max stacks, deal [9 - 30 Melee || 6 - 24 Ranged] bonus adaptive damage On-Attack, increased by 1% per 1% Bonus Attack Speed.

Lethal Tempo

Attacking an enemy champion grants you [6% Melee || 4% Ranged] Attack Speed for 6 seconds…

Absorb Life
Absorb Life Killing a target heals you for @HealAmount@.

Absorb Life

Killing a target heals you for @HealAmount@.

Legend: Alacrity
Legend: Alacrity Gain 3% attack speed plus an additional 1.5% for every Legend stack (max 10 stacks).

Earn progress toward Legend stacks for every champion takedown, epic monster takedown, large monster kill, and minion kill.

Legend: Alacrity

Gain 3% attack speed plus an additional 1.5% for every Legend stack (max 10 sta…

Last Stand
Last Stand Deal 5% - 11% increased damage to champions while you are below 60% health. Max damage gained at 30% health.

Last Stand

Deal 5% - 11% increased damage to champions while you are below 60% health. Max…

Secondary Path
Resolve
Second Wind
Second Wind After taking damage from an enemy champion, heal for 4% of your missing health +3 over 10s.

Second Wind

After taking damage from an enemy champion, heal for 4% of your missing health …

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
Attack Speed
Attack Speed Increases attack speed by 10%

Attack Speed

Increases attack speed by 10%

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

50.7% Win Rate93.5% Pick Rate

Yasuo 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.
48.6% Win Rate73.7% Pick Rate
Popular Boots
Berserker's Greaves
Berserker's Greaves (1100 gold) 25% Attack Speed
45 Move Speed
48.2% Win Rate92.1% Pick Rate
Mercury's Treads
Mercury's Treads (1250 gold) 20 Magic Resist
45 Move Speed
30% Tenacity
46.8% Win Rate3.4% Pick Rate
Plated Steelcaps
Plated Steelcaps (1200 gold) 25 Armor
45 Move Speed
Plating
Reduces incoming damage from Attacks by 10%.
47.0% Win Rate2.0% Pick Rate
Core Build
Vampiric Scepter
Vampiric Scepter (900 gold) 15 Attack Damage
7% Life Steal
->
Blade of The Ruined King
Blade of The Ruined King (3200 gold) 40 Attack Damage
25% Attack Speed
10% Life Steal
Mist's Edge
Attacks deal a percentage of enemy's current Health as bonus physical damageOn-Hit.
Clawing Shadows
Attacking a champion 3 times Slows them by 30% for 1 second.
Immortal Shieldbow
Immortal Shieldbow (3000 gold) 55 Attack Damage
25% Critical Strike Chance
Lifeline
Taking damage that would reduce your Health below 30% grants a Shield for 3 seconds.
Infinity Edge
Infinity Edge (3450 gold) 65 Attack Damage
25% Critical Strike Chance
40% Critical Strike Damage
56.7% Win Rate14.3% Pick Rate
Final Build
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.
54.9% Win Rate19.0% 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.
Cull
Cull (450 gold) 7 Attack Damage
Reap
Restore 3 HealthOn-Hit.
Killing minions grants 1 gold, up to 100. Reaching the limit grants another 350 gold.
Health Potion
Health Potion (50 gold) Consume
Restores 120 Health over 15 seconds.
54.3% Win Rate0.4% Pick Rate
Highest Winrate Boots
Boots of Swiftness
Boots of Swiftness (1000 gold) 60 Move Speed
Fleetfooted
Reduce the effectiveness of Slows by 25%.
53.4% Win Rate0.3% Pick Rate
Berserker's Greaves
Berserker's Greaves (1100 gold) 25% Attack Speed
45 Move Speed
48.2% Win Rate92.1% Pick Rate
Plated Steelcaps
Plated Steelcaps (1200 gold) 25 Armor
45 Move Speed
Plating
Reduces incoming damage from Attacks by 10%.
47.0% Win Rate2.0% Pick Rate
Core Build
Rectrix
Rectrix (775 gold) 15 Attack Damage
4% Move Speed
->
Kraken Slayer
Kraken Slayer (3100 gold) 45 Attack Damage
40% Attack Speed
4% Move Speed
Bring It Down
Every third Attack deals bonus physical damageOn-Hit, increased based on their missing Health.
Immortal Shieldbow
Immortal Shieldbow (3000 gold) 55 Attack Damage
25% Critical Strike Chance
Lifeline
Taking damage that would reduce your Health below 30% grants a Shield for 3 seconds.
Infinity Edge
Infinity Edge (3450 gold) 65 Attack Damage
25% Critical Strike Chance
40% Critical Strike Damage
58.2% Win Rate1.6% Pick Rate
Final Build
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.
54.9% Win Rate19.0% Pick Rate
Other Items
Death's Dance
Death's Dance (3300 gold) 60 Attack Damage
15 Ability Haste
50 Armor
Ignore Pain
A percentage of damage taken is dealt to you over 3 seconds instead.
Defy
When a champion that you damaged within 3 seconds dies, cleanse Ignore Pain's remaining damage and restore Health over 2 seconds.
54.6% Win Rate14.4% Pick Rate
Bloodthirster
Bloodthirster (3400 gold) 80 Attack Damage
15% Life Steal
Ichorshield
Convert excess healing from your Lifesteal to a Shield.
53.4% Win Rate10.4% Pick Rate
Mortal Reminder
Mortal Reminder (3300 gold) 35 Attack Damage
35% Armor Penetration
25% Critical Strike Chance
Grievous Wounds
Dealing physical damage applies 40% Wounds to enemy champions for 3 seconds.
49.0% Win Rate6.6% Pick Rate
Wit's End
Wit's End (2800 gold) 50% Attack Speed
45 Magic Resist
20% Tenacity
Fray
Attacks deal bonus magic damageOn-Hit.
51.3% Win Rate6.4% Pick Rate
Jak'Sho, The Protean
Jak'Sho, The Protean (3200 gold) 350 Health
45 Armor
45 Magic Resist
Voidborn Resilience
After 5 seconds of champion combat, increase your bonus Armor and Magic Resist by 30% until end of combat.
51.9% Win Rate4.7% Pick Rate
Randuin's Omen
Randuin's Omen (2700 gold) 350 Health
75 Armor
Resilience
Receive 30% less damage from Critical Strikes.
Humility
Slow nearby enemies by 70% for 2 seconds.
44.8% Win Rate3.6% Pick Rate
Mercurial Scimitar
Mercurial Scimitar (3200 gold) 40 Attack Damage
40 Magic Resist
10% Life Steal

ACTIVE
Quicksilver
Removes all crowd control debuffs (excluding Airborne) and grants Move Speed.
53.3% Win Rate3.2% Pick Rate

Yasuo 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
Steel Tempest Thrusts forward, damaging all enemies in a line.

On hit, grants a stack of Gathering Storm for a few seconds. At 2 stacks, Steel Tempest fires a whirlwind that knocks Airborne.

Steel Tempest is treated as a basic attack and scales with all the same things.
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
W
W
Wind Wall Creates a moving wall that blocks all enemy projectiles for 4 seconds.
W
W
W
W
W
E
E
Sweeping Blade Dashes through target enemy, dealing magic damage. Each cast increases subsequent dash's damage, up to a max amount.

Cannot be re-cast on the same enemy for a few seconds.

If Steel Tempest is cast while dashing, it will strike as a circle.
E
E
E
E
E
R
R
Last Breath Blinks to an Airborne enemy champion, dealing physical damage and holding all Airborne enemies in the area in the air. Grants maximum Flow but resets all stacks of Gathering Storm.

For a moderate time afterwards, Yasuo's critical strikes gain significant Bonus Armor Penetration.
R
R
R
Max Order: Q > E > W
50.6% Win Rate71.1% 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
Steel Tempest Thrusts forward, damaging all enemies in a line.

On hit, grants a stack of Gathering Storm for a few seconds. At 2 stacks, Steel Tempest fires a whirlwind that knocks Airborne.

Steel Tempest is treated as a basic attack and scales with all the same things.
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
R
W
Wind Wall Creates a moving wall that blocks all enemy projectiles for 4 seconds.
W
W
W
W
W
R
E
Sweeping Blade Dashes through target enemy, dealing magic damage. Each cast increases subsequent dash's damage, up to a max amount.

Cannot be re-cast on the same enemy for a few seconds.

If Steel Tempest is cast while dashing, it will strike as a circle.
E
E
E
E
E
R
R
Last Breath Blinks to an Airborne enemy champion, dealing physical damage and holding all Airborne enemies in the area in the air. Grants maximum Flow but resets all stacks of Gathering Storm.For a moderate time afterwards, Yasuo's critical strikes gain significant Bonus Armor Penetration.
R
R
R
Max Order: Q > E > W
68.8% Win Rate0.5% Pick Rate

Yasuo tips:

  • Dash through a minion to have Sweeping Blade available to chase your opponent should they flee; Dash directly to your opponent to preserve a minion as your escape route.
  • At level 18, Yasuo's Steel Tempest reaches its Attack Speed cap with 55% Attack Speed from items.
  • Last Breath can be cast on any target that is knocked Airborne, even by one of your allies.

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.

Yasuo Mid other Matchups

Yasuo
+4.4%
Diana

Yasuo vs Diana

Yasuo
+4.0%
Akshan

Yasuo vs Akshan

Yasuo
+3.5%
Mel

Yasuo vs Mel

Yasuo
+3.4%
Twisted Fate

Yasuo vs Twisted Fate

Yasuo
+3.1%
Smolder

Yasuo vs Smolder

Yasuo
+2.8%
Lux

Yasuo vs Lux

Yasuo
+2.6%
Sylas

Yasuo vs Sylas

Yasuo
+2.4%
Irelia

Yasuo vs Irelia

Yasuo
+2.1%
Ryze

Yasuo vs Ryze

Yasuo
+2.0%
Talon

Yasuo vs Talon

Yasuo
+2.0%
Ahri

Yasuo vs Ahri

Yasuo
+1.9%
Hwei

Yasuo vs Hwei

Yasuo
+1.8%
Orianna

Yasuo vs Orianna

Yasuo
+1.6%
Veigar

Yasuo vs Veigar

Yasuo
+1.5%
Ekko

Yasuo vs Ekko

Yasuo
+1.4%
Viktor

Yasuo vs Viktor

Yasuo
+1.2%
Anivia

Yasuo vs Anivia

Yasuo
+1.2%
Kassadin

Yasuo vs Kassadin

Yasuo
+1.2%
LeBlanc

Yasuo vs LeBlanc

Yasuo
+1.0%
Katarina

Yasuo vs Katarina

Yasuo
+1.0%
Syndra

Yasuo vs Syndra

Yasuo
-0.4%
Fizz

Yasuo vs Fizz

Yasuo
-1.2%
Qiyana

Yasuo vs Qiyana

Yasuo
-1.8%
Aurora

Yasuo vs Aurora

Yasuo
-2.0%
Galio

Yasuo vs Galio

Yasuo
-2.2%
Akali

Yasuo vs Akali

Yasuo
-2.4%
Azir

Yasuo vs Azir

Yasuo
-2.8%
Taliyah

Yasuo vs Taliyah

Yasuo
-3.0%
Zoe

Yasuo vs Zoe

Yasuo
-3.1%
Yone

Yasuo vs Yone

Yasuo
-3.3%
Malphite

Yasuo vs Malphite

Yasuo
-3.3%
Aurelion Sol

Yasuo vs Aurelion Sol

Yasuo
-3.6%
Vex

Yasuo vs Vex

Yasuo
-3.6%
Vladimir

Yasuo vs Vladimir

Yasuo
-3.9%
Malzahar

Yasuo vs Malzahar

Yasuo
-4.6%
Lissandra

Yasuo vs Lissandra

Yasuo
-4.6%
Annie

Yasuo vs Annie

Yasuo
-5.2%
Xerath

Yasuo vs Xerath