Mid Matchup

Zed vs Malzahar

Patch: 15.23 (25.23)
League: Platinum+
Zed

Zed

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

Matchup Win Rate

49.0%
Zed vs Malzahar Wins
⚔
51.0%
Malzahar vs Zed Wins
Malzahar

Malzahar

the Prophet of the Void
Mid
Malzahar Mid Overall Win Rate
51.33%

Zed vs Malzahar - Mid Matchup Guide Patch 15.23 (25.23)

Zed Mid vs Malzahar Mid - Who is stronger?

Zed Mid struggles against Malzahar (49.0% win rate) based on 1469 games. This matchup can be tricky for Zed players.

View detailed statistics below: items, runes, and counter builds for Zed Mid vs Malzahar Mid in patch 15.23 (25.23), including win rates and pick rates. With proper study, this can improve your chances of victory up to 63.6% in this matchup.

Statistical Matchup Analysis

Current meta showdown: Zed (5.9% pick rate, 12th most popular out of 58 Mid champions) versus Malzahar (6.6%, 5th place). These two mid lane titans clash constantly, making matchup mastery a decisive factor in your climb. Every edge matters: In this tough matchup, the proven First Strike + Magical Footwear combination (53.1% win rate) plus optimal itemization Voltaic Cyclosword, Edge of Night, Serylda's Grudge, and Ionian Boots of Lucidity boosts your chances from 49.0% to 63.6% - potentially game-changing.

Survive and scale: Zed faces both matchup (48.97%) and farming disadvantages (6.84 vs 7.86/min). With a 1.02 CS/min deficit, prioritize safe farming and jungle assistance. Damage doesn't equal wins: Zed outputs more damage (812 vs 731/min, 2nd place) but still loses the matchup. The issue likely lies in survivability, mobility, or damage timing rather than raw output. Strong individual performance: Zed maintains better KDA (2.30, 30th place vs 46th for Malzahar), but loses the matchup overall. High KDA without wins suggests difficulty translating individual advantages into victory conditions.

Zed vs Malzahar - Mid Stats Comparison

Zed Mid
Zed Mid		Versus
Malzahar Mid
Malzahar Mid
BTierA+
49.0%Matchup Winrate51.0%
49.30%Role Winrate51.33%
#44Winrate Rank#19
5.9%Pickrate6.6%
2.3Average KDA2.1
446Gold per Minute427
6.84CS/Min7.86
0.25Wards per Minute0.31
812Damage per Minute731

How to Beat Malzahar as Zed (Mid)

Despite the slight difference in effectiveness, in the Zed versus Malzahar matchup in the mid lane, neither champion has an overwhelming advantage. 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, Zed deals physical damage. Focus on eliminating enemy carries. Meanwhile, Malzahar deals primarily magic damage (95.35%), additional magic resistance may be required.

Consider the farming superiority demonstrated by Malzahar, ranking 2nd (versus 23rd for Zed) in farming efficiency among champions in this role. This means the opponent can build gold advantages more quickly. Meanwhile, their lower KDA (2.1 versus 2.3) suggests they are less effective in team fights.

Key aspects of the Zed Mid versus Malzahar Mid matchup

In this difficult confrontation, it is critically important for the Zed player to avoid attempts to force trades and all-ins with the Malzahar 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.

Zed vs Malzahar: 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.
46.3% Win Rate83.2% Pick Rate

Highest Win Rate

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.
48.1% Win Rate13.8% Pick Rate

Zed vs Malzahar: 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…

Taste of Blood
Taste of Blood Heal when you damage an enemy champion.

Healing: 16-40 (+0.1 bonus AD, +0.05 AP) health (based on level)

Cooldown: 20s

Taste of Blood

Heal when you damage an enemy champion.Healing: 16-40 (+0.1 bonus AD, +0.05 AP)…

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
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…

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

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

46.6% Win Rate40.3% 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…

Triple Tonic
Triple Tonic Upon reaching level 3, gain an Elixir of Avarice.
Upon reaching level 6, gain an Elixir of Force.
Upon reaching level 9, gain an Elixir of Skill.

Triple Tonic

Upon reaching level 3, gain an Elixir of Avarice.Upon reaching level 6, gain an…

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

Cosmic Insight

+18 Summoner Spell Haste+10 Item Haste

Secondary Path
Sorcery
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…

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

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

53.1% Win Rate3.4% Pick Rate

Zed vs Malzahar: 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.
Long Sword
Long Sword (350 gold) 10 Attack Damage
Health Potion
Health Potion (50 gold) Consume
Restores 120 Health over 15 seconds.
43.9% Win Rate44.2% 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.
47.4% Win Rate59.0% Pick Rate
Mercury's Treads
Mercury's Treads (1250 gold) 20 Magic Resist
45 Move Speed
30% Tenacity
45.7% Win Rate34.1% Pick Rate
Plated Steelcaps
Plated Steelcaps (1200 gold) 25 Armor
45 Move Speed
Plating
Reduces incoming damage from Attacks by 10%.
44.4% Win Rate0.8% Pick Rate
Core Build
Caulfield's Warhammer
Caulfield's Warhammer (1050 gold) 20 Attack Damage
10 Ability Haste
->
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.
Voltaic Cyclosword
Voltaic Cyclosword (3000 gold) 55 Attack Damage
18 Lethality
10 Ability Haste
Galvanize
Dashes and Stealth stack Energized 75% faster.
Firmament
Your Energized Attack deals bonus physical damage and Slows for 0.75 seconds.
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.
47.3% Win Rate7.7% Pick Rate
Final Build
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.
64.4% Win Rate12.2% 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 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.
49.8% Win Rate9.6% Pick Rate
Highest Winrate Boots
Symbiotic Soles
Symbiotic Soles (900 gold) 40 Move Speed
Voidborn
Gain Empowered Recall.
Symbiosis
After traveling 150000 units of distance, transform into Synchronized Souls.
98.0% Win Rate0.2% 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.
47.4% Win Rate59.0% Pick Rate
Mercury's Treads
Mercury's Treads (1250 gold) 20 Magic Resist
45 Move Speed
30% Tenacity
45.7% Win Rate34.1% Pick Rate
Core Build
The Brutalizer
The Brutalizer (1337 gold) 25 Attack Damage
10 Ability Haste
5 Lethality
->
Voltaic Cyclosword
Voltaic Cyclosword (3000 gold) 55 Attack Damage
18 Lethality
10 Ability Haste
Galvanize
Dashes and Stealth stack Energized 75% faster.
Firmament
Your Energized Attack deals bonus physical damage and Slows for 0.75 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.
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.
63.6% Win Rate1.6% Pick Rate
Final Build
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.
71.0% Win Rate7.5% Pick Rate
Other Items
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.
43.1% Win Rate11.3% Pick Rate
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.
54.8% Win Rate9.8% Pick Rate
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 %.
29.5% Win Rate9.2% Pick Rate
Spear of Shojin
Spear of Shojin (3100 gold) 45 Attack Damage
450 Health
Dragonforce
Gain 25 Basic Ability Haste.
Focused Will
Dealing damage with Abilities increases your Champion's Ability and Passive damage by 3% for 6 seconds. (stacks 4 times).
59.0% Win Rate8.1% 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.
57.0% Win Rate7.6% Pick Rate
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.
71.0% Win Rate7.5% Pick Rate
Maw of Malmortius
Maw of Malmortius (3100 gold) 60 Attack Damage
15 Ability Haste
40 Magic Resist
Lifeline
Taking magic damage that would reduce your Health below 30% grants a magic damage Shield for 3 seconds and 10% Omnivamp until end of combat.
35.5% Win Rate7.5% Pick Rate

Zed vs Malzahar: 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
Razor Shuriken Zed and his shadows throw their shurikens.

Each shuriken deals damage to every enemy hit.
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
W
W
Living ShadowPassive: Zed gains energy whenever he and his shadows strike an enemy with the same ability. Energy can only be gained once per cast ability.

Active: Zed's shadow dashes forward, remaining in place for a few seconds. Reactivating Living Shadow will cause Zed to switch positions with this shadow.
W
W
W
W
W
E
E
Shadow Slash Zed and his Shadows slash, dealing damage to nearby enemies. Enemies hit by a Shadow's slash are slowed.
E
E
E
E
E
R
R
Death Mark Zed becomes untargetable and dashes to an enemy champion, marking them. After 3 seconds the mark triggers, repeating a portion of all the damage Zed dealt to the target while they were marked.
R
R
R
Max Order: Q > E > W
46.2% Win Rate58.7% 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
Razor Shuriken Zed and his shadows throw their shurikens.

Each shuriken deals damage to every enemy hit.
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
R
W
Living ShadowPassive: Zed gains energy whenever he and his shadows strike an enemy with the same ability. Energy can only be gained once per cast ability.

Active: Zed's shadow dashes forward, remaining in place for a few seconds. Reactivating Living Shadow will cause Zed to switch positions with this shadow.
W
W
W
W
W
R
E
Shadow Slash Zed and his Shadows slash, dealing damage to nearby enemies. Enemies hit by a Shadow's slash are slowed.
E
E
E
E
E
R
R
Death Mark Zed becomes untargetable and dashes to an enemy champion, marking them. After 3 seconds the mark triggers, repeating a portion of all the damage Zed dealt to the target while they were marked.
R
R
R
Max Order: Q > E > W
76.9% Win Rate0.5% Pick Rate

Zed tips:

  • Saving energy and spell cooldowns until you use your ultimate will maximize Death Mark's damage.
  • Quickly double tapping Living Shadow will teleport Zed to his shadow immediately for rapid escapes.
  • Placing a Living Shadow before using Death Mark can give Zed a safe escape from combat.

Playing Against Malzahar

  • When Malzahar hits a spell on enemies affected by Malefic Visions, the Visions are refreshed.
  • Avoid minion waves that have been affected by Malefic Visions. You never know when they may die and pass the Visions onto you.
  • Malzahar is especially dangerous when he has built up his Void Swarm.

Zed Mid other Matchups

Zed
+7.0%
Taliyah

Zed vs Taliyah

Zed
+6.4%
Azir

Zed vs Azir

Zed
+4.3%
Twisted Fate

Zed vs Twisted Fate

Zed
+3.3%
Ahri

Zed vs Ahri

Zed
+3.1%
Syndra

Zed vs Syndra

Zed
+2.5%
Qiyana

Zed vs Qiyana

Zed
+2.1%
Orianna

Zed vs Orianna

Zed
+1.7%
Zoe

Zed vs Zoe

Zed
+1.6%
Viktor

Zed vs Viktor

Zed
+1.6%
Aurelion Sol

Zed vs Aurelion Sol

Zed
+1.5%
Aurora

Zed vs Aurora

Zed
+1.5%
Mel

Zed vs Mel

Zed
-0.2%
Ekko

Zed vs Ekko

Zed
-0.5%
Sylas

Zed vs Sylas

Zed
-0.7%
Vex

Zed vs Vex

Zed
-1.0%
Hwei

Zed vs Hwei

Zed
-1.1%
LeBlanc

Zed vs LeBlanc

Zed
-1.3%
Xerath

Zed vs Xerath

Zed
-1.5%
Annie

Zed vs Annie

Zed
-1.6%
Katarina

Zed vs Katarina

Zed
-1.7%
Akshan

Zed vs Akshan

Zed
-1.8%
Diana

Zed vs Diana

Zed
-1.9%
Lux

Zed vs Lux

Zed
-2.0%
Veigar

Zed vs Veigar

Zed
-2.0%
Anivia

Zed vs Anivia

Zed
-2.1%
Akali

Zed vs Akali

Zed
-2.1%
Galio

Zed vs Galio

Zed
-2.2%
Talon

Zed vs Talon

Zed
-2.3%
Fizz

Zed vs Fizz

Zed
-2.4%
Yone

Zed vs Yone

Zed
-2.6%
Vladimir

Zed vs Vladimir

Zed
-2.6%
Irelia

Zed vs Irelia

Zed
-2.8%
Lissandra

Zed vs Lissandra

Zed
-3.2%
Yasuo

Zed vs Yasuo

Zed
-3.6%
Ryze

Zed vs Ryze

Zed
-7.1%
Malphite

Zed vs Malphite