Mid Matchup

Zed vs Talon

Patch: 15.18 (25.18)
League: Platinum+
Zed

Zed

the Master of Shadows
Mid
Zed Mid Overall Win Rate
49.07%

Matchup Win Rate

51.0%
Zed vs Talon Wins
⚔
49.0%
Talon vs Zed Wins
Talon

Talon

the Blade's Shadow
Mid
Talon Mid Overall Win Rate
51.04%

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

Zed Mid vs Talon Mid - Who is stronger?

Zed Mid has a slight edge over Talon (51.0% win rate) based on 666 games. The matchup slightly favors Zed.

View detailed statistics below: items, runes, and counter builds for Zed Mid vs Talon 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 65.5% in this matchup.

Statistical Matchup Analysis

Zed dominates the meta (4th most popular, 7.1% pick rate) and regularly clashes with Talon (1.9% pick rate). Understanding this common matchup forms the foundation of consistent gameplay for one of mid lane's current powerhouses. Optimize for consistency: First Strike paired with Cash Back (54.9% win rate, 2.2% popularity) provides the stats you need, while the item sequence Eclipse > Spear of Shojin > Black Cleaver with Ionian Boots of Lucidity delivers 65.5% win rate against Talon.

Lane dominance: Zed not only wins the matchup but crushes CS (6.23/min vs 5.82 for Talon). This 0.41 CS/min advantage generates significant gold leads that compound your already favorable position. Complete superiority: Zed dominates both win rate (51.0%) and damage output (908 vs 857/min, 2nd among Mid). The 51 damage/min difference creates massive snowball potential. Skill-based matchup: Identical KDA (2.30) with 51.0% win rate indicates that macro play, team coordination, and clutch moments determine outcomes more than individual mechanics.

Zed vs Talon - Mid Stats Comparison

Zed Mid
Zed Mid		Versus
Talon Mid
Talon Mid
BTierB+
51.0%Matchup Winrate49.0%
49.07%Role Winrate51.04%
#52Winrate Rank#26
7.1%Pickrate1.9%
2.3Average KDA2.3
431Gold per Minute442
6.23CS/Min5.82
0.27Wards per Minute0.25
908Damage per Minute857

How to Beat Talon as Zed (Mid)

While statistically Zed is slightly stronger than Talon 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, Zed deals physical damage. Focus on eliminating enemy carries. Talon deals mainly physical damage (90.12%), additional items against this damage type may be required against snowballing or aggressive play.

An important advantage of Zed is higher farming statistics (ranked 40th among role champions) (versus 54th for Talon), which provides a stable gold advantage in extended games and allows faster access to key items.

Key aspects of the Zed Mid versus Talon Mid matchup

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

Zed vs Talon: 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.
52.1% Win Rate88.0% Pick Rate

Highest Win Rate

Teleport
Teleport After a brief channel, become untargetable and travel to an allied unit. Upgrades into Unleashed Teleport, which significantly increases travel speed.
Ignite
Ignite Deals true damage over time to target enemy champion and reduces healing effects on them for the duration.
79.2% Win Rate1.0% Pick Rate

Zed vs Talon: 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

51.8% Win Rate39.7% 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…

Cash Back
Cash Back Get 6% Gold back when you purchase Legendary Items.

Cash Back

Get 6% Gold back when you purchase Legendary Items.

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

54.9% Win Rate2.2% Pick Rate

Zed vs Talon: 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.
52.2% Win Rate43.9% 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.
51.8% Win Rate77.0% Pick Rate
Plated Steelcaps
Plated Steelcaps (1200 gold) 25 Armor
45 Move Speed
Plating
Reduces incoming damage from Attacks by 10%.
56.2% Win Rate11.5% Pick Rate
Mercury's Treads
Mercury's Treads (1250 gold) 20 Magic Resist
45 Move Speed
30% Tenacity
41.0% Win Rate5.4% 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.
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.
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).
51.5% Win Rate10.0% 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 %.
49.9% Win Rate13.5% 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.
54.5% Win Rate18.7% Pick Rate
Highest Winrate Boots
Boots of Swiftness
Boots of Swiftness (1000 gold) 60 Move Speed
Fleetfooted
Reduce the effectiveness of Slows by 25%.
99.1% Win Rate0.2% Pick Rate
Plated Steelcaps
Plated Steelcaps (1200 gold) 25 Armor
45 Move Speed
Plating
Reduces incoming damage from Attacks by 10%.
56.2% Win Rate11.5% 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.
51.8% Win Rate77.0% Pick Rate
Core Build
Pickaxe
Pickaxe (875 gold) 25 Attack Damage
->
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.
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).
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.
65.5% Win Rate1.7% Pick Rate
Final Build
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.
100.0% Win Rate3.9% 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.
74.2% Win Rate11.5% Pick Rate
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.
67.2% Win Rate11.5% 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.
44.3% Win Rate8.7% Pick Rate
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.
75.5% Win Rate7.5% 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.
100.0% Win Rate3.9% 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.
25.1% Win Rate3.9% Pick Rate
The Collector
The Collector (3000 gold) 50 Attack Damage
10 Lethality
25% Critical Strike Chance
Death
Your damage executes champions that are below 5% Health.
Taxes
Champion kills grant 25 bonus gold.
33.0% Win Rate2.9% Pick Rate

Zed vs Talon: 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
54.4% Win Rate49.9% 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
96.6% 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 Talon

  • Talon's attacks are all physical damage. Build armor early to counter his burst damage.
  • Talon is heavily reliant on Shadow Assault to escape a fight. When it is down he's significantly more vulnerable.
  • Talon has unrivaled roaming ability. Make sure to keep track of his position or force him to stay in lane by pushing aggressively.

Zed Mid other Matchups

Zed
+5.0%
Xerath

Zed vs Xerath

Zed
+4.7%
Taliyah

Zed vs Taliyah

Zed
+4.1%
Yone

Zed vs Yone

Zed
+3.4%
Aurelion Sol

Zed vs Aurelion Sol

Zed
+3.3%
Ahri

Zed vs Ahri

Zed
+3.1%
Aurora

Zed vs Aurora

Zed
+3.0%
Mel

Zed vs Mel

Zed
+2.6%
Irelia

Zed vs Irelia

Zed
+2.5%
Hwei

Zed vs Hwei

Zed
+1.9%
Azir

Zed vs Azir

Zed
+1.5%
Orianna

Zed vs Orianna

Zed
+1.5%
Veigar

Zed vs Veigar

Zed
+1.2%
Syndra

Zed vs Syndra

Zed
+1.1%
Fizz

Zed vs Fizz

Zed
+1.0%
Katarina

Zed vs Katarina

Zed
+0.6%
Viktor

Zed vs Viktor

Zed
-1.1%
Zoe

Zed vs Zoe

Zed
-1.4%
LeBlanc

Zed vs LeBlanc

Zed
-1.5%
Annie

Zed vs Annie

Zed
-1.5%
Lissandra

Zed vs Lissandra

Zed
-2.0%
Yasuo

Zed vs Yasuo

Zed
-2.0%
Vladimir

Zed vs Vladimir

Zed
-2.0%
Akali

Zed vs Akali

Zed
-2.1%
Galio

Zed vs Galio

Zed
-2.2%
Qiyana

Zed vs Qiyana

Zed
-2.2%
Anivia

Zed vs Anivia

Zed
-2.2%
Ryze

Zed vs Ryze

Zed
-2.3%
Ekko

Zed vs Ekko

Zed
-2.5%
Akshan

Zed vs Akshan

Zed
-3.1%
Lux

Zed vs Lux

Zed
-3.8%
Malzahar

Zed vs Malzahar

Zed
-3.8%
Twisted Fate

Zed vs Twisted Fate

Zed
-4.0%
Sylas

Zed vs Sylas

Zed
-4.2%
Vex

Zed vs Vex

Zed
-4.4%
Diana

Zed vs Diana

Zed
-7.1%
Malphite

Zed vs Malphite