Mid Matchup

Zed vs Xerath

Patch: 15.18 (25.18)
League: Platinum+
Zed

Zed

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

Matchup Win Rate

55.0%
Zed vs Xerath Wins
⚔
45.0%
Xerath vs Zed Wins
Xerath

Xerath

the Magus Ascendant
Mid
Xerath Mid Overall Win Rate
51.57%

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

Zed Mid vs Xerath Mid - Who is stronger?

Zed Mid performs well against Xerath (55.0% win rate) based on 776 games. This matchup works well for Zed players.

View detailed statistics below: items, runes, and counter builds for Zed Mid vs Xerath 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 70%+ in this matchup.

Statistical Matchup Analysis

Zed dominates the meta (4th most popular, 7.1% pick rate) and regularly clashes with Xerath (3.8% pick rate). Understanding this common matchup forms the foundation of consistent gameplay for one of mid lane's current powerhouses. Amplify your advantage: The Conqueror + Presence of Mind rune setup achieves 53.1% win rate (6.4% popularity), while the core build Eclipse > Youmuu's Ghostblade > Voltaic Cyclosword with Ionian Boots of Lucidity (70%+ win rate) lets you snowball advantages into guaranteed victories by 15 minutes.

Win through macro: Zed takes the matchup (55.04%) despite falling behind in CS (6.23 vs 6.68/min). Your victories come through roaming, team fighting, and map pressure rather than 1v1 lane dominance. Quality over quantity: Zed wins through smart play rather than raw damage - despite lower DPS (908 vs 931/min), the 55.0% win rate shows superior utility, positioning, and team fight impact. Intriguing anomaly: Zed wins the matchup (55.0%) despite a lower KDA (2.30 vs 3.10). This suggests you win through macro influence and clutch plays in key moments rather than consistent individual performance.

Zed vs Xerath - Mid Stats Comparison

Zed Mid
Zed Mid		Versus
Xerath Mid
Xerath Mid
BTierA+
55.0%Matchup Winrate45.0%
49.07%Role Winrate51.57%
#52Winrate Rank#18
7.1%Pickrate3.8%
2.3Average KDA3.1
431Gold per Minute436
6.23CS/Min6.68
0.27Wards per Minute0.37
908Damage per Minute931

How to Beat Xerath as Zed (Mid)

The Zed versus Xerath 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, Zed deals physical damage. Focus on eliminating enemy carries. Meanwhile, Xerath deals primarily magic damage (94.28%), additional magic resistance may be required.

Consider the farming superiority demonstrated by Xerath, ranking 24th (versus 40th for Zed) in farming efficiency among champions in this role. This means the opponent can build gold advantages more quickly. Meanwhile, their higher KDA (3.1 versus 2.3) suggests they participate more effectively in team fights.

Key aspects of the Zed Mid versus Xerath 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 Xerath, not allowing the opponent to safely scale up, and actively use the advantage gained to help their team.

Zed vs Xerath: 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.
45.6% Win Rate87.0% 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.
65.5% Win Rate0.5% Pick Rate

Zed vs Xerath: 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

43.5% Win Rate47.5% Pick Rate

Best Win Rate Runes

Primary Path
Precision
Conqueror
Conqueror Basic attacks or spells that deal damage to an enemy champion grant 2 stacks of Conqueror for 5s, gaining 1.8-4 Adaptive Force per stack. Stacks up to 12 times. Ranged champions gain only 1 stack per basic attack.

When fully stacked, heal for 8% of the damage you deal to champions (5% for ranged champions).

Conqueror

Basic attacks or spells that deal damage to an enemy champion grant 2 stacks of Conqueror…

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…

Legend: Haste
Legend: Haste Gain 1.5 basic ability haste 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: Haste

Gain 1.5 basic ability haste for every Legend stack (max 10 stacks).Earn progre…

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 …

Unflinching
Unflinching Gain 6 - 12 (level scaling) Armor and Magic Resist when crowd controlled and for 2 seconds after.

Unflinching

Gain 6 - 12 (level scaling) Armor and Magic Resist when crowd controlled and fo…

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

53.1% Win Rate6.4% Pick Rate

Zed vs Xerath: 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.
44.2% Win Rate36.1% 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.
45.3% Win Rate63.0% Pick Rate
Mercury's Treads
Mercury's Treads (1250 gold) 20 Magic Resist
45 Move Speed
30% Tenacity
44.1% Win Rate26.4% Pick Rate
Plated Steelcaps
Plated Steelcaps (1200 gold) 25 Armor
45 Move Speed
Plating
Reduces incoming damage from Attacks by 10%.
70.9% Win Rate1.2% 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.
49.6% Win Rate8.0% Pick Rate
Final Build
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).
52.3% Win Rate15.2% 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.
Long Sword
Long Sword (350 gold) 10 Attack Damage
Refillable Potion
Refillable Potion (150 gold) Active (2 charges)
Restores 100 Health over 12 seconds.
Refills upon visiting the shop.
54.0% Win Rate19.9% Pick Rate
Highest Winrate Boots
Boots of Swiftness
Boots of Swiftness (1000 gold) 60 Move Speed
Fleetfooted
Reduce the effectiveness of Slows by 25%.
100.0% Win Rate0.2% Pick Rate
Plated Steelcaps
Plated Steelcaps (1200 gold) 25 Armor
45 Move Speed
Plating
Reduces incoming damage from Attacks by 10%.
70.9% Win Rate1.2% 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.
45.3% Win Rate63.0% 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.
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.
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.
84.4% Win Rate2.1% 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.
79.2% Win Rate4.4% Pick Rate
Other Items
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.
58.7% Win Rate14.8% 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.
52.3% Win Rate13.1% 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.
53.4% Win Rate11.5% 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 %.
49.6% Win Rate10.5% 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.
28.5% Win Rate6.2% 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.
59.4% Win Rate4.4% Pick Rate
Hubris
Hubris (3000 gold) 60 Attack Damage
18 Lethality
10 Ability Haste
Eminence
When a champion that you damaged within 3 seconds dies, gain 15 Attack Damage plus 2 per champion killed for 90 seconds.
65.7% Win Rate2.6% Pick Rate

Zed vs Xerath: 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
42.0% Win Rate73.5% 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
94.1% Win Rate0.4% 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 Xerath

  • Xerath's range can be intimidating, but most champions who close distance with him can trade favorably.
  • Xerath takes a long time to engage Rite of the Arcane. Watch for his spellcast animation and start dodging.
  • Banshee's Veil will make it much harder for Xerath to land Shocking Orb on you.

Zed Mid other Matchups

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
+1.0%
Talon

Zed vs Talon

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