Support Matchup

Zilean vs Alistar

Patch: 15.18 (25.18)
League: Platinum+
Zilean

Zilean

the Chronokeeper
Support
Zilean Support Overall Win Rate
51.73%

Matchup Win Rate

51.5%
Zilean vs Alistar Wins
48.5%
Alistar vs Zilean Wins
Alistar

Alistar

the Minotaur
Support
Alistar Support Overall Win Rate
49.56%

Zilean vs Alistar - Support Matchup Guide Patch 15.18 (25.18)

Zilean Support vs Alistar Support - Who is stronger?

Zilean Support has a slight edge over Alistar (51.5% win rate) based on 576 games. The matchup slightly favors Zilean.

View detailed statistics below: items, runes, and counter builds for Zilean Support vs Alistar Support 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

With 2.4% popularity, Zilean constantly encounters meta-dominant Alistar (5.2%, 16th place out of 52 Support champions). Understanding how to play against this popular champion becomes essential for consistent Zilean performance in the current patch. Meta strength confirmed: Zilean's superior tier rating (A+ vs B+) translates into a solid 51.5% matchup win rate. This performance explains why Zilean ranks 10th in win rate among Support champions. Optimize for consistency: Arcane Comet paired with Manaflow Band (55.5% win rate, 22.6% popularity) provides the stats you need, while the item sequence Shurelya's Battlesong > Redemption > Locket of the Iron Solari with Ionian Boots of Lucidity delivers 70%+ win rate against Alistar.

Lane wins, vision lags: While winning the matchup (51.48%), Zilean trails in vision control (0.87 vs 0.93 wards/min). Better map coverage could unlock even greater team advantages. Complete superiority: Zilean dominates both win rate (51.5%) and damage output (319 vs 277/min, 2nd among Support). The 42 damage/min difference creates massive snowball potential. Statistical dominance: Zilean leads in both matchup win rate (51.5%) and KDA (3.30 vs 2.50) - complete superiority across all metrics.

Zilean vs Alistar - Support Stats Comparison

Zilean Support
Zilean Support
Versus
Alistar Support
Alistar Support
A+TierB+
51.5%Matchup Winrate48.5%
51.73%Role Winrate49.56%
#10Winrate Rank#35
2.4%Pickrate5.2%
3.3Average KDA2.5
292Gold per Minute280
0.87Wards per Minute0.93
319Damage per Minute277

How to Beat Alistar as Zilean (Support)

While statistically Zilean is slightly stronger than Alistar as support, 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.

The magic damage that Zilean deals remains relevant in the late game. Look for opportunities to initiate or counter-initiate. Meanwhile, Alistar deals primarily magic damage (74.09%), additional magic resistance may be required.

Consider the excellent vision control demonstrated by Alistar, ranking 11th (versus 23rd for Zilean) in ward placement among supports. This means the opponent provides better map vision for their team. Meanwhile, their lower KDA (2.5 versus 3.3) suggests they are less effective in team fights.

Key aspects of the Zilean Support versus Alistar Support matchup

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

Zilean vs Alistar: Support Summoner Spells

Most Popular

Flash
Flash Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Heal
Heal Restores Health and grants Move Speed to you and target allied champion.
50.6% Win Rate40.2% Pick Rate

Highest Win Rate

Exhaust
Exhaust Slows target enemy champion and reduces their damage dealt.
Flash
Flash Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
53.4% Win Rate30.4% Pick Rate

Zilean vs Alistar: Support Runes

Most Frequent Runes

Primary Path
Sorcery
Summon Aery
Summon Aery Damaging enemy champions with basic attacks or abilities sends Aery to them, dealing 10 - 50 based on level (+0.05 AP) (+0.1 bonus AD).

Empowering or protecting allies with abilities sends Aery to them, shielding them for 30 - 100 based on level (+0.05 AP) (+0.1 bonus AD).

Aery cannot be sent out again until she returns to you.

Summon Aery

Damaging enemy champions with basic attacks or abilities sends Aery to them, dealing 10 -…

Manaflow Band
Manaflow Band Hitting an enemy champion with an ability permanently increases your maximum mana by 25, up to 250 mana.

After reaching 250 bonus mana, restore 1% of your missing mana every 5 seconds.

Cooldown: 15 seconds

Manaflow Band

Hitting an enemy champion with an ability permanently increases your maximum ma…

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…

Waterwalking
Waterwalking Gain 10 Move Speed and 13 - 30 Adaptive Force (based on level) when in the river.

May you be as swift as the rushing river and agile as a startled Rift Scuttler.

Waterwalking

Gain 10 Move Speed and 13 - 30 Adaptive Force (based on level) when in the rive…

Secondary Path
Domination
Cheap Shot
Cheap Shot Damaging champions with impaired movement or actions deals 10 - 45 bonus true damage (based on level).

Cooldown: 4s
Activates on damage occurring after the impairment.

Cheap Shot

Damaging champions with impaired movement or actions deals 10 - 45 bonus true d…

Relentless Hunter
Relentless Hunter Gain 8 Move Speed out of combat per Bounty Hunter stack. Bounty Hunter stacks are earned the first time you get a takedown on each enemy champion.

Relentless Hunter

Gain 8 Move Speed out of combat per Bounty Hunter stack. Bounty Hunter stacks a…

Adaptive
Scaling Cooldown Reduction
Scaling Cooldown Reduction +8 Ability Haste

Scaling Cooldown Reduction

+8 Ability Haste

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

54.2% Win Rate43.4% Pick Rate

Best Win Rate Runes

Primary Path
Sorcery
Arcane Comet
Arcane Comet Damaging a champion with an ability hurls a comet at their location, or, if Arcane Comet is on cooldown, reduces its remaining cooldown.

Adaptive Damage: 30 - 130 based on level (+0.05 AP and +0.1 bonus AD)
Cooldown: 20 - 8s

Cooldown Reduction:
Single Target: 20%.
Area of Effect: 10%.
Damage over Time: 5%.

Arcane Comet

Damaging a champion with an ability hurls a comet at their location, or, if Arcane Comet …

Manaflow Band
Manaflow Band Hitting an enemy champion with an ability permanently increases your maximum mana by 25, up to 250 mana.

After reaching 250 bonus mana, restore 1% of your missing mana every 5 seconds.

Cooldown: 15 seconds

Manaflow Band

Hitting an enemy champion with an ability permanently increases your maximum ma…

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…

Secondary Path
Inspiration
Biscuit Delivery
Biscuit Delivery Biscuit Delivery: Gain a Total Biscuit of Everlasting Will every 2 mins, until 6 min.

Biscuits restore 12% of your missing health. Consuming or selling a Biscuit permanently increases your max health by 30.

Biscuit Delivery

Biscuit Delivery: Gain a Total Biscuit of Everlasting Will every 2 mins, until …

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

Cosmic Insight

+18 Summoner Spell Haste+10 Item Haste

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

55.5% Win Rate22.6% Pick Rate

Zilean vs Alistar: Support 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.
World Atlas
World Atlas (400 gold)
Health Potion
Health Potion (50 gold) Consume
Restores 120 Health over 15 seconds.
52.7% Win Rate86.8% 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.
50.6% Win Rate77.6% 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.
65.8% Win Rate7.6% Pick Rate
Boots of Swiftness
Boots of Swiftness (1000 gold) 60 Move Speed
Fleetfooted
Reduce the effectiveness of Slows by 25%.
37.0% Win Rate4.9% Pick Rate
Core Build
Bandleglass Mirror
Bandleglass Mirror (900 gold) 20 Ability Power
100% Base Mana Regen
10 Ability Haste

->
Shurelya's Battlesong
Shurelya's Battlesong (2200 gold) 50 Ability Power
15 Ability Haste
4% Move Speed
125% Base Mana Regen

Inspiring Speech
Grant nearby allies 30% Move Speed for 4 seconds.
Imperial Mandate
Imperial Mandate (2250 gold) 60 Ability Power
20 Ability Haste
125% Base Mana Regen

Coordinated Fire (0s) per target
Slowing or Immobilizing an enemy champion marks them for 5 seconds. Ally champion damage detonates the mark, dealing magic damage equal to 10% of current health.
Redemption
Redemption (2300 gold) 200 Health
15 Ability Haste
100% Base Mana Regen
10% Heal and Shield Power

Intervention
Restore 200 - 400 Health to allied champions and deal 10% max Health true damage to enemy champions after 2.5 seconds.
50.0% Win Rate4.4% Pick Rate
Final Build
Locket of the Iron Solari
Locket of the Iron Solari (2200 gold) 200 Health
25 Armor
25 Magic Resist
10 Ability Haste

Devotion
Grant nearby allies a 200 - 360 Shield that decays over 2.5 seconds.
100.0% Win Rate14.3% 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.
Control Ward
Control Ward (75 gold) Consume
Places a Control Ward that grants vision and reveals enemy Stealth Wards, traps and Camouflaged enemies.
World Atlas
World Atlas (400 gold)
66.6% Win Rate1.1% 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.
65.8% Win Rate7.6% Pick Rate
Plated Steelcaps
Plated Steelcaps (1200 gold) 25 Armor
45 Move Speed

Plating
Reduces incoming damage from Attacks by 10%.
65.5% Win Rate1.6% 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.
50.6% Win Rate77.6% Pick Rate
Core Build
Bandleglass Mirror
Bandleglass Mirror (900 gold) 20 Ability Power
100% Base Mana Regen
10 Ability Haste

->
Shurelya's Battlesong
Shurelya's Battlesong (2200 gold) 50 Ability Power
15 Ability Haste
4% Move Speed
125% Base Mana Regen

Inspiring Speech
Grant nearby allies 30% Move Speed for 4 seconds.
Redemption
Redemption (2300 gold) 200 Health
15 Ability Haste
100% Base Mana Regen
10% Heal and Shield Power

Intervention
Restore 200 - 400 Health to allied champions and deal 10% max Health true damage to enemy champions after 2.5 seconds.
Locket of the Iron Solari
Locket of the Iron Solari (2200 gold) 200 Health
25 Armor
25 Magic Resist
10 Ability Haste

Devotion
Grant nearby allies a 200 - 360 Shield that decays over 2.5 seconds.
100.0% Win Rate2.2% Pick Rate
Final Build
Imperial Mandate
Imperial Mandate (2250 gold) 60 Ability Power
20 Ability Haste
125% Base Mana Regen

Coordinated Fire (0s) per target
Slowing or Immobilizing an enemy champion marks them for 5 seconds. Ally champion damage detonates the mark, dealing magic damage equal to 10% of current health.
100.0% Win Rate42.2% Pick Rate
Other Items
Abyssal Mask
Abyssal Mask (2650 gold) 350 Health
45 Magic Resist
15 Ability Haste

Unmake
Nearby enemy champions take 12% more magic damage.
0.0% Win Rate14.2% Pick Rate
Cosmic Drive
Cosmic Drive (3000 gold) 70 Ability Power
350 Health
25 Ability Haste
4% Move Speed

Spelldance
Dealing magic or true damage to champions grants Move Speed for 4 seconds.
99.5% Win Rate14.0% Pick Rate

Zilean vs Alistar: Support 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
Time Bomb Tosses a bomb to target area that sticks to units that come near it (prioritizes Champions). It detonates after 3 seconds, dealing area of effect damage. If a Time Bomb is detonated early by another Time Bomb, it also stuns enemies.
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
W
W
Rewind Zilean can prepare himself for future confrontations, reducing the cooldowns of his other basic abilities.
W
W
W
W
W
E
E
Time Warp Zilean bends time around any unit, decreasing an enemy's Move Speed or increasing an ally's Move Speed for a short time.
E
E
E
E
E
R
R
Chronoshift Zilean places a protective time rune on an allied champion, teleporting the champion back in time if they take lethal damage.
R
R
R
Max Order: Q > E > W
49.4% Win Rate42.0% 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
Time Bomb Tosses a bomb to target area that sticks to units that come near it (prioritizes Champions). It detonates after 3 seconds, dealing area of effect damage. If a Time Bomb is detonated early by another Time Bomb, it also stuns enemies.
Q
Q
Q
Q
Q
R
W
Rewind Zilean can prepare himself for future confrontations, reducing the cooldowns of his other basic abilities.
W
W
W
W
W
R
E
Time Warp Zilean bends time around any unit, decreasing an enemy's Move Speed or increasing an ally's Move Speed for a short time.
E
E
E
E
E
R
R
Chronoshift Zilean places a protective time rune on an allied champion, teleporting the champion back in time if they take lethal damage.
R
R
R
Max Order: Q > E > W
74.5% Win Rate6.3% Pick Rate

Zilean tips:

  • You can combine the use of Time Bomb and Rewind to place two Time Bombs on a target quickly. Placing the second bomb will detonate the first and stun all nearby enemies.
  • Time Warp is an effective way to enable allies to finish off enemies, or escape from a losing battle.
  • Chronoshift is a powerful deterrent to attacking your carries, but casting Chronoshift too early in a fight can cause the enemy to switch targets too soon, making it less effective.

Playing Against Alistar

  • Alistar is very disruptive but very tough - try to target more fragile damage dealers.
  • Watch out for the Pulverize-Headbutt combo when around turrets.
  • When Alistar uses his ultimate, it's often better to move back and wait until the effect wears off before attacking him.