Zac - The Secret Weapon: A Collaborative Guide

[quote=Janitsu][columns] [nextcol][size=6][color=#008000]MobaFire's Zac Collaborative Guide[/color][/size] [nextcol][table][tr][td bgcolor=#008000 padding=1 width=405][/td][/tr][/table][/columns] [columns][space] [nextcol][img=http://www.mobafire.com/images/noavatar.png width=60] [nextcol][space] [nextcol][icon=zac size=60] [nextcol][space] [nextcol]Welcome to the fifth article in a series of upcoming collaborative guides! These articles will be made by the current [url=http://www.mobafire.com/league-of-legends/wiki/mobafire/ranks]Editors, Scouts, Veterans, Moderators & Administrators[/url] of MobaFire and will feature champion tips and tricks. At the end of each article will be a list of champion guides to get you started learning the chosen champion. The guides displayed should supply you with a variety of different gameplay perspectives. This week's champion is [[zac]], The Secret Weapon! Zac's AoE damage and self-healing skills provide him with a lot of flexibility on the battlefield. His high level of sustainability makes him an ideal choice whether you're tearing through the jungle or trading hits in top lane. Read and enjoy! [nextcol][space][/columns] [columns] [nextcol][size=6][color=#008000]Zac's Lore[/color][/size] [nextcol][table][tr][td bgcolor=#008000 padding=1 width=505][/td][/tr][/table][/columns] [columns][space][space] [nextcol]Zac is the product of a Zaun experiment to manufacture a hexchem-engineered supersoldier – the Zaun Amorphous Combatant. Combining brute strength with limitless flexibility, he is a versatile juggernaut: a creative fighter who bounces over obstacles and pounds his foes into submission. Though he was created inside a weapons laboratory, Zac was rescued and adopted by two loving parents who raised him to be a kind and friendly child. As the years passed, he grew up to be a fierce hero, sworn to protect the ordinary, everyday people of Zaun. Long ago, two Zaun scientists developed an organic substance that could withstand extreme conditions, spontaneously alter its biological structure, and generate tremendous amounts of kinetic force. As the scientists, husband and wife, watched the prototype grow from a spoon-sized droplet to a small blob, they noticed that their creation would respond to their presence. It sprung forward when they called and bounced when they sang. The couple began to see more than an experiment; they saw a small child, filled with affection and joy. After testing the prototype one evening, the scientists placed the blob back in its cage. It slouched and shuddered in the corner, inconsolably sad. At that moment, the couple realized that their beloved creation wished for a free life outside the lab. They were struck by their conscience and could not allow the prototype to be used as a weapon. The husband and wife fled with the young blob, replacing its weapon designation – Zaun Amorphous Combatant – with a proper name: Zac. In a quiet neighborhood far from the cities of Zaun, the scientists raised Zac as their own child. Zac was always different from the other children. None had his powers of strength and flexibility, so the couple taught him to tell right from wrong and to use his gifts responsibly. Thanks to the care and affection of his loving parents, Zac lived a peaceful, happy childhood. That childhood ended when the Zaun laboratory finally found Zac. Unable to replicate the formula used to create the amorphous prototype, the laboratory's staff never stopped searching for the scientists and their experiment. When they tracked down the family, they threatened to tear it apart. The staff abducted Zac's parents and demanded that the couple assist in his capture and return. Seized by the fear of losing his freedom and his parents, Zac unleashed every ounce of his raw energy and mass for the very first time. He subdued his parents' captors, sent the laboratory's workers fleeing, and brought his loved ones home. From then on, Zac vowed to defend all ordinary lives threatened by extraordinary treachery and wickedness. Originally built to destroy, he now protects the innocent and the helpless. "[i]Even if you don't have a spine, you still have to stand up for yourself.[/i]" [space][space][space]- Zac [nextcol][space][space] [nextcol][icon=classic zac size=200] [nextcol][space][space] [/columns] [columns] [nextcol][size=6][color=#008000]Zac's Abilities[/color][/size] [nextcol][table][tr][td bgcolor=#008000 padding=1 width=505][/td][/tr][/table][/columns] [columns][space] [nextcol][icon=cell division size=60] [nextcol][space] [nextcol width=50][center][size=6][color=#008000][b]P[/b][/color][/size][/center] [nextcol][space] [nextcol][list] [*] The chunks of jelly that appear each time Zac deals damage with abilities are key to surviving in lane and in the jungle. Try to pick these up at all times, as long as it doesn't lie too close to an enemy champion. You don't want to get harassed two times the damage you just got back, do you? [*] When jungling or in a lane with less than 100% health, spam your abilities near the jungle monsters of lane minions. You will get health back and this will help you sustain a lot better. [*] The four blobs that appear when you take fatal damage are functionally minions. That means that spells that can be used on minions can be used on the blobs as well (like smite, teleport and consume). [*] Using any ability on [[Zac]] costs him 4% of his current Health, while picking up the health chunk created by that action heals him for 4% of his maximum Health, meaning that the heal [[Zac]] receives from this is equal to 4% of (max health - current health) = 4% of missing Health. This makes it especially important to make use of this passive as much as possible at low health, when it is at its strongest. [*] [[Zac]] can use the fact that his revive passive is up to his advantage, for example by baiting enemies with it when his jungler comes to gank or by going for an aggressive initiate if his team is ready to follow up. [/list] [nextcol][space][/columns] [columns][space] [nextcol][icon=stretching strike size=60] [nextcol][space] [nextcol width=50][center][size=6][color=#008000][b]Q[/b][/color][/size][/center] [nextcol][space] [nextcol][list] [*] Rather straightforward ability which serves as your main poke ability in lane. Remember to use it for the slow when chasing (or running away from) an opponent. If you're laning against an opponent with 550 attack range (for example [[Lissandra]] or [[Kennen]]) and (s)he tries to auto attack you, remember to walk forward a bit before using this spell to retaliate, as ability range is calculated from the center of a champion while attack range is calculated from the edge. [/list] [nextcol][space][/columns] [columns][space] [nextcol][icon=unstable matter size=60] [nextcol][space] [nextcol width=50][center][size=6][color=#008000][b]W[/b][/color][/size][/center] [nextcol][space] [nextcol][list] [*] Remember that this ability can be used during [[Zac]]'s ultimate to add some sustained damage and create extra health chunks during teamfights. Also, whenever an opponent tries to step on a health chunk before you get to it (in lane), remember that that will leave him vulnerable to getting hit by this ability for some extra damage. [/list] [nextcol][space][/columns] [columns][space] [nextcol][icon=elastic slingshot size=60] [nextcol][space] [nextcol width=50][center][size=6][color=#008000][b]E[/b][/color][/size][/center] [nextcol][space] [nextcol][list] [*] If you are jungling as Zac it is wise to max out this ability. With the increased range of this ability you can gank enemies from various routes. [*] This ability can be used as a gap closer or to take shortcuts through the jungle. [*] Always try to start charging this ability outside of your enemy's vision, as otherwise the wind up on this ability will make it fairly easy for the enemies to predict what's coming and your opponents will also have the chance to interrupt you. In lane, try to make use of the lane brushes to do so; in teamfights in the jungle, look for brushes or start charging while standing in unwarded territory before jumping over a wall to initiate. Note that the ability exceeds normal vision range (1200) on [i]almost[/i] all ranks, so you can also use this to your advantage by jumping on someone you have vision of from the fog of war. [*] Remember that it takes a while to get to your target destination after launching. If the opponent you're trying to hit is moving away from you, make sure to compensate for this by aiming slightly behind them. [*] Be aware of abilities which can interrupt you [i]after[/i] launching, such as [[Vayne]]'s [[Condemn]] or [[Thresh]]'s [[Flay]]. Not only will being interrupted make it harder to hit (multiple) enemies with your ultimate, but you will also lose out on the damage and knockback of the ability. [*] The damage and knockback of this ability is the same regardless of how far [[Zac]] jumps / how long he channels the ability before leaping. If you're in a close 1v1 fight, using a short range jump to interrupt your enemy's auto attack during the animation can therefore be extremely effective. [/list] [nextcol][space][/columns] [columns][space] [nextcol][icon=let's bounce size=60] [nextcol][space] [nextcol width=50][center][size=6][color=#008000][b]R[/b][/color][/size][/center] [nextcol][space] [nextcol][list] [*] This ability is a great way to interrupt channeled abilities [[Katarina]]'s [[death lotus]] or to disturb the enemies' focus. If you aren't building ability power the later bounces are barely noticeable. [*] This ability can only knock up every individual enemy once and it also deals reduced damage the second/third time you hit the same enemy, so try to tag as many opponents as possible after activating this ability instead of using it to stick to one target. [*] The movement speed which is granted by this ability also makes it a decent spell to use to escape from ganks (after knocking up the enemy laner/jungler), especially if your opponents have ways to interrupt your E. Note that it's also possible to use [[Flash]] during your ultimate if the movement speed granted by it isn't enough to escape / reach your target(s) during teamfights. [/list] [nextcol][space][/columns] [columns] [nextcol][size=6][color=#008000]Zac Gameplay[/color][/size] [nextcol][table][tr][td bgcolor=#008000 padding=1 width=505][/td][/tr][/table][/columns] [columns][space] [nextcol][icon=classic zac size=60] [nextcol][space] [nextcol width=50][center][size=4][color=#008000][b]Game Play[/b][/color][/size][/center] [nextcol][space] [nextcol][list] [*] In lane, [[Zac]]'s playstyle revolves around poking / trading with his enemy as much as possible, slowly whittling his enemy down while sustaining himself with the use of his passive, [[Cell Division]]. If your opponent is low on health, [[Elastic Slingshot]] can be used aggressively to try and secure a kill. Considering the ability's cooldown and the fact that it is also your main escape tool, however, you should only aim to do so if you're sure you're not about to get ganked. [*] [[Zac]]'s job in teamfights is to soak as much damage as possible while disrupting the enemy team with his many forms of CC. Though he should generally aim to reach and disrupt the enemy backline, it is also possible to stick your own carries and use your disruptive spells to protect them, especially if they're very fed or if your support doesn't have the tools to protect them. [/list] [nextcol][space][/columns] [columns][space] [nextcol][icon=special weapon zac size=60] [nextcol][space] [nextcol width=50][center][size=4][color=#008000][b]Team Fights[/b][/color][/size][/center] [nextcol][space] [nextcol][list] [*] As the game progresses, Zac's extreme mobility and strong crowd control make him a tremendous asset in team fights. With some patience and setup, you can use a fully channeled Elastic Slingshot to deploy Let's Bounce! from huge distances. Once you're in the thick of it, the additional bounces from your ultimate let you pressure fragile, high-value targets, disrupting enemy positioning as you draw fire off less durable allies. Since every bounce of your ultimate yields healing chunks, you'll also have the sustainability you need to keep up the attack. If the opposing team making aggressive moves, you can opt to use the knock-up and slow from Let's Bounce! defensively, creating valuable space for the rest of your team to safely disengage. Whether you're initiating or counter-initiating, Zac has ample crowd control to keep your team out of trouble. [/list] [nextcol][space][/columns] [columns][space] [nextcol][icon=classic heimerdinger size=60] [nextcol][space] [nextcol width=50][center][size=4][color=#008000][b]Item Info[/b][/color][/size][/center] [nextcol][space] [nextcol][list] [*] Since Zac's sustain mainly comes from his passive, it is wise to build a lot of health. Not only does it give you more survivability, but it also makes you an awesome giant blob monster. [*] Start with [[Doran's Shield]] + potion or [[Cloth Armor]] + potions depending on matchup. [[Sunfire Cape]] + [[Spirit Visage]] as core, [[Haunting Guise]] early if you're really ahead, otherwise get it after those two items. [[Sorcerer's Shoes]]/[[Mercury's Treads]]/[[Ninja Tabi]] depending on your needs, finish with [[Banshee's Veil]]/[[Randuin's Omen]]/[[Thornmail]]/[[Warmog's Armor]] if you're going full tank or [[Abyssal Scepter]]/[[Zhonya's Hourglass]] if you feel like building more damage (and upgrade Guise into [[Liandry's Torment]]). [/list] [nextcol][space][/columns] [columns] [nextcol][size=6][color=#008000]Zac's Recommended Build[/color][/size] [nextcol][table][tr][td bgcolor=#008000 padding=1 width=505][/td][/tr][/table][/columns] [center][embed=/league-of-legends/builds?c=112&m=%26tree1%3D0-0-4-0-1-0-3-0-0-0-1-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0%26tree2%3D2-2-0-0-1-3-0-1-1-3-0-3-0-0-0-1-3-0-1%26tree3%3D0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0&s1=14&s2=6&i1=153&i2=40&i3=56&i4=57&i5=102&i6=34&r1=351&r2=262&r3=263&r4=299][/embed][/center] [columns] [nextcol][size=6][color=#008000]Credits[/color][/size] [nextcol][table][tr][td bgcolor=#008000 padding=1 width=505][/td][/tr][/table][/columns] [indent][list] [*] [url=http://www.mobafire.com/profile/wayne3100-101082]Wayne3100[/url] [*] [url=http://www.mobafire.com/profile/jhoijhoi-52504]jhoijhoi[/url] [*] [url=http://www.mobafire.com/profile/meiyjhe-295571]Meiyjhe[/url] [*] [url=http://www.mobafire.com/profile/janitsu-87995]Janitsu[/url] [*] [url=http://www.mobafire.com/profile/mastrer1000-330158]mastrer1000[/url][/list][/indent] [columns] [nextcol][size=6][color=#008000]Previous Articles[/color][/size] [nextcol][table][tr][td bgcolor=#008000 padding=1 width=505][/td][/tr][/table][/columns] [indent][list] [*] [icon=vladimir] [url=http://www.mobafire.com/league-of-legends/forum/news/vladimir-the-crimson-reaper-a-collaborative-guide-28611]Vladimir - The Crimson Reaper[/url] [*] [icon=Annie] [url=http://www.mobafire.com/league-of-legends/forum/news/annie-the-dark-child-a-collaborative-guide-27479]Annie - The Dark Child[/url] [*] [icon=shyvana] [url=http://www.mobafire.com/league-of-legends/forum/news/shyvana-the-half-dragon-a-collaborative-guide-27644]Shyvana - The Half-Dragon[/url] [*] [icon=caitlyn] [url=http://www.mobafire.com/league-of-legends/forum/news/caitlyn-the-sheriff-of-piltover-a-collaborative-guide-28469]Caitlyn - The Sheriff of Piltover[/url] [/list][/indent][/quote]

[quote=Latest Legend]Good to see that this is back up again! Not sure if you want feedback on this, but how do you feel about removing the lore section? It makes up a great deal of the guide, making it look a lot harder to swallow than it is and it adds no knowledge to the guide. Furthermore it can be easily retrieved from other sources including the game client. I'm going to give this a goo. ^^[/quote]

[quote=Janitsu][quote=Latest Legend]Good to see that this is back up again! Not sure if you want feedback on this, but how do you feel about removing the lore section? It makes up a great deal of the guide, making it look a lot harder to swallow than it is and it adds no knowledge to the guide. Furthermore it can be easily retrieved from other sources including the game client. I'm going to give this a goo. ^^[/quote] Any feedback is appreciated ^_^[/quote]

[quote=Vengenator][color=#E8570C]I feel like collaborative guides should be a thing on mobafire. Where multiple people get to work on a single guide. Admins pls.[/quote]

[quote=Embracing]dont think sunfire should be core it's either an early game item against a melee ad when you want to pressure the enemy top laner really hard with an advantage and group earlier or randuin's & thornmail are more useful later on[/quote]

[quote=Maintained]I believe Zac's place in the top lane is now no longer favored in comparison to Zac jungle. That is what the guide should have focused on instead of top Lane Zac Imo. Also, please make the recommended build in build order from left to right, otherwise it will probably confuse most people. I would also recommend making the recommended build follow the full tank build since full tank is really strong right now and he doesn't exactly need damage items unless you're really ahead, which is only 1 of the 3 scenarios that could happen. The other two being falling behind or having average gold.[/quote]

[quote=Wayne3100][quote=Maintained]I believe Zac's place in the top lane is now no longer favored in comparison to Zac jungle. That is what the guide should have focused on instead of top Lane Zac Imo[/quote] Yeah, this guide was started a pretty decent while ago, before [[Zac]] made a comeback in the jungle with the [[Enchantment: Cinderhulk]]. I wanted it released to get this series back on track again, but failed to realise that it should've focused more on jungle than before (when he wasn't as popular there). My bad. [quote=Maintained]Also, please make the recommended build in build order from left to right, otherwise it will probably confuse most people.[/quote] The order [i]is[/i] actually different, just not showing up properly. Will pass that on as a bug to the devs. [quote=Maintained]I would also recommend making the recommended build follow the full tank build since full tank is really strong right now and he doesn't exactly need damage items unless you're really ahead, which is only 1 of the 3 scenarios that could happen. The other two being falling behind or having average gold.[/quote] Apart from the [[Sorcerer's Shoes]] I don't really feel this build is all that aggressive, at least not if placed in the right order ([[Liandry's Torment]] - [[Sorcerer's Shoes]] - [[Sunfire Cape]] - [[Spirit Visage]] - [[Randuin's Omen]] - [[Abyssal Scepter]], with the [[Haunting Guise]] being the only part of LT that's built early, and even then only if you're not behind). The [[Abyssal Scepter]] can be replaced by something else entirely, too, just had to pick something for the last slot.[/quote]

[quote=Toshabi]Why wasn't it revised to a Zac Jungle guide? Was it just a "WHELP! We already did all this work soooo :T" situation?[/quote]

[quote=Maintained]Question has been avoided, I think you're onto something detective Toshiba ;^)[/quote]

[quote=BarbJ][quote=BarbJ]Does it need to get updated at all for Cinderhulk, or since this is just top lane focused, release without overhaul?[/quote] [quote=Janitsu]Well with a quick look, I couldn't find anything wrong so I guess it's pretty much like "done", if you could say so.[/quote] This last bit of conversation took place on April 12. From "it's done" to release was still a month.[/quote]