Zilean Build Guide by

❄️⏳ OFF-META GLACIAL TENACITY (GLATEN) Zilean ⏰💣 MID / SUPPORT 『振謙』

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Zilean Build Guide By Updated on

Guide Discussion (40) More Zilean Guides

Choose Champion Build:

MID
SUPPORT

Runes: MID

Inspiration

Glacial Augment

Magical Footwear

Minion Dematerializer

Cosmic Insight

Precision

Presence of Mind

Legend: Tenacity

Bonus:

+8 ability haste
+9 Adaptive (5.4 AD or 9 AP)
+15-140 HP (lvls 1-18)

Spells:

MID

Flash

Ghost

Items

MID Full Build:

MID Build Order:

1. Start

2. First Back

3. Rush

4. Core

5. Finish

Ability Order Q>W>E

Zilean Passive Ability

Threats & Synergies

Threats

Synergies

Extreme Major Even Minor Tiny

Show All

None Low Ok Strong Ideal

Extreme Threats

Ideal Synergies

Ahri

Extreme

The laning phase isn't too bad; just don't get hit by her charm. It gets harder once she hits 6, as you'll never be able to stun her again with 3 dashes! You'll need a frontline in order to deal with this, as no squishy can really afford to tank her charm. If your team is all squishy, I suggest dodging in champ select.

Alistar

Ideal

Alistar must get in range in order to knockup his enemies, so Zilean's E is perfect for this. The amount of cc he provides is just too good for Zilean, since they can both lock down enemies for days!

Synergies

Ideal Strong Ok Low None

Alistar

Ideal

Alistar must get in range in order to knockup his enemies, so Zilean's E is perfect for this. The amount of cc he provides is just too good for Zilean, since they can both lock down enemies for days!

Champion Build Guide

1️⃣ Why is Zilean FUN to PLAY?

✅ + + Q+W+Q combo can WIN SKIRMISHES INSTANTLY!

✅ E has 99% SLOW at Rank 5!

✅ R synergises with ANY COMP!

✅ POWERFUL WAVECLEAR FOR SMOOTH ROAMING!

✅ TEAMFIGHTING MONSTER!

✅ CONSISTENT DUE TO NATURE OF HIS KIT!

MID BUILD ORDER

SUPPORT BUILD ORDER

MATCH HISTORY LINKS
LOL Official Match History [LKY X CCH]
OP.GG [LKY X CCH]
LEAGUESPY.GG [LKY X CCH]
LEAGUEOFGRAPHS [LKY X CCH]

LONGEST WINSTREAK I EVER GOT!

2️⃣ RUNES Explained!

MID

SUPPORT

Glacial Augment:
- The only way to reliably land your first Q+W+Q combo is to use GLP. Glacial Augment allows you to guarantee landing it since it will create a frozen zone that slows down the enemies! Zilean's kit revolves entirely on landing the Q+W+Q combo, so that's why Glacial Augment+GLP is so good on him!
- E(yourself) and GLP+Q+W+Q to engage for your team! A fantastic stun setup!
- Perfect disengage tool for peeling or slowing down an enemy chase!

Magical Footwear:
- You need to use all your gold to purchase GLP as early as possible, so it's a no-brainer for free boots.

Minion Dematerializer /Biscuit Delivery:
- MID: You need help clearing those pesky Large Cannon Minions!
- SUPPORT: Biscuits give you much needed sustain in lane!

Cosmic Insight:
- When you're going AP, having more CDR to spam your bombs is very important as it maximises your DPS.

Presence of Mind /Cheap Shot:
- MID: Presence helps out with skirmishes with your jungler in the early game, as your mana depletes very quickly. Having that extra mana replenished after a takedown allows you to continue the fights or clear an extra wave before backing!
- SUPPORT: You need to maximise your upfront burst damage to help your ADC secure kills in lane. That's why a little true damage from Cheap Shot can help!

Legend: Tenacity /Ultimate Hunter:
- MID: You have the farm so the enemy team will obviously focus you... Extra Tenacity will give you more reaction time in general to cast your spells, especially when a clutch R is needed!
- SUPPORT: Your job is to have your revive up as often as possible!

BONUS STATS RUNES:
+1-10% Scaling CDR is always a good stat for Zilean Mid, since you have gold to purchase AP.
+9 AP will help out your waveclear in the Mid Lane. You take +18 AP when Supporting to maximise your burst damage.
+15-90 Scaling HP is better than nothing.

3️⃣ COMBOS!

Waveclear:
Q + W + Q
+ +

Pick-off/Engage:
E(Yourself) + GLP + Q + W + Q
(Yourself) + + + +

Roaming:
E(Yourself) + W + Wait 2.5 seconds + E(Yourself)
(Yourself) + + Wait 2.5 seconds + (Yourself)

Lane Trading:
E(Enemy) + Q + W + Q + Auto Attack + E(Yourself)
(Enemy) + + + + Auto Attack + (Yourself)

How To Actually Guarantee Landing Your Bombs?

The trick is to use your E to slow your enemies and WAIT 2 seconds! Your E duration lasts for 2.5 seconds, meaning that after 2 seconds you still have half a second to cast your Q+W+Q combo.

This works because your target will often think that you're not going to use your Q+W+Q combo, since you did not cast Q straight away. Also, by being patient and waiting it out, they might even burn their flash, who knows!

All-in-all, patience is key. Just wait out the 2 seconds, then quickly cast Q+W+Q. They won't suspect it!
Clip:

4️⃣ MID Tips and Tricks!

MINDSET: Summoner's Rift is a 5v5 and not a 1v1! Help your allies and work together as a team! That's what MOBA games are all about: TEAMWORK!

In order to play Zilean Mid effectively and gain some sweet winstreaks in Solo Q, you must relax and respect your opponents. Your objective is to win the game, not your lane.

Zilean is a weak laner and can't compete with the meta mid laners in 1-to-1 combat. However, you have fantastic waveclear and roaming potential, so you can use this to your advantage! Carry by influencing other lanes and lead your teammates to victory! GHOST to where you’re ganking and save your E to slow the enemy!

HOW TO WAVECLEAR EFFICIENTLY:

When your Q reaches level 3:
- One Q+W+Q combo to clear the backline caster minions.
- Fastest way to push before your Q reaches level 4.
- Rely on your minions to lower the health of the melee minions, or lure them into your turret.
Clip:

When your Q reaches level 4:
- One Q+W+Q combo to clear the frontline minions and bring caster minions down to single autos.
Clip:

Once your Q reaches level 5:
- Stun duration will last long enough to clear both melee and caster minions (the entire wave of minions, except the Large Cannon minion):
1. Walk up to the wave, approaching the first three melee minions
2. Melee minions start bunching together horizontally
3. Q+W+Q the melee minion in the middle
4. Run away from the wave horizontally
5. As the caster minions catch up to the melee minions whilst they're stunned, the bomb explodes, clearing the entire wave
Clip:

You can also wait till your opponent pushes the wave first:
1. As they last hit your final minion, throw out a Q+W+Q on the ground.
2. Let the enemy minions walk up to the bombs.
3. The melee minions get stunned and the caster minions catch up, getting cleared.
Clip:

5️⃣ SUPPORT Tips and Tricks!

MINDSET: Summoner's Rift is a 5v5 and not a 1v1! Help your allies and work together as a team! That's what MOBA games are all about: TEAMWORK!

Focus on poking the enemy carry in the bot lane with Q as the laning phase progresses. However, only do this when it is safe to do so, as you need to save your Q for a stun (Q+W+Q combo) if you're getting ganked or if the enemy support is going aggro. Also, you have a long auto-attack range to help you abuse Spellthief's passive.

TIP 1
Your Q is a very powerful lane-pushing ability. At level 1, use your Q to push rather than poke, as it will allow you to reach level 2 before your opponents. As a result, you will burn their summoner spells or even get first blood with a Q+W+Q AoE stun combo! In the following clip, you can see how dangerous Zilean's Q+W+Q combo really is!
Clip:

TIP 2
When ahead, you can approach enemies and force plays! You have the ability to catch out enemies with Q+W+Q, so abuse it!
Clip:

TIP 3
Your auto attacks have good range and can be used to proc Glacial Augment! Use it to slow down enemies and land your first bomb. Then, you can try to land your second bomb, but even if you miss, it still counts as a zoning tool!
Clip:

TIP 4
The power of EXHAUST is underrated! You can use it to bait enemies as you know they can't kill you, giving you time to cast your crucial Q+W+Q combos. For example in this clip, I know that Caitlyn has her net-dashback to dodge my second Q. However, by walking up and using E and Glacial Auto Attack, I start an engage. She will try to burst me down but I EXHAUST her, forcing her to dash away.
Clip: