✅ + + 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 RUNES

Arcane Comet:
- Guaranteed to land on after a successful Q+W+Q.

Manaflow Band:
- Mana Regen is great on Zilean due to his high mana costs!

Transcendence:
- 10% CDR is always good for Zilean!

Gathering Storm:
- Zilean is all about that lategame scaling, so maximise his AP with this!

Magical Footwear:
- Because you need to rush Tear, it's better to have boots for free.

Minion Dematerializer:
- You will have trouble last-hitting the Large Cannon Minions, so this can really help you out!

BONUS STATS RUNES:
+18 AP will help out your waveclear in the Mid Lane.
+15-90 Scaling HP is better than nothing.

SUPPORT RUNES

Guardian:
- Gives your ADC more protection in lane.

Demolish:
- Zilean naturally shoves the wave in with his bombs, so you and your ADC can melt down those turrets faster!

Bone Plating:
- More survivability for yourself gives you more time to react when trading in lane.

Unflinching:
- Having that little bit of extra tenacity can really help you to cast your ult in clutch times!

Biscuit Delivery:
- More health and mana sustain in lane is crucial when supporting, as your trading really depends on it!

Cosmic Insight:
- Essential rune for supporting, as your summoner spells and items can benefit from this; for the clutch saves!

BONUS STATS RUNES:
1-10% Scaling CDR is always beneficial when you don't need to deal damage.
+9 AP will help out your bomb damage in lane when supporting.
+15-90 Scaling HP is better than nothing.

Waveclear:
Q + W + Q
+ +


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!
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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! TP to another lane for some clutch ult saves!

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.
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When your Q reaches level 4:
- One Q+W+Q combo to clear the frontline minions and bring caster minions down to single autos.
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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
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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.
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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 surviving the laning phase and save your Q+W+Q for when the enemy tries to engage on your ADC. When it is safe and you're looking to push, use one Q on the minion wave and let your ADC last-hit.

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!
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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!
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