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Zoe Build Guide by

Complete Zoe In Depth Guide [UPDATED ITEMS!]

Updated on

9.3

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League of Legends Build Guide Author Aukaren

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14 0

25,149 Views

11 Comments League of Legends Build Guide Author Aukaren

Zoe Build Guide By Updated on

Guide Discussion (11) Reviewed (1) More Zoe Guides

Runes: Standard

1 2 3

Domination

Electrocute

Taste of Blood

Eyeball Collection

Ravenous Hunter

Sorcery

Nimbus Cloak

Transcendence

Bonus:

+9 Adaptive (5.4 AD or 9 AP)
+9 Adaptive (5.4 AD or 9 AP)
+10% Tenacity/Slow Resist

Spells:

1 2

Standard

Flash

Ignite

Items

Starting Items

Core Items [Orderwise]

4th item Options

Last Items Options

Dont Forget!

Ability Order Standard

Zoe Passive Ability

Threats & Synergies

Threats

Synergies

Extreme Major Even Minor Tiny

Show All

None Low Ok Strong Ideal

Extreme Threats

Ideal Synergies

Malzahar

Extreme

His passive is what makes the matchup pretty much impossible if he plays it well., he will push his lane and will to try to bait out your E, Once its baited he will just go all in you. Always go Mercury Treads and Rush QSS [Quicksilver Sash] as soon as you hit LvL 6

Synergies

Ideal Strong Ok Low None

More Zoe Counters

UPDATED IN-DEPTH ITEM SECTION COMING SOON

Pleased to have you on my guide!, I am Aukaren and I'm a Gold Mid Main and play on the EUNE server. I started playing league since Season 8, although I took it seriously this season and hope to climb all way up the ladder!

CLICK THE IMAGE TO VIEW MY PROFILE

Zoe is a really fun to play champion and has a lot of carry potential. She has an Insane amount of burst and dishes out unavoidable damage. But she has some extreme counters and is very immobile and prone to ganks. I will explain below how to counter her weakness and make you dominate your lane!

PROS

+ Insane Amount of Damage
+ Nice length of CC
+ Carry Potential
+ Decent Wave Clear
+ Punish Mispositioned enemies
+ Fun To Play!

CONS

- Extremely Squishy
- Prone To Ganks
- High Skill Cap
- High Cooldown On Her E
- Needs To have Good Vison Control
- Extreme Counters

PASSIVE
ABILITY

More Sparkles! (Passive): After casting an ability, Zoe's next basic attack within 5 seconds deals 16 − 130 (based on level) (+ 20% AP) Magic damage bonus magic damage.
This passive is devastating early game as it deals so much damage, plus you can take out a chunk of your enemy laner by using the electrocute combo. It also helps take down towers much faster.

PADDLE STAR (Q): Zoe shoots a star in the target direction that collides with the first enemy hit, dealing magic damage in a small area, reduced to 80% to enemies hit beyond the first. The total damage is increased by 0% − 150% (based on distance traveled).
This is Zoe's bread and butter ability, you always want to be hitting this ability at its maximum range as it's damage scales with its range as mentioned above, but as its a projectile it can be blocked by for example 's . A pretty good trick to take in enemies by surprise is by casting first in fog of war for example a brush, then walk towards the enemies while casting your second .

Spell Thief (W): Passive 1: Whenever enemy champions cast a Summoner spell icon summoner spell or Active ability item icon item active, they drop the corresponding Spell Thief Minimap Spell Shard onto the ground that grants Sight icon sight over a 100-radius area and remains for 40 seconds. Some enemy Minion icon minions spawn with random Spell Shards that only drop to the ground for 20 seconds if killed by Zoe.

Passive 2: Casting Spell Thief or one of her own summoner spells grants Zoe Movement speed icon bonus movement speed for the next few seconds, and summons three bubbles that orbit her for the next 10 seconds.
This is the main reason why is so strong, suppose an enemy is low and he flashes for an escape but that was actually of no use because you can pick up that flash and chase him down while activating and her second passive allowing you to secure the kill. This ability is random and can generate any spells or active items like for example you get a redemption, you can use it to heal yourself or your minions to push your lane allowing you to roam or use it on a sideline to help your teammates!

SLEEPY TROUBLE BUBBLE (E): Zoe kicks a bubble in the target direction that bursts on the first enemy hit, or else forming a trap at maximum range for 5 seconds that arms after 0.8 seconds. The bubble can only move through terrain once but may do so indefinitely, can only move up to 650 units once outside terrain, and will fall short if it would enter terrain again.

The bubble deals magic damage on contact with an enemy and renders them Drowsy icon drowsy for 1.4 seconds, which gradually Slow icon slows them, after which they fall Sleep icon asleep for 2.25 seconds.
As described above this ability has a good amount of cc while in turn having a relatively long cooldown. With its insane long range through walls u can cast it through fog of war to catch enemies off guard, plus it deals true damage which gives you insane amount of burst!

PORTAL JUMP (R): After a brief delay, Zoe dives into a portal that she opens beneath her, Flash blinking to the target location.

Zoe remains able to attack and cast abilities during Portal Jump, and can Sight icon see over walls, but is unable to move. After 1 second, she blinks back to her cast location.
Perfect ultimate for such a squishy, with this you can poke then enemy at a much safer distance and this has really low cooldown compared to other champions ultimate. You can ward areas much safely by ulting and placing a ward, you can also perform some game changing moves like stealing !, plus if suppose you and blitzcrank pulls you, you'll simply return to your original cast location!. however this does not apply to every case like for example 's The Hextech Ultimatum .

FLASH

A must need summoner spell for every squishy and most champions, Zoe is no exception and as she is extremely squishy and will result in instant death if she is caught mispositioned and here comes in to the rescue, combined with u can escape as well as catch enemies off guard too, more details in the Combo Section below.

IGNITE

An amazing spell which will u help get that cheesy First Blood or secure a kill, equipping this summoner spell will help you play more aggressively and if the enemy laner is low he might quickly back off as you have this spell which in other cases might not if you have for example taken or .

CLEANSE

Pretty good summoner spell against high CC comp/laner. Comes in really handy against champions like , etc.

BARRIER

Take this against assassins like ,, etc. Will help you from getting killed by their burst damage.

Standard Runes

Electrocute

Amazing rune and has really good damage, Works pretty well on and her kit makes it pretty easy to proc.

Taste Of Blood

Gives some decent amount of lane sustain early game and as you'll be using to poke the enemy you'll mostly be procing it throught the game.

Eyeball Collection

Gives you AP on killing champions

Ravenous Hunter

This rune mid/late game is amazing, the amount of healing it provides is pretty good and will help you sustain in lane as well as in teamfights as you'll be constantly poking thereby procing it.

Nimbus Cloak

This is just an absolutely amazing rune, gives you bonus movement speed when spells are cast, and can just abuse this rune insanely. It also helps in escaping so for example your stuck in a gank by the enemy jng'ler and have no , simply press any other spell or active item and run away, that bonus movement speed will most likely take you out safely.

Transcendence

This rune is pretty much simple, gives you 10% CDR at lvl 10, which allows you to spam more abilities.

Safe Poke Rune

Summon Aery

Take this rune if you know your in a matchup where it will be pretty difficult to proc , wont give you that amount of burst as could provide, but will give you reliable damage on poke, Scales poorly.

Nimbus Cloak

Explained above in the Standard Rune Page

Transcendence

Explained above in the Standard Rune Page

Scorch

Your next damaging ability hit sets enemy champions on fire after 1 second, Will help increase your poke damage.

Minion Dematerializer

Start the game with 3 × Minion Dematerializer , which can be activated to execute the melee minion, caster minion or a cannon minion. Dematerializers begin the game on a 180 second cooldown. Also you gain 6% increased damage against the type of minion used on, so basically you should use it twice on a cannon minion and once on a melee minion.

Time Warp Tonic

Consuming a potion or biscuit grants 50% of its health immediately, and mana if applicable, but prevents that consumable from being used again until the effect ends. Health/mana per tick is then reduced by half for the effect's regular duration.
Additionally, you gain 5% bonus movement speed while under the effect of a potion or biscuit.

Corrupting Potion

Solid item to start, has 3 charges which can be refilled upon visiting the shop. Combined with it gives an amazing amount of hp restoration. Thats why rushing is so necessary.

Doran's Ring

Take Dorans's Ring if you are sure of the matchup and want more early power and health as it provides 15 AP and 60 Health while sacrifising early sustain as corruption potion restores 125 health on each charge which is really good if your getting poked, another reason to buy is when you have trouble last hitting minions as its passive provides +5 on-hit damage vs minions

Warding Totem

As I mentioned above in the pros & cons section, is extremely squishy and need a good amount of vision. If they have jng'lers like or try placing deep wards as placing wards in the lane brush would help you just a bit.

Dark Seal

Rush this item, its extremely gold efficient and synergies well with with the +25% increased healing from potions, it grants 3 AP for each stack with can stack up to 10 granting a whooping 30 AP for just 350 gold. If your quite ahead early on and gain some nice amount of stacks, consider upgrading to a

Lost Chapter

This item provides a good boost early on with 40 AP and 300 mana with its passive providing 10% cooldown reduction and restores 20% of your maximum mana over 3 seconds upon leveling up.

Control Ward

As I expressed above how much vision is important on buying every time recalling is a must. Use this to your advantage and place it in the most appropriate places where it will be safe plus give you good vision info like knowing the position of the enemy jg.

Luden's Echo

This item give everything she needs, from 20% CD to 90% AP and 600 mana. This is your first power spike and will improve your waveclear drastically and giving you that damage to nuke half health squishes!

Rabadon's Deathcap

This item straight up give you insane amount of AP and you should be building this as your 2nd item, with this item you'll now be able to 1 shot most squishies!

Sorcerer's Shoes

Explanation Below.

Sorcerer's Shoes

These boots are amazing on . Gives you 18 magic penetration and penetration is always good on .

Mercury's Treads

Pretty Good against heavy CC comp, provides a good amount of tenacity and MR. Works pretty well against champions like ,

Ninja Tabi

Good against heavy AD comp and AA based champions like

Zhonya's Hourglass

Pretty good against Heavy AD Comp and Assassins like as u can instantly when getting ulted, also provides a good amount of AP[75 AP] and Armor[45 Armor] with a 10% CDR, You might also get targeted in teamfights as u dish out tons of damage and having is extremely important especially if they have junglers like who will instantly ult you and your will pretty much be useless becuase of his shield and you will die instantly if you dont have or a

Banshee's Veil

Good against Heavy AP Comp or team with Extreme amount of CC, also pretty useful against champions like and . it gives us 60 MR, 10% CDR and 75 AP which is pretty good

Morellonomicon

Good against healing Comp, Provides 70 AP and 300 HP, an okay item and you should not be building this every time as it isnt cost effective ,or unless your behind or need some hp boost.

Zoe is really strong in the early laning phase, you can easily cheese that first blood using the Electrocute Combo.You will chunk around a third of the enemies health. Here's how to do it:

Start off by using the Electrocute Combo and AA as much as possible without getting poked, use your potion once to activate the burn effect on your Spells and Autos. Do this until LvL 2.
Then try to land you Sleepy Trouble Bubble and remember to long range Paddle Star on the target and use Ignite......Kill Secured!
if you think that you will not be able to secure the kill, then wait till LvL 3, Why?, cause you would unlock Spell Thief, in that case if the enemy Flashes after the EQ combo, simply use his own Flash and then use Ignite.

Remember Zoe's Passive?.Yes More Sparkles!, it provides an Empowered Auto with every ability cast, so your 1st cast of Paddle Star will provide you with an Empowered Auto and the second cast will also provide you with an Empowered Auto! many players surprisingly dont know about this!. Use this Tip to your advantage especially in early game and see your laner run away and spam broken Zoe in all chat.

This is an Extremely Important Tip

Always smart cast your abilities when playing Zoe. I cant express how important this is, in the start it will be difficult, but once after a few games you'll see massive improvement. You wouldn't need to double click your abilities and this will increase your reaction time so u can instantly dodge abilities with your Portal Jump and cast your Sleepy Trouble Bubble instantly.

Remember!, Your Sleepy Trouble Bubble can pass through walls

This is how you can easily catch enemies off guard by casting Sleepy Trouble Bubble through walls, however, Sleepy Trouble Bubble cannot pass through multiple walls. It will drop down before it reaches another wall.

As I mentioned how much vision is important on Zoe, I will be explaining the places where warding is the most effective.

IF STARTING BLUE SIDE

IF STARTING RED SIDE

These are the optimal places to ward. The most important place where you should be absolutely warding is the position between the river brush and the lane brush, I've marked it above on the map with a Yellow Circle. Most Jungler's will come from the lane brush so you'll be able to spot them, but some Jungler's like Zac would probably not even get spotted by a ward placed in the lane brush, placing in the position above will enable you to spot them plus give you a lot of vision info like if the enemy jungler's contesting the Scuttle Crab, you'll be able to spot it right on.

Positioning is a really important aspect in many games and League is no exception, its one of the major difference between a pro player and a normal one. So here's an example, The game has started and you have arrived at your lane. How do you position yourself correctly?...look at the minimap, all laner's have arrived except bot lane, that means that their jungler must have started on bot side and they are helping him leash so you should position yourself near the top side brush, but you should also keep in mind that after around 30 sec their jungler would probably be at the top side camp and most likely contest for the top side scuttle crab, so there are high chances of you getting ganked from the top side so you should position your self around bot side brush and place a ward in the bot side river brush in case their jungler decides to contest the bot side scuttle crab and so on. You should constantly be looking at the minimap as it reveals tons of information which may help you get a kill or warn yourself or your teammates of an approaching gank.

As Zoe you'll mostly be wanting to push the wave, especially against hard counters like Yasuo, Malzahar as your abilities rely on hitting the enemy champion and cannot pass through minions,[although your Paddle Star can damage champions if they are postioned close to the creeps], unless your jungle pings you that he is gonna gank, then only let the wave push towards you to bait him out. If its a matchup like Lux you must dodge out their CC abilities first and then look to poke them down. Remember!, CSing is very important especially in the early stages of the game where hitting a core item late can result in losing the match as you dint have enough damage early on.

Roaming is really good on Zoe and you should always be looking to roam and maybe if you have good vision, catch the enemy jungler off guard and as I mentioned above that her Sleepy Trouble Bubble can pass through walls. To start roaming, first you'll have to push your lane and then start to look at the side lanes, is their ADC overextended?..Yes, then punish him for that!, Although roaming isn't all about ganking other lanes. You can get some really good deep vision like warding the enemy buff and other positions where I have mentioned in the warding section. Remember, a successful roam is accomplished by having good vision.

Lastly, I would really like thank you all for taking time and reading through my guide, I put my heart and soul into this guide and off course, I would be updating this regularly and any feedback and improvisation needed would highly be appreciated. I would also appreciate you pressing the Vote up button!. Feel free to ask me any questions, I may not be some high elo player but I definitely know Zoe's in and outs and have played her a lot...And off course she is my favorite champ!

Big Thanks to jhoijhoi for providing a deep insight on how to create guides and code, and I couldn't have possibly made this without her help and would definitely recommended her guide to anyone out there wanting to create one!
jhoijhoi Guide

6/11/20 - "Guide Published"

6/17/20 - "Added New Sections [ Intro, Laning Phase & Roaming, Positioning, Vision Control And Tips & Tricks] "

6/17/20 - "Fixed Errors In Some Parts Of The Guide And Updated the Matchup Section, also added Unsealed Spellbook Rune Page"

7/10/20 - "Fixed broken link directed to my u.gg profile page and updated the preview picture"

8/20/20 - "Improvised the item section to make it more clearer and understandable"

10/28/20 - "Made some changes in the core item section and fixed some grammar errors"

11/1/20 - "Updated threat section"

More Zoe Counters

Aukaren Zoe Guide

Cast Your Vote Today!

Vote Vote

Complete Zoe In Depth Guide [UPDATED ITEMS!]

A Little About Myself

Why Play Zoe

Pros And Cons

Abilities

Summoner Spells

Runes

Stating Items

First Back

Core Items

Boots

Situational Items

Combos

Tips And Tricks

Vision Control

Positioning

Laning Phase And Roaming

Conclusion

Changelog

Complete Zoe In Depth Guide [UPDATED ITEMS!]

Complete Zoe In Depth Guide [UPDATED ITEMS!]

Runes: Standard

Spells:

Flash

Ignite

Cleanse

Flash

Items

Ability Order Standard

More Sparkles! (PASSIVE)

Paddle Star (Q)

Spell Thief (W)

Sleepy Trouble Bubble (E)

Portal Jump (R)

Threats & Synergies

Malzahar

Yasuo

Akali

Ekko

Kassadin

Fizz

Yone

Anivia

Diana

Cassiopeia

Galio

LeBlanc

Katarina

Lissandra

Annie

Zed

Syndra

Ziggs

Qiyana

Talon

Azir

Neeko

Brand

Lux

Corki

UPDATED IN-DEPTH ITEM SECTION COMING SOON

Pleased to have you on my guide!, I am Aukaren and I'm a Gold Mid Main and play on the EUNE server. I started playing league since Season 8, although I took it seriously this season and hope to climb all way up the ladder!

CLICK THE IMAGE TO VIEW MY PROFILE

Zoe is a really fun to play champion and has a lot of carry potential. She has an Insane amount of burst and dishes out unavoidable damage. But she has some extreme counters and is very immobile and prone to ganks. I will explain below how to counter her weakness and make you dominate your lane!

Standard Runes

Safe Poke Rune

Zoe is really strong in the early laning phase, you can easily cheese that first blood using the Electrocute Combo.You will chunk around a third of the enemies health. Here's how to do it:

This is an Extremely Important Tip

Remember!, Your Sleepy Trouble Bubble can pass through walls

This is how you can easily catch enemies off guard by casting Sleepy Trouble Bubble through walls, however, Sleepy Trouble Bubble cannot pass through multiple walls. It will drop down before it reaches another wall.

As I mentioned how much vision is important on Zoe, I will be explaining the places where warding is the most effective.

IF STARTING BLUE SIDE

IF STARTING RED SIDE

6/11/20 - "Guide Published"

6/17/20 - "Added New Sections [ Intro, Laning Phase & Roaming, Positioning, Vision Control And Tips & Tricks] "

6/17/20 - "Fixed Errors In Some Parts Of The Guide And Updated the Matchup Section, also added Unsealed Spellbook Rune Page"

7/10/20 - "Fixed broken link directed to my u.gg profile page and updated the preview picture"

8/20/20 - "Improvised the item section to make it more clearer and understandable"

10/28/20 - "Made some changes in the core item section and fixed some grammar errors"

11/1/20 - "Updated threat section"

League of Legends Champions: