Zilean Counters In League Of Legends

Zilean Counters in League of Legends

Hey guys, welcome back to another League of Legends guide! Today, we're diving deep into the world of Zilean, the Chronokeeper. This champion is known for his incredible utility, his game-changing ultimate that can save allies from death, and his ability to speed himself and his teammates up. But like every champion in the Rift, Zilean isn't invincible. There are definitely ways to shut him down and make his life a living heck. If you've ever found yourself frustrated playing against a Zilean, or if you're looking to add him to your champion pool and want to know his weaknesses, you've come to the right place! We're going to break down exactly what makes Zilean tick and, more importantly, how to counter him effectively. So grab your potions, sharpen your swords, and let's get into it!

Understanding Zilean's Kit and Weaknesses

Before we talk about who counters Zilean, let's chat about why certain champions and strategies work against him. Zilean's main strengths lie in his Double Bomb ability, which allows him to throw two time bombs that detonate after a short delay, and his Chronoshift ultimate, which revives a fallen ally or prevents a death. He also has Time Warp, a spell that can either speed up allies or slow down enemies. These abilities make him a fantastic support or mid-laner, especially in coordinated teams. However, his kit also comes with some pretty significant drawbacks. Firstly, Zilean is extremely squishy. He has very low base health and defenses, making him an easy target for assassins or burst damage if caught out of position. Secondly, his effectiveness heavily relies on landing his bombs. If a Zilean misses his skill shots, his damage and crowd control potential are significantly reduced. His ultimate, while powerful, has a long cooldown, meaning he can't just constantly bring people back from the dead. Finally, his reliance on landing skill shots means he can be vulnerable to champions with high mobility or reliable crowd control that can interrupt his casting or close the gap quickly. Understanding these weaknesses is key to picking the right champions and executing the right strategies to dismantle the Chronokeeper.

Top Lane Zilean Counters

Alright, let's talk about the top lane match-ups against Zilean. Now, Zilean isn't a typical top laner, but he can be played there, especially as a more supportive or poke-oriented pick. When facing him top, you want champions that can easily close the gap, punish his squishiness, and ideally, have some form of healing reduction to counteract his ability to keep you alive with his ultimate. Garen, for instance, is a fantastic choice. His passive regeneration allows him to sustain through Zilean's poke, and once he gets close, his silence prevents Zilean from casting his bombs or speed-up. Garen's ultimate is also pure damage, which can quickly burst down the fragile Zilean before his ultimate can even be considered. Another strong pick is Darius. Darius thrives in extended trades, and Zilean, being so squishy, won't survive a prolonged engagement with the Hand of Noxus. Darius's ability to pull Zilean in with Apprehend and then stack his passive bleed means Zilean will be in serious trouble. Plus, Darius's Noxian Guillotine can execute Zilean, negating his ultimate's revival effect if timed correctly. Renekton is also a menace. His dash combined with his empowered abilities allows him to dive Zilean, stun him, and deal massive damage. The key here is to engage on Zilean when his bombs aren't readily available or when he's used his speed-up defensively. You need to be aggressive and deny him the space to set up his double bombs effectively. Remember, the goal is to pressure him constantly, forcing him to use his abilities defensively rather than offensively, and to burst him down quickly before he can react with his ultimate. If you can do that, Zilean will be relegated to the bench in the top lane.

Jungle Zilean Counters

When it comes to junglers that can mess with Zilean, we're looking for champions that can gank effectively, secure objectives, and punish Zilean's lack of escape or mobility when he's out of position. Since Zilean is often played in lanes where he can poke and control the tempo, a strong ganking jungler can really disrupt his game plan. Lee Sin is a classic counter. His mobility allows him to bypass Zilean's potential zoning with bombs, and his Sonic Wave/Resonating Strike combo can close the distance quickly. A well-placed Dragon's Rage can kick Zilean out of position or even into his own team for an easy kill. Elise is another excellent pick. Her Spider Form allows her to rappel onto Zilean, stunning him and setting up for a kill. Her Cocoon can also interrupt Zilean's bomb throws or prevent him from escaping. The key against Zilean as a jungler is early pressure. If you can invade his jungle or gank his lane frequently, you can starve him of gold and experience, making him less effective throughout the game. Zilean needs time to scale and set up his utility. By applying constant pressure, you deny him that luxury. Also, consider champions like Xin Zhao or Jarvan IV. Their straightforward engage and crowd control can lock down Zilean before he has a chance to react. The goal is to catch Zilean when he's isolated or overextended, and to burst him down before his support can get to him or before his ultimate can be cast. A Zilean who is constantly looking over his shoulder is a Zilean who isn't contributing much to his team.

Mid Lane Zilean Counters

Ah, the mid lane. This is where Zilean often shines, especially with his ability to control waves and set up plays. However, it's also a lane where he faces some truly terrifying opponents. Mid lane counters for Zilean usually involve champions with strong burst damage, high mobility, or reliable crowd control that can lock him down. Assassins are generally Zilean's worst nightmare. Champions like Zed, LeBlanc, or Fizz can bypass Zilean's bombs and dive him instantly. Zed's Shadow Slash and Living Annihilation can quickly chunk Zilean's health, and his Death Mark ultimate allows him to get onto Zilean and unleash a devastating combo. LeBlanc's ability to dash in and out with Distortion and her deceptive playstyle can make her incredibly difficult for Zilean to track and bomb. Fizz's Playful/Trickster makes him untargetable, allowing him to dodge Zilean's bombs, and his Chum the Waters ultimate sets up a powerful engage. If you're playing an assassin, the strategy is simple: wait for Zilean to use his abilities, then go in for the kill. Try to bait out his E - Time Warp or his bombs, then dive him when he's vulnerable. Syndra is another great option. Her Scatter the Weak can stun Zilean, and her Unleashed Power ultimate can deal massive single-target damage. If Zilean is caught alone or out of position, Syndra can often delete him. The key here is map awareness and positioning. Zilean players often try to play safe and poke from a distance. You need to respect his bombs but don't let them dictate the entire lane. Look for opportunities to engage when he's focused on farming or when his cooldowns are down. A well-timed dive or burst combo can shut down Zilean mid lane very effectively.

Bot Lane (ADC & Support) Zilean Counters

Let's move to the bot lane, where Zilean often acts as a support. This is a dynamic lane, and countering Zilean here requires a different approach. For ADCs, you want champions that can deal consistent damage, have good engage or disengage, and can punish Zilean's low defensive stats. Caitlyn is a prime example. Her long auto-attack range allows her to poke Zilean down safely from a distance, and her Piltover Peacemaker can clear minion waves, denying Zilean easy bomb setups. If Zilean tries to engage with his bombs, Caitlyn's Yordle Snap Trap can often catch him or his engage. Varus is another strong pick, especially with his poke build. His Piercing Arrow can deal significant damage, and his Chain of Corruption can lock down Zilean or his ADC if they get too close. If Zilean attempts to use his ultimate on a diving ally, Varus can potentially CC the entire enemy team. For supports, you want champions that can either match Zilean's utility or provide hard engage/disruption. Thresh is a fantastic counter. His Flay can interrupt Zilean's bomb casts, and his Dark Passage can save his ADC from Zilean's bombs. If Zilean's ADC is out of position, Thresh can hook them in for an easy kill. Blitzcrank is another classic pick. A well-timed Rocket Grab on Zilean or his ADC can initiate a fight that Zilean simply can't win. The key for ADCs and supports against Zilean is pressure and focus. You want to harass him constantly in lane, denying him the ability to freely cast spells. If Zilean is forced to use his abilities defensively to save himself or his ADC, he's not generating pressure. Focus fire on Zilean when possible, as his low health pool makes him an easy target. If you can eliminate him quickly, the enemy team loses a significant portion of their utility and survivability. Don't let Zilean dictate the pace of the bot lane; be aggressive and punish his mistakes.

General Strategies for Countering Zilean

Beyond specific champion picks, there are some general strategies you can employ to counter Zilean effectively in any role. The most important thing to remember is Zilean's squishiness. He is incredibly fragile. If you can get onto him, he will likely die very quickly. Therefore, mobility and gap closers are your best friends. Champions that can bypass his bomb placements or simply run him down are ideal. Secondly, focus fire. In teamfights, if Zilean is out of position, try to collapse on him. He doesn't have a strong escape mechanism once his speed-up is on cooldown or used defensively. Burst damage is also key. If you can kill Zilean before his ultimate goes off, you've effectively negated one of his most powerful abilities. This means champions with high single-target damage or execute abilities are very strong. Deny vision and bait his abilities. Zilean relies on placing his bombs strategically. If you can deny him vision in key areas or bait out his bombs before engaging, you put him at a significant disadvantage. Lastly, be aware of his ultimate cooldown. Chronoshift has a substantial cooldown. If Zilean has recently used it to save someone, he's much more vulnerable. Keep track of when it's likely to be available and play accordingly. Zilean can be a frustrating champion to play against, but with the right knowledge and execution, you can definitely turn the tide. Remember to stay mobile, focus him down, and punish his positioning mistakes. Good luck on the Rift, guys!