Champion Guide

Zeri Guide

By LoLSuggest

ADC

Play Zeri as a burst champion early and a hypercarry later, which is why the runes and build look unusual: Conqueror instead of Lethal Tempo, no Resolve tree, and a W max for burst. Spark Surge is treated purely as an escape and repositioning tool around walls, and the goal after lane is to be at every single fight.

Recommended Setup

Our recommended Zeri build

Our recommended runes, summoner spells and items. Compare build win rates on the stats page.

Items

Starting Items

Core Items

Situational Items

Our current page is Conqueror with Triumph, Legend: Alacrity and Cut Down, plus Celerity and Gathering Storm; Cash Back with Triple Tonic, or a First Strike page, are alternatives. Take Flash with Barrier, Ghost in safe scaling lanes, Cleanse against multiple CC threats, or Exhaust. Start Doran's Bow and a potion, or Doran's Shield when you lack priority. The core is Yun Tal Wildarrows, Infinity Edge, Lord Dominik's Regards, Hexoptics C44 and Berserker's Greaves, then Endless Hunger, Bloodthirster or Guardian Angel. A safer route goes Yun Tal Wildarrows, Runaan's Hurricane, Infinity Edge and Gluttonous Greaves; an energized build uses Statikk Shiv and Stormrazor. Edge of Night, Mercurial Scimitar, Zhonya's Hourglass and Maw of Malmortius are situational. Max W for its burst.

Runes

Primary Tree

Secondary Tree

Summoner Spells

Strengths

Strong burst in the early-to-mid game, transitioning into hypercarry damage.
Spark Surge over walls gives excellent repositioning and playmaking angles.
From level 6 she can solo fight most other ADCs.

Weaknesses

Weak laning phase until level 6, and she can't fight at level 1.
Lucian, Ashe and Cassiopeia are tough lanes, and Camille or Poppy can deny her escape.
Misusing E for damage instead of escapes gets her killed.

Laning Phase

Prioritise survival and farm before 6, looking only for short trades with empowered W and your passive-charged autos. Use W for wave clear at most once per wave; save it for enemy mispositions or follow-up on your support's crowd control. You can't fight at level 1, levels 2–3 are still weak, and level 6 lets you fight most ADCs thanks to your ultimate's damage and steroid.

Mid & Late Game

Zeri is a teamfighting monster — be at every fight, even if it means leaving a wave, because five players committing together beats a split team. Your only job is damage. Play around walls, which give your E and W their best angles, and keep E for escaping or repositioning.

Key Tips

Zeri's E can buffer through crowd control — abuse that.
Resolve runes don't help a crit Zeri; take runes that help you deal damage.
Frontline supports or allies like Karma, Ornn or Galio give her space to carry.

Matchups

Matchups and synergies

Our picks for difficult opponents, favorable lanes and strong allies. Compare matchup win rates on the stats page.