Zilean Mid: Dominate League With The Chronokeeper!

by Jhon Lennon 51 views

So, you're thinking about taking Zilean mid? Awesome! You've come to the right place. Zilean, the Chronokeeper, is a fantastic and often underestimated mid-lane mage in League of Legends. He's not your typical burst mage, but rather a utility-focused control mage who excels at setting up plays, protecting his team, and disrupting the enemy. This guide will dive deep into how to effectively play Zilean in the mid lane, covering everything from runes and masteries to item builds and gameplay strategies. Get ready to bend time to your will and carry your team to victory!

Why Pick Zilean Mid?

Let's address the elephant in the room: why should you pick Zilean mid? There are plenty of flashy assassins and burst mages vying for that coveted spot. Well, Zilean brings a unique set of strengths to the table:

  • Unparalleled Utility: Zilean's kit is all about utility. His Time Bomb (Q) can be used for wave clear, poke, and, most importantly, stunning enemies when two bombs are stacked on the same target. His Rewind (W) allows him to cast Time Bomb twice in quick succession or to quickly revive an ally with his ultimate, Chronoshift (R). This makes him incredibly versatile in team fights and skirmishes.
  • Excellent Scaling: While Zilean might not one-shot opponents early game, he scales incredibly well into the late game. His Time Bombs become increasingly potent, and his Chronoshift can completely turn the tide of a fight. As the game progresses, Zilean becomes a true force to be reckoned with.
  • Teamfight Control: Zilean excels in team fights. His Time Bombs can disrupt enemy formations, zone them away from objectives, and set up devastating engages for his team. His Chronoshift can save a key carry from certain death, allowing them to continue dishing out damage. He is a master of crowd control and team fight manipulation.
  • Safe Laning Phase: Zilean's Time Bomb allows him to farm safely from a distance and poke out his lane opponent. His Rewind provides him with extra mana sustain and allows him to escape ganks with a well-timed Time Warp (E). He is notoriously difficult to kill in lane.
  • Global Presence (Sort Of): While Zilean doesn't have a true global ultimate like Pantheon or Twisted Fate, his Chronoshift can be used on allies anywhere on the map. This allows him to have a significant impact on skirmishes and team fights, even when he's not physically present.

Runes and Summoner Spells

Choosing the right runes and summoner spells is crucial for maximizing Zilean's effectiveness in the mid lane. Here's a breakdown of the recommended options:

Runes

  • Primary (Sorcery):
    • Summon Aery: This is the go-to keystone for Zilean. It provides extra damage on your Time Bombs and shields your allies when you use Time Warp or Chronoshift.
    • Manaflow Band: Essential for mana sustain, allowing you to spam your abilities more frequently.
    • Transcendence: Grants extra ability haste, further reducing your cooldowns and allowing you to cast more spells.
    • Gathering Storm: Provides increasing AP as the game progresses, enhancing your scaling potential.
  • Secondary (Inspiration):
    • Biscuit Delivery: Provides extra sustain in lane, allowing you to stay healthy and farm safely.
    • Cosmic Insight: Grants extra ability haste and summoner spell haste, further reducing your cooldowns.

Alternative Rune Options:

  • Arcane Comet: Can be used for a more aggressive laning phase, but it's generally less consistent than Summon Aery.
  • Domination (Secondary): Taste of Blood and Treasure Hunter can provide extra sustain and gold generation.

Summoner Spells

  • Flash: A must-have on almost every champion, including Zilean. It provides an escape tool and allows you to make aggressive plays.
  • Teleport: Allows you to quickly join team fights and split-push effectively. This is the preferred option in most situations.
  • Ignite: Can be used for a more aggressive laning phase, allowing you to secure early kills. However, it's generally less useful than Teleport in the long run.
  • Barrier/Heal: Can be taken for extra safety against assassins or burst mages.

Item Build

Building the right items on Zilean is crucial for maximizing his utility and damage output. Here's a recommended item build:

  • Starting Items:
    • Tear of the Goddess: This is the standard starting item on Zilean, as it provides much-needed mana and builds into Archangel's Staff.
    • Health Potion x2: Provides sustain in lane.
  • Core Build:
    • Archangel's Staff (Seraph's Embrace): Provides a huge amount of mana and AP, as well as a shield that can protect you from burst damage.
    • Ionian Boots of Lucidity: Grants ability haste and summoner spell haste, further reducing your cooldowns.
    • Cosmic Drive: Provides AP, ability haste, and movement speed, making you more mobile and allowing you to cast more spells.
  • Situational Items:
    • Zhonya's Hourglass: Provides AP and armor, as well as an active that makes you invulnerable for a short period of time. This is a great item for surviving burst damage and making aggressive plays.
    • Morellonomicon: Provides AP and magic penetration, as well as Grievous Wounds, which reduces healing on enemies. This is a good item against teams with a lot of healing.
    • Rabadon's Deathcap: Provides a massive amount of AP, significantly increasing your damage output.
    • Void Staff: Provides magic penetration, allowing you to deal more damage to enemies with magic resistance.
    • Banshee's Veil: Provides magic resistance and a spell shield, protecting you from enemy abilities.

Item Build Considerations:

  • Ability Haste: Zilean loves ability haste. Prioritize items that provide this stat to maximize your spell frequency.
  • Mana: Mana is essential for Zilean. Archangel's Staff is a must-have, and you may need to consider other mana items if you're struggling with mana sustain.
  • Adaptability: Don't be afraid to adjust your item build based on the enemy team composition and the state of the game.

Ability Maxing Order

The standard ability maxing order for Zilean mid is:

  • R > Q > E > W

Explanation:

  • R (Chronoshift): Always prioritize maxing your ultimate whenever possible, as it provides a significant advantage in team fights.
  • Q (Time Bomb): Maxing Time Bomb first provides the most damage and wave clear. It's your primary source of damage and should be prioritized.
  • E (Time Warp): Maxing Time Warp second provides increased slow/speed boost duration and lower cooldown, which is crucial for utility and mobility.
  • W (Rewind): Rewind is maxed last, as its cooldown reduction doesn't scale as effectively as the other abilities.

Gameplay Strategy

Playing Zilean effectively requires a strong understanding of his strengths and weaknesses, as well as a good grasp of game sense. Here's a breakdown of how to play Zilean in different phases of the game:

Early Game (Laning Phase)

  • Farm Safely: Focus on farming safely and avoiding unnecessary risks. Use your Time Bomb to clear waves from a distance and poke out your lane opponent.
  • Manage Mana: Be mindful of your mana usage. Don't spam your abilities unnecessarily, and make sure to utilize Manaflow Band effectively.
  • Ward Effectively: Ward your lane to prevent ganks from the enemy jungler. Place wards in the river and in the enemy jungle to gain vision of their movements.
  • Poke and Harass: Use your Time Bomb to poke and harass your lane opponent. Try to land two Time Bombs on them to stun them and deal extra damage.
  • Look for Roaming Opportunities: If your lane is pushed in and your opponent is playing passively, look for opportunities to roam to other lanes and help your teammates.

Mid Game

  • Control Vision: Work with your team to control vision around objectives, such as Dragon and Baron. Place wards in key areas to track enemy movements and prevent ambushes.
  • Set Up Plays: Use your Time Bombs to set up plays for your team. Stun enemies with two Time Bombs to create opportunities for your teammates to engage.
  • Protect Your Carries: Use your Time Warp and Chronoshift to protect your carries from enemy threats. Speed them up with Time Warp to help them kite and reposition, and use Chronoshift to save them from certain death.
  • Participate in Team Fights: Be present for team fights and use your abilities to disrupt the enemy team and protect your allies. Focus on landing Time Bombs on key targets and using Chronoshift on your carries.

Late Game

  • Peel for Carries: Your primary role in the late game is to peel for your carries. Use your Time Warp and Chronoshift to keep them alive and allow them to deal damage.
  • Control Objectives: Work with your team to control objectives, such as Baron and Elder Dragon. Use your Time Bombs to zone enemies away from the objectives and create opportunities for your team to secure them.
  • Split-Push (Situational): If your team is behind, you can consider split-pushing to draw enemy attention and create pressure on the map. However, be careful not to get caught out, and make sure to have vision around you.
  • End the Game: Once you have a significant advantage, work with your team to end the game. Push down towers and inhibitors, and eventually destroy the enemy Nexus.

Tips and Tricks

  • Double Bomb Combo: The key to playing Zilean effectively is mastering the double bomb combo. Place one Time Bomb on an enemy, and then immediately use Rewind to place another Time Bomb on them. This will stun them and deal a significant amount of damage.
  • Time Warp for Mobility: Use Time Warp on yourself or your allies to increase your movement speed and escape from danger. This can be especially useful for dodging skillshots or kiting enemies.
  • Chronoshift Timing: Timing your Chronoshift correctly is crucial. Use it on allies who are about to take a significant amount of damage, or on yourself when you're about to be focused by the enemy team.
  • Ward Placement: Place wards in strategic locations to gain vision of enemy movements and prevent ganks. Ward the river, the enemy jungle, and the bushes near your lane.
  • Communicate with Your Team: Communicate with your team to coordinate plays and make sure everyone is on the same page. Let them know when you're going to roam, when you're going to use your Chronoshift, and when you need help.

Conclusion

Zilean mid is a unique and rewarding pick that can be incredibly effective in the right hands. His unparalleled utility, excellent scaling, and teamfight control make him a valuable asset to any team. By mastering his abilities, understanding his item build, and utilizing the strategies outlined in this guide, you can bend time to your will and dominate the mid lane with the Chronokeeper. Good luck, have fun, and may your bombs always land on target!