Akali vs Zed

Akali
You
VS
Zed

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Who Wins

  • You lose most pre-6 trades due to Zed's superior poke with Q and energy efficiency.
  • Post-6 you gain significant kill pressure with R, but Zed can still outplay with R if he times it correctly to dodge your burst.
Confused by a term? Check the Glossary

How to Trade

  • Your best trades involve Q poke followed by W to avoid his Q return damage, then E engage when he wastes abilities on minions.
  • Always try to proc your passive before retreating, as the movement speed helps you disengage safely.

Wave Control

  • Push early levels to hit 6 first, then look for roam timings or all-ins when Zed recalls.
  • Avoid letting him freeze as you have no safe way to break it without taking heavy Q poke.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Never use W defensively in lane unless you're about to die, as it's your primary engage tool for trades.
  • Don't chase Zed through unwarded areas post-6 as his R gives him superior pick potential in river fights.
Created on 02/16/2026
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