UpMatched 
Cassiopeia
Mid Lane Control Mage
The Serpent's Embrace – sustained DPS battlemage without boots
VS
Zed
Mid Lane Assassin
Matchup Dynamics
How This Matchup Works
Cassiopeia vs Zed pivots at level 3 when W grounds dashes and at first item (Archangel's/Rylai's). Zed threatens early windows; Cass wins sustained DPS after 2 items.
Early Game (1-5)
Opponent Favored - Assassin windows dominate pre-6; only trade after Q tag and with W down; keep wave close to tower.
Mid Game (6-11)
Skill Matchup - Even—assassin still lethal, but W+Archangel's shield lets Cass contest waves and punish over-extends.
Late Game (12+)
Cassiopeia Favored - Cass sustained DPS wins extended fights; set W zones in chokes and front-to-back.
Key Interactions
- W – Miasma vs E dashes: Drop W – Miasma under Zed when E starts; ground prevents dashes/blinks for 5s; punish with Q – Noxious Blast > E – Twin Fang while grounded (0.75s E CD on poison).
- Bait key cooldown: W – Living Shadow / mobility: Wait out W – Living Shadow then step with Ghost after it ends (~14–18s CD early); trade Q – Noxious Blast > E – Twin Fang until they exit kill range.
- Face for stun: Turn to face just before commit so R – Petrifying Gaze stuns; follow with E – Twin Fang chain resets.
- Shadow/clone denial: Cast W – Miasma on W or shadow/clone position to block re-engage; hold R – Petrifying Gaze until after gap-closer is forced (3–5s window).
Cassiopeia
Strengths
- Sustained DPS: E resets at 0.75s on poisoned targets allow 3–4 casts/s mid game
- Anti-dash control: W grounds and slows, blocking most gap-closers
- Zone control: Q + W forces awkward farm angles; punish cannon timings
Weaknesses
- No dash; gankable pre-6 if wave pushed
- Mana-gated until Tear/Archangel’s; missed Q reduces trade power
- R needs facing for stun; mistime yields only slow
Zed
Strengths
- Explosive all-ins with R – Death Mark once level 6
- Multiple dashes or bursts (E – Shadow Slash) to dodge Q and exit
- Snowballs off early kills; dive with jungler at ~3:30
Weaknesses
- Grounded by W; cannot dash/flash inside zone
- Falls off into Cass sustained DPS with Rylai’s + Liandry’s
- Telegraphed engage windows allow counter-ult stuns
Power Curve Comparison EXPERIMENTAL
Power Curve Visualization
Win Conditions
Cassiopeia's Win Condition
- Freeze 6–8 minions from tower pre-6; call jungler at 3:15 for grounded W gank
- Crash Wave 4 for Tear buy; TP back if needed to keep prio
- Front-to-back at objectives with W zones; face before R to stun carry
Zed's Win Condition
- Trade on Cass Q miss; force pre-6 all-ins with jungler
- Roam on shoved waves before Cass gets Archangel's
- Avoid extended fights inside Miasma; play to sides and flanks
Laning Phase Guide
| Level/Phase | Cassiopeia | Zed |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Start Q – Noxious Blast; last-hit; tag on cs; keep wave even; ward raptor brush at 2:20 if pushing; no all-in pre-2. | Start Q; poke on last-hits; avoid walking into Q radius; ward pixel at 2:20 if pushing. |
| Level 2 | Take E – Twin Fang; punish only after Q hits; 2x E then out; crash at ~2:40 if HP lead to buy Tear. | Take W; trade when Cass Q misses (3.5–4.5s); thin wave to avoid freeze. |
| Level 3 | Take W – Miasma; place on minions to deny dash paths; call jungler at 3:15 for grounded setup; all-in only if Q hits. | Respect E – Shadow Slash or Q – Razor Shuriken; do not dash inside Miasma; keep lane centered before 3:30 gank. |
| Level 4-5 | Hold freeze 3–4 waves; punish cannon with Q>E; ward opposite river at 4:00; recall on Wave 4 (first cannon) for Tear + Dark Seal. | Shove with waveclear; hover to one side with ward; prevent freeze by last-hitting casters late. |
| Level 6 | Track jungle; turn ganks with R by facing; pre-place W; if R stuns, E-chain to kill; don’t R if they’re not facing. | Look for R window when Cass Q is down; bait R by turning away; break vision to reduce stun odds. |
| Level 7-8 | Stack Tear; seek trades after Q; force objectives with shove; TP at 10:00 Unleashed TP timing. | Roam only after pushing; avoid fighting in river choke vs W zone; track Cass Ghost/TP. |
| Level 9 | E max online; take 2–3 wave trades; set up vision at 9:30 for herald; swap to sweeper if ahead. | Respect perma-slow if Cass has Rylai’s; buy Null-Magic/Seeker’s as needed; farm under tower. |
Power Spikes
Level Spikes
| Cassiopeia | Zed | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Level | Description | Level | Description |
| 2 | Minor Q + E loop online; trade only after Q hits. | 3 | Major Full combo access; kill pressure with gap closers. |
| 3 | Major W grounds dashes; set up ganks and deny engage. | 6 | Critical Ultimate unlocks lethal all-ins. |
| 6 | Critical R turn potential; face to stun on all-in. | 11 | Minor Rank 2 ultimate increases execute/burst. |
| 9 | Major Maxed E reaches 0.75s CD on poison; DPS spike. | ||
Item Spikes
| Cassiopeia | Zed | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Item | Description | Item | Description |
| Tear of the Goddess (400g) | Fix mana; start stacking early. | First legendary (Luden's/Stormsurge/Seraph/QSS/etc.) (2600–3000g) | Damage or safety spike depending on choice. |
| Archangel's Staff (2900g) | Mana → AP + shield; unlock spam trades. | Serrated Dirk spike (1100g) | Assassins gain one-shot thresholds pre-6. |
| Rylai's Crystal Scepter (2600g) | Perma-slow keeps targets inside Q/W for E chains. | Zhonya's/Maw/Banshee's (2800–3100g) | Defensive buy shifts skirmishes. |
| Liandry's Torment (3000g) | Burn shreds tanks; synergizes with Rylai’s. | ||
| Zhonya's Hourglass (3000g) | Stasis vs assassin ults; bait then re-engage with R. | ||
Best Build for Cassiopeia
Starting Items
Doran's Ring (400g) + 2 Health Potions (100g) or Corrupting Potion (500g) vs poke
Core Items
Tear → Archangel's Staff → Rylai's Crystal Scepter → Liandry's Torment
Runes
Primary: Conqueror, Presence of Mind, Legend: Haste, Last Stand
Secondary: Manaflow Band, Transcendence
Summoner Spells
Flash + Teleport
Priority Build Path
1
Archangel's Staff
Mana to AP + shield lets you frontload E spam.
2
Rylai's Crystal Scepter
Perma-slow to stick/kite on W.
3
Liandry's Torment
Burn amplifies DPS in extended fights.
4
Zhonya's Hourglass
Stasis vs dive; core vs assassins.
Situational Adjustments
- Banshee's Veil: Versus pick/long-range engage (e.g., Ahri E, Syndra E)
- Morellonomicon: Versus heavy healing (Sylas/Aurelion Sol)
- Rabadon's Deathcap: When ahead needing raw DPS 3rd/4th
Key Patterns
Lethal Combos
Cassiopeia Full Combo (Level 6+):
Q – Noxious Blast hit > W – Miasma under target > spam E – Twin Fang 4–6 times > R – Petrifying Gaze when they face > E – Twin Fang to finish
Lethal at ~30–40% HP with Liandry’s + Rylai’s.
Zed Escape/Counter Combo:
Sidestep Q; wait out W – Miasma; commit with R – Death Mark then exit before Cass R – Petrifying Gaze
Burst before Archangel’s shield procs.Trading Combos
Cassiopeia Short Trade:
Pre-6: Q max range > 2x E > out; Post-6: Q > 3x E > step back
Short trades until Archangel's; never E without poison.
Zed Quick Trade:
Trade after Cass Q misses; 1–2 autos/abilities then disengage
Punish mana use; avoid fighting inside W.Lethal Thresholds
- Cassiopeia Kill Range: R stun + 4–6 Es with Liandry’s burns 1200–1600 HP; ~30% HP kill if poisoned.
- Zed Kill Range: Assassins: 100–0 at 6 with Ignite when Cass <900 HP; mages: burst <40% HP if R lands.
- Critical Levels: Cass 3/6/9; Opp 3/6/11
Level by Level Game Plan
| Level | Primary Goal | Lane Position | Trading Opportunities | Kill Windows | Setup Opportunities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Farm safely; tag with Q if free | Midline or slight pull | Only after Q hits | Low | Stack for level 2 first |
| 2 | Unlock E trades | Keep wave 6–8 from tower | Q>2xE then out | Low | HP >60% |
| 3 | Control with W | Freeze near tower | Ground then Q>E | Medium vs dash champs | Ping jungler 3:15–3:45 |
| 4-5 | Cannon recall | Crash Wave 4 then base | Short Q>E pokes | Low | Buy Tear + Dark Seal |
| 6 | R turn | Hover safe side | Hold R as counter | High if R stuns | Place W before commit |
| 7-8 | Tempo with TP | Push then move | Extended with items | Medium | Deep ward path |
| 9+ | Transition to mid | Control prio | E spam on poison | High with Rylai’s | Vision for objectives |
| Mid Game (11-16) | Skirmish wins | River/jungle control | Front-to-back on W | Pick into W zone | Start objectives after shove |
| Late Game (16+) | Teamfight execution | Backline anchor | Kite on W zones | Chain E on stun | Keep Flash for self-peel |
First Back Goals
Ideal Back (900–1150g)
- Tear of the Goddess (400g)
- Dark Seal (350g)
- Amplifying Tome (400g)
Crash Wave 4 (first cannon) ~2:30–3:00; recall; TP back if needed.
Standard Back (700–900g)
- Tear of the Goddess (400g)
- Refillable Potion (150g)
- Control Ward (75g)
Recall after pushing on cannon; avoid non-cannon recall.
Teamfight Tips
| Aspect | Cassiopeia | Zed |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Role | Backline DPS/control mage | Assassin/burst/control depending on champ |
| Target Priority | Closest diver Enemy carry inside W Frontline <40% HP |
Eliminate Cass first or isolate backline |
| Objective Control | Set W in chokes for drake/baron Hold R for turn on facecheck |
Engage before Cass sets zones Flank to force her R slow |
| Positioning | Front-to-back in chokes (river/jungle entrances) Avoid wide spaces where enemies spread |
Flank or long poke to force early R |
| Other Tips | Face the biggest threat before R to guarantee stun Layer W on carries to block Flash; chase with Ghost |
Bait R by turning away; fight out of W zones |