Yasuo vs Zed Matchup Guide

Yasuo

Yasuo

Mid Lane Skirmisher

The Unforgiven — mobile duelist who dashes through minions, stacks critical strikes, and blocks projectiles with Wind Wall.

VS
Zed

Zed

Mid Lane Assassin

Master of Shadows — burst assassin who splits pressure with Living Shadow clones and executes low-health targets with Death Mark.

VerdictSkill matchup EarlySkill Matchup MidZed Favored LateYasuo Favored Updated Jan 1, 2024

Champ Select Cheat Sheet — Yasuo vs Zed

Runes
Conqueror, Triumph, Legend: Alacrity, Last Stand
Secondary: Second Wind, Unflinching
Summoners
Flash + Exhaust
Start
Doran's Blade or Shield + Potion
Core Build
Berserker's GreavesInfinity EdgeBloodthirster
Trade Pattern
E→Q tap → back
Short trades; keep E for escape
Danger Levels
Respect Zed at level 6
First Back
Phage (1100g)
Ideal Back (1100-1400g)

Matchup Dynamics

How This Matchup Works

Yasuo scales into longer fights with crit DPS and Wind WallW – Wind WallCreates a moving wall that blocks all enemy projectiles for 4 seconds.. Zed spikes at 6 with Death MarkR – Death MarkZed becomes untargetable and dashes to an enemy champion, marking them. After 3 seconds the mark triggers, repeating a portion of all the damage Zed dealt to the target while they were marked.; punish W cooldowns and set Q3→R engages through minions.

Early Game (1-5)

Skill Matchup - Zed pokes; Yasuo trades around wave.

Mid Game (6-11)

Zed Favored - Level 6 all-ins and roam timers favor Zed.

Late Game (12+)

Yasuo Favored - Two-item crit spike and 5v5 scaling.

Key Interactions

  • Wind WallW – Wind WallCreates a moving wall that blocks all enemy projectiles for 4 seconds. vs Shurikens: Hold Wall for W→Q and Death MarkR – Death MarkZed becomes untargetable and dashes to an enemy champion, marking them. After 3 seconds the mark triggers, repeating a portion of all the damage Zed dealt to the target while they were marked. pop.
  • Shadow Cooldowns: Punish when Zed W is down; trade around wave.
  • ExhaustExhaustSlows target enemy champion and reduces their damage dealt. Timing: ExhaustExhaustSlows target enemy champion and reduces their damage dealt. reduces R pop damage greatly.
  • Q3 Setup: Stack Tornado on minions to threaten all-in.

Yasuo

Strengths

  • Short-burst trades
  • Sustain via passive/kit
  • One-item spike
  • Reliable execute/pick

Weaknesses

  • Limited engage
  • Kiteable without tools
  • Weaker in extended fights

Zed

Strengths

  • High burst at 6
  • Shadow outplays
  • Strong roams

Weaknesses

  • Cooldown windows
  • Falls off in 5v5

Power Curve Comparison EXPERIMENTAL

Power Curve Visualization

Win Conditions

Yasuo's Win Condition

  • Trade on your cooldowns
  • Fight on item and ult timers

Zed's Win Condition

  • Force your win condition
  • Leverage terrain and wave states

Laning Phase Guide

Level/Phase Yasuo Zed
Level 1 Yasuo: Start Q/primary trade tool; last-hit and chip safely. Zed: Farm and poke; avoid losing too much HP.
Level 2 Yasuo: Unlock second spell; look for short trade on last-hits. Zed: Match level; punish oversteps.
Level 3 Yasuo: Full basic combo; trade after enemy key cooldown. Zed: Track junglers; counter-trade on misplays.
Level 4-5 Yasuo: Slow push, ward, avoid extended fights if disadvantaged. Zed: Trim waves; deny cheater recalls.
Level 6 Yasuo: Only all-in if opponent chipped; respect their ultimate. Zed: Use ultimate advantage windows.
Level 7-8 Yasuo: Use first-item spike timers. Zed: Shadow jungler and play for plates/objectives.
Level 9 Yasuo: First max online; pressure short trades. Zed: Keep wave near tower; avoid isolation.

Power Spikes

Level Spikes

Yasuo Zed
Level Description Level Description
3 Minor Full Q/W/E kit for outplay trades 3 Minor Full basic combo online
6 Major Last BreathR – Last BreathBlinks to an Airborne enemy champion, dealing physical damage and holding all Airborne enemies in the area in the air. adds all-in threat off knock-ups 6 Major Ultimate unlock all-in
11 Critical 2-item crit spike outscales skirmishes

Item Spikes

Yasuo Zed
Item Description Item Description
Berserker's GreavesBerserker's GreavesEnhances Move Speed and Attack Speed (1100g) AS for Q cadence Plated SteelcapsPlated SteelcapsEnhances Move Speed and reduces incoming basic attack damage (1100g) Armor vs AD
Infinity EdgeInfinity EdgeMassively enhances critical strikes (3450g) Crit damage spike (cost varies by patch) Sterak's GageSterak's GageShields against large bursts of damage (3100g) All-in shield
BloodthirsterBloodthirsterGrants Attack Damage, Life Steal and Life Steal now overheals (3400g) Lifesteal + shield for duels

Best Build for Yasuo

Starting Items

Doran's BladeDoran's BladeGood starting item for attackers or Shield + Potion

Core Items

Berserker's GreavesBerserker's GreavesEnhances Move Speed and Attack Speed → Infinity EdgeInfinity EdgeMassively enhances critical strikes → BloodthirsterBloodthirsterGrants Attack Damage, Life Steal and Life Steal now overheals

Runes

Primary: ConquerorConquerorGain stacks of adaptive force when attacking enemy champions. After reaching 12 stacks, heal for a portion of damage you deal to champions., TriumphTriumphTakedowns restore 5% of your missing health and grant an additional 20 gold., Legend: AlacrityLegend: AlacrityTakedowns on enemies grant permanent Attack Speed., Last StandLast StandDeal more damage to champions while you are low on health.

Secondary: Second WindSecond WindAfter taking damage from an enemy champion heal back some missing health over time., UnflinchingUnflinchingGain Armor and Magic Resist when receiving crowd control.

Summoner Spells

FlashFlashTeleports you a short distance toward your cursor. + ExhaustExhaustSlows target enemy champion and reduces their damage dealt.

Priority Build Path

1
Berserker's Greaves

AS spike for Q cadence

2
Infinity Edge

Major crit damage spike

3
Bloodthirster

Sustain + shield for duels

4
Death's Dance

Survivability in skirmishes

Situational Adjustments

  • Mercury's TreadsMercury's TreadsIncreases Move Speed and reduces duration of disabling effects: Versus heavy CC comps
  • Wit's EndWit's EndResist magic damage and claw your way back to life.: Into AP burst mids

Key Patterns

Lethal Combos

Yasuo Full Combo (Level 6+):

E through minions → Q3 knock-up → R → Q

Secure airborne before R
Zed Escape/Counter Combo:

Counter/escape sequence

Use mobility/defensives to break all-in

Trading Combos

Yasuo Short Trade:

E→Q tap → back

Short trades; keep E for escape
Zed Quick Trade:

Quick punish then disengage

Trade around cooldown advantage

Lethal Thresholds

  • Yasuo Kill Range: Kill when opponent <~40% HP or after key cooldowns
  • Zed Kill Range: Kill when A overextends or blows mobility
  • Critical Levels: 3 (full kits), 6 (ults), 9/11/13 (max/rank-ups)

Level by Level Game Plan

Level Primary Goal Lane Position Trading Opportunities Kill Windows Setup Opportunities
1 Establish early presence Hold wave just outside tower Short poke on last-hits Low unless big misplay Track XP for level 2
2 Secure level advantage Maintain prio or even wave Brief trades on cooldowns Medium if enemy mispositions Ward river/tri
3 Full combo access Thin wave before crash After enemy key spell Medium—jungler helps Crash 3rd wave for base
4-5 Pre-6 advantage Slow push then reset Chip, avoid extended duels Low-Med on errors Control vision
6 Ultimate power spike Fight on your terms Only commit on chip or cooldown gaps High if windows align Objective timers
7-8 Item completion window Side control with vision Punish after dashes/CC used Medium-High with item spike Reset on good wave
9+ Transition to mid game Freeze near tower if behind Short bursts, avoid long fights Medium on summ timers Prep rotations
Mid Game (11-16) Teamfight presence Side lane w/TP or hover mid Skirmish on timers Pick isolated targets Vision on objectives
Late Game (16+) Teamfight execution Front-to-back or flank Engage/disengage wisely Execute low-HP targets Baron/Elder control

First Back Goals

Ideal Back (1100-1400g)

  • PhagePhageAttacks and kills give a small burst of speed (1100g)
  • Control Ward (75g)

After successful trade or wave crash

Standard Back (700-900g)

  • Ruby Crystal (400g)
  • Boots (300g)

Normal farming back

Teamfight Tips

Aspect Yasuo Zed
Primary Role Skirmish bruiser/executor Skirmish bruiser/duelist
Target Priority Backline carries
Fed skirmishers		 Immobile carries
Frontliners out of position
Objective Control Zone space, finish low HP Force fights on spike timers
Positioning Flank or peel; avoid chokes Approach from fog; angle engages
Other Tips Track summoners and flashes
Fight on item/ult timers		 Punish cooldown gaps
Force extended trades if favored