Zilean Support Build Guides, Runes, Items, and Abilities

Zilean, the Chronokeeper, brings an unparalleled level of utility and control to the support role in League of Legends. With his ability to manipulate time, Zilean excels at controlling the pace of the game, enabling his team to outmaneuver opponents and recover from near-death situations. His versatile kit includes powerful crowd control, mobility-enhancing abilities, and the game-changing potential of his ultimate, Chronoshift, which can completely turn the tide of a teamfight. Whether you’re looking to secure key objectives, protect carries, or disrupt enemies, Zilean offers a unique playstyle that blends strategy and skill.

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1. Zilean Strengths

• Exceptional Utility: Zilean's kit offers a rare combination of mobility boosts, slows, and resurrection, making him a versatile pick in various situations.
• Teamfight Control: His Time Bomb (Q) provides AoE damage and a stun when combined effectively, disrupting enemy formations and setting up plays.
• Game-Changing Ultimate: Chronoshift (R) can completely turn the tide of a fight by saving critical teammates, negating enemy efforts to secure kills.
• Strong Scaling: As the game progresses, Zilean's ability to boost experience with Time in a Bottle (P) gives his team an edge, especially in drawn-out matches.
• Excellent Peel: Time Warp (E) allows Zilean to slow enemies chasing his carries or speed up allies to escape or secure kills.
• Synergy with Carries: Zilean pairs well with hypercarries or mobile champions, amplifying their impact with speed boosts and revives.
• Safe Laning Phase: His range and Time Bomb (Q) allow him to poke from a distance, while Time Warp (E) and proper positioning keep him relatively safe.

2. Zilean Weaknesses

• High Skill Requirement: Maximizing Zilean's potential requires precise timing, good positioning, and strong game knowledge, making him challenging for beginners.
• Dependent on Team Coordination: Zilean shines best in coordinated teams where players capitalize on his utility and follow up on his crowd control.
• Low Damage Output: While his bombs can deal decent damage, Zilean lacks sustained damage compared to other supports, especially if fights drag on.
• Squishy and Vulnerable: Zilean has low base stats and no self-peeling abilities aside from Time Warp (E), making him an easy target for assassins or hard-engage champions.
• Mana-Intensive: Zilean's abilities, particularly Time Bomb (Q) and Rewind (W), can drain his mana quickly, especially during extended skirmishes or teamfights.
• Countered by Hard Engage: Champions with gap closers or crowd control can punish Zilean's lack of mobility and his reliance on proper positioning.
• Ultimate Timing Dependency: Misusing Chronoshift (R)—either casting it too early or too late—can render it ineffective, losing critical moments in a fight.

By understanding Zilean's strengths and weaknesses, you can leverage his unique playstyle to its fullest while mitigating his vulnerabilities in different matchups.

• If you can’t hit your Bombs Time Bomb Q, slow the enemy first with your Time Warp E and then follow it up with a Time Bomb Q - Rewind W - Time Bomb Q.
• Only use your Ultimate Chronoshift R to save somebody worth saving. Don’t Ult Chronoshift R someone who is 0-5!
• Before using your Passive to level someone up, make sure you’re in a safe position to do it. Standing out of range and behind minions are good, safe locations during the laning phase.

• E + Q + W + Q: Use Q on self, W then Q on foe then flash in!
• AA + Q + AA + W + Q + AA: Use Q on your enemy, then W, Q on yourself and E to run in range of them!
• Q + W + Q + E: Use Q on your enemy, then W, Q on yourself and E to run in range of them! Average
• E + Q + W + Q + R: Use E then Q, W, Q and finish with R

In teamfights, Zilean excels as a master of disruption and protection, ensuring his team stays one step ahead. His primary role is to provide crowd control, mobility, and life-saving utility to tilt the fight in his team's favor. Here's how to approach teamfighting with Zilean support:

1. Positioning and Bomb Placement:

Stay in the backline to avoid unnecessary damage while maintaining a clear view of both allies and enemies. Use Time Bomb (Q) strategically by attaching it to high-priority enemies or minions near the opposing team to set up area damage and stuns. If possible, double-bomb (Q + W + Q) a key target to instantly detonate and stun multiple enemies.

2. Peel and Zone Control:

Use Time Warp (E) to slow approaching threats or speed up your carries for repositioning. This ability is vital for protecting your backline or catching out enemies trying to escape.

3. Cooldown Management with Rewind (W):

Rewind is the backbone of Zilean's effectiveness in extended fights. Use it to refresh Time Bomb or Time Warp, giving you more opportunities to disrupt enemies or protect teammates. Keep an eye on its cooldown to maximize your output.

4. Game-Changing Ultimate:

Chronoshift (R) is Zilean's most critical tool in teamfights. Save it for your team's primary carry or any teammate in imminent danger. Properly timing this ability can completely negate enemy efforts to focus down key targets. Avoid using it prematurely, but don't hold it for too long—it's better to save an ally than risk losing them.

5. Synergize with Your Team:

Communicate with your team to coordinate bomb placements and ultimate timing. Zilean thrives when his abilities are used in sync with his allies' actions, whether it's setting up a wombo combo or enabling your team's frontline to engage confidently.

By mastering Zilean's tools, you can turn chaotic battles into opportunities for your team to shine. His ability to dictate the flow of teamfights makes him a formidable support capable of reshaping the course of the game.

1. Early game

• Get level 2 first and look for a favourable trade. Gaining an early health lead is key to getting a kill later on down the line. Level 2 in the bottom lane is the first minion wave followed by the next 3 melee minions.
• Your goal during the laning phase is so to look for kills and abuse the enemy as often as you can. Try to play aggressive frequently to gain a lead.
• After destroying the bottom lane tower, rotate to the mid lane and try to take that tower. This will open up the map and give your team a gold lead.

2. Mid game

• As a Support, you’re quite vulnerable and can easily be killed when going to ward, when you’re moving around the map, and when you’re alone. To reduce the chances of dying and getting caught out of position, try and stick with your team at all times.
• Keep a constant eye on what major objective is spawning next. If it’s spawning soon, make sure you place vision around the objective as quickly and as safely as possible before retreating to safety. Having vision around major objectives is key.
• Look for picks in the mid-game. You deal lots of damage and can easily blow champions up. Try to kill someone and then abuse their death timer to earn more gold.

3. Late game

• Ward major objectives and place vision in high traffic areas in the late stages of the game. Keep them warded so you can see the enemy move around the map and see them starting the objective.
• Stay with your team at all times. Avoid moving around the map alone so you do not get caught out. Getting caught out will result in your team having to play 4v5. Do not ward alone unless you know where the enemy is.
• Peel for your allies as much as possible. Keeping them alive for as long as possible in team fights is a must in order to win the game.

Zilean’s support playstyle thrives on precise timing and strategic thinking, making him a rewarding champion for players who enjoy outsmarting their opponents. His ability to accelerate allies, immobilize enemies, and revive key teammates ensures he remains impactful in any phase of the game. By mastering Zilean's toolkit, you can not only protect your team but also lead them to victory through superior map control and objective management. In the hands of a skilled summoner, Zilean embodies the essence of a true game-changer.

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Good luck to you! – Cheng