ZileanTFT Build
Invoker
Chronokeeper
5 CostBest Zilean build for TFT Set 16 with 93.0% top 4 rate. Top items: Giant Slayer, Nashor's Tooth, and Adaptive Helm. Learn optimal components & itemization strategy.
Set 16 Zilean builds: Thief's Gloves (92.98% top four rate, +28.33% difference); Morellonomicon, Spear of Shojin, Void Staff (82.73% top four rate, +18.08% difference); Jeweled Gauntlet, Spear of Shojin, Void Staff (71.49% top four rate, +6.84% difference)
Zilean Component Priority Order in Set 16
When playing Zilean in TFT Set 16, prioritize collecting Needlessly Large Rod, Recurve Bow, Tear of the Goddess from the carousel and item drops. B.F. Sword and Giant's Belt are also valuable secondary components. These components build into Zilean's highest win rate items and will help you secure consistent top four placements. Focus on slamming items early using these components rather than holding for perfect items, as tempo is crucial for maintaining a healthy economy.
Why These Components for Zilean?
Needlessly Large Rod is the 1st priority component for Zilean, appearing in 7 of the top item builds. This component builds into Rabadon's Deathcap, Archangel's Staff, Morellonomicon, which are core items for maximizing Zilean's effectiveness.
Recurve Bow is the 2nd priority component for Zilean, appearing in 6 of the top item builds. This component builds into Giant Slayer, Nashor's Tooth, Void Staff, which are core items for maximizing Zilean's effectiveness.
Tear of the Goddess is the 3rd priority component for Zilean, appearing in 6 of the top item builds. This component builds into Adaptive Helm, Void Staff, Archangel's Staff, which are core items for maximizing Zilean's effectiveness.
Zilean Carousel & Item Drop Tips
- Early Game (Stage 1-2): Prioritize Needlessly Large Rod on the first carousel if available, as it builds into Zilean's best-in-slot items.
- Mid Game (Stage 3-4): Look for Needlessly Large Rod or Recurve Bow to complete your core items. Don't greed for perfect components—slam items to preserve HP.
- Late Game (Stage 5+): Use any remaining components to build utility items or complete Zilean's secondary items for maximum power.
Should You Itemize Zilean in Set 16
High PriorityZilean is a high-priority itemization target in Set 16. The best Zilean item build achieves a 93.0% top four rate, which is +28.3% higher than Zilean's base rate of 64.7%. 2 out of 5 builds show 10%+ improvement, indicating strong item scaling.
When Itemized (Avg)
Base Champion Stats
Key Factors for Zilean Itemization in Set 16
Zilean's best item build provides +28.3% top four rate improvement. 2 builds achieve 10%+ improvement.
Itemized Zilean achieves 3.07 average placement, consistently finishing in top positions.
Itemized Zilean achieves 34.8% first place rate, making it excellent for winning lobbies.
As a 5-cost champion, Zilean has high base stats and powerful abilities designed to scale with items.
Zilean Itemization Data Analysis
Our analysis of Zilean itemization in TFT Set 16 examines 5 item builds to determine how effectively this champion scales with items. Zilean has a base top four rate of 64.7%, and we compare each item build's performance against this baseline to measure itemization value.
The best Zilean item build achieves a 93.0% top four rate, representing a +28.3% difference from the base rate. 2 out of 5 builds show 10%+ improvement over baseline, 2 builds show 5-10% improvement, and 1 builds actually underperform the baseline. On average across all analyzed builds, itemized Zilean achieves 74.9% top four rate (+10.2% vs base) with 3.07 average placement.
For players aiming to win lobbies, itemized Zilean achieves a 34.8% first place rate. This is excellent first place potential, making Zilean a strong choice when you need to win rather than just top four.
✓When to Itemize Zilean
- When you find Zilean early and can build around it as your primary carry
- When you have the optimal item components (check the Component Priority section above)
- When the lobby isn't heavily contesting Zilean's key items
✗When NOT to Itemize Zilean
- When another carry in your comp scales better with the same items
- When you're pivoting to a different composition mid-game
Best Zilean Items in TFT Set 16
The best Zilean item is Giant Slayer with a 70.82% win rate (+6.17% vs base), 13.95% first place rate, and 2.78% pick rate. The most popular is Spear of Shojin with a 12.51% pick rate and 68.10% win rate. Nashor's Tooth has the highest first place rate at 16.80%. The top three Zilean items are Giant Slayer, Nashor's Tooth, and Adaptive Helm.
Rank | Item | Components | Rating | Top 4 Rate | Top 4 Diff | 1st Place Rate | Pick Rate | Matches |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  | B | 70.82% | +6.17% | 13.95% | 2.78% | 1,645 | ||
 | B | 70.76% | +6.11% | 16.80% | 5.45% | 3,222 | ||
  | B | 70.08% | +5.43% | 15.98% | 4.54% | 2,684 | ||
| 4 |  | B | 69.90% | +5.25% | 14.49% | 4.18% | 2,472 | |
| 5 | | B | 69.84% | +5.19% | 16.36% | 9.91% | 5,865 | |
| 6 | | B | 69.32% | +4.67% | 13.89% | 5.91% | 3,497 | |
| 7 | | A | 69.20% | +4.55% | 16.74% | 6.77% | 4,006 | |
| 8 |  | B | 68.73% | +4.08% | 16.08% | 2.07% | 1,225 | |
| 9 | | B | 68.53% | +3.88% | 15.69% | 2.90% | 1,716 | |
| 10 | | B | 68.10% | +3.45% | 15.40% | 12.51% | 7,401 | |
| 11 | | B | 67.81% | +3.16% | 15.25% | 4.06% | 2,401 | |
| 12 | | B | 66.11% | +1.46% | 14.55% | 7.16% | 4,234 | |
| 13 | | B | 63.82% | -0.83% | 14.62% | 8.25% | 4,884 | |
| 14 | | B | 62.64% | -2.01% | 13.03% | 3.24% | 1,919 |
Best Zilean Artifact Items in TFT Set 16
The best Zilean artifact item is Zhonya's Paradox with a 90.41% win rate (+25.76% vs base), 20.56% first place rate, and 0.12% pick rate. The most popular is Blighting Jewel with a 0.33% pick rate and 71.57% win rate. Horizon Focus has the highest first place rate at 24.31%. The top three Zilean artifact items are Zhonya's Paradox, Seeker's Armguard, and Infinity Force.
Rank | Item | Rating | Top 4 Rate | Top 4 Diff | 1st Place Rate | Pick Rate | Matches |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 90.41% | +25.76% | 20.56% | 0.12% | 73 | ||
| A | 83.78% | +19.13% | 20.15% | 0.06% | 37 | ||
| A | 80.77% | +16.12% | 16.90% | 0.04% | 26 | ||
| 4 | A | 80.00% | +15.35% | 20.95% | 0.08% | 50 | |
| 5 | A | 79.05% | +14.40% | 17.69% | 0.18% | 105 | |
| 6 | A | 77.78% | +13.13% | 18.20% | 0.27% | 162 | |
| 7 | A | 75.83% | +11.18% | 18.91% | 0.20% | 120 | |
| 8 | A | 73.87% | +9.22% | 18.58% | 0.19% | 111 | |
| 9 | A | 72.92% | +8.27% | 19.01% | 0.08% | 48 | |
| 10 | A | 71.96% | +7.31% | 19.83% | 0.32% | 189 | |
| 11 | A | 71.57% | +6.92% | 18.73% | 0.33% | 197 | |
| 12 | A | 70.89% | +6.24% | 18.71% | 0.13% | 79 | |
| 13 | A | 70.83% | +6.18% | 17.85% | 0.04% | 24 | |
| 14 | A | 70.72% | +6.07% | 19.53% | 0.31% | 181 | |
| 15 | A | 68.75% | +4.10% | 21.01% | 0.03% | 16 | |
| 16 | A | 66.67% | +2.02% | 24.31% | 0.02% | 12 | |
| 17 | A | 64.58% | -0.07% | 17.94% | 0.08% | 48 | |
| 18 | A | 59.62% | -5.03% | 22.69% | 0.09% | 52 | |
| 19 | B | 38.46% | -26.19% | 15.86% | 0.02% | 13 |
Best Zilean Radiant Items in TFT Set 16
The best Zilean radiant item is Radiant Nashor's Tooth with a 91.18% win rate (+26.53% vs base), 23.18% first place rate, and 0.06% pick rate. The most popular is Radiant Thief's Gloves with a 0.11% pick rate and 58.82% win rate. The top three Zilean radiant items are Radiant Nashor's Tooth, Radiant Jeweled Gauntlet, and Radiant Red Buff.
Rank | Item | Rating | Top 4 Rate | Top 4 Diff | 1st Place Rate | Pick Rate | Matches |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 91.18% | +26.53% | 23.18% | 0.06% | 34 | ||
| A | 85.71% | +21.06% | 19.14% | 0.05% | 28 | ||
| A | 85.00% | +20.35% | 17.96% | 0.03% | 20 | ||
| 4 | A | 81.82% | +17.17% | 18.94% | 0.02% | 11 | |
| 5 | A | 72.09% | +7.44% | 16.95% | 0.07% | 43 | |
| 6 | B | 68.97% | +4.32% | 16.30% | 0.05% | 29 | |
| 7 | B | 66.67% | +2.02% | 16.01% | 0.06% | 36 | |
| 8 | A | 63.64% | -1.01% | 19.08% | 0.02% | 11 | |
| 9 | A | 60.47% | -4.18% | 19.00% | 0.07% | 43 | |
| 10 | B | 59.26% | -5.39% | 15.61% | 0.05% | 27 | |
| 11 | B | 58.82% | -5.83% | 14.55% | 0.11% | 68 | |
| 12 | B | 58.49% | -6.16% | 14.04% | 0.09% | 53 | |
| 13 | B | 47.83% | -16.82% | 14.47% | 0.04% | 23 | |
| 14 | B | 47.37% | -17.28% | 17.19% | 0.06% | 38 |
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Zilean Set 16 Build - Frequently Asked Questions
What is Zilean's best build in Set 16?
The best Zilean build in Set 16 is Thief's Gloves with a 92.98% top four rate, 77.19% first place rate, and 1.61 average placement. This build is picked 0.28% of the time.
What is the best item for Zilean?
The best item for Zilean is Giant Slayer with a 70.82% win rate. This item is picked 2.78% of the time and has won 1,165 matches across 1,645 games.
Which item is most popular on Zilean?
Spear of Shojin is the most popular item on Zilean with a 12.51% pick rate. This item maintains a 68.10% win rate and has been used in 7,401 matches.
What are the top 3 items for Zilean?
The top 3 items for Zilean are Giant Slayer, Nashor's Tooth, and Adaptive Helm with an average win rate of 70.56%. These items provide the highest performance across different team compositions and game situations.
How many matches do the Zilean item builds have?
The Zilean item builds are based on 47,171 total matches. Giant Slayer has the most wins with 1,165 victories.
Should I always build Giant Slayer on Zilean?
While Giant Slayer has the highest win rate at 70.82%, the best Zilean build depends on your team composition, available components, and game situation. Consider Giant Slayer, Nashor's Tooth, and Adaptive Helm as strong alternatives based on what items you can build.
What components should I prioritize for Zilean in TFT Set 16?
The top components to prioritize for Zilean in Set 16 are Needlessly Large Rod, Recurve Bow, and Tear of the Goddess. These components appear most frequently in Zilean's highest win rate item builds. Needlessly Large Rod is the #1 priority component, appearing in 7 of Zilean's top item builds.
What should I pick on carousel for Zilean in TFT?
When playing Zilean in TFT Set 16, prioritize Needlessly Large Rod on the first carousel as it builds into Zilean's best-in-slot items. Secondary priorities include Recurve Bow and Tear of the Goddess. These components give you the flexibility to build Zilean's optimal items.
Should I itemize Zilean in TFT Set 16?
Zilean is a high priority itemization target in TFT Set 16. Zilean's best item build achieves a +28.3% top four rate improvement over the base rate of 64.7%. Proper itemization significantly boosts performance.
Is Zilean a good item holder in TFT Set 16?
Zilean is an excellent item holder and primary carry in TFT Set 16. With optimal items, Zilean achieves +28.3% top four rate improvement, making it worthwhile to commit items to this champion.
What is Zilean's top 4 rate with items in TFT Set 16?
When properly itemized, Zilean achieves an average top four rate of 74.9% in TFT Set 16, which is +10.2% compared to the base rate of 64.7%. The best Zilean item build reaches 93.0% top four rate with a 1.61 average placement.
What is the best Zilean emblem?
The best Zilean emblem is Juggernaut Emblem with a 86.67% win rate. This emblem is picked 0.03% of the time and has been used in 15 matches.
What is the top Zilean radiant item?
The top Zilean radiant item is Radiant Steadfast Heart with a 100.00% win rate. This radiant item is picked 0.01% of the time and has been used in 5 matches.
What is the best Zilean artifact?
The best Zilean artifact is Zhonya's Paradox with a 90.41% win rate. This artifact item is picked 0.12% of the time and has been used in 73 matches.