Zoe Counters
The best Zoe counters in League of Legends patch 26.1 are Galio, Anivia, Veigar, Leblanc, Hwei. The best Zoe counter is Galio, with Zoe having only a 28.89% win rate in this matchup. Secondary patch 26.1 Zoe counter choices are Ekko, TwistedFate, Lux, Orianna, Vex. Below are the top Zoe counters and matchups alongside their win rates.
More Sparkles!
Zoe's next basic attack after casting a spell deals bonus magic damage.
Paddle Star!
Zoe fires a missile that she can redirect in flight. Deals more damage the longer it flies in a straight line.
Cost:- 40/
- 45/
- 50/
- 55/
- 60
Cooldown:- 9/
- 8/
- 8/
- 7/
- 7
Range:- 800
Spell Thief
Zoe can pick up the remnants of enemy summoner spell and active item casts and cast them once herself. Whenever she casts a summoner spell, she gains 3 missiles that fire at the nearest target.
Cost:- 0
Cooldown:- 0
Range:- 3000/
- 4500/
- 6000/
- 3000/
- 3000
Sleepy Trouble Bubble
Causes the target to become drowsy, then fall asleep. While asleep, the target's Magic Resist is reduced. The first source of damage that breaks the sleep is doubled, up to a cap.
Cost:- 80
Cooldown:- 16/
- 15/
- 14/
- 13/
- 12
Range:- 800
Portal Jump
Blink to a nearby position for 1 second. Then blink back.
Cost:- 40
Cooldown:- 11/
- 8/
- 5
Range:- 575
- Mage
These champions are Zoe's hardest counters in League of Legends patch 26.1. Galio is Zoe's biggest counter with only a 28.89% win rate for Zoe. When facing these Zoe counter picks, focus on safe farming and waiting for jungle assistance. Avoid extended trades and play around your power spikes to survive difficult Zoe matchups.
Galio
Anivia
Veigar
LeBlanc
Hwei
Ekko
Twisted Fate
Lux
Orianna
Vex
When facing Zoe in League of Legends, understanding Zoe's primary damage profile is essential for building effective counter strategies. Zoe deals primarily magic damage, which means prioritizing magic resist in your defensive itemization will significantly reduce Zoe's threat in fights. Top defensive items against Zoe include Mercury's Treads, Spirit Visage, Force of Nature, and Banshee's Veil. These items provide substantial magic resist stats that directly mitigate Zoe's damage output throughout all stages of the game.
From a champion selection perspective, the strongest Zoe counters are Galio, Anivia, Veigar, and Leblanc. These champions either out-trade Zoe in lane, have abilities that negate Zoe's core mechanics, or scale better into team fights. Galio in particular exploits Zoe's weaknesses by providing consistent pressure while being difficult to punish.
Beyond item builds and counter picks, successful counter play against Zoe involves understanding Zoe's power spikes and cooldown windows. Engage on Zoe when key abilities are on cooldown, and coordinate with your team to focus Zoe in team fights before Zoe can output maximum damage. Vision control is also crucial when playing against Zoe to avoid getting caught out of position. By combining proper defensive itemization with smart champion selection and strategic gameplay, you can effectively neutralize Zoe's impact and secure victory.
Understanding Zoe's power curve is essential for effective counter play. Here's when Zoe is most vulnerable throughout the game.
EARLYEarly Game (Levels 1-6)
Zoe may be mana-dependent early. Punish after spell rotations when abilities are on cooldown. All-in when mana is depleted for advantageous trades.
MIDMid Game (Levels 7-13)
Zoe's poke and zone control peaks mid game. Engage quickly to close the gap before Zoe can kite. Use flanks and hard engage to bypass poke damage.
LATELate Game (Levels 14-18)
Zoe provides strong team fight damage late. Prioritize diving Zoe or use assassins to reach the backline. Magic resist items become crucial.
Use these actionable tips to gain an advantage when facing Zoe in lane or team fights.
- Pick Galio or similar champions with kits that exploit Zoe's weaknesses
- Build Mercury's Treads or Hexdrinker early to reduce Zoe's damage in lane
- Track Zoe's cooldowns and engage when key abilities are unavailable
- Ward Zoe's common roam paths and ping missing immediately
- Coordinate with your jungler to gank Zoe during vulnerable windows
- Dodge Zoe's skill shots by moving unpredictably
- All-in Zoe when mana is low from spell rotations
Zoe performs exceptionally well against these champions in patch 26.1. Vladimir is Zoe's best matchup with a 61.29% win rate. When playing Zoe into these favorable matchups, look for early aggression and lane dominance. Zoe can capitalize on these champions' weaknesses to snowball leads and carry games.
Vladimir
Sylas
Sona
Mel
Yone
Brand
Aurelion Sol
Fizz
Ryze
Zed
Zoe Counters - Frequently Asked Questions
Who counters Zoe?
The best Zoe counters are Galio, Anivia, and Veigar. These champions have favorable matchups against Zoe and can exploit Zoe's weaknesses effectively in League of Legends patch 26.1.
What is Zoe's hardest counter?
Galio is Zoe's hardest counter with Zoe having only a 28.89% win rate in this matchup. Anivia (35.29% WR) and Veigar (36.25% WR) are also strong Zoe counters.
Who does Zoe counter?
Zoe performs well against Vladimir, Sylas, and Sona. These are Zoe's best matchups where Zoe has favorable win rates and can dominate lane in patch 26.1.
How do I beat Zoe in lane?
To beat Zoe in lane, pick a counter champion like Galio or Anivia. Focus on trading when Zoe's key abilities are on cooldown, and build magic resist items to reduce Zoe's damage output. Ward defensively and call for jungle assistance if Zoe gains an advantage.
What items counter Zoe?
The best items to counter Zoe are Mercury's Treads, Spirit Visage, Force of Nature, and Banshee's Veil. These items provide magic resist which directly reduces Zoe's damage. Consider building these items early if you're struggling against Zoe in lane.
When is Zoe weakest?
Zoe is typically weakest during specific power troughs between item spikes. Exploit windows when Zoe's ultimate or key abilities are on cooldown. Coordinate with your team to engage on Zoe before Zoe can set up fights on Zoe's own terms.
How do I play Zoe into counter matchups?
When playing Zoe into counters like Galio, focus on safe farming, waiting for jungle assistance, and playing around power spikes. Avoid extended trades in unfavorable matchups and look for opportunities to scale into mid and late game.
What champions are similar to Zoe's counters?
If Galio, Anivia, or Veigar are banned or picked, look for champions with similar kits that can exploit Zoe's weaknesses. Champions with crowd control, burst damage, or sustained damage (depending on Zoe's vulnerabilities) can serve as alternative counters.