You ain't got no 'TIME' for Zilean after this.

That one second just before your pitiful hp is gonna go KABOOM is the possibly the worse moment in your life. Imagine running to the so-called safety of your tower with a mere 100 hp and a Zilean Time Bomb on your head. Imagine the sheer horror of knowing there is no possible way of avoiding that certain death. Imagine giving up all hope and surrendering to the moment when all will go grey. THAT is the feeling a good Zilean will instill to ANY and EVERY champion who is foolish enough to cross his path in the mid lane. People always say that Zilean has only one damaging spell and should never be used mid. I say 1 skill is all he needs, because by the time he's through with you, you will wish you spent he time learning how to counter a Zilean properly.

Pros and Cons of the AP Zilean

Pros:

- AP Zilean is a lean mean HP munching machine during the early stages of laning and he is an invaluable team busting AP during the late games especially with his super OP almost always on ultimate skill.
- Good CD rate and not as mana hungry if played properly.
- Seriously hard to counter.
- Is usually always able to outrun almost any champion out there.
- Has tons of team beneficial spells that can make or break team fights.
- Easy to learn

Cons:

- An old man.
- People will think you are a troll.
- Hard to Master.

Item Build

Core Items:

These are the best items for Zilean when he's at mid (in my humble opinion). Take these, play smart, play wise and you shall mostly win your lane.

- Doran Ring (hp, mana regen and AP. need i say more?)
- Kage Lucky Pick (get this before your DFG. It helps give you that extra gold for constant lane ward)
- Sorcerer's Boots.
- Rabadon's Cap (Pure AP goodness)
- Rylai's Scepter (HP, AP and a useful slow)
- Deathfire Grasp (taken a little later. Reason is that the HP deduction is kinda redundant early game. If you are farming super well, why not?)

Optional 'Brain-Blowing-Gut-Spilling' items:

- RoA (the extra hp, mana and AP might just come in useful late game. That's right. Late game, not early.)
- Archangel Staff (kinda a new personal favorite. It helps by sustaining your constant need to spam skills. However, it makes you a less mana wise person)
- Abyssal (slightly more of a defensive option than the Void Staff. Usefull for both countering champions with mr and lots of AP)
- Lichbane (WUT? Seriously? Yup!! With his amazing AP amount, lichbane will help get that last damage in when al your skills are on cooldown)

Optional Tanking Zilean Path Core Item:

**These items are if you are planning to tank EVERYTHANG!! while still be able to dish out amazing damage. WARNING! Has a harder early game than most AP, but very very very tanky late game. I call this the IRON ROD side build!**

- Sorcerer's Boots
- Rylai's Scepter (get this first for the AP and hp)
- Abyssal (you will need to counter their mid first, so get this)
- Zhonya Hourglass (For the armor and invincibility while waiting for cooldown)
- RoA (for the extra hp and Mana)
- Rabadon's Cap (with this baby, you will be able to dish out significant damage)

Tips and Tricks on using AP Zilean to the fullest

1) Early to mid game is THE time and probably the only time that Zilean shines on a 1v1 match ever. Use this to your advantage and ONLY place your bombs on the enemy every chance you get. Try to trade it wisely without getting hit.

2) Never farm minions using your bomb. Reason? Your lane will be pushed, dummy. Use it only on champs.

3) Use your rewind only when you want and can guarantee to land a 2 hit bomb combo. Learn this combo. Live this combo. Breathe this combo. It will be your bread and butter as a Zilean.
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4) Try to be fast and speed yourself while slowing your opponent while doing the 2 hit combo to maximize rewind's potential. You do this by simply Q>E>W>E>Q and give a few free auto attacks to finish off a little of their hp.

5) After getting your Kage Lucky Pick, try to place wards in the bush at both sides of the lane every chance you get. You do this by placing wards, laning, returning to base once the wards are gone, and speed up to lane once you got the wards.

6) Try to use your ulti when you have about 25% life left. Don't waste it if you know that after you revive you can't do anything but die again. Try to use it only if you are sure you will bag a kill after revive or guarantee an escape. That is called using it wisely.

7) Once you have the blue buff, or can spare the extra mana, use rewind when your ulti is down and the enemy is not within your harassing range. This will shorten the time for rewind and the time for your ulti.

Late game, your job is to dish out damage and support your team mates with speeds or slow as much as possible. Sad to say, late game Zileans tend to lack the finishing blows needed, but makes for a decent hp cutting AP champion. With a few well place bombs, the enemy will be at half hp in no time.

Masteries, Summoner Spells and Runes

Materies:

Standard 21/0/9 AP Masteries.

Runes:

Mark: +0.95 Magic Penetration
Seal: +0.74 Magic Resist
Glyphs: +1.34 Magic Resist
Quintessence: +4.95 Ability Power

Summoner Spells:

Flash (Herp derp)
Ignite (Just to finish or guarantee a flash-out kill)