Zed vs Mel MID Matchup Guide | LaneStomp

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Zed

VS

Mid

Mel

Zed vs Mel

Updated Jun 1, 2026

Overview

Zed is a high-agency assassin who wants to pressure Mel early and punish her cooldowns to deny her safe scaling.
Use your superior lane pressure to force Mel into defensive play and prevent her from freely poking and marking with Mel Q and Mel E.

Trading pattern

Use W + E for guaranteed damage, then Q to finish trades; be wary of Mel W reflecting your Q.
Avoid trading when Mel W is up, as it can reflect your projectiles and punish you.
Look to all-in with R after landing W + E + Q and when Mel's Mel W or Mel E are on cooldown.

Danger windows

Mel is dangerous when Mel W is available to reflect your Q and when Mel E can root you to set up poke.
Avoid engaging if Mel has marks on you and Mel R is ready to detonate.
Be cautious before level 3, as you are vulnerable to Mel's poke and root setup without your combo.

Early game

Avoid extended fights before level 3 as Zed is vulnerable to Mel's poke and root setup.
After level 3, use W + E + Q combo to trade aggressively when Mel's Mel W is down.
Punish Mel if she wastes Mel W early or misses Mel E to engage with your combo.

Power spikes

Major spikes: Level 3 unlocks your full W-E-Q combo; Level 6 grants R for lethal all-ins; first lethality item boosts your burst.
Respect Mel's Level 6 Mel R, which can finish marked targets and turn fights.
Mel's first completed mage item increases her poke damage, so be cautious around this timing.

Win conditions

Use your mobility and burst to punish Mel's cooldowns, especially Mel W and Mel E.
Deny Mel the chance to safely mark and poke by forcing short trades with your W + E + Q combo.
All-in decisively at level 6 with R when Mel is marked or her key defensive abilities are down.