jungle

[8.9.1][SHOCK!] Zac is Still an OP Champ in May 2018

by Akiin

(Last updated on May 10, 2018)

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Builds

Summoner Spells

Hide Notes
  • Smite
  • Flash

Runes

  • resolve
    RESOLVE
  • Aftershock
  • Font of Life
  • Conditioning
  • Revitalize
  • precision
    PRECISION
  • Triumph
  • Legend: Tenacity
Bonus :

+65 health and +9% attack speed

I’ve tried using a lot of different runes in solo que.
Electrocute, Arcane Comet, bruiser Zac…
Everyone criticizes me.
So, in this guide I’m not going for those ‘special’ Zacs like 30% cooldown reduction runes.
This is just a basic Zac guide.

Items

Start

  • Hunter's Talisman
  • Refillable Potion

Early Game Priorities

  • Stalker's Blade
  • Ionian Boots of Lucidity
  • Bami's Cinder
  • Kindlegem

End Game

  • Enchantment: Cinderhulk
  • Ionian Boots of Lucidity
  • Warmog's Armor
  • Locket of the Iron Solari
  • Gargoyle Stoneplate
  • Randuin's Omen

Ability Sequence

  • Cell Division

    Cell Division(Passive)

  • Stretching Strikes
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
  • Unstable Matter
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
  • Elastic Slingshot
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
  • Let's Bounce!
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
  • Unstable Matter
    Elastic Slingshot
    Stretching Strikes
    Elastic Slingshot
    Elastic Slingshot
    Let's Bounce!
    Elastic Slingshot
    Unstable Matter
    Elastic Slingshot
    Unstable Matter
    Let's Bounce!
    Unstable Matter
    Unstable Matter
    Stretching Strikes
    Stretching Strikes
    Let's Bounce!
    Stretching Strikes
    Stretching Strikes

Vs. Champions

  • Jhin
  • Kha'Zix
  • Difficulty
  • Champion
  • Notes
Easy
JhinJhin

Champions that lacks mobility makes Zac's ganks so much easier. If the enemy bottom lacks movement skills, start off with a reverse jungle camp and seek a level 3~4 bot gank.

Hard
KhazixKha'Zix

Such a difficult 1 vs 1 matchup. Kha'Zix will constantly counter jungle. Seek skirmishes and 1 vs 1. He'll seek for early game kills; on level 6 he can instantly assassinate your mid/ADC champions.

Intro

Inven nickname: 뼹뼹

Runes

Tier 1

AftershockAftershock



Tier 2
Font of LifeFont of Life


I’ve seen SKT T1 Blank use this when he played Zac. I’ve also tried it out. I’m not sure whether it was because of my teammates or the efficiency of this rune, but I was on a win streak. To think of it, I think it’s not bad at all. I'll recommend Font of Life.




Tier 3
ConditioningConditioning


A good rune for junglers.




Tier 4

Revitalize Revitalize


Overgrowth and Revitalize are both effective runes but for Zac, Revitalize is better. It helps his early jungling as well as his late game survival.




Secondary - Tier 1
TriumphTriumph


Don’t think he needs movement speed, nor utility, so I picked this one. I think it’s a safe choice.




Tier 2

Legend: TenacityLegend: Tenacity


Zac is a tank champion, not a attack speed champ. Go with Legend:Tenacity to get some Tenacity.

Skills

1. Skill Tips


Zac has so many skill combinations. That’s why you need to know his skill mechanism.


First of all, the QStretching Strikes skill. Well, if you succed to land the skill, the two targets you've hit clashes to one another. You can only land Q on champions or minions. A small tip: after you land Q, you can use a basic attack that can be also landed on wards and plants. For example, you can use Q on a champion and then land your basic attack on a plant and drag that champion towards you.



Secondly, the WUnstable Matter skill. W has a percent HP damage. The total damage deal on level 1 is only 15, which was already nerfed several times. (it was 45 in the past) Use it on jungle camp anytime it’s ready. When you’re using ult, it’s also important to use WUnstable Matter-RLet's Bounce! to deal some extra damage.



Next, Zac’s key skill, EElastic Slingshot. You charge for about 1 second and then fly for a maximum of 1800 range. If the enemy is hit, Zac airbornes the champion for 0.5~1 seconds based on how long you charge your E. Once you max your E, you can fly from the golem camp to all the way to the dragon pit. However, it can be easily cancelled by enemy skills such as Alistar Q/W, Janna Q/R, Thresh E.



The most difficult to use, his ultLet's Bounce!. After you charge for 1.1 seconds, any enemy in the hit range can be carried to another position. If you use it before fully charging this skill, Zac knocks back the enemies. People mostly use it after charging for 1.1 seconds, but in specific conditions such as; if you just want to focus 100 damage, or if you don’t want to move the enemies in a different position, just use R-R and give some damage.




2. Skill Combination



1. basic attack



2. basic attack



3. basic attack



4. ( not charging for 1.1sec ) basic attack



5. basic attack



6.



and so on. Use your creativity. There can be lots of other combinations.


Zac’s essence is on how and when to you use the three skills; QStretching Strikes, EElastic Slingshot, RLet's Bounce! effectively. So, don’t be too tied down on the combinations.

Items

Items are the most important. He has lower base stats compared to Sejuani, so you need to fill in that gap with plenty of good tank items. Item selection should differ based on specific situations.


(02.16 added) The majority builds Warmog’s Warmog's Armor. It’s a must unless the opponent has only AD or AP champions on their side.





-----What to build on your early game----------


Jungle ItemStalker's Blade> Ruby CrystalRuby Crystal > Bami’s CinderBami's Cinder > Boots of Speed Boots of Speed > CinderhulkEnchantment: Cinderhulk




**I think that the Spirit VisageSpirit Visage is not an important item for Zac. The Adaptive HelmAdaptive Helm is usually a better item so lets not fix Visage as a ‘must have item’ for Zac.**




-----------------------------------
(02.25 Added)


I’ve decided to go for the cooldown bootsIonian Boots of Lucidity again. Sell it in late game phase.


Zac builds the Iron SolariLocket of the Iron Solari and Warmog’sWarmog's Armor like any other tank champ does.


Especially, Warmog’s should be the next core item once you upgrade your jungle itemEnchantment: Cinderhulk.


After that, you can go for Randuin’sRanduin's Omen , VisageSpirit Visage , Adaptive HelmAdaptive Helm , Iron Solari based on the enemy champion (AD/AP) .


Solari should be next, and then a good choice is to go for the Gargoyle StoneplateGargoyle Stoneplate.


Use GargoyleGargoyle Stoneplate - Solari togetherLocket of the Iron Solari. - > Because, Solari’s shield is based on your HP.



After that, build Randuin’s , Adaptive Helm , ThornmailThornmail .

VS Champions

Top 3 difficult matchups                                                                               





Kha’Zix


He’ll counter jungle like crazy. If he gets kills, on level 6 he can instantly assassinate mid/ADC champions.


You will probably be the blame. 

   
                               
                                    
                                                                   

                                           
Shyvana


I think she’s actually the hardest.
If she comes in for a counter jungle in early game, chances are you’ll lose 2 vs 2 and will have to give away your buff.

                                       
                                  

                                           
Kayn


Highly aggressive jungler. His R Umbral Trespass makes him so hard to land your EElastic Slingshot. He also has a fair amount of AD deal. 


Strong in 2 vss2s as well. 
Still, it’s easier than going against Shyvana/Kha’Zix.





Top 3 Easy matchups                               
                       
                                           

                                           
Jhin

               
Champions that lack movement skills like Jhin are the easiest preys in ganks.  Use a reverse route for your first buffs and go for a level 3, 4 bottom gank.               


                   


                                           
Lee Sin


Another aggressive jungler like Kayn. However, he looses his power in late games. You’ll eventually gain the advantage.
Lee Sin usually tries to counter jungle. Zac’s jungle clear isn’t that bad, so it’s hard to say that he is weak against counter jungles. I personally don’t have a hard time against him.

Additional Tips

Jungle tips


Blue - > Wolf - > (Razorbeaks)- > Red - > Try Rift Scuttler


You can clear Razorbeaks if you want but I don’t personally prefer to. Usually I try to go for a level 3 top/mid gank.                    


     


      
Early Game


If you’ve used a standard jungle buff route and have hit level 3; you can choose from ganking top or mid.
I recommend level 3 mid ganks.


Mid lane is pretty short in length so you can easily land your EElastic Slingshot. Most junglers do go for top on level 3. However, since Zac has a disadvantage in early 2 vs 2s, it’s best to avoid getting into small skirmishes. Just go for mid. 


If you’ve reversed your jungle buff route, clear out the Gromp- > Rift Scuttler - > Razorbeaks first and then go for a mid/bottom gank. If the opponent bottom duo are pushing, it’s a great chance. It’ll at least cost them their summoner spells.


On the other hand, if your top laner is pushing through lane, you should wait for a counter gank. If top is clearing waves aggressively, he will most likely give first blood if you do not help.


Please don’t dive in early games. Your passive chunks get killed instantly by turrets and the enemy jungler can come in for a counter gank, killing your laner as well. Just forget about your passive until late game. Of course, in late game teamfights, you should try to initiate fights by using your passive.



Mid game

Gank bottom as much as possible because 'ADC carry game' is the trend these days. Use Zac’s QStretching Strikes to slow down the enemy bot duo. It will cost them a kill or at least a summoner spell.


After ganking bottom, put a ward on enemy buffs and go for steals. Even if your jungle matchup is Lee Sin, you can easily escape by using your EElastic Slingshot. Smite and steal. Then escape with EElastic Slingshot. Easy.


I don’t recommend top. If it’s a tank vs tank matchup, you should at least have attack damage items, but Zac is a tank as well.


Also, if the game is in its mid phase, obtaining Drakes becomes important. If you go top and fail to get a kill, the opponent will probably go for the Drake. So try to be near mid and bottom lane.





Late game

TEAMFIGHT!!





Teamfight tips


Zac isn’t a champ that should try to escape out. Before engaging, hide. Be out of sight and if the enemy is in range, use EElastic Slingshot- WUnstable Matter- RLet's Bounce!. When you gank, you can use EElastic Slingshot -QStretching Strikes -basic attack - RLet's Bounce!  combo, but in a teamfight enemies are usually grouped up. You don’t have time to use other skills, so get in with your EElastic Slingshot and immediately use RLet's Bounce!.


If the opponent rank tiers become higher, users know how to evade Zac’s EElastic Slingshot with their dash or Flash. In that case, don’t target on the enemy dealer. Engage with EElastic Slingshot and bring the majority closer to your team. If you happen to land on an enemy tank, try to push them far away to give your team the advantage.





Champion matchup tips


If the enemy jungler is a tank/herbivore, use a standard buff route. If your bottom duo has some good gank support skills, going for opposite buffs might help.


If the jungler is an aggressive champion like Lee SinLee Sin/KaynKayn, go for reverse jungle buff routes. Steal the enemy Razorbeaks and go for mid/bottom ganks.





To conclude,


Zac’s QStretching Strikes, WUnstable Matter, EElastic Slingshot skills have been all nerfed. He doesn’t have that huge dominance like the good old days, but he is still a very easy and fun champion to use.


Thank you.

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