Zeus · Mid (pos. 2)
Zeus Guide
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This guide is assembled by the site from match data and the game's own information — nobody wrote it by hand. Official and community guides appear alongside it when they exist.
Overview
Zeus is a ranged Intelligence hero that Valve tags as Nuker and Carry. It is played mainly as Mid (pos. 2): 47% of the public matches we measured, by starting lane and starting items. In this guide you play it as Mid (pos. 2): your job is to win the solo lane, control the runes and create pressure on the other lanes. The kit brings crowd control (stun) with Lightning Bolt, mobility with Arc Lightning and global reach with Nimbus. Its ultimate is Thundergod's Wrath. This patch, Zeus wins 50.2% of the 459,832 public matches we measured (B tier on our ladder).
Strengths
- Reliable stun: Lightning Bolt sets up kills and interrupts enemy channels.
- Thundergod's Wrath can swing team fights: it hits several enemies at once.
- Mobility: Arc Lightning gets Zeus in and out of fights.
- Global presence: Nimbus reaches the whole map.
Weaknesses
- Low base armor (1): vulnerable to physical harass early on.
- The enemy jungle and supports will target you for ganks.
Build cheat sheet
Pick the build that fits what you want to do this game.
- Most-played buildBalancedRecommendedThe items most bought with this hero, phase by phase. Pick it when you don't have a clear reason to deviate. Built from what Zeus players buy in the public matches we measured.
- Damage buildOffensiveAdvancedMoves the popular items that add damage — Phylactery and Yasha and Kaya — to the front. Choose it when your lane went well and you can afford to be greedy. Built from what Zeus players buy in the public matches we measured.
- Team utility buildUtilitySituationalBuilt around the popular items that help your allies — Phylactery and Aether Lens. Choose it when your team needs saves and auras more than your damage. Built from what Zeus players buy in the public matches we measured.
Builds
Most-played build
When to use it
The items most bought with this hero, phase by phase. Pick it when you don't have a clear reason to deviate. Built from what Zeus players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
315%238%147%- MidMain47% of matchesMid lane, one against one (pos. 2).
- OfflanePriority 238% of matchesOff lane as the space-making core (pos. 3).
- Safe lanePriority 315% of matchesSafe lane as the farming core (pos. 1).
Starting items
Early game
Core items
- 1Aghanim's Shard
- 2Aghanim's Scepter
- 3Kaya and Sange
- 4Phylactery
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Arc Lightning›Lightning Bolt›Heavenly Jump
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Talents by level
- 3 Heavenly Jump Charges325 AoE Lightning Bolt25
- +60 Arc Lightning Damage+0.5s Lightning Bolt Ministun20
- +75 Thundergod's Wrath Damage-20% Arc Lightning Mana Cost / Cooldown15
- +200 Health+1 Heavenly Jump Target10
Damage build
When to use it
Moves the popular items that add damage — Phylactery and Yasha and Kaya — to the front. Choose it when your lane went well and you can afford to be greedy. Built from what Zeus players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
315%238%147%- MidMain47% of matchesMid lane, one against one (pos. 2).
- OfflanePriority 238% of matchesOff lane as the space-making core (pos. 3).
- Safe lanePriority 315% of matchesSafe lane as the farming core (pos. 1).
Starting items
Core items
- 1Phylactery+6 All Attributes, +5.5 Health Regeneration, +2.25 Mana Regeneration.
- 2Yasha and Kaya+16 Agility, +16 Intelligence, +20 Attack Speed.
- 3Crystalys+32 Damage.
- 4Divine Rapier+100 Damage.
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Arc Lightning›Lightning Bolt›Heavenly Jump
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Talents by level
- 3 Heavenly Jump Charges325 AoE Lightning Bolt25
- +60 Arc Lightning Damage+0.5s Lightning Bolt Ministun20
- +75 Thundergod's Wrath Damage-20% Arc Lightning Mana Cost / Cooldown15
- +200 Health+1 Heavenly Jump Target10
Team utility build
When to use it
Built around the popular items that help your allies — Phylactery and Aether Lens. Choose it when your team needs saves and auras more than your damage. Built from what Zeus players buy in the public matches we measured.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
315%238%147%- MidMain47% of matchesMid lane, one against one (pos. 2).
- OfflanePriority 238% of matchesOff lane as the space-making core (pos. 3).
- Safe lanePriority 315% of matchesSafe lane as the farming core (pos. 1).
Starting items
Core items
- 1Phylactery+6 All Attributes, +5.5 Health Regeneration, +2.25 Mana Regeneration.
- 2Aether Lens+300 Mana, +2.5 Mana Regeneration, +225 Cast Range.
- 3Refresher Orb+14 Health Regeneration, +7.0 Mana Regeneration. Active: Reset Cooldowns.
- 4Glimmer Cape+20% Magic Resistance. Active: Glimmer.
Boots
Late game
Skill order
Max order:Arc Lightning›Lightning Bolt›Heavenly Jump
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | ● | ● | · | · |
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| · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● |
Talents by level
- 3 Heavenly Jump Charges325 AoE Lightning Bolt25
- +60 Arc Lightning Damage+0.5s Lightning Bolt Ministun20
- +75 Thundergod's Wrath Damage-20% Arc Lightning Mana Cost / Cooldown15
- +200 Health+1 Heavenly Jump Target10
Abilities
- Arc Lightning1.6s85 / 90 / 95 / 100 mpHurls a bolt of lightning that leaps through nearby enemy units that deal damage.
- Damage
- 105·130·155·180
- Jump radius
- 450
- Jumps
- 5·7·9·11
- Lightning Bolt6s120 / 125 / 130 / 135 mpCalls down a bolt of lightning to strike an enemy unit, causing damage and a mini-stun. When cast, Lightning Bolt briefly provides unobstructed vision and True Sight around the target in a 600 radius. Can be cast on the ground, affecting the closest enemy hero in 325 range.
- Damage
- 140·220·300·380
- Sight radius
- 600
- Sight duration
- 5
- Ministun duration
- 0.35
- Heavenly Jump26 / 22 / 18 / 14s50 / 60 / 70 / 80 mpZeus performs a Heavenly Jump, leaping forward and shocking the closest visible nearby enemy (prioritizing heroes), dealing damage as well as reducing their movement and attack speed. Zeus gets 900 unobstructed vision around him for 3 seconds.
- Damage
- 25·50·75·100
- Leap distance
- 375·450·525·600
- Shock range
- 700·800·900·1000
- Vision radius
- 900
- Duration
- 1.4
- Move speed slow
- 80
Nimbus45s275 mpCreates a storm cloud anywhere on the map that automatically casts Lightning Bolt on nearby enemies.- Duration
- 30
- Lightning bolt base cooldown
- 2.5
- Radius
- 450
- Hits to destroy
- 8
- Creep hits to destroy
- 16
Lightning HandsZeus gains bonus attack speed and his attacks create Arc Lightnings that deal a percentage of its damage. Can be toggled off to stop this effect.- Bonus attack speed
- 20
- Arc lightning damage
- 50
- Thundergod's Wrath130s250 / 375 / 500 mpStrikes all enemy heroes with a bolt of lightning, dealing damage no matter where they may be. Provides True Sight around each hero before they are struck.
- True sight radius
- 600
- Duration
- 3
- Damage
- 275·425·575
Static FieldPassiveZeus shocks any enemy that he attacks or is hit by his abilities, causing damage equal to a percentage of their current health.- Damage
- 3.45
Most played skill order
The most played order in the last 100 professional matches with this hero. Highlighted levels are the points spent on talents.
Max order:Arc Lightning›Lightning Bolt›Heavenly Jump
| Ability | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | ● | ● | · | · |
| · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● | ● | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● |
Strategy
1Early game
Mid is a one-on-one: whoever has more last hits and levels usually wins it. Contest the power runes every two minutes and use a good one to gank a side lane. Trade when the enemy mid goes for a last hit and when you are a level ahead: in the solo lane each level is a real edge.
- Early items: Bottle and Null Talisman.
2Mid game
With Aghanim's Shard, you should be the one starting the action: gank, push out lanes and take towers with your team. Your spikes are level 6, when Thundergod's Wrath comes online, and your core items: Aghanim's Shard and then Aghanim's Scepter.
- Core items: Aghanim's Shard, Aghanim's Scepter and Kaya and Sange.
3Late game
Late, choose your fights: you still hit hard, but the enemy carry catches up. Stay with the team and look for picks with vision.
- Late items: Refresher Orb and Divine Rapier.
4Team fights
Your damage decides the opening seconds: look for the enemy support or carry out of position, and use Thundergod's Wrath where it hits the most heroes.
Tips
- Check the power runes at every even minute and gank with the good ones.
- Aghanim's Shard is your first big spike: once you have it, leave the lane and look for kills.
- Push the wave into the enemy tower before you rotate, or the lane punishes you twice.
- Plan fights around Thundergod's Wrath: without it, Zeus is far less threatening.
- Keep Arc Lightning for getting out, not for chasing.
Matchups
Strong against
- Dragon Knight55.8%win rate in the matchup
Zeus wins 55.8% of the 113 games measured against Dragon Knight this patch.
113 matches
- Ursa54.3%win rate in the matchup
Zeus wins 54.3% of the 138 games measured against Ursa this patch.
138 matches
- Lion53.5%win rate in the matchup
Zeus wins 53.5% of the 157 games measured against Lion this patch.
157 matches
- Axe52.8%win rate in the matchup
Zeus wins 52.8% of the 108 games measured against Axe this patch.
108 matches
- Disruptor52.1%win rate in the matchup
Zeus wins 52.1% of the 140 games measured against Disruptor this patch.
140 matches
Weak against
- Windranger40.7%win rate in the matchup
Zeus only wins 40.7% of the 118 games measured against Windranger this patch.
118 matches
- Ogre Magi41.0%win rate in the matchup
Zeus only wins 41.0% of the 229 games measured against Ogre Magi this patch.
229 matches
- Sniper41.0%win rate in the matchup
Zeus only wins 41.0% of the 122 games measured against Sniper this patch.
122 matches
- Snapfire43.6%win rate in the matchup
Zeus only wins 43.6% of the 195 games measured against Snapfire this patch.
195 matches
- Queen of Pain45.8%win rate in the matchup
Zeus only wins 45.8% of the 131 games measured against Queen of Pain this patch.
131 matches
Works well with
Slithereen Crush from Slardar holds enemies in place for Thundergod's Wrath from Zeus.
Lightning Bolt from Zeus holds enemies in place for Ghostship from Kunkka.
Summon Raptors from Beastmaster holds enemies in place for Thundergod's Wrath from Zeus.
Changelog
- Guide created for patch 7.41.
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