Guide · Jungle

Zyra Guide

Rise of the Thorns

Mage

Support

Tier C Jungle

Zyra, Rise of the Thorns, is a mage and support champion that is demanding to master. Across our 503 analysed ranked games, Zyra is mostly played in the Jungle (47% of its games), and more rarely as Support (39%) and as ADC (14%), with a 50.0% win rate in that role: tier C among Jungle champions (#35 of 48, ranked by win rate). Zyra's damage is mostly magic (84%): magic resistance items are therefore effective against this champion. 11% of that damage is true damage and therefore ignores resistances. Win rate varies with game length: 58.5% in short games (under 25 min, 65 games) versus 37.5% in long games (over 35 min).

Averages measured over 236 Jungle games played with Zyra, from our ranked Solo/Duo data collection.

Combos and how to play

Zyra is an area mage who fights with plants: seeds appear regularly, and casting Deadly Spines or Grasping Roots near them turns them into plants that fight for her. Grasping Roots roots, and Stranglethorns knocks up and enrages the plants.

Harassment

W › Q › E

When: An enemy is within range of a seed.

Plant a seed then Deadly Spines near it: a Thorn Spitter grows and fires from afar; Grasping Roots near a seed grows a Vine Lasher that slows.

The root

E › Q › R

When: An enemy is isolated.

Grasping Roots roots the target; Deadly Spines deals damage in an explosion, Stranglethorns knocks up.

The team fight

W › W › R › E

When: A fight begins at a prepared spot.

Stranglethorns damages as it spreads then knocks up the enemies; the plants inside the thorns become enraged.

Laning phase

Plant seeds with Rampant Growth: they last up to 60 seconds and can be stored. Cast your abilities near seeds to grow plants.

Common mistakes

• Casting your abilities far from your seeds: you lose the plants.
• Forgetting that seeds last 60 seconds.
• Using the ultimate with no plants to enrage.

Riot's official tips for playing Zyra

• Placing a seed in your spell's path after you have cast it gives you the best chance of having a seed in the proper spot.
• Seeds grant vision to your team.
• Zyra is a great ambusher - look for opportunities to set a trap of seeds in brush, then lure enemies in.

Build, runes and summoner spells

The most-played core build is Zhonya's Hourglass, Shadowflame, and Liandry's Torment (69 games, 55.1% win rate).

Zhonya's Hourglass+Shadowflame+Liandry's Torment

69 games · 55.1%

Rylai's Crystal Scepter+Shadowflame+Liandry's Torment

22 games · 45.5%

Rylai's Crystal Scepter+Zhonya's Hourglass+Liandry's Torment

19 games · 47.4%

Summoner spells

Flash + Smite50.0% · 236 games

Most-played runes

Electrocute + Precision

47.5% · 162 games

Primary tree · Domination

Cheap Shot100%

Sixth Sense90%

Treasure Hunter94%

Secondary tree · Precision

Legend: Haste100%

Cut Down100%

Shards

Ability haste68%

Adaptive force66%

Health scaling62%

Dark Harvest + Precision

59.2% · 49 games

Primary tree · Domination

Cheap Shot100%

Sixth Sense86%

Treasure Hunter71%

Secondary tree · Precision

Cut Down98%

Legend: Haste98%

Shards

Ability haste61%

Adaptive force88%

Health scaling67%

For each row, the most picked rune among the games played with this page (share of games in brackets).

Which items to build against the enemy team?

We sort every game by the enemy team's damage. These are Zyra's completed items and their win rate in each situation; "▲" marks an item that does at least 3 points better than its usual win rate.

Mostly magic-damage enemy team49.2% · 65 games

At least 50% of their damage is magic

Liandry's Torment 50.0%

Shadowflame 60.5% ▲

Zhonya's Hourglass 46.4% ▼

Rylai's Crystal Scepter 46.7%

The item that stands out most is Shadowflame: 60.5% win rate, +7 points versus its usual win rate.

Mostly physical-damage enemy team50.0% · 60 games

Less than 35% of their damage is magic

Liandry's Torment 51.7%

Shadowflame 46.4% ▼

Zhonya's Hourglass 53.8% ▲

Rylai's Crystal Scepter 53.3%

The item that stands out most is Zhonya's Hourglass: 53.8% win rate, +4 points versus its usual win rate.

Balanced enemy team50.4% · 111 games

Mixed physical and magic damage

Liandry's Torment 50.0%

Shadowflame 51.6%

Zhonya's Hourglass 50.0%

Rylai's Crystal Scepter 48.0%

Rabadon's Deathcap 41.7%

Bloodletter's Curse 60.0%

No item clearly stands out in this situation: the usual build remains the reference.

Counters and matchups

How to play against Zyra

• Zyra's seeds can be destroyed by stepping on them. If she tries to grow them as you do, dodge back at the last moment.
• Moving closer to Zyra can be a smart move if she places plants too far away from herself.
• Plants take fixed damage from attacks and effects, similar to wards. They also expire quickly on their own.
• Moving the fight to a different area will deprive Zyra of accumulated seeds.
• Seeds placed by Zyra's W are larger, a different color, and grant a small amount of vision to her team.

Win rates measured over direct same-role duels; only matchups with more than 15 games are listed. See all of Zyra's matchups.

Abilities

PassiveGarden of Thorns

Seeds spawn around Zyra periodically, becoming faster with level. Zyra can cast Deadly Spines or Grasping Roots near seeds to grow plants, who fight for Zyra.

QDeadly Spines

Thick vines spread through the ground and explode into spines, dealing magic damage to enemies within the area. If cast near a seed, Deadly Spines grows a Thorn Spitter plant, which fires at enemies from afar.

WRampant Growth

Zyra plants a seed, lasting up to 60 seconds. Deadly Spines and Grasping Roots cast near seeds will turn them into plants who fight for Zyra. Zyra can store multiple seeds at once, and killing enemies reduces Rampant Growth's recharge time.

EGrasping Roots

Zyra sends forth vines through the ground to ensnare her target, dealing damage and rooting enemies they come across. If cast near a seed, Grasping Roots grows a Vine Lasher, whose short range attacks reduce enemy Move Speed.

RStranglethorns

Zyra summons a twisted thicket at her target location, dealing damage to enemies as it expands and knocking them airborne as it contracts. Plants within the thicket are enraged.

Frequently asked questions

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