Talk:Zilean/@comment-71.236.150.124-20120329215014

Zilean is best played with a mix of AP and defensive stats, while maxing CDR of course. If you build straight AP youre going to get focused down instantly, the combination of incredibly high AoE damage and an ult that will rez anyone back to full health will make you the highest priority target on basically any team. If youre forced to ult yourself then youve effectively wasted it.

Zilean IS a support, but he supports in a different way than the other supports. He supports with supplemental AoE damage, chain slows, and rezzes.

When I used to play him all the time, I usually started with mana crystal that I built into a RoA. I used mercs treads because they help escape from ganks (something that zil is VERY good at). I then built a glacial shroud for the armor, mana, and CDR. Next I would get a negatron cloak that I would eventually build into either an abby scepter (for more damage) or a banshee's veil (if i needed it for something). Beyond that it was situational, with the proper masterys and rune page i had enough CDR to chain slow someone forever. This build has mana problems early game but I never took clarity, it wasn't necessary, just wait to harass with bombs until it gets to a level where it will do some real damage. Later in the game just grab blue buff and you can spam your spells all day.

Every Zilean should ALWAYS use flash, it will save so often that nothing else is worth taking more.