Talk:Zilean/@comment-209.87.205.62-20120912135038/@comment-5159141-20120928074326

^ No. About as bad as wasting an item slot which could be used for something far more efficient and synergizing.

Why bother building so much health on Zilean? Focus on CDR's/Mana Regen/AP and some pen instead, so earlygame and at the start of midgame you can bait lots, LOTS of kills for your team (thanks to being deceptively squishy; your ult would heal you for full/almost full hp). Watch them towerdive, and then laugh in their faces.

Of course, while bombing everything around for TONS OF DAMAGE.

Later, just make full use of your skills to help your teammates as much as possible. Watch as your carry comes back to life again, and wrecks the remnants of their team. Speed up your rammus (and maybe place a bomb on him), slow their squishies. Your cooldowns are so short that you're basically leading the game here.

Actually, let me rephase what I said previously, because it turned out different than I wanted it to be. RoA is by no means a BAD item on Zilean; it just that there's always something better to build for him. Zil was the first champion I've ever played, and the first I've ever mained. I've got a special sentiment for this guy, due to how much time I've spent on honing my skills with him. I've often started with the Tear and there was no place for a catalyst. You don't jump into the fights head-on anyway, you stay back (That is, unless you want to bait). Zilean has this one great advantage - he's really underestimated. A skillful zilean can always turn the game in your favor. And let's not forget his lovely passive, which often gives you that so sought-after advantage in ranked games.

If you wish to do so, you can build Zilean like any other AP carry. It'll work to some extend. It's just not something I'd recommend, since his full potential would not be unleashed.