Top 10 champions to counter Zaahen in League of Legends

League of Legends continues to release new champions so that things stay fresh. From Mel to Yunara, every new LoL champion has shifted the meta, and the same applies to Zaahen. When he isn’t banned, you may find yourself struggling with this elusive top laner and jungler, especially with his passive.

Fortunately, there are a handful of champions who stand out for being proper counters for Zaahen. These champions include Varus, Ryze, Kayle, Olaf, Teemo, Heimerdinger, and more, with every champion having abilities that can counter this champion.

So, if you’re looking to counter Zaahen in League of Legends ^[1], keep reading because we have you covered.

10. Varus

Varus applies ranged poke and lane pressure that challenge Zaahen’s melee-dependent playstyle. Trading from a distance forces Zaahen to overextend or play passively, slowing his scaling.

Although not as dominant as other counters, Varus’s sustained harassment and range make Zaahen’s typical encounters risky. With careful lane control and awareness, Varus can limit Zaahen’s opportunities. This limitation can create a matchup that favors Varus and keeps Zaahen on the defensive throughout the lane.

9. Vayne

Vayne is a riskier but viable counter to Zaahen. Once she scales with items, her mobility and kiting let her evade his engages, preventing him from effectively stacking his passive.

Her true damage and sustained dueling make extended fights dangerous for Zaahen. If Vayne survives early levels and plays cautiously, she can punish his melee-based approach. However, success relies more on mechanical skill and awareness than on stronger counters.

8. Kennen

Kennen counters Zaahen through ranged poke, mobility, and crowd control. Pressure from a distance forces Zaahen to be cautious, as approaching risks lightning stacks and stuns, disrupting his scaling.

While not the strongest counter, Kennen’s safety and poke allow him to manage trades effectively. By controlling the lane and avoiding long engagements, he reduces Zaahen’s impact, making Kennen a solid, moderate-risk counter in many matchups.

7. Ryze

Ryze counters Zaahen with ranged magic damage, wave-clear, and lane control, limiting his melee-heavy strengths. Early on, Ryze pressures Zaahen safely, forcing him to overextend or farm under tower, which slows his scaling.

If Zaahen tries to engage, Ryze’s combo and crowd control make trades risky and often unfavorable. While not the strongest counter, Ryze’s safe poke and lane control give him a consistent edge when played carefully.

6. Cassiopeia

Cassiopeia’s ranged magic damage and sustained DPS offer a favorable matchup versus Zaahen. Since Zaahen struggles to close the distance without risk, Cassiopeia can control the lane with consistent ability spam and zone control. This forces Zaahen to either approach dangerously or play passively and lose pressure.

Cassiopeia’s ranged damage and high threat at a distance put Zaahen’s core strengths at a disadvantage. In extended fights, Zaahen often fails to apply pressure meaningfully. Meanwhile, Cassiopeia chips away at his health and denies him effective engages or scaling, making her a solid, low-risk counter.

5. Kayle

Kayle becomes a strong counter to Zaahen, especially as the game progresses. Her ranged scaling, late-game power, and relative safety make engaging with her risky for Zaahen. Early on, Kayle can play defensively, avoid taking unnecessary trades, and farm safely until her scaling kicks in.

Once she reaches mid to late-game, Kayle’s range and sustained damage threaten Zaahen from a safe distance. As a result, Kayla represents a counter that becomes stronger over time against Zaahen’s scaling-dependent kit.

4. Malphite

Malphite is a strong pick against Zaahen thanks to his natural resistances and tanky scaling. His armor and damage absorption reduce Zaahen’s AD attacks and overall threat, especially in early to mid-game when defensive builds allow him to survive trades.

Malphite’s kit also helps him avoid extended fights that favor Zaahen. By playing safely and leveraging tankiness, he neutralizes Zaahen’s strengths, providing a reliable, low-risk counter throughout the lane.

3. Olaf

Olaf is a strong melee counter to Zaahen, excelling with early to mid-game aggression before Zaahen fully scales. He can punish Zaahen while he is still weak, preventing him from stacking his passive or building key items.

Olaf’s consistent damage and simple dueling mechanics limit Zaahen’s safe scaling window. With proper early aggression and itemization, Olaf neutralizes Zaahen’s advantage from prolonged fights, making him a reliable and durable counter throughout the laning phase.

2. Teemo

Teemo is a strong counter to Zaahen due to his ranged poke, lane control, and ability to disrupt auto-attacks. Zaahen relies on sustained attacks and stacking his passive, but Teemo’s blind and poke prevent him from trading safely or stacking effectively.

Later in the game, Teemo’s mobility and range continue to punish Zaahen’s melee approach. His consistent poke and kiting turn Zaahen’s strengths into weaknesses, making Teemo a reliable counter throughout the game.

1. Heimerdinger

Heimerdinger thrives at lane control and zoning, making it difficult for Zaahen to play safely. His turrets and ranged abilities force Zaahen to engage through damage and crowd-control, disrupting his ability to stack his passive.

Zaahen relies on extended fights to scale, but Heimerdinger’s short, poke-heavy style prevents this. Even when Zaahen commits to all-ins, Heimerdinger’s zoning and burst often outpace him, keeping the matchup consistently in Heimerdinger’s favor.

References

1. [1] "League of Legends official website". www.leagueoflegends.com. Retrieved December 12, 2025