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Come forth, demons! - ZK guide for Solo and Mid Laners (S7, 7.9)

56 3 235,629
9.4
by xmysterionz updated September 13, 2020

Smite God: Zhong Kui

Build Guide Discussion 23 More Guides
Choose a Build: Solo
Solo Mid
Tap Mouse over an item or ability icon for detailed info

Zhong Kui Build

Classic Solo Build (Bruiser with Sustain)

Notes Standard build for a Zhong solo. Power + Defenses. You will tank a decent amount of damage while still be able to burst enemies with a moderate damage.

If you are facing a god with tick damage like Guan Yu swap celestial helm for Tyrannical Plate Helm.

Sell shoes late game to buy Mantle of Discord after you get Elixir of Speed.

Notes

Standard build for a Zhong solo. Power + Defenses. You will tank a decent amount of damage while still be able to burst enemies with a moderate damage.

If you are facing a god with tick damage like Guan Yu swap celestial helm for Tyrannical Plate Helm.

Sell shoes late game to buy Mantle of Discord after you get Elixir of Speed.

Build Item Bancroft's Talon Bancroft's Talon
Build Item Shoes of the Magi Shoes of the Magi
Build Item Celestial Legion Helm Celestial Legion Helm
Build Item Void Stone Void Stone
Build Item Pridwen Pridwen
Build Item Ethereal Staff Ethereal Staff
Build Item Mantle of Discord Mantle of Discord

Start

Notes You can buy Mana Potions instead of multi potions.
Baron's Brew is recommended instead multi potions

Notes

You can buy Mana Potions instead of multi potions.
Baron's Brew is recommended instead multi potions

Build Item Warrior's Blessing Warrior's Blessing
Build Item Tiny Trinket Tiny Trinket
Build Item Healing Potion Healing Potion
3
Build Item Multi Potion Multi Potion
2

Alternative Start

Notes You can buy Mana Potions instead of multi potions.
Baron's Brew is recommended instead multi potions

Notes

You can buy Mana Potions instead of multi potions.
Baron's Brew is recommended instead multi potions

Build Item Talon Trinket Talon Trinket
Build Item Multi Potion Multi Potion
Build Item Healing Potion Healing Potion

Alternative Solo Build (Tank Mage)

Notes Sell shoes late game to buy Ethereal Staff after you get Elixir of Speed.

Notes

Sell shoes late game to buy Ethereal Staff after you get Elixir of Speed.

Build Item Shoes of the Magi Shoes of the Magi
Build Item Pythagorem's Piece Pythagorem's Piece
Build Item Tyrannical Plate Helm Tyrannical Plate Helm
Build Item Void Stone Void Stone
Build Item Hide of the Urchin Hide of the Urchin
Build Item Pridwen Pridwen
Build Item Ethereal Staff Ethereal Staff

Anti Healing Build

Notes Sell boots to buy Elixir of Speed and then build Ethereal Staff.

If your enemy is physical, then build Contagion and swap Celestial Legion Helm for Void Stone

Notes

Sell boots to buy Elixir of Speed and then build Ethereal Staff.

If your enemy is physical, then build Contagion and swap Celestial Legion Helm for Void Stone

Build Item Bancroft's Talon Bancroft's Talon
Build Item Shoes of the Magi Shoes of the Magi
Build Item Pestilence Pestilence
Build Item Divine Ruin Divine Ruin
Build Item Celestial Legion Helm Celestial Legion Helm
Build Item Pridwen Pridwen
Build Item Ethereal Staff Ethereal Staff

Defensive Options

Build Item Breastplate of Valor Breastplate of Valor
Build Item Celestial Legion Helm Celestial Legion Helm
Build Item Hide of the Nemean Lion Hide of the Nemean Lion
Build Item Hide of the Urchin Hide of the Urchin
Build Item Magi's Cloak Magi's Cloak
Build Item Mantle of Discord Mantle of Discord
Build Item Midgardian Mail Midgardian Mail
Build Item Spirit Robe Spirit Robe
Build Item Bulwark of Hope Bulwark of Hope
Build Item Pestilence Pestilence
Build Item Oni Hunter's Garb Oni Hunter's Garb
Build Item Void Stone Void Stone
Build Item Genji's Guard Genji's Guard
Build Item Pridwen Pridwen
Build Item Contagion Contagion

Offensive Options

Build Item Bancroft's Talon Bancroft's Talon
Build Item Divine Ruin Divine Ruin
Build Item Gem of Isolation Gem of Isolation
Build Item Tyrannical Plate Helm Tyrannical Plate Helm
Build Item Ethereal Staff Ethereal Staff
Build Item Staff of Myrddin Staff of Myrddin
Build Item Pythagorem's Piece Pythagorem's Piece

Zhong Kui's Skill Order

Expose Evil

1 X Y
Expose Evil
1 8 11 12 14

Exorcism

2 A B
Exorcism
2 4 6 7 10

Book of Demons

3 B A
Book of Demons
3 15 16 18 19

Recall Demons

4 Y X
Recall Demons
5 9 13 17 20
Expose Evil
1 8 11 12 14

Expose Evil

1 X
Zhong Kui pastes a card on all enemies in front of him, marking them as a demon, Slowing and damaging them each second while they are marked. If the card is removed, 75% of the remaining damage is done instantly.

Ability Type: Line, Slow, Damage
Damage Per Tick: 20 / 30 / 40 / 50 / 60 (+20% of your Magical Power)
Slow: 20%
Card Lifetime: 5s
Cost: 60 / 65 / 70 / 75 / 80
Cooldown: 12s
Exorcism
2 4 6 7 10

Exorcism

2 A
Zhong Kui drives out the demons of his enemies, dealing damage as they leave the body. Demons exorcised from Enemies marked by Expose Evil will be absorbed by Zhong Kui, healing him per demon (up to 3), and will remove the card.

Ability Type: Cone
Damage: 75 / 125 / 175 / 225 / 275 (+50% of your Magical Power)
Heal: 15 / 40 / 65 / 90 / 115
Cost: 60 / 65 / 70 / 75 / 80
Cooldown: 10s
Book of Demons
3 15 16 18 19

Book of Demons

3 B
When fired, the Book of Demons deals damage and Stuns enemies, stunning marked enemies for 2x the duration and removing the card. Once this ability has been ranked, the Book of Demons flies nearby Zhong Kui, firing for 50% of Zhong Kui's basic damage.

Ability Type: Circle, Stun, Damage
Damage: 80 / 135 / 190 / 245 / 300 (+50% of your Magical Power)
Stun: 1s (2x for marked targets)
Radius: 20
Cost: 60 / 65 / 70 / 75 / 80
Cooldown: 13s
Recall Demons
5 9 13 17 20

Recall Demons

4 Y
Upon activation, demons pulse out from his bag at nearby players every second for 5s. They chase and accelerate over time, doing damage to enemies as they enter the body. Zhong Kui is immune to Knockback and Slows for the duration.

Ability Type: Circle, Buff, Damage
Damage: 80 / 95 / 110 / 125 / 140 (+25% of your Magical Power)
Radius: 40
Cost: 100
Cooldown: 90s

Introduction


Art by Hadassa
My name is x MysTeRioN z, a majority Xbox Player but sometimes I play on PC too. I'm a Brazilian nice guy who likes to play FPS, Racing, Plataform and RPG games. I like to study and read when I'm not playing and I'm also studying to be a lawyer. My xbox gamertag is the same as here: x MysterioN z.



I'm here to bring you this quick guide to play with Zhong Kui on mid and solo lane. My objective here is be as quick as possible, so I don't want make a long guide (such as my Cupid guide: Love, find your mark!). I want to tell everything you need to know about this fat boi to play in mid or solo and without wasting time.


Art by whiteguardian via DeviantArt



Pros:
  • High Burst Damage Early/Mid game
  • Tank early game with damage
  • Good teamfight presence
  • Excellent wave clear and poke
  • Excellent healing
  • Fat but Hot
Cons:
  • Fall a bit at late game
  • Anti-healing shutdown his sustain
  • No escape (kill or be killed)
  • Mana hungry
  • Almost melee range
.
.
.
.
.

Skills and Combos



Skills

Demon Bag
Type: Passive

Protections Increased: 1 per demon

Zhong Kui store a demon on his bag every time anything dies near him (80 units) and increase his protections based on how much demons are in the bag (max 40). If he dies he lost half of the demons. If he uses Recall Demons he gains double protections from the bag but loses half demons too.

details


Expose Evil
Type: Line

Total Damage: 100/150/200/250/300 (+75% of your Magical Power) (divided in 5 ticks)
Slow: 20% for 5 secs


Zhong Kui marks all enemies in a line with his card damaging and slowing. 75% of remaining damage of this card is applied instantly if it is removed from the target.

details


Exorcism
Type: Cone

Damage: 75/125/175/225/275 (+50% of your Magical Power)
Heal: 20/35/50/65/80 (+20% of your Magical Power)

ZK uses his power to remove the demons from the enemy, dealing damage as soon as the demons get out. If the enemy is marked by Expose Evil the demons will be absorbed by ZK, healing him (up to 3).

details


Book of demons
Type: Area

Damage: 60/115/170/225/280 (+50% of your Magical Power)
Stun: 0.6/0.7/0.8/0.9/1 (2x if the target is marked)

Active: When used, ZK spins around himself stunning all enemies and marked targets are stunned for the double duration.
Passive: Book of Demons will attack whenever you attack with a basic attack dealing 50% of your basic attack damage.

details


Recall demons
Type: Area

Damage: 80/95/110/125/140 (+20% of your Magical Power)
Damage (Max): 400/475/550/625/700 (+100% of your Magical Power)

Zhong Kui recall all demons he got to attack nearby enemies gaining double protections from his bag and becoming immune to knockback/knockup and slows for 5 secs.

details



Combos

Click to see


How to Play


Early Game


  • You are STRONG and a problem to most part of mids and solo laners so try force some early fights and poke.
  • Try to clear the wave as soon as possible, and try to don't take damage from the wave. If the enemy cleared his wave first (what I usually doubt that will happen), retreat to your tower.
  • High recommend you take the damage buff if mid. If you see that there is a chance of the enemy take your buff, then do it even before your jungler comes. If this chance is not possible, wait for him.
  • In teamfights try to participate from some "safe" distance and use and abuse your of your damage whenever possible.
  • PUT WARDS ON THE MAP to avoid Ganks!!
  • Poke your enemy as soon as possible (See the "soft n hard poke" on Combos Section) and be careful doing it, he might call for help and put you in serious trouble, remember that you don't have any escape!!!!
  • FOCUS ON FARMING, you need to get big as soon as possible so every farm you see, do it if possible (camps or minions waves), especially the camps on the right and left side of mid lane and the totem of Ku.
  • Be careful to don't die. IF THE ENEMY GOT BIGGER THAN YOU, YOU WILL SUFFER SO MUCH.
  • Ask for help every time you need, and don't do anything that can compromise yourself.
  • Remember that you have a low health pool and no escape early game so "be smart".

Mid Game


  • Squishy target should be dying extremely easy for you if you hit your entire combo (including your ulti). Time to shine.
  • REMEMBER THAT OBJECTIVES ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN KILLS, so it's time to start to rotate, taking down towers, and kill with your team jungle bosses such as gold fury and fire giant.
  • ALWAYS try to participate of teamfights now, 'cause your skills ARE VERY USEFUL to the team and do a VERY GOOD amount of damage.
  • Now it's a nice moment to start rotate to surprise enemies and recall some demons!!!


Late Game


  • Time to group up.
  • This is when you fall a bit
  • Now you start to fall because you have a very short range and your enemies are doing a lot of damage now and if you don't have any defenses you will suffer.
  • Use wisely your skills now 'cause they are powerful and can change the teamfight destiny.
  • Stay with your team helping them and now, more than ever, participate in the team fights combining your skills with theirs.
  • Unfortunately, you are squishy, so YOU DIE FAST if you don't have any defenses at late game, BUT, you can counter it by playing safe and building some protections even if you are a mid. So, as long as you don't try to be a front line when mid and stay together with you team you will still being a killing machine.
  • As you should notice, an ultimate combo can kill a full health squishy target if you are a mid laner and remove a good amount of HP of the targets if you are solo.

Builds and Itemization


How to Build

Now I will talk about of how you should build ZK properly, what your build must have to be decent and viable.



how to build

Builds

In this section I tell you pros and cons of each build and for each situation each build were made for. If you wanna see comments about specific items on the builds, them go to the "Itemization" section.

Please don't forget to read the notes of each build, they have important comments ;)


solo

mid

Final Considerations



With this I shall banish the DEMONS! - Zhong Kui

Art by tomtomss via DeviantArt

My conclusion is that Zhong kui is a funny god to play and follwing the tips and builds I posted here I'm sure you will have good results in mid or solo. Good luck and have fun!!!

Special thanks:
  • Kaiology - For the amazing art on the headers

Check my guides:



Art by Zennore via DeviantArt


That's it, thank you for visiting my guide! Don't forget to leave your up vote and your comment. THANKS!

Leave a Comment

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Collapse All Comments

1
FROST LORD | January 13, 2021 4:07pm
It’s really good
1
xmysterionz (72) | January 13, 2021 4:40pm
Thank you :3
1
Arbiter77 | August 4, 2020 12:32am
Shaman's ring is still on here, also would you recommend the new spear of magus?
1
Kriega1 (143) | August 4, 2020 3:02am
It’s ok in mid but wouldn’t say it’s a must in Solo.
2
Gojemba | August 1, 2020 2:05pm
As a heads up, Staff of Myrddin can setup extra burst damage on him by allowing you two use your first ability Expose Evil twice in a row and THEN Exorcism. I tested this out in the practice arena at lvl 5 with no other items besides Staff of Myyrdin equipped. Against a Lvl 5 Odin while at Lvl 5 the Expose and Exorcism Combo does 104+99 dmg But almost double that if you use the ultimate first ( then after it ends use the first ability twice and then the second ability. With max cool downs you should be able to go Blink into an Ult, into the 1+2 combo and when the ult ends your next combo should be ready to cast almost right away which will be 1+1+2 for extra chunking damage.

P.S. This is my first post ever so forgive any quirkiness in my explanation.
1
xmysterionz (72) | August 1, 2020 9:20pm
First of all, congrats for your first post, I hope to see you around posting often :)
Second, It's a ver nice concept and idea. The only problem I would say if find a way to fit Myrddin on a build without miss something. I think that if you are not needing giant %pen you might end up find a slot replacing Charons and performing your combo.
1
xmysterionz (72) | February 11, 2020 5:26am
Spear of the Magus doesn't proc on his 1 only on his ulti. I don't know if it's a bug or it's supposed to be like that, so, right now it doesn't worth the pick. Maybe when (if) they fix it I might add it again. Item reworked
1
Gulfwulf (81) | February 4, 2020 3:04am
Tyrannical plate helm is listed twice under offensive options.
1
xmysterionz (72) | February 4, 2020 4:20am
Oops, not anymore, Thanks!
1
boogiebass (46) | February 3, 2020 6:34pm
Ohh I haven't upvoted this guide yet.
1
xmysterionz (72) | February 4, 2020 2:55am
What a shame :p
0
Gulfwulf (81) | February 3, 2020 7:20pm
boogiebass wrote:
Ohh I haven't down-voted this guide yet.

Fixed that for ya. :D
0
Horus Gaming | December 1, 2020 9:54am
cringe
1
xmysterionz (72) | February 4, 2020 2:56am
*Apolo Voices* "Mimimi mimimi"
1
xmysterionz (72) | February 3, 2020 4:26pm
Comments below this are from Season 6 and above it from Season 7
1
xmysterionz (72) | December 16, 2019 8:24am
Finally my fat sexy boy is back and the guide is updated too!!!
1
Kriega1 (143) | August 13, 2019 12:05pm
Why bancrofts over pythags in solo?
1
xmysterionz (72) | August 13, 2019 12:08pm
Both are good options but I felt bancroft let you be MUCH more aggressive early game and try a Snowball, that fit betters my play style, but again, both can work.
1
Kriega1 (143) | June 19, 2019 4:00am
Get magus before Bancrofts in the Thoth stacking mid build
1
Gulfwulf (81) | June 19, 2019 11:04am
Is Warlock's Staff worth picking up in solo?
1
Kriega1 (143) | June 19, 2019 7:02pm
It’s ok-ish, but probably best if you rush tier 2 Warlocks to stack it soon. Otherwise go into Pythags instead.
1
xmysterionz (72) | June 19, 2019 11:52am
Honestly I don't think so. It can be picked but I don't think it is the best option. Also if I didn't listed it, you guys probably would be asking for it :p
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League of Legends Build Guide Author xmysterionz
Come forth, demons! - ZK guide for Solo and Mid Laners (S7, 7.9)
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Table of Contents
Introduction
Skills and Combos
How to Play
Builds and Itemization
Final Considerations

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