Zeus counter and synergy picks
Pick Zeus with Wraith King to increase win-rate from 49.7% to 56.3% or against Monkey King to increase win-rate to 57.6% in Patch 7.39b.
Good with...
...based on stats [7.39b]
| Hero | Change in Win Rate ▼ |
|---|---|
6.6% | |
5.4% | |
5.3% | |
4.8% | |
4.6% | |
3.9% | |
3.8% | |
3.5% | |
3.1% | |
2.8% | |
2.6% | |
2.5% | |
2.4% | |
2.0% | |
1.9% |
...based on gameplay [7.39b]
Doom's Doom is usually dealt with by retreating and hiding somewhere in safety until it expires. Thundergod's Wrath and Nimbus (Aghanim's Scepter Upgrade) provide global follow up damage and vision of the Doomed target to secure the kill, allowing Doom to ult more freely and more often as he has consistent follow up from Zeus. Nimbus can additionally interrupt any Doomed targets that are trying to TP out to safety.
Baraccuda allows Slark to determine whether he is being seen by his enemies, either by an invisible opponent or an Observer Ward - Lightning Bolt reveals invisibility, including Wards, allowing Zeus and Slark to scour the map and remove all enemy vision, giving them and their team a significant advantage. Depth Shroud (Aghanim's Shard Upgrade) is an amazing save for Zeus if he gets gone on, while Pounce is a long duration leash that can hold opponents down for Zeus to get multiple volleys of his spells of.
Zeus and Nature’s Prophet make a strong team because Nature’s global Teleportation allows quick map presence and split pushing, while Zeus provides powerful magical burst damage in fights. Together, they can control the map, catch enemies off guard, and secure kills with their combined global abilities.
Zeus and Silencer complement each other well as allies. Silencer’s Global Silence prevents enemies from casting spells, setting up easy combos for Zeus to land his burst damage without interruption. Together, they control team fights by shutting down enemy spellcasters and quickly bursting them down
Zeus and Spectre make a good team because Zeus’s magical burst can weaken enemies before Spectre jumps in with Haunt to clean up. Zeus’s global presence helps spot targets and control fights, allowing Spectre to safely pick off key heroes during chaotic engagements.
Zeus and Ancient Apparition work well together as allies. Ancient Apparition’s Ice Blast prevents enemy healing, amplifying Zeus’s magical burst damage. Combined with Zeus’s high nukes and global presence, they can effectively control fights and secure kills by shutting down enemy sustain.
...core items [7.39b]
A core item to gain some HP and mana sustain. Also allows the potential to make plays with power runes past the 6 minute mark. Regeneration and arcane runes provide you the most value as they let you conserve mana for fighting and farming.
A core 
Boots of Speed upgrade for some much needed mana sustain to spam your spells for fighting and farming.
A core item to improve your damage output from spells and lower their mana cost. Gets upgraded to 
Yasha and Kaya later in the game.
A core to have another source of global damage alongside Thundergods Wrath. Lets you clear creep waves as well as cancel TPs and other channeling spells anywhere on the map. Especially good to find elusive heroes in treelines, such as 
Tinker and 
Treant Protector.
A core item to improve your damage output and farming speed with Arc Lightning on right clicks. Goes extremely well with
Yasha and Kaya for high damage Arc Lightning on attacks.
A core item that significantly boosts your magic damage output and gain some much needed mobility. Has great synergy with 
Aghanim's Shard to output more damage without expending your mana.
A core item in the early to mid game that improves the cast range on your high damage nukes and provides some much needed mana regen. Builds into 
Ethereal Blade later in the game.
A core item that maintains your global kill threat more often by reducing the cooldown of all your spells and items.
Good against...
...based on stats [7.39b]
| Hero | Change in Win Rate ▼ |
|---|---|
7.9% | |
7.8% | |
5.8% | |
5.7% | |
5.4% | |
5.2% | |
4.9% | |
4.9% | |
4.4% | |
4.4% | |
4.4% | |
4.4% | |
4.3% | |
4.1% | |
3.9% |
...based on gameplay [7.39b]
Zeus is good against Sand King because his high magical burst damage can quickly punish Sand King before he initiates. Zeus’s ultimate, Thundergod’s Wrath, reveals Sand King even when burrowed or hiding, preventing surprise ganks
Zeus is effective against Drow Ranger because his high magical burst can quickly bring her down before she deals damage. Zeus’s global presence with Thundergod’s Wrath helps reveal Drow’s position and assist allies.
Zeus is strong against Riki because his spells reveal invisible units, making it hard for Riki to stay hidden. Zeus’s burst damage can quickly kill Riki before he gets close, and his ultimate, Thundergod’s Wrath, can finish off low-health enemies globally, including Riki.
Zeus can pressure Sniper with constant magical damage, forcing him to play cautiously in lane. His high burst spells can punish Sniper before he gets his core items, while Zeus’s Thundergod’s Wrath reveals Sniper’s position in fights, preventing surprise attacks.
Zeus can still kill enemies inside Winter Wyvern’s Cold Embrace because his damage is magical and continuous, gradually wearing down the healed target. While Cold Embrace provides strong healing and makes the target immune to physical damage, it doesn’t block Zeus’s spells, allowing him to burst down enemies inside it over time
Zeus counters Hoodwink by dealing heavy magical burst damage that can quickly take her down before she responds. His spells reveal Hoodwink’s location, making it harder for her to safely use Sharpshooter or escape
Zeus is effective against Muerta because his high magical burst can quickly damage and control her before she becomes a threat. Additionally, Muerta takes increased damage during her ultimate, which Zeus can exploit with his spells to burst her down faster.
Zeus is strong against Shadow Demon because his high magical burst can quickly punish Shadow Demon before he sets up his disables or saves allies. Zeus’s spells can also disrupt Shadow Demon’s illusions and forces him to play cautiously during fights.
Bad against...
...based on stats [7.39b]
| Hero | Change in Win Rate ▲ |
|---|---|
-8.3% | |
-7.3% | |
-6.4% | |
-5.1% | |
-4.2% | |
-4.0% | |
-3.7% | |
-3.6% | |
-3.5% | |
-3.5% | |
-3.3% | |
-3.2% | |
-3.1% | |
-3.0% | |
-2.9% |
...based on gameplay [7.39b]
Storm counters Zeus by using Ball Lightning to quickly close the gap and dodge Zeus’s spells. His mobility and Electric Vortex allow him to lock Zeus down, preventing him from casting spells and bursting him down before Zeus can react.
Meepo can chain Net to lock down Zeus and quickly burst him down with multiple clones, making it hard for Zeus to escape or cast spells effectively.
Broodmother’s webs let her sustain against Zeus’s nukes by providing regeneration and damage reduction. Her mobility in the webs also allows her to chase down Zeus easily, making it hard for him to escape.
Anti-Mage’s built-in magic resistance reduces Zeus’s damage, making it harder for him to burst AM down. Additionally, Anti-Mage can reflect Zeus’s spells with Counterspell and quickly kill him using Mana Void when Zeus’s mana is low.
Void Spirit can quickly close the gap on Zeus and burst him down. His Resonant Pulse allows him to block incoming magic damage, reducing Zeus’s burst effectiveness and giving him an edge in fights.
Tusk can easily gank Zeus in the early game, punishing his low mobility. In the late game, Tusk’s Snowball can save allies by blocking damage, reducing the effectiveness of Zeus’s spells in team fights.
Ember Spirit can use Sleight of Fist to dodge Zeus’s spells, while Flame Guard blocks magical damage, allowing him to tank Zeus’s burst and effectively take him down.
Io provides constant healing and sustain to allies, making it difficult for Zeus to secure kills. With items like Mekansm and Glimmer Cape, Io can keep teammates alive through Zeus’s burst damage.
Brewmaster is naturally tanky, and when low on health, he can use Primal Split to avoid damage and negate Zeus’s spells by splitting into his elemental clones, making it harder for Zeus to finish him off.
...counter items [7.39b]
Helps you sustain HP and mana as Zeus frequently uses his spells to harass, secure last hits, get kills, and move around.
Lowers the armor of Zeus with right clicks and burst him down with physical damage.
Gives you HP sustain to stay in the lane and not get zoned by Zeus's high damage from spells and right clicks.
Gives HP sustain to you and your ally to stay in the lane and not get zoned by Zeus's high damage from spells and right clicks.
Lets you absorb a massive instance of damage from all of Zeus' spells.
Gives you magic resistance to significantly reduce the damage taken from Zeus' magic heavy toolkit.
Gives you HP sustain to stay in the lane and not get zoned by Zeus's high damage from spells and right clicks.
Gives you HP regen that does not get reduced by Zeus' burst damage from spells. Also gives you more movement speed to run out of the Nimbus AoE.
Lets you dodge the damage from Thundergod's Wrath by smoking yourself away from enemy heroes and towers. Zeus' ultimate will only reveal your position on the map.
Lets you reflect Arc Lightning and Lightning Bolt back onto Zeus to return his massive burst damage and deter him from using too many spells on you.
Gives you mobility to jump Zeus and possibly delete him at the start of the fight. Works well if you have an instant stun or hex.
Provides magic resistance and reduces the damage dealt by Zeus from all his spells to nullify his burst potential.
Gives you and your team magic resistance and barrier to significantly reduce the damage taken from Zeus' magic heavy toolkit.
Gives you magic resistance to significantly reduce the damage taken from Zeus' magic heavy toolkit.
Gives you debuff immunity and magic resistance to avoid the Lightning Bolt stun and Heavenly Jump slow as well as reduce the damage taken from Zeus' magic heavy toolkit.
Lets you silence and kill Zeus in its duration without letting him turn the fight with his spells or get away using Heavenly Jump.
Gives you magic resistance and barrier to significantly reduce the damage taken from Zeus' magic heavy toolkit as well as save yourself or an ally through invisibility.
Gives you a repositioning tool to match Zeus' mobility from Heavenly Jump and push yourself or an ally out of range of his spells.
Gives you an instant disable against Zeus to burst him down in its duration before he can impact fights or get away using Heavenly Jump.
Lets you block either Arc Lightning or Lightning Bolt to avoid a chunk of Zeus' burst damage.
Lets you close the gap on Zeus through invisibility to burst him down at the start of the fight. Also disables his Lightning Hands if he has Aghanims Shard.
Bad with...
...based on stats [7.39b]
| Hero | Change in Win Rate ▲ |
|---|---|
-6.9% | |
-6.8% | |
-6.6% | |
-6.0% | |
-5.2% | |
-4.9% | |
-4.8% | |
-4.5% | |
-4.4% | |
-4.4% | |
-4.3% | |
-4.2% | |
-3.8% | |
-3.8% | |
-3.8% |
