Zyra’s passive is the “Thorn Garden”, which ensures that seeds appear around Zyra at regular intervals. The frequency increases with Zyra’s level. If Zyra casts her Q or E near a seed, plants will sprout and fight for her. Zyra’s seeds last for 30 seconds and she can have a maximum of 8 seeds on the map at any one time. If an enemy champion walks over a seed, it disappears. In addition, no seeds appear when Zyra is hiding in a bush. The plants from Zyra’s passives primarily provide you with additional constant damage, but also zone control, as opponents are reluctant to run into a zone with several plants or seeds. Being hit there by Zyra’s combo usually means a thorny end.

At the start of the game, you start with your E, the “Packing Roots”. When activated, Zyra sends tendrils through the ground that wrap around her target, dealing magic damage and trapping enemies. If your E hits a seed, a tendril whip is created there for 8 seconds, which attacks enemies at close range and reduces their movement speed by 30% for 2 seconds. If 2 tendril whips attack the same target, this slow is doubled. Your Vine Whip’s Slow and E Hold are your most commonly used CCs to control fights. Since the duration of the hold doubles from 1 second at the first level to 2 seconds at the highest level, you maximize the E first.

At level 2, you skill your W, “Unbridled Growth”, for the first time. When you use this skill, Zyra plants a seed that lasts for 60 seconds. A nearby cast of Q or E causes the seed to grow into a plant that fights for you. Zyra can plant a maximum of 2 seeds in quick succession with her W, the cooldown is reduced by killing enemy units. In contrast to the seeds of her passives, the seeds of her W give true vision to enemies who step on them. You mainly use the W when you want to quickly spawn 1-2 extra plants to burst your opponent. Therefore, maximize the W last.

At level 3, you put the first ability point into your Q, the “Deadly Thorns”. When activated, thick tendrils with thorns shoot out of the ground and deal magic damage to all enemies in the area. If the Q hits a seed, it grows into a thorn spitter that attacks enemies from a greater distance than a vine whipper can. However, thorn spitters do not slow down their target. The Q is usually your follow-up when you hit a root with the E. Since her cooldown is reduced by half a second with every additional ability point, you maximize the Q second.

Zyra’s ultimate ability is “Stranglethorns”, which you skill at level 6, 11 and 16. When activated, Zyra summons a tangled thicket at the chosen location, which deals magic damage to enemies as it spreads and throws them into the air for 1 second when it contracts after 2 seconds. Zyra’s plants in the area of the thicket are enraged, reset their maximum duration, gain 50% additional health and deal 50% bonus damage. You’ll mostly use Zyra’s ult as a follow up when you hit multiple enemies with an E and want to deal the maximum amount of damage. You can also use it when it’s obvious that enemies are closing in on you and fighting in a certain area. You can then block this area with the ult and your opponents will have to retreat or receive the CC, which you can use to turn the fight in your favor.

Combos

E->W->Q: your standard combo for trades in lane, where you hold the opponent with the E and then simply hit the Q. In between you place a W, which becomes a vine whip if you place it while the E is still moving or a thorn spitter if you place it afterwards.

R->E->W->W->Q: your combo to catch and burst an unsuspecting opponent from a bush. You set the R and hold him with the E, after which you set 2 Ws and finish the combo with the Q. Holding the E guarantees that the R will be thrown into the air. This combo is particularly recommended if you do not yet have your E at maximum level.

E->W->W->Q->R->AA: a similar combo to the previous one, but this time you cast the ult at the end of the combo. If your E is at maximum level and holds for 2 seconds and you execute the combo quickly enough, your R’s knockup will still get through safely at the end and you’ll gain some extra time for autoattacks from you and your plants for some more damage with this order of the combo.