Zilean Review and Theorycraft

Chronoshift – 2.0

Zilean’s champion spell is a little disappointing to me. Its effect is powerful, but it is costed insanely at 7-mana and it is awfully vulnerable to Hush.

There is likely no competitive use for this card, as it seems like a weaker pre-nerf Unyielding Spirit. That said, there is some merit to including it as a 1- or 2-of in a deck that goes all-in on a champion; something like Lee Sin for example. Even there though, I believe there are simply better options.

As a champion spell, it is also underwhelming, unless you are playing an all-in Zilean deck relying on his leveled form.

Scrying Sands – 4.0

This is a ‘reverse’ Elixir of Iron that has a more flexible use for a control deck, as it can be used to either prevent 2 damage or save a unit in combat.

The Predict effect is a cherry on top and makes it seem like a staple in many Shurima lists. Not an overly ‘splashy’ card, but Predict is a strong mechanic and combat tricks are essential for success in LoR. I believe we will see it in a lot of lists, assuming that Shurima finally picks up the pace.

Soothsayer – 2.5

This seems like a very powerful card at first glance, but in the end, all it does is gives Spellshield to champions and landmarks.

I believe it is playable – its stats are passable as a blocker in a fast matchup, and Zoe into Soothsayer is already a pretty good synergy to have. Of course, it is essentially a slow-speed Spellshield that costs unit mana, which means it will likely be too clunky for most strategies.

That said, this card is surely a staple in mono Shurima lists. Protecting Buried Sun Disc from being destroyed removes the biggest lose-condition of the deck, and a 1/4 body on turn 2 can also help fend off some aggression after you’ve practically skipped turn 1.

The Clock Hand – 1.5*

8-mana 4/7 with no immediate effect does not sound like the hottest card in town.

Instant Century seems great at first glance, but so far there does not seem to be much use for reducing a landmark countdown by 4 rounds, so we might have to wait for more reveals to see if there’s potential.

The other choice of this spell is fine, but just nothing beyond that. Most of the landmarks that have Countdown are worth less than 3 mana, so it’s most likely not worth including The Clock Hand in a deck just for that effect.

Time in a Bottle – 2.0*

In a similar vein to The Clock Hand, Time in a Bottle is waiting for landmarks that are worth advancing. That said, I see more uses for this spell, as it is cheaper and allows you to Predict; as you may have noticed, this is an ability I value highly.

Additionally, the cheap cost gives it some flexibility; while the dream might be to use it on turn 3 on a Hibernating Rockbear, or to combine it with Salt Spire, you can just instantly proc Preservarium to draw the Predicted card, or instantly detonate a Time Bomb if you’re hard-pressed for a 1-damage AoE. Hopefully, there will be more Landmarks to combine this with, but even if there aren’t, there are some fringe uses and a little hope for this card.

Imagined Possibilities – 2.5

A flexible card that works very well with Time Bombs. At first glance, I’d say it is a potential include in any Zilean deck, especially due to the fact that it allows you to create a landmark in hand, should the other option be unplayable.

Randomness is a big downside, however, and might make the card way weaker, especially considering how many weak Countdown options exist in Legends of Runeterra.

While the effect can be good enough to be put in a deck, the problem I have with this card, and why I will likely avoid including it in too many of my decks, is that it also takes up a deck slot and there are spots in which it will just do nothing of significance.

Preservationist – 1.5*

The only two landmarks that this would work efficiently on are Frozen Thrall and Buried Sun Disc.

For both of them, we have better applicants to do that same job better, in Draklorn Inquisitor and Esteemed Hierophant – and neither of cards mentioned are even played that often.

Preservationist can be good if we see landmarks that want to have their Countdown reduced, but with what we know now it is just too weak to see play.

Chip – 2.5

It’s ultra-cute and I would hate to rate it lower than I did. It would be a great Shurima card, but because it is in Targon, it means we will likely see some new landmarks in that region, especially that its upcoming champion Malphite is quite likely to have something to do with that card type. For now, however, the main appeal of this card is in its adorable appearance.

The big upside of the card is that the buff is granted retroactively, so you can play it on turn 1 and follow up with Startipped Peak or Preservarium, and voila – you have yourself a Fearsome blocker!

Clockwork Curator – 2.5*

Cheaper and better Preservationist. Advancing 2 rounds against 3 is not a big downside when most landmarks have low Countdowns.

You can play it on a Preservarium, Salt Spire, Hibernating Rockbear, all for a decent value.

You can look at this as a Time in a Bottle that gives you a 2/2 body instead of the Predict. Fair trade and a decent card that could see play, depending on how good Countdown landmarks will be.