Kalista vs Zeri ADC Matchup Guide | LaneStomp

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Kalista

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ADC

Zeri

Kalista vs Zeri

Confidence highUpdated Jun 7, 2026

Overview

Kalista wins extended trades by stacking (E) on minions and punishing Zeri's short-range last hits.
Control wave length to create long lane space for hopping and support (R) engage windows.

Trading pattern

Step forward to auto and stack (E) when Zeri commits to last-hitting low-health minions, only if enemy support can't punish.
Use (Q) to transfer (E) stacks through minions onto Zeri during her last-hit animations for burst pressure.
Avoid trades when slowed or if support cannot follow; (W) slow punishes your hop mobility heavily.

Danger windows

Respect (E) dash cooldown; she is vulnerable when it is down and lacks wall escape.
Avoid stepping into enemy support engage range or brush control where (W) poke angles and follow-up slow punish.
Be cautious when (R) is active, as extended fights favor her kiting and DPS uptime.

Early game

Use the first three waves to thin the wave and punish Zeri's last hits inside your auto range.
Prioritize level 2 all-ins with support to exploit Zeri's weaker early poke and mobility cooldown.
Avoid letting the wave crash under Zeri's tower to deny her safe farming and wall escape options.

Power spikes

Level 6 (R) unlocks Kalista's unique engage or save potential, enabling forced all-ins with support knockup.
First completed attack-speed item increases (E) stack speed, making longer trades and dragon fights more threatening.
Punish Zeri before her level 6 and item spikes by forcing short trades she struggles to win.

Win conditions

Convert (E) stacks and support (R) engages into early lane kills or forced recalls to snowball.
Crash waves under Zeri's tower to deny plates and force her into risky farming positions.
Use lane pressure to secure early dragon control, leveraging (E) execute damage for objective fights.