Briar vs Zac — Jungle Matchup Guide

How to win the jungle race as Briar against Zac · Matchup data reviewed on patch 26.15

Verdict: Briar's race plan controls 6 of the 7 windows — Briar holds the tempo advantage in this jungle matchup.

The jungle race — the windows in Briar's plan

Read from Briar's seat: the race windows this plan plays for against Zac.

StageReadWhy
Level 1 ClearBriar DominantHead Rush's stun gives a clean engage trade at the first buff contest. Later in the game this bites, because a fog-charged Elastic Slingshot knock-up opens a gank-grade engage onto you. But before either of you has a second camp down none of it is online, so take the level-1 crossing and tax every camp Zac concedes.
Level 2 SkirmishBriar DominantBlood Frenzy sustain turns level-2 skirmishes into races she usually wins, while Elastic Slingshot is for ganks. Only one of those wins on the second camp, so press it: take the level-2 skirmish, then leave with the second buff and the tempo that comes with it.
Level 3 RouteBriar DominantFrenzy healing plus charged Chilling Scream is one of the hardest level-3 all-ins. Blob sustain keeps their clear healthy, but champion trades are losers, and as the first scuttle timer lands that is not an answer. Take the level-3 river fight and make Zac path away from the camps you want.
Levels 4-5 MacroBriar Dominant — Keep FightingYou are the stronger side all through 4-5. Zac knows it — he charges Elastic Slingshot from fog through 4-5 and is more dangerous off your screen than on it — so shadow that side of the map and make them fight you anyway.
Level 6 BreakpointCertain Death FavouredCertain Death picks the target and the frenzy finishes it — your all-in has no half-measure. Zac's six is not empty — the fog Slingshot into Let's Bounce! keeps your whole side airborne. Take the duel from even health rather than from behind, and ward his charge walls — a grounded Zac is just a sad puddle.
First Item SpikeSundered Sky / Eclipse SpikeCompleting your core item triggers a massive physical damage and sustained fighting multiplier that completely overpowers traditional brawlers or isolated targets. Zac's first item is a durability spike, so he does not start killing you — he starts surviving whatever you send.
2+ Items ScalingRespect Zac Late — End EarlyThe full-build comparison goes to Zac: he is a fog engage with two health bars, so the first kill is only temporary. Play for picks and objectives, and end before the fight has to be fair.

How to beat Zac as Briar: the first clear and pathing

Start your clear at the Raptors or Red Buff camp utilizing your W frenzy to maximize early clear speed and sustain. Zac clears steadily with blob sustain and Unstable Matter, and he never has to recall for health before six.

Hardest and easiest matchups for Briar in the jungle

Ranked by the race windows in Briar's plans — the jungle race carries no win-rate sample.

Hardest

Easiest

Read the rest of this matchup

The full Briar vs Zac report continues with scuttle & dragon rules, invade windows and safety boundaries, the top-side objective fight, macro rotations and the win condition — plus the live enemy-jungle tracker that shows their start, clear and gank timers in game.

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Common questions

Who wins Briar vs Zac in the jungle?

Briar's race plan controls 6 of the 7 windows — Briar holds the tempo advantage in this jungle matchup.

Is Briar vs Zac a skill matchup?

Not exactly — Briar's race plan controls 6 of the 7 windows, so Zac is playing catch-up and has to lean on the map.

Related guides

Playing the other side? Zac vs Briar guide →
All Briar jungle matchups →

More Briar jungle matchups: vs Warwick · vs Wukong · vs Xin Zhao · vs Zyra · vs Amumu · vs Bel'Veth