Zaahen vs Varus Counter Pick

At 105 games on patch 16.13.1 the evidence here is narrow, so 44.8% is better read as a direction than a precise figure. The structural reason behind it is plain enough: Varus attacks from 575 range and Zaahen from 175, and Piercing Arrow gains extra range the longer it is charged. A marksman played into the top position keeps that distance by design.

Varus is not durable, starting on 600 health with 24 armor and topping out at just 92 armor by level 18 against Zaahen’s 121, and his difficulty rating of 2 matches Zaahen’s exactly, so neither pilot is asked for anything unusual. What makes the reach gap stick is Blighted Quiver: his attacks apply Blight, his other abilities detonate it for magic damage scaled to the target’s health, and Zaahen’s 2,578 health at level 18 works against him there. Hail of Arrows slows and cuts self-healing on the desecrated ground, directly reducing the value of The Darkin Glaive and Grim Deliverance. The realistic route is a flanking Aureate Rush into Dreaded Return before Chain of Corruption is up, since that ultimate immobilises and then spreads to nearby champions. Move speed helps once contact is made, 345 against 330, and Living Vengeance rewards Varus for every kill or assist with temporary attack damage and ability power, which is why denying him early pickups matters more than winning any single trade. Varus is documented on the Varus entry.