You know that the triple E/Q doesn't do any extra damage than just a regular W shadow right? It doesn't stack beyond two shadows hitting.

To clarify what I was saying to agree with the OP,

For an assassin character, his kit at early levels is pretty unthreatening. I haven't yet been able to pop someone even with a moderate 2/3 kills. He just doesn't fit the assassin role until level 16 really which is way too late for someone who needs to be getting kills.

If you wanted to tailor him as more of a bruiser, he needs a bit more, like some better base defense stats or scaling, or maybe like a shield when he W's, something like that.

This is exactly why I felt that the change to Zed's ult was perfectly fine down to 20%. Mark of Death and his passive make it very important to time and wait until an enemy is 50% or less. It also makes successfully killing an enemy champ with his ult early game really satisfying because it's not an insta-kill.

Also, one thing to consider when using Zed's ult, is that you DON'T have to target your mark initially with all the damage. I've gotten plenty of double kills by Marking an Enemy and using the shadow to kill a nearby champion, while AAing the marked champ. Granted since your next to the marked champion, they'll be taking extra anyway, and throwing Ignite and an Active from Hextech Gunblade (or as I normally play 3s Blade of the Ruined King) for added measure.

Loving this champ Riot! Keep up the good work and I cannot wait for him to be released to the main servers!

Except if you try to triple E somebody you only do one set of damage, and the triple Q is easily avoidable. Zed is once again, an assassin that can't assassinate. Just like Elise.