Guide Sections (15)
- Champion Stats
- The Three Talon Strike
- Which Xin Zhao Skin to Use
- When They Ban Xin Zhao
- Optimal Runes for Xin Zhao
- Xin Zhao's Ability Priority
- Mastering Xin Zhao's Kit
- Xin Zhao's Lane Opponents
- Ult Timing
- When the Duel Is Unwinnable
- Diving the Backline
- The Bruiser Xin Build
- Timing Xin Zhao's All-Ins
- The Crescent Guard
- Recent Patch History
Champion Stats
Low elo players consistently overextend without vision, and Xin Zhao punishes this harder than any other jungler in the game. His Level 2 and Level 3 ganks are almost unavoidable due to the E dash into Q knockup combination. They don't respect the range extension from W marking them first—you can E from practically a screen away. His ultimate (Crescent Guard) creates a zone where ranged enemies deal zero damage to you, which confuses players who keep auto-attacking you from outside the circle. A smurf Xin snowballs the game so hard that the enemy jungler is completely irrelevant by 10 minutes.
The Three Talon Strike
Start E (Audacious Charge) for early invades. If your team has CC or burst (like a Pantheon or Twisted Fate), invade the enemy buff. E onto the enemy jungler gives you instant attack speed while slowing them. You win almost any auto-attack trade at Level 1 with Lethal Tempo or Conqueror stacking. If they started Red, meet them at their Blue buff; if they started Blue, catch them at Red. Even if you don't get the kill, burning their Flash means they're dead at Level 3 when you come back.
Which Xin Zhao Skin to Use
'Warring Kingdoms Xin Zhao' makes you feel like Lu Bu (Dynasty Warriors). 'Dragonslayer' is cool. 'Secret Agent' is crisp. 'Cosmic Defender' has nice particles.
'Warring Kingdoms' is classic. 'Cosmic' is beautiful. 'Marauder' is clean. Warring Kingdoms for the Dynasty Warriors vibe.
'Warring Kingdoms' is Lu Bu. It's mandatory for the Dynasty Warriors reference. 'Cosmic' is nice. 'Marauder' is clean.
When They Ban Xin Zhao
If Xin is gone, Vi is the best 'jump-and-bonk' pivot. If you want more spears, Pantheon. But nothing replaces the 'R-circle'. The arena is elsewhere.
Jarvan IV for the ganks. Vi for the lockdown. Pantheon for the point-click. Jarvan is the standard 'Demacian Jungler' alternative.
Optimal Runes for Xin Zhao
Conqueror (Dueling) or Hail of Blades (Burst). Hail of Blades guarantees the Q knockup instantly. Secondary Inspiration (Cosmic Insight) or Sudden Impact.
Xin Zhao's Ability Priority
Max W first for the poke/slow/clear speed. Max E second for the attack speed steroid. Q last.
Mastering Xin Zhao's Kit
Three Talon Strike. Next 3 autos deal damage. 3rd knocks up. Reduces other cooldowns.
Wind Becomes Lightning. Slash then Thrust. Thrust slows heavily and marks targets. Increases E range massively against marked targets.
Audacious Charge. Dashes to enemy. Slows. Grants Attack Speed.
Crescent Guard. Knocks back all enemies (except the one you challenged/hit last). Creates zone. Immune to damage from outside zone.
Xin Zhao's Lane Opponents
Impossible. Counterstrike beats your entire kit. Do not fight him.
Skill. He kites you. If you get on top of him with Phase Rush/E, you win. If he maintains distance, you die.
Easy. Invade him. Kill him. Steal his blue. Make him cry.
'Cosmic Defender' for the space-spear. 'Warring Kingdoms' for the tradition. 'Dragonslayer' for the cool. Xin is a warrior of the spear—pick the skin that looks the sharpest. To the arena! Win.
Ult Timing
Stop pressing R too early! Crescent Guard (R) knocks enemies back and creates a zone of immunity from outside damage. If you E onto a squishy and immediately press R, you might knock them to safety and save their life. The correct pattern is: E (dash) > Q (knockup) > Auto > Auto > R (when their team collapses to help). Use R to ISOLATE a target from their team's peel, or hold it until you're low HP to block incoming damage from ranged threats. Your R doesn't block damage from the person you're attacking—only from their teammates outside the circle. Master the timing and you become unkillable during dives.
When the Duel Is Unwinnable
Dodge Jax. He dodges your Q/Passive. He stuns you. He outscales you. You cannot win.
Jax/Malphite. Attack speed slows ruin you. You need to auto to reduce CD. If you can't auto, you are a minion.
Dodge Jax. Counterstrike blocks your Q3 knockup. You lose. Dodge Malphite. Attack speed slow ruins you.
Diving the Backline
In teamfights, you dive the carry. W (mark them) -> E (dash long range) -> Q (knockup). When the enemy team turns on you, press R. You are now immune to their backline/mages while you kill the target inside your circle. You are a 1v1 duelist in a 5v5 game.
E in. R immediately. Knock everyone else back. Isolate the carry. It's a 1v1 arena now.
E in. R to knock everyone else away. Isolate the carry. Duel them. You are safe from outside interference. It's a 1v1.
The Bruiser Xin Build
Crit Xin Zhao. Essence Reaver -> Shieldbow -> Infinity Edge. Your Q damage scales with Crit. W scales with Crit. You blow people up in 2 hits.
Sundered Sky and Titanic Hydra. You're a dueling god. Your E 'Audacious Charge' is your entry. Your R 'Crescent Guard' makes you immune to anyone outside the circle. You're a 1v1 master. Challenge them.
Sundered Sky -> Titanic Hydra -> Sterak's. You are unkillable. Sky heal + Passive heal keeps you fighting forever.
Timing Xin Zhao's All-Ins
Level 2 (Gank). Level 6 (Invulnerability). First Item (Eclipse/Titanic/Trinity). You fall off late compared to pure tanks.
Level 2 gank is the strongest in the game. E-Q. Knockup. Kill. Flash if needed.
Level 2 Gank. Level 6 R. 1-Item Spike. Win early. Fall off late. You are a gladiator, not a scaling insurance policy.
The Crescent Guard
Spam 'Here's a tip, and a spear behind it'. Invading their buff and killing them at level 2 tilts the jungler permanently.
Block Jinx Rocket with R circle? Yes. Block Ashe Arrow? Yes. Use R to block global damage for your team.
Using R to block a Jinx Rocket or Ashe Arrow for your team. Standing in the circle while mages waste spells. Type 'Nope'.
Recent Patch History
Recent Balance Changes
| Patch | Date | Type | Changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| V14.18 | Sep 11, 2024 | BUFF | Q buffed, Base stats buffed |
| V14.5 | Mar 6, 2024 | BUFF | Q adjusted |
| V13.17 | Aug 30, 2023 | ADJUST | P nerfed |
| V12.22 | Nov 16, 2022 | NERF | Base stats nerfed |
| V12.21 | Nov 2, 2022 | BUFF | P buffed, E buffed |
