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Choose Champion Build:
Spells:
Ghost
Ignite
Ability Order
Determination (PASSIVE)
Xin Zhao Passive Ability
Introduction

Most people have walked away from Xin after the nerfs or just play Xin for fun. In most games, My main is Xin, be it in pubs or ranked. I will always carry my team to a win with positive double digit scores.
It is saddening to see Xin being overlook and under played by a majority of players. So I want to share the build as well as the mentality behind a successful

If you find this guide helpful, please vote for it.
Enjoy!
Simply put runes do not make that much of an impact during end game.
HOWEVER... during early & mid game the right runes will either make or break you.
Now with the understanding that runes are crucial to early and mid game....
Greater Quintessence of Cooldown Reduction &
Greater Glyph of Cooldown Reduction
CDR is extremely important, and is always overlooked. E.g. Being able to cast
Three Talon Strike twice to get first blood.
BTW, CDR cap is at 40%.
Greater Seal of Attack Speed
Attack Speed is amazing on
Xin Zhao It feels like these runes were especially designed for us. Oh, did I mention that it stacks better for
Xin Zhao's skills?
BTW, Attack Speed Cap is at 2.5
Greater Mark of Desolation
Armor Pen. is a must for any AD carry character. If you think differently, please stop reading now.
BTW, Armor pen. has no cap.
Other players have had success including dodge, and crit runes. Both are viable options, however the consistency of the procs is large factor for me.
Personally, I love seeing a crit pop up to score me that first blood, but it happens far too rarely, even with runes. Hence I have left out those runes.
HOWEVER... during early & mid game the right runes will either make or break you.
Now with the understanding that runes are crucial to early and mid game....


CDR is extremely important, and is always overlooked. E.g. Being able to cast

BTW, CDR cap is at 40%.

Attack Speed is amazing on


BTW, Attack Speed Cap is at 2.5
Greater Mark of Desolation
Armor Pen. is a must for any AD carry character. If you think differently, please stop reading now.
BTW, Armor pen. has no cap.
Other players have had success including dodge, and crit runes. Both are viable options, however the consistency of the procs is large factor for me.
Personally, I love seeing a crit pop up to score me that first blood, but it happens far too rarely, even with runes. Hence I have left out those runes.
Only 5 summoner spells are suitable for
Xin Zhao.
Other summoner spells aren't suitable for
Xin Zhao like
Promote.
Some of you may ask about
Surge, reason I left this out is because it provides you with something you can get from the store. Summoner spells are suppose to bring something new to your character, not save you gold.

![]() ![]() Great way to exit combat especially for a melee. Also it always confuses players when I flash into a bush to escape. However the distance for flash is relatively short. |
Other summoner spells aren't suitable for


Some of you may ask about

There is no preset item build, however the current items will work for most players and games.
You do not need to follow the exact order but these are the items that will make the most impact for
Xin Zhao while providing for survivability late game.
*NOTE*
Xin Zhao nerfs has reduced the scaling of his skill ranks. Unlike
Brand where each level makes a sizable difference in damage output. Xin is dependent on buying expensive items to make up for the nerfs.
Attack Speed is king for
Xin Zhao. It benefits Xin more than any other player in LOL.
Hence the reason why your 1st item is
Black Cleaver.
This is a typical glass cannon build for Xin Zhao, Survivability comes from constantly hitting something to regain life and
Crescent Sweep buff.
End game you can go with warmog or
Force of Nature depending on your match up/situation.
Quicksilver Sash if your opposition is CC heavy.
You do not need to follow the exact order but these are the items that will make the most impact for

*NOTE*




Hence the reason why your 1st item is

Normal Build (suitable for new players to Xin)
This is a typical glass cannon build for Xin Zhao, Survivability comes from constantly hitting something to regain life and

End game you can go with warmog or


Jungle Build (suitable for ranked games)
As you will have

This item build will allow for an increase in survivability during team fights thereby increasing your total damage output.


Poor Man's Build (if you did not start so great)
This build is for someone who underperformed in early game. You have 3 or 4 deaths before level 8 and are lagging behind in itemization.
Don't Panic!
It's not over yet! You can still do decent damage and maintain a threatening presence while contributing to team fights. This largely due to 2 items


Not only do these items do a substantial amount of damage, they also do the damage in magic. Hence if your opposing team built [thornmail] and armor items instead of magic resist you will have a the upper hand again.
For
Three Talon Strike then
Audacious Charge in. After you knock em up in the air activate
Battle Cry. Now depending on who you are fighting; if it is a high damage opponent like
Master Yi or
Jax then use your ult ASAP! If it's a squishy or a stealth character like
Shaco or
Akali save your ult for when they try to make a break for it by going invisible.
For
Cho'Gath
Rupture before you
Audacious Charge in followed by
Crescent Sweep then
Three Talon Strike and finally
Battle Cry.
Challenge
A self heal! Accompanied with the new
Vampirism
Xin Zhao can lane for exceedingly long periods. Also the reason why Xin is a candidate for jungling.
Three Talon Strike
This is the skill that you will love. It is your "bread and butter." With + Attack Speed, this skill will take off half someones life in less then 2 seconds. As an added bonus it even tosses them up in the air! Great for interrupts if you can time the 3rd strike.
Battle Cry
Like I said, attack speed is king on
Xin Zhao. Always use this skill with Three Talon Strike for quick interrupts. Or turn on
Battle Cry after everything is on cooldown as this skill will also reduce your timers. Late game you will find that this skill makes your ult feel like it's spammable. It is purely because of this skill that
Xin Zhao is able to take down anyone and will carry any team.
Audacious Charge
Who doesn't like charge? You are able to slow AND damage surrounding units! WOW! Use this skill to initiate fights, to chase someone down, or just to farm creeps.
Crescent Sweep
Your ult provides you with a buff allowing for survivability which is ESSENTIAL FOR TEAMFIGHTS. The damage is a percentage of the enemies health, hence always use your ult at the beginning of a team fight, to do the most damage.
1v1 Encounters
you start by charging up your






For
Team Fights
try not to charge in before your tank. Watch that any beginning cc's from the opposing team has been cast like





- Your goal in team fight is to damage, not to help off-tank. Hence wait before going in.
- Yes, in ranked games Xin is often a priority target. Hence wait before going in.


A self heal! Accompanied with the new




This is the skill that you will love. It is your "bread and butter." With + Attack Speed, this skill will take off half someones life in less then 2 seconds. As an added bonus it even tosses them up in the air! Great for interrupts if you can time the 3rd strike.


Like I said, attack speed is king on





Who doesn't like charge? You are able to slow AND damage surrounding units! WOW! Use this skill to initiate fights, to chase someone down, or just to farm creeps.


Your ult provides you with a buff allowing for survivability which is ESSENTIAL FOR TEAMFIGHTS. The damage is a percentage of the enemies health, hence always use your ult at the beginning of a team fight, to do the most damage.
Our poor little Asian warrior
Xin Zhao is commonly misunderstood.
Most players see a
Xin Zhao decimating their team, then look at what items that Xin has and say "Hey! I can do that too!" Which leads to two outcomes;
1. They do moderately well but never constantly carrying games.
OR
2. They get owned and never touch him again.
What are they missing? An understanding of
Xin Zhao.
Xin has the capability to tear almost any hero (other than tanks) from full to zero HP right off the bat. Early game is time for him to shine.
Xin's preferred items are quite expensive, especially his first item. Hence Xin cannot afford to fall behind. He can't be like a
Sivir who can afford to under performs in the beginning yet still ends up dealing huge amounts of damage late game.
Xin Zhao players needs to understand a few things;
1. Early game is IMPORTANT to me. Why is this important? If not, late game I will suck.
2. I need gold. - Why is this important? Refer to point 1.
3. DO NOT DIE. Why is this important? Refer to point 1.
Hopefully, you got the point. For those that did not, early game is key.

Most players see a

1. They do moderately well but never constantly carrying games.
OR
2. They get owned and never touch him again.
What are they missing? An understanding of

Xin has the capability to tear almost any hero (other than tanks) from full to zero HP right off the bat. Early game is time for him to shine.
Xin's preferred items are quite expensive, especially his first item. Hence Xin cannot afford to fall behind. He can't be like a


1. Early game is IMPORTANT to me. Why is this important? If not, late game I will suck.
2. I need gold. - Why is this important? Refer to point 1.
3. DO NOT DIE. Why is this important? Refer to point 1.
Hopefully, you got the point. For those that did not, early game is key.
Now that you understand
Xin Zhao's reliance on his early and mid game performance, your play style must match accordingly.
Xin Zhao's preferred first item is a
B. F. Sword. Which comes at a hefty price.
To do this you must achieve the following;
During first few fights (before you can complete your Emblem of Valour):
1. Your early game performance has a big impact on your late game outcome and chances of you winning the game.
2. Dying will lose you time which = precious gold.
3. You are a carry, support is suppose to baby you. And yes, if need be, die for you.



To do this you must achieve the following;
- If possible try to get first blood. (KS if you have to, this sounds wrong but having early game kill gold going to a tank rather than a carry is just wrong)
- Staying in lane and get exp.
- Constantly last hitting, even if you have to use
Audacious Charge.
- Pressuring your opponents, with
Audacious Charge.
- Getting 1 or 2 kills. (KS if you have to)
- Not dying, I know this is common sense but some people play too aggressive with Xin.
During first few fights (before you can complete your Emblem of Valour):
- If at anytime during your fights where are less then 40% HP. BACK OUT of the fight. Backing out DOES NOT mean run back to base, it means step back, stop taking damage and reassess.
- Do not try to be a Martyr and save your support or etc.
- Do not try to get an extra kill by chasing before you have your
Zeal
1. Your early game performance has a big impact on your late game outcome and chances of you winning the game.
2. Dying will lose you time which = precious gold.
3. You are a carry, support is suppose to baby you. And yes, if need be, die for you.
Why you should jungle?
Why you should reconsider jungling?
Xin Zhao loses 5 points in mastery's and 1 summoner spell for the ability to jungle successfully. Thereby decreasing his damage output.
BUYER BEWARE! Jungle build for Xin is different. Most importantly his item build. Xin should come out of the jungle as an "damage off tank" instead of a "hard carry."
2 reasons why Jungle Xin should off tank instead of carry:
In the games where Xin is able to carry, it is because he managed to get a
Black Cleaver before finishing his
Boots of Swiftness. Usually before level 6 too and with 1-2 kills.
Hence being in jungle puts you behind opposing team, damage itemization wise.
In team fights Xin is always targeted because of the threat he presents, and because he's one of the more squishy melees. Xin survives in these fights by having high damage along with attack speed and a little life steal.
Hence if Xin is unable to buy a high damage items fast, forget about life steal. Therefore successful Xin junglers usually build towards a warmog.
This is why smart
Xin Zhaos comes out of jungle as an off tank instead of trying to chase DPS build.
Xin Zhao is one of the fastest Junglers out there due to
Three Talon Strike.
- If your team has weak players or weak teamwork.
- If your team is composed mainly of carries.
- If your team has no off tank.
Why you should reconsider jungling?
Xin Zhao loses 5 points in mastery's and 1 summoner spell for the ability to jungle successfully. Thereby decreasing his damage output.
BUYER BEWARE! Jungle build for Xin is different. Most importantly his item build. Xin should come out of the jungle as an "damage off tank" instead of a "hard carry."
2 reasons why Jungle Xin should off tank instead of carry:
- Because Xin will not have enough gold for his 1st item,
Black Cleaver.
- Xin lose survivability in early team fights, hence will effect his late game performance.
In the games where Xin is able to carry, it is because he managed to get a


Hence being in jungle puts you behind opposing team, damage itemization wise.
In team fights Xin is always targeted because of the threat he presents, and because he's one of the more squishy melees. Xin survives in these fights by having high damage along with attack speed and a little life steal.
Hence if Xin is unable to buy a high damage items fast, forget about life steal. Therefore successful Xin junglers usually build towards a warmog.
This is why smart

Jungling is pretty simple with
Xin Zhao. A general rule of thumb is that you should be same level as your duo lane. If you are not, you are doing something wrong.
RULES for jungling:

- Buy a
Vampiric Scepter.
- Level up
Three Talon Strike go to 2 golems take them out. (You should be able to use
Three Talon Strike twice. DO NOT USE SMITE!
- You should be level 2, Level up
Battle Cry.
- Go over to RED BUFF and focus on the big lizard. Start with
Three Talon Strike. After you knock up the lizard activate
Battle Cry and which will lower the CD on
Three Talon Strike After the second
Three Talon Strike you can
Smite kill him and finish the little lizards.
- Move over to Wraiths. Start with the blue wraith first using
Three Talon Strike then
Battle Cry after pop up. You should level in mid fight.
- You should be level 3. Level up Battle Cry again.
- Move to wolves. Start with the big wolf. Use
Three Talon Strike once, do not use
Battle Cry.
- Move to BLUE BUFF. Repeat what you did at red.
Smite should activate near end of the fight, smite the golem.
- You should be level 4. Level up
Audacious Charge.
- Go gank.
RULES for jungling:
- Jungling allows for minimal mistakes, hence you need to be runed correctly, have the right masteries and build the right items.
- Always watch the map to see which allies need assistance or which opposing heroes are over extending.
- You do not need to gank if you do not feel like you will win. Even if your team mate is constantly pinging.
- If mid lane goes back to shop, DO go and cover.
- Ward, Ward, Ward, and ward.
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