In my opinion, Xin Zhao is one of the best tanky- DPS champions in the game. He is a good initiater, awsome 1v1 champion and an extreme ganker. He can be used as a jungler, DPS carry and sometimes as an off-tank. He is very fun to play, the enemy team will be forced to surrender if u get some kills in early game.

Pros:
-Great carry
-Pro passive
-Area of effect slow
-Can break channeled ultimates
-When fed, nobody can kill
-Great lane buddy with a support/ stuner
-Very fast

Cons:
-You will get focused
-His power depends on his items
-Can be CC- ed

I use standard runes for all melee DPS champions.

9x Greater Mark of Desolation

9x Greater Seal of Alacrity

9x Greater Glyph of Warding

9x Greater Quintessence of Desolation

For summoner spells i useandWhy?
Well, Exhaust is the best summoner spell in the whole game in my opinion. It's great for disabling an enemy carry, awsome for catching an escaping enemy and it can save your life when you are ganked by 2 or more enemys.
It's the same with ghost. Great for catching up and running away.
Other options:
Cleanse- Can save you from CC
Ignite -can be very helpful when playing against champions like Mundo, Singed and Morde. It can also give you some advantage in early game, getting first blood with it is very fun.

In any fight your skill sequence should look like this:
Wait for the tanks to initiate, then you jump in with(E), pop your ultimate(R), knock somebody in the air with(Q) and press(W) for 1 second CDR each hit. Then just use Q and E as much as possible.

I start with. It's an awsome start item for any DPS carry. Your next item should be. A lot of people is usingbut i think its a fail item if you are building a DPS carry. Then continue with. Extra attack speed and movement speed is just awsome for early and mid game. My next item is. This gives you some important lifesteal that is very useful in 1v1 combats. I take. This makes you a bit tanky. Extra HP makes you durable in team fights. Then follows. I think it is better then. For some armor penetration i get a. You will shred the enemy tanks apart. My last item is. It's a great item for any DPS carry in late game.

Xin Zhao is an amazing lane buddy with a stunner. At the beginning, you should just last- hit minions. when you reach level 3, you should just leap in with Audacious charge and then activate your Three talon strike. Then just exhaust him and your lane partner will help you getting your kill.