How to beat Xin Zhao

Common role: Jungle

The best counter to Xin Zhao in Jungle is Darius: 61.7% win rate over 143 ranked games on patch 26.17.

A sticky diver who locks onto a carry and isolates the fight.

What makes Xin Zhao dangerous

Xin Zhao lunges in, hits a three-strike knock-up (Q), slows and pokes with his spear (W), dashes to a marked target (E), and his ultimate knocks away everyone except his target while blocking ranged damage — isolating a carry for the kill. He is extremely sticky once he commits.

How to play against Xin Zhao

• 1His ult blocks ranged damage and knocks others away — melee him or wait it out.
• 2Peel with hard CC before his three-hit knock-up lands.
• 3He struggles to reach you without his E dash — kite once it's down.
• 4Disengage tools and terrain break his chase.

Weaknesses to exploit

• ✓His ult isolates one target but shuts him out of the rest of the fight.
• ✓No sustained ranged threat — kite him when E is down.
• ✓Weak to disengage and peel for the carry.
• ✓Squishy for a diver if the fight turns on him.

Abilities & how to counter them

What each of Xin Zhao's abilities does — and how to play around it.

• P
  Determination

  Every third attack deals bonus damage and heals Xin Zhao.

  Strong: every third hit deals bonus damage and heals him. Weak: interrupt his rhythm with CC before the third strike lands.

• Q
  Three Talon Strike

  Xin Zhao's next 3 standard attacks deal increased damage with the third attack knocking an opponent into the air.

  Strong: a three-strike combo that ends in a knock-up. Weak: peel or dash away before the third strike to deny the knock-up.

• W
  Wind Becomes Lightning

  Xin Zhao slashes in front of himself with his spear, then thrusts it forward, slowing affected enemies and marking them as Challenged.

  Strong: a slowing spear that pokes and sets up his dash. Weak: a narrow, slow skillshot — sidestep it.

• E
  Audacious Charge

  Xin Zhao charges to an enemy, gaining increased Attack Speed and dealing damage to all enemies in the area, slowing them briefly. This Ability gains increased range against Challenged targets.

  Strong: a dash to a target with a slow that makes him sticky. Weak: it's his only gap-closer — kite him once it's down.

• R
  Crescent Guard

  Xin Zhao passively challenges an enemy he damaged recently. When activated, Xin Zhao deals damage to nearby enemies based on their current Health and knocks non-challenged targets back, becoming impervious to damage dealt by champions outside of the circle created.

  Strong: knocks away everyone but his target and blocks ranged damage, isolating a carry. Weak: it shuts him out of the rest of the fight — melee him or wait it out.

Itemization

Peel and disengage counter him; his ult blocks ranged damage, so melee back or wait it out. Kite once his E dash is on cooldown.

This guide covers Xin Zhao's core kit and playstyle — advice that holds up across patches.