Xin Zhao

Playstyle Profile

Xin Zhao is a diver — disrupts the backline by committing onto enemy carries

Teamfight Role

Backline Diver

Power Spike

Early game

Split Threat

None

Backline Access

Low

Xin Zhao's Strengths

• Disrupts the enemy backline — Xin Zhao's dives force carries to reposition instead of dealing damage
• Dominates early fights — Xin Zhao's base stats and kit spike early, punishing passive opponents

How to Play Xin Zhao

Champion-specific pre-match tips

Gameplay tips on Summoner's Rift

Lane Phase

Cancel your basic attack animation with Q to instantly apply the first ability stack and accelerate your knockup during early trades.

Lane Phase

Cast W to poke from a distance, then immediately use E on the marked target to engage from outside their normal threat range.

Lane Phase

Force an all-in exactly at level 2 using E and Q, leveraging your attack speed steroid and base damage to dominate the trade.

Mid Game

Hold your E if you start a skirmish in melee range, using it only after the enemy uses their flash or escape ability to stick to them.

Mid Game

Cast your ult immediately after using E on a priority target to knock away the enemy frontline and isolate your primary kill.

Mid Game

Attack a minion or monster twice with Q active before a fight, then E to an enemy champion to instantly apply the third-hit knockup.

Late Game

Flank the teamfight to mark an isolated carry with E, then immediately activate your ult to sweep away their peeling tanks and supports.

Late Game

Position aggressively in front of your carries during a major objective fight, using your ult to completely block incoming ranged damage from outside the circle.

Late Game

Chain your crowd control by landing your Q knockup, then immediately casting W as the target lands to guarantee the thrust damage connects.

For matchup-tailored tips, download Baron Buff's AI Coach & Companion App.

Gameplay tips in Arena

• Mark with W before E, save R to separate the second enemy or deny ranged damage, and keep Q attacks on the same target for the knock-up.
• Build Sundered Sky, Black Cleaver, Death's Dance, and Divine Sunderer. Sustain and haste make the Crescent Guard zone last through repeated attacks.
• Prioritize Mystic Punch, Goredrink, Dashing, and Symphony of War. Attack uptime and healing secure the isolated duel.

Xin Zhao Build

This might not be your familiar build. We look at ranked games after each item was bought. If the player or team gained ground in gold, we rate that item higher.

Core

• Titanic Hydra
• Plated Steelcaps (Boots)
• Black Cleaver

Situational

• Death's Dance
• Guardian Angel
• Sterak's Gage
• Terminus
• Chempunk Chainsword

Xin Zhao Runes

The most popular rune page and summoner spells for Xin Zhao in ranked games over the last 30 days.

Precision + Inspiration · 49.7% WR · 18,431 games

• Conqueror
• Triumph
• Legend: Alacrity
• Coup de Grace
• Magical Footwear
• Cosmic Insight
• Attack Speed
• Adaptive Force
• Health Scaling

Summoner spells

Flash, Smite

Xin Zhao Skill Order

The recommended skill order for Xin Zhao from ranked games over the last 90 days: the first three skill points, then the order to max abilities.

1. lvl 1: E
2. lvl 2: W
3. lvl 3: Q
4. max: W
5. max: E
6. max: Q

How to Counter Xin Zhao

Counter strategies and draft context

kite with range, burst before they sustain, or outscale with team-oriented compositions

• Vulnerable to CC during dives — Xin Zhao commits hard and can be punished if locked down
• Falls off significantly after 25 minutes — Xin Zhao's early dominance doesn't translate to late game
• Ranged champions that maintain distance in trades
• Burst-heavy picks that kill before sustain matters

Xin Zhao's Weaknesses

Layered crowd control and peel lock Xin Zhao down mid-dive. Safe, scaling compositions survive lane without falling behind and let Xin Zhao's early advantage fade.

Best Synergies with Xin Zhao

Team synergies and draft context

A second diver splits enemy focus alongside Xin Zhao, since two divers are harder to peel than one. Aggressive junglers and roaming supports snowball leads with Xin Zhao's early power spike. Engage supports set up skirmishes in your favor. Allies with follow-up crowd control chain onto your initial dive.

Draft Context

• Drafts another diver with no backline carry — Xin Zhao disrupts, but the team has no sustained damage
• Pairs Xin Zhao's early power with other early-game picks that all fall off together after 25 minutes

Learning Curve

Based on 1.2M+ matches across all ranked elos, showing how Xin Zhao's win rate changes with mastery level

Xin Zhao has exceptional depth — there is always something new to learn, but getting results requires significant dedication. Expect lower win rates for an extended period before deeper mechanics click into place.

Skill Cap

Very High

Cost of Learning

Very High