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Xin Zhao
Patch 16.2.1
JungleDifficulty
Easy
Strength
Early
Mid
Late
Win Condition
Snowball the early game by invading the enemy jungler or repeated ganking. Secure early Dragons and Heralds. In mid-game, look for picks with and end the game before the enemy ADC gets 4 items.
Playstyle
Aggressive early-game skirmisher and diver. You want to force 1v1s or 2v2s early where your sustain and base damage are unmatched. You're the one who dictates the tempo of the jungle.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
- +Elite 1v1 dueling thanks to healing and crowd control
- +Massive engage range with the mark into range extension
- + provides unique safety from ranged carries in chaotic teamfights
- +Strong objective control and healthy clearing with sustain
Weaknesses
- -No reliable escape once you commit with
- -Relies heavily on landing thrust to engage from distance
- -Falls off in the late game compared to scaling tanks or assassins
- -Highly susceptible to hard CC that prevents you from landing stacks
Abilities
Every third attack deals bonus damage and heals you. This is why you win long trades. In the jungle, use this to stay healthy—never skip an auto-attack.
Empowers your next 3 autos. The 3rd knocks the target up. CRITICAL: Each hit reduces the cooldown of your other abilities by 1 second. Always use this while clearing to get and back faster.
A slash then a thrust. The thrust is long-range and marks enemies as 'Challenged.' This mark is your most important mechanic because it doubles your dash range. Slows enemies too.
Dash to an enemy and gain Attack Speed. If the target is 'Challenged' by your , the range is nearly doubled. Use this to catch people who think they are safe.
You sweep your spear, knocking back everyone EXCEPT your 'Challenged' target. You create a zone for 5 seconds that blocks all damage from champions outside the circle. Basic attacks and spells extend this duration.
Teamfight Role
Backline Diver or Peeler
Your goal is to dive the enemy carry, mark them with , and then use to isolate them while being immune to their teammates.
If your own carry is extremely fed, use and to knock back anyone who tries to dive them instead.
Combos
Standard Gank
Walk up -> -> (during knockup) -> (after they dash/flash)
Don't lead with . Walk up, start hitting . When they get knocked up, is guaranteed to hit. Save to follow their escape tool.
The Long Catch
-> ->
Use this when you can't walk up. Hit the long-range thrust of to mark them, then use the massive range bonus on to close the gap instantly.
The Insec
(to frontline) -> -> (on carry)
Dash to a frontliner or minion, then use to knock the squishy carries back into your team. Use on the carry afterward to make sure you can stay on them.
Maximum CDR Cycle
-> -> -> Auto x3
By using after your other spells, the three hits will immediately refund 3 seconds of cooldown on and , letting you use them twice in one fight.
Power Spikes
| Spike | Why |
|---|---|
| Level 2 | With and , you can win almost any 1v1 at the first Scuttle or during an invade. |
| Level 3 | Full kit access. You now have the mark to catch people from a screen away. |
| Level 6 | makes you a diving god. You can now fight inside the enemy team without taking damage from their backline. |
| Level 9 | Usually, your is maxed here, providing maximum poke and catch potential with a much lower cooldown. |
Tips & Tricks
- • is a cooldown reset tool. Use it after and to get them back faster.
- •The circle follows you. If a ranged carry is inside, walk away to put them outside the zone so they deal 0 damage.
- •You can over walls to 'Challenged' targets (marked by ) that are normally too far away.
- •Hitting is the difference between a kill and a failed gank. Use the slow from the first part of to help land the thrust.
- • duration is extended by hitting ANY enemy champion. Don't stop attacking in the circle.
- •The third hit of also works on towers. Use it to shred plates early.
Common Mistakes
- ✕Leading with during a gank→The enemy just Flashes or dashes away, and you have no way to catch them.
- ✕Using when the target isn't Challenged→You will knock away the enemy you are trying to kill, essentially saving their life.
- ✕Ignoring the thrust→You lose 50% of your engage range and a massive chunk of your burst damage.
- ✕Fighting without available→You lose your main source of CC and the ability to cycle your other cooldowns, making you a sitting duck.
- ✕Assuming makes you invincible→You still take damage from the person inside the circle. If you dive a fed Jax or Fiora, won't save you.
AI-generated guide • Patch 16.2.1 • Cached