Jhin vs Xerath
Skill matchup
Build vs Xerath
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Jhin: Hubris, Phantom Dancer, Infinity Edge, Boots of Swiftness, The Collector, Rapid Firecannon, Lord Dominik's Regards, Stormrazor.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Xerath's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Xerath's basic attacks periodically restore Mana. Whenever Xerath kills a unit, this cooldown is reduced.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 9s | 14s | 13s | – |
| 6 | 7s | 14s | 13s | 2m10 |
| 9 | 5s | 13s | 13s | 2m10 |
| 11 | 5s | 12s | 13s | 1m55 |
| 16 | 5s | 10s | 12s | 1m40 |
| 18 | 5s | 10s | 11s | 1m40 |
Playing as Jhin
Tips to maximize your impact
- Trade with your 4th shot
Save your 4th shot to trade: Whisper (passive) always makes it a critical strike with bonus damage, and each crit gives you move speed.
- Fire W at a target already hit
Fire Deadly Flourish (W) right after you or an ally hit the target: they're then rooted, and you gain move speed.
- Trap the brush
Place Captive Audience (E) in brush and along your escape path: the trap is invisible, slows the enemy who steps on it, then explodes.
- Save your 4th shot to finish
Save the 4th shot of Curtain Call (R) to finish someone off: each bullet slows and hits harder on a wounded target, and the 4th is a critical strike.
Playing against Xerath
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Stay behind your minions
Keep minions between you and Xerath: Shocking Orb (E) stuns the first enemy hit, for longer the farther it has traveled.
- Change direction
Don't stand still, and change direction often: Arcanopulse (Q) hits a target moving forward or backward in a straight line much more easily.
- Engage while he charges
If you can engage, go in while he charges Arcanopulse (Q): he slows down by up to 50%, and he has no dash to escape.
- Interrupt his Rite of the Arcane
If you have CC and can reach him during Rite of the Arcane (R), use it: he channels the ult, and interrupting it stops his shots.
Other Jhin matchups
Patch 16.21.1