Lee Sin vs Xin Zhao
Skill matchup
Build vs Xin Zhao
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Lee Sin: Eclipse, Black Cleaver, Death's Dance, Plated Steelcaps, Sundered Sky, Voltaic Cyclosword, Profane Hydra, Guardian Angel.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Xin Zhao's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Every third attack deals bonus damage and heals Xin Zhao.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 7s | 12s | 11s | – |
| 6 | 6s | 12s | 11s | 2m |
| 9 | 5s | 11s | 11s | 2m |
| 11 | 5s | 10s | 11s | 1m50 |
| 16 | 5s | 8s | 11s | 1m40 |
| 18 | 5s | 8s | 11s | 1m40 |
Playing as Lee Sin
Tips to maximize your impact
- Kick your target into your team
For the Insec, land Sonic Wave (Q), reach the target, ward behind them and jump to it with Safeguard (W): Dragon's Rage (R) kicks them toward your team.
- Recast Q on a low-health target
Wait until your target has lost health before casting Resonating Strike (Q): its damage scales with missing health, and you have 3 seconds to cast it.
- Ward hop to escape
Cast Safeguard (W) on an ally, minions included, or on a ward to dodge or escape: it has a 7-second cooldown and also shields the targeted allied champion.
- Get ahead early
Look for invades, ganks and objectives early on: Lee Sin is strongest early, and his impact drops once the others have their items.
Playing against Xin Zhao
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Dodge his thrust
Get out of the line of the Wind Becomes Lightning (W) thrust: it slows you and marks you as Challenged, which extends the range of Audacious Charge (E) on you.
- Cut off his three hits
If you have CC, use it during Three Talon Strike (Q): without his three autos, there's no knock-up, and his other cooldowns don't go down.
- Back off after his charge
After Audacious Charge (E), keep your distance: it's his only dash to get back on you, and without it he has to walk up to you.
- No ranged damage after his ult
After Crescent Guard (R), don't hit him from range: for a moment, he ignores damage from outside the swept zone. Back off, or hit him from inside it.
- Drag the game out
If you survive his first minutes, play for time: Xin Zhao is strongest early on, through his ganks and skirmishes.
Other Lee Sin matchups
Patch 16.21.1