Sylas vs Xin Zhao
You are stronger early. Look to snowball before your opponent scales.
Build vs Xin Zhao
The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup
Recommended items for Sylas: Hextech Rocketbelt, Riftmaker, Zhonya's Hourglass, Sorcerer's Shoes, Rabadon's Deathcap, Shadowflame, Cosmic Drive, Banshee's Veil.
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 Sylas
Tips to maximize your impact
- An auto after each spell
Weave an auto after each spell: Petricite Burst (passive) turns it into a chain swing around you, with bonus magic damage.
- Save Kingslayer for low health
Save Kingslayer (W) to finish or to save yourself when your health drops: its healing grows with your missing health.
- Abscond, then throw your chain
To engage, cast Abscond (E), then recast within 3.5 seconds: Abduct (E) pulls you to the first enemy hit and knocks them into the air.
- Steal the ult that decides the fight
Cast Hijack (R) on the enemy whose ult can turn a teamfight: you keep a copy of it, cast with your own stats.
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 Sylas matchups
Patch 16.21.1