Matchup

Heavy AD damageDive threatStrong engageSustained DPS

Build vs Xin Zhao

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Health Potion
x2

Core build

Bandlepipes
1vs Hybride
Locket of the Iron Solari
2HP
Zeke's Convergence
3Tank

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Solstice Sleigh
5HP

Summoner spells

41467%
3420%

Anti AD

Plated Steelcaps
4vs AD
Knight's Vow
5vs AD
Frozen Heart
vs AD

Anti Heal

Thornmail
6vs Hybride

Anti AP

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC
Force of Nature
5vs AP
Abyssal Mask
vs AP
Kaenic Rookern
vs AP

Other options

Solstice Sleigh
HP
Celestial Opposition
HP
Mikael's Blessing
HP
Redemption
100.0% WR2 games
ResolveResolve
AftershockAftershock
Font of LifeFont of Life
Bone PlatingBone Plating
UnflinchingUnflinching
InspirationInspiration
Biscuit DeliveryBiscuit Delivery
Cosmic InsightCosmic Insight
Adaptive ForceAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
ThreshThresh
XinZhaoXin Zhao
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral

Xin Zhao's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Determination (P)

Every third attack deals bonus damage and heals Xin Zhao.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
37s12s11s
66s12s11s2m
95s11s11s2m
115s10s11s1m50
165s8s11s1m40
185s8s11s1m40

Playing against Xin Zhao

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

1

Xin Zhao scales poorly into late game — if you survive his aggressive early game, you outscale.

2

His R knocks you back: if you're an ADC, you end up out of the fight. Position intelligently.

3

His E is his only gap-close: without E, he can't reach you.

4

Ranged CC counters him well since he needs to be in melee for his entire kit.

Source: op.gg + LTL Engine · Patch 16.9.1 · May 9, 2026