Xin Zhao vs Ekko
Skill matchup
You are stronger early. Look to snowball before your opponent scales.
Build vs Ekko
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Xin Zhao: Titanic Hydra, Black Cleaver, Death's Dance, Mercury's Treads, Sundered Sky, Maw of Malmortius, Dusk and Dawn, Guardian Angel.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Ekko's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Every third attack or damaging spell on the same target deals bonus magic damage, and grants Ekko a burst of speed if the target is a champion.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 9s | 22s | 9s | – |
| 6 | 8s | 22s | 9s | 1m50 |
| 9 | 7s | 20s | 9s | 1m50 |
| 11 | 7s | 18s | 9s | 1m20 |
| 16 | 7s | 14s | 8s | 50s |
| 18 | 7s | 14s | 7s | 50s |
Playing as Xin Zhao
Tips to maximize your impact
- Land your three hits
After Three Talon Strike (Q), land your three autos: the third one is a knock-up, and each one lowers your other spells' cooldowns by 1 second.
- Thrust first, charge second
Land the thrust of Wind Becomes Lightning (W) before Audacious Charge (E): the Challenged target is revealed, and your charge reaches farther on them.
- Isolate your target with your ult
Hit your target right before Crescent Guard (R): Challenged, they stay with you while the others are knocked back, and damage from outside can't reach you for a moment.
- Get ahead early
Gank and skirmish as much as you can early on: Audacious Charge (E) and the Three Talon Strike (Q) knock-up matter most before everyone has their items.
Playing against Ekko
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Avoid his third hit
Take short trades: his third hit on you, auto or spell, triggers Z-Drive Resonance (passive), with bonus damage and a burst of speed.
- Leave his Q field
When Timewinder (Q) expands on you, leave the field: it slows you, and the device hits you again on its way back to him.
- Get out of his sphere
Leave the Parallel Convergence (W) sphere as soon as it appears: if he steps into it, it stuns every enemy inside.
- Aim where he'll reappear
When he's low, don't chase him blindly: Chronobreak (R) brings him back to where he was 4 seconds earlier and damages nearby enemies. Ready your spells on that spot.
Other Xin Zhao matchups
Patch 16.21.1