Xin Zhao vs Master Yi
Favorable matchup
You are stronger early. Look to snowball before your opponent scales.
Build vs Master Yi
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Xin Zhao: Titanic Hydra, Black Cleaver, Death's Dance, Plated Steelcaps, Sundered Sky, Dusk and Dawn, Sterak's Gage, Statikk Shiv.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Master Yi's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Every few consecutive basic attack, Master Yi strikes twice.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 20s | 10s | 14s | – |
| 6 | 19s | 10s | 14s | 1m25 |
| 9 | 18s | 10s | 14s | 1m25 |
| 11 | 18s | 10s | 14s | 1m25 |
| 16 | 18s | 10s | 14s | 1m25 |
| 18 | 18s | 10s | 14s | 1m25 |
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 Master Yi
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Don't run alone from his R
Against Highlander (R), don't run alone: regroup with your team, because he gains speed and ignores slows.
- CC him after his Alpha Strike
If you have CC other than a slow, land it right after Alpha Strike (Q): during the strike, he's untargetable, and Highlander (R) ignores slows.
- Interrupt his Meditate
If you have CC, interrupt Meditate (W): he channels it to heal, more at low health, and to reduce the damage he takes.
- Pressure his jungle early
Put pressure on his jungle early on: Master Yi is strongest once he has his items, and each stolen camp delays him.
Other Xin Zhao matchups
Patch 16.21.1