- Win Rate
- 55.3%
- Pick Rate
- 1.5%
- Ban Rate
- 0.6%
Xin Zhao How to Play: Tips & Power Spikes
- Patch
- 26.22
- Games
- 929
- Lane
- Jungle
- Tier
- All Tiers
- Last Updated
- Nov 6, 2026 UTC
- Author
- Dakota Chinnick
- Methodology
- Data Methodology
How to play Xin Zhao in Patch 26.22, built from ranked games: power spikes, the lane plan, how leads convert, and the habits that separate Xin Zhao wins from losses.
- Max order
- W > E > Q
- First item
- Scorchclaw Pup0.2 min
- Gold vs lane at 15
- −169
- Win rate 1k gold ahead
- 76.9%
- Win rate 1k gold behind
- 40.3%
How to Play Xin Zhao (Patch 26.22)
JungleXin Zhao recovers well from behind: a lost lane is not a lost game, so keep farming and wait for teamfights. From this patch's ranked data, Xin Zhao wins by playing to these strengths: take long fights and sieges; end the game early. Xin Zhao's spikes in a typical ranked game: All three basic abilities at level 3; Ultimate rank 1 at level 6; Ultimate rank 2 at level 11; Ultimate rank 3 at level 16; First item at 0.2 min.
Xin Zhao Power Spikes (Patch 26.22)
JungleWhen Xin Zhao Jungle gets stronger, in the order it happens in a typical ranked game: ability unlocks from the most common skill order, item spikes at the median minute players finish them, and the game length Xin Zhao wins most.
- Lv 3All three basic abilities at level 3Xin Zhao's full combo is online — the first point where trading all-in is realistic.
- Lv 6Ultimate rank 1 at level 6The biggest early spike: look for a kill or a roam as soon as Xin Zhao hits it.
- Lv 11Ultimate rank 2 at level 11Lower ultimate cooldown means more fights Xin Zhao can start or win.
- Lv 16Ultimate rank 3 at level 16Lower ultimate cooldown means more fights Xin Zhao can start or win.
- 0.2 minFirst item at 0.2 min
Scorchclaw Pup is done — Xin Zhao's first real damage or durability spike. - 11.3 minTwo items at 11.3 min
Scorchclaw Pup + Titanic Hydra: the window to group and take objectives. - 19.6 minThree-item core at 19.6 min
Scorchclaw Pup + Titanic Hydra + Black Cleaver completes Xin Zhao's core build. - 20 minStrongest in games of about 20 minutesXin Zhao wins 60.5% of games that end around this point.
Item timings are medians: half of players finish later. Fall behind in farm and every item spike moves back with it.
Xin Zhao Jungle Laning Plan
On average Xin Zhao Jungle is 169 gold behind the lane opponent at 15 minutes and ahead in only 45% of games. A 1,000-gold lead at 15 turns into a 77% win rate; a 1,000-gold deficit leaves 40%. Xin Zhao averages 0.19 solo kills by 15 minutes.
Xin Zhao Mid and Late Game
What Xin Zhao does better or worse than other champions after laning, from this patch's ranked games — percentiles where 100 is the highest of every champion.
Play to these strengths
- Xin Zhao heals a lot (percentile 97): extended fights and sieges favor Xin Zhao.
- Xin Zhao wins 6.5 points more in short games than long ones: group, take objectives and end before the enemy scales.
These expert Xin Zhao tips are generated by MetaBot's advanced analysis of thousands of Xin Zhao games. Learn the best strategies, ability combos, and gameplay tactics to master Xin Zhao and climb the ranked ladder. Follow these tips to maximize your Xin Zhao performance.
- Xin Zhao has a high rate of healing compared to other champions. They may be good at exchanging hit trades in lane or before teamfights since they can recover through self-healing.
- Xin Zhao has more base armor than most champions, which makes them excellent in the early game against attack damage type enemies.
- Xin Zhao has more health regen than most champions, making their playstyle optimal for aggressive trades in lane.
Playing Xin Zhao
- Xin Zhao is a great initiator to combat. Lead the front to start a fight and use your ultimate to do the most damage possible.
- Try to position yourself so your ultimate's knockback is most effective.
Playing Against Xin Zhao
- Xin Zhao is a powerful initiator with both his charge and ultimate dealing damage to all units around him. Try having your team stay spread out until he's used his ultimate.
- Xin Zhao relies heavily on his Three Talon Strikes for damage and cooldown resets, so preventing him from finishing his combo will have a dramatic effect.
Help us maintain accuracy! If you notice incorrect stats, missing data, or any issues, your feedback directly improves the quality of our data for the entire community.
How to Play Xin Zhao FAQ - Patch 26.22
When does Xin Zhao power spike?
Xin Zhao's spikes in a typical ranked game: All three basic abilities at level 3; Ultimate rank 1 at level 6; Ultimate rank 2 at level 11; Ultimate rank 3 at level 16; First item at 0.2 min.
Can Xin Zhao come back from behind?
Xin Zhao wins 42% of games when behind in gold at 15 minutes (over 490 games), against 71% when ahead — so a lost lane costs Xin Zhao games, but it is not decisive.
What is Xin Zhao's first item?
Most Xin Zhao players finish Scorchclaw Pup first, at a median of 0.2 minutes.
Which lanes are hardest for Xin Zhao?
By gold at 15 minutes, Xin Zhao falls furthest behind against Master Yi, Lee Sin, Shyvana. Play those lanes safe and scale.
How do you play Xin Zhao Jungle?
From this patch's ranked data, Xin Zhao wins by playing to these strengths: take long fights and sieges; end the game early.