How to Play Xin Zhao Top: Tips & Power Spikes (26.20)

Max order: W > E > Q
First item: Statikk Shiv12.1 min
Gold vs lane at 15: −350
Win rate 1k gold behind: 44.4%

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Xin Zhao Power Spikes (Patch 26.20)

Top

When Xin Zhao Top 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 3
All three basic abilities at level 3
Xin Zhao's full combo is online — the first point where trading all-in is realistic.
Lv 6
Ultimate rank 1 at level 6
The biggest early spike: look for a kill or a roam as soon as Xin Zhao hits it.
Lv 11
Ultimate rank 2 at level 11
Lower ultimate cooldown means more fights Xin Zhao can start or win.
Lv 16
Ultimate rank 3 at level 16
Lower ultimate cooldown means more fights Xin Zhao can start or win.
12.1 min
First item at 12.1 min
Statikk Shiv is done — Xin Zhao's first real damage or durability spike.
20.3 min
Two items at 20.3 min
Statikk Shiv + Dusk and Dawn: the window to group and take objectives.

Item timings are medians: half of players finish later. Fall behind in farm and every item spike moves back with it.

Xin Zhao Top Laning Plan

Xin Zhao recovers well from behind: a lost lane is not a lost game, so keep farming and wait for teamfights. On average Xin Zhao Top is 350 gold behind the lane opponent at 15 minutes and ahead in only 42% of games. Xin Zhao averages 1.68 solo kills by 15 minutes.

Xin Zhao win rate by gold at 15

Ahead58.3%
Behind47.8%
1,000+ gold behind44.4%

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 96): extended fights and sieges favor Xin Zhao.
Xin Zhao wins 9.2 points more in long games than short ones: avoid coin-flip fights early and let the game go long.

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.

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How to Play Xin Zhao FAQ - Patch 26.20

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 12.1 min.

Can Xin Zhao come back from behind?

Xin Zhao wins 48% of games when behind in gold at 15 minutes (over 67 games), against 58% 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 Statikk Shiv first, at a median of 12.1 minutes.

How do you play Xin Zhao Top?

From this patch's ranked data, Xin Zhao wins by playing to these strengths: take long fights and sieges; play for the late game.

Xin Zhao How to Play: Tips & Power Spikes