Xin Zhao ARAM Build and Guide

Updated for patch 26.22. Ability details come from Riot’s official game data for this patch; ARAM balance numbers come from the League of Legends Wiki’s champion data.

Our Xin Zhao ARAM build is Trinity Force, Sundered Sky, Sterak’s Gage and Titanic Hydra on Mercury’s Treads: a diving fighter who charges the backline, knocks up a carry with Three Talon Strike and blocks outside damage with Crescent Guard. ARAM changes one number for him, damage dealt drops to 95%.

Built around his abilities, not win rates.

How is Xin Zhao changed in ARAM?

One nerf, nothing else. He deals 5% less damage, and his durability is untouched. That’s a light trim. A champion whose ultimate makes him immune to damage from anyone outside its circle was always going to look good in five-on-five brawls, so Riot shaved a little off the offense and left the rest alone.

Why does Xin Zhao do well on the Howling Abyss?

Because Crescent Guard is built for exactly this kind of fight. His kit on patch 26.22:

• Determination (passive): each third attack hits harder and heals him.
• Three Talon Strike (Q): three empowered attacks, the last one knocking the target airborne. Cooldown 7/6.5/6/5.5/5.
• Wind Becomes Lightning (W): a slash, then a forward thrust that slows and marks enemies as Challenged. Cooldown 12/11/10/9/8.
• Audacious Charge (E): he charges an enemy, slowing those around the impact and gaining Attack Speed; Challenged targets can be reached from farther away. Cooldown 11.
• Crescent Guard (R): a sweep that deals current-Health damage nearby, pushes away non-challenged enemies and makes him impervious to damage from champions outside the circle. Cooldown 120/110/100.

On the Abyss, the enemy backline stands right behind its tanks. Wind Becomes Lightning tags a mage from a distance, and Audacious Charge then reaches that Challenged target from farther away than usual. Once he’s there, Crescent Guard knocks everyone except the marked carry away and turns off all the damage from the people outside. Is that enough to kill a squishy? Usually. The duel inside the circle is one-on-one, and Three Talon Strike’s knock-up makes sure the carry can’t walk out.

What items fit a Xin Zhao ARAM build?

Damage that procs off abilities and attacks, plus enough Health to survive landing in the enemy backline. Here’s the core (Sterak’s Gage moves up if you keep dying first).

Trinity Force starts it. Spellblade adds bonus physical damage to his next attack after each spell, and Xin Zhao casts W, E and Q in quick succession, so it procs constantly. Quicken gives Move Speed when he attacks. Plus 333 Health and 30% Attack Speed.

Sundered Sky next: Lightshield Strike makes his first attack on each champion a critical strike that restores Health. Steady healing.

Sterak’s Gage brings a decaying shield when a hit would take him under 30% Health, and 20% Tenacity. Titanic Hydra finishes with 600 Health and Cleave, which hits enemies behind his target, so his charge into a group spreads damage around. Mercury’s Treads for 30% more Tenacity against random crowd control.

How should you play Xin Zhao in fights?

• Mark the carry with Wind Becomes Lightning. Challenged targets can be charged from farther away.
• Charge in only once the enemy has used some crowd control on your tank.
• Cast Crescent Guard right after landing. It pushes away everyone but the Challenged target.
• Finish the combo with the third Three Talon Strike hit for the knock-up.
• Stay inside your own circle; you’re immune only to champions outside it.

How do no-recall shopping and Mark affect Xin Zhao?

You can’t back to shop, so every death is a shopping trip. Prioritize finishing Trinity Force, since Spellblade is where much of his early damage comes from. Health relics refill him between fights, and Determination heals during them.

Mark throws the snowball. A hit means a dash onto that champion, and since he already has Audacious Charge, Mark mostly extends how far away he can start a fight (which is a lot, combined). Summoners are fixed once the game loads. Flash plus Mark is a solid pair (Flash into Crescent Guard is a classic play), and to be fair, it’s hard to argue for anything else. Real talk: he’s happiest with two ways in.

Is Xin Zhao a good ARAM pick?

Yes. The nerf is small, and an ultimate that blocks outside damage is exactly what a diver needs on a lane full of poke. Teams with lots of crowd control and peel are the hard matchup.

Playing against him on Summoner’s Rift? The Xin Zhao counters guide covers his jungle matchups. Our item database has full numbers for Trinity Force and the rest, and his costumes are on the Xin Zhao skins page.

Long story short, the Xin Zhao ARAM build is Trinity Force, Sundered Sky, Sterak’s Gage and Titanic Hydra, with W to mark, E to charge and Crescent Guard to isolate the carry.

FAQ

What is Xin Zhao’s ARAM modifier?

Damage dealt drops to 95%. Nothing else changes, according to wiki data for patch 26.22.

Why Trinity Force on Xin Zhao?

Spellblade empowers his next attack after every ability, and he casts three abilities in a short combo, so it triggers often.

What does Crescent Guard block?

Damage from champions outside its circle. It also knocks back enemies who aren’t Challenged and deals damage based on current Health.

How does Xin Zhao reach the backline?

Wind Becomes Lightning marks targets as Challenged, and Audacious Charge gains extra range against Challenged enemies.

Which summoner spells suit Xin Zhao on the Howling Abyss?

Flash and Mark. A snowball hit gives a dash to the target, which adds reach on top of Audacious Charge.