10 Best Champions To Counter Xin Zhao In League of Legends

Xin Zhao is a formidable jungler known for his strong early-game dueling power, sustain, and crowd control. With abilities like Three Talon Strike (Q) and Audacious Charge (E), he can quickly engage, burst down enemies, and heal through damage in extended fights. However, Xin Zhao has weaknesses—he is heavily reliant on close-range combat, vulnerable to crowd control, and struggles against champions who can kite or burst him down before he can use his full combo. In this article, we’ll explore the 10 best champions to counter Xin Zhao and how to exploit his vulnerabilities to shut him down early and neutralize his impact in the game.

#10: Hecarim

Hecarim is a strong counter to Xin Zhao because he can kite him, outmaneuver his engages, and deal high burst damage from a distance. Xin Zhao relies on close-range duels and his ability to sustain with Three Talon Strike (Q) and his passive healing, but Hecarim’s mobility from Devastating Charge (E) allows him to engage and disengage quickly, making it difficult for Xin Zhao to stick to him in a fight.

Another advantage Hecarim has is his high sustain and team fight presence. With Spirit of Dread (W), Hecarim can heal through Xin Zhao’s damage, even in extended fights. Additionally, Onslaught of Shadows (R) can disrupt Xin Zhao’s engages, pushing him away from his target and giving Hecarim time to reposition and control the fight.

To win this matchup, Hecarim players should focus on using their mobility to avoid Xin Zhao’s engages, kite him during extended trades, and use R to disrupt his combo. If played well, Hecarim can completely deny Xin Zhao the opportunity to use his full combo and take control of the game.

#9: Elise

Elise is a strong counter to Xin Zhao because she can burst him down before he can heal, outmaneuver him with her mobility, and control the early game. Xin Zhao thrives in extended fights where he can sustain through his Three Talon Strike (Q) and passive healing, but Elise’s early-game burst from Neurotoxin (Q) and Spider Form (Q) allows her to quickly take him down before he can get any healing from his abilities.

Another key advantage Elise has is her mobility. Rappel (E) lets Elise dodge Xin Zhao’s crowd control, making it difficult for him to engage on her effectively. Elise can also use her spider form mobility to outmaneuver Xin Zhao and avoid his Audacious Charge (E), making her much harder to lock down.

To win this matchup, Elise players should focus on early aggression, looking for invades and ganks to put Xin Zhao behind. By bursting him early and using Rappel to dodge his engages, Elise can prevent Xin Zhao from scaling into a late-game powerhouse.

#8: Rek’Sai

Rek’Sai is a strong counter to Xin Zhao because she can outmaneuver him, interrupt his engages, and out-damage him in early duels. Xin Zhao relies on his ability to engage quickly with Audacious Charge (E) and sustain through his damage, but Rek’Sai’s Tremor Sense (Passive) lets her track his movements, revealing him even when he’s in the jungle or trying to escape. This gives Rek’Sai a significant advantage in early skirmishes.

Another key advantage Rek’Sai has is her high early-game damage and ability to interrupt Xin Zhao’s engages with Unburrow (W), which knocks up enemies and stops Xin Zhao from completing his full combo. Additionally, Rek’Sai’s mobility and sustain from Furious Bite (E) allow her to kite Xin Zhao and heal through his damage, making her difficult to kill in extended fights.

To win this matchup, Rek’Sai players should focus on early aggression, invading Xin Zhao’s jungle to deny him farm, and using W to disrupt his engages. If played well, Rek’Sai can prevent Xin Zhao from scaling into the mid- and late-game and take control of the early game.

#7: Kha’Zix

Kha’Zix is a strong counter to Xin Zhao because he can isolate him, burst him down quickly, and avoid his crowd control. Xin Zhao relies on staying in close combat to heal and deal damage with his Three Talon Strike (Q), but Kha’Zix’s isolated damage from Taste Their Fear (Q) allows him to deal significant damage quickly, especially when Xin Zhao is alone or trying to engage in isolated fights.

Another major advantage Kha’Zix has is his mobility and stealth with Void Assault (R). Kha’Zix can dash in and out of fights, avoiding Xin Zhao’s abilities and crowd control. This makes it difficult for Xin Zhao to stick to Kha’Zix and land his full combo, especially if Kha’Zix uses Leap (E) to position himself better during duels.

To win this matchup, Kha’Zix players should focus on isolating Xin Zhao, bursting him down before he has time to heal, and using R to reposition and dodge his crowd control. If played well, Kha’Zix can prevent Xin Zhao from engaging effectively and shut him down before he becomes a late-game threat.

#6: Nidalee

Nidalee is a strong counter to Xin Zhao because she can out-poke him, kite him effectively, and burst him down before he can heal. Xin Zhao excels in extended duels where he can use his sustain through Three Talon Strike (Q), but Nidalee’s long-range poke from Javelin Toss (Q) allows her to damage him from a distance, forcing him to engage from a disadvantageous position. This prevents Xin Zhao from healing effectively and forces him to play more defensively.

Another key advantage Nidalee has is her mobility and sustain. Prowl (Passive) lets her move quickly around the jungle, while Primal Surge (W) provides her with healing, allowing her to sustain through Xin Zhao’s burst damage. In Cougar Form (R), Nidalee can quickly dash in and out with Pounce (W) and take advantage of her high burst damage to finish off Xin Zhao before he can retaliate.

To win this matchup, Nidalee players should focus on harassing Xin Zhao from range with Q and using Cougar Form to kite and burst him down. If played correctly, Nidalee can deny Xin Zhao early pressure and control the jungle, keeping him from scaling into the late game.

#5: Trundle

Trundle is a strong counter to Xin Zhao because he can steal his stats, out-sustain him, and disrupt his engages. Xin Zhao relies on his damage and sustain through Three Talon Strike (Q) and passive healing, but Trundle’s Chomp (Q) reduces Xin Zhao’s attack damage, making him much weaker in extended trades. This reduces Xin Zhao’s ability to heal effectively and deal significant damage in fights.

Another major advantage Trundle has is his Subjugate (R), which steals a percentage of Xin Zhao’s health, armor, and magic resist, turning his tankiness against him. This ability makes it much harder for Xin Zhao to sustain through the fight, as Trundle becomes tankier and more difficult to kill. Additionally, Pillar of Ice (E) can disrupt Xin Zhao’s engage by blocking his path and slowing him down.

To win this matchup, Trundle players should focus on using Q to reduce Xin Zhao’s damage, engage with R to steal his resistances, and use E to block his movement and disengage. Trundle’s ability to out-sustain and mitigate Xin Zhao’s damage makes him a great pick to shut down Xin Zhao’s early-game power.

#4: Lee Sin

Lee Sin is a strong counter to Xin Zhao because he can outmaneuver him, interrupt his engages, and burst him down quickly. Xin Zhao relies on close-range duels and sustain from Three Talon Strike (Q), but Lee Sin’s mobility from Sonic Wave (Q) and Tempest (E) allows him to dash in and out of fights, making it difficult for Xin Zhao to stick to him and heal effectively. Additionally, Lee Sin’s high early-game damage and ability to reposition with Dragon’s Rage (R) give him a significant advantage in skirmishes.

One of Lee Sin’s key strengths is his ability to disrupt Xin Zhao’s combos. When Xin Zhao tries to engage with Audacious Charge (E) or Cyclone (R), Lee Sin can use Dragon’s Rage (R) to knock him away, preventing him from landing his full combo and denying his crowd control. This allows Lee Sin to separate Xin Zhao from his team and eliminate him before he can heal or deal damage.

To win this matchup, Lee Sin players should focus on early aggression, using Q to poke and E to engage, and saving R to interrupt Xin Zhao’s ultimate or disengage. If played well, Lee Sin can dominate the early game, outmaneuver Xin Zhao, and control skirmishes.

#3: Kindred

Kindred is a strong counter to Xin Zhao because she can kite him, out-damage him in extended fights, and deny his sustain with Lamb’s Respite (R). Xin Zhao thrives in close-range duels where he can heal through his abilities, especially Three Talon Strike (Q), but Kindred’s long-range poke from Dance of Arrows (Q) and Mounting Dread (E) allow her to whittle down his health before he can close the gap and heal.

Another major advantage Kindred has is her ultimate, Lamb’s Respite (R), which prevents Xin Zhao from securing kills in key moments. When Xin Zhao tries to engage with Cyclone (R), Kindred can use Lamb’s Respite to deny him the opportunity to finish off targets and heal through the fight, allowing her team to turn the fight in their favor.

To win this matchup, Kindred players should focus on kiting Xin Zhao with her Q and E, using Lamb’s Respite to counter his all-ins, and taking advantage of her range to deal consistent damage. If played correctly, Kindred can completely shut down Xin Zhao’s sustain and deny his ability to carry fights.

#2: Graves

Graves is a strong counter to Xin Zhao because he outranges him, outduels him in extended trades, and denies his engage with mobility and burst damage. Xin Zhao excels in close-range duels, relying on his crowd control and sustain from Three Talon Strike (Q), but Graves’ long-range poke with End of the Line (Q) and auto-attacks allows him to trade from a safe distance, keeping Xin Zhao from getting close enough to heal or land his full combo.

Another major advantage Graves has is his ability to tank through Xin Zhao’s damage. With True Grit (E), Graves gains bonus armor and magic resist with each dash, making him tankier against Xin Zhao’s damage. Additionally, Smokescreen (W) can blind Xin Zhao during his all-ins, disrupting his ability to land key attacks or abilities.

To win this matchup, Graves players should focus on keeping their distance with Q, using W to deny Xin Zhao’s vision and engage, and taking advantage of their superior range and tankiness in extended trades. If played correctly, Graves can out-damage Xin Zhao and control the jungle throughout the game.

#1: Olaf

Olaf is the best counter to Xin Zhao because he outduels him in extended fights, ignores his crowd control, and sustains through his damage. Xin Zhao excels in close-range combat where he can heal through his damage with Three Talon Strike (Q) and his passive, but Olaf’s Ragnarok (R) makes him immune to crowd control, allowing him to continue attacking without interruption even if Xin Zhao uses his Audacious Charge (E) or Cyclone (R) to engage.

Another key advantage Olaf has is his sustain in extended fights. With Vicious Strikes (W) and his passive attack speed bonus, Olaf can out-heal Xin Zhao’s damage while applying constant pressure. Additionally, Undertow (Q) provides a slow that can prevent Xin Zhao from escaping or closing the gap to deal damage.

To win this matchup, Olaf players should focus on extended trades, using R to ignore Xin Zhao’s crowd control, and Q to slow him down and prevent him from escaping. If played correctly, Olaf can easily out-sustain and out-damage Xin Zhao, shutting him down in duels and controlling the early game.

Conclusion

Xin Zhao is a powerful jungler known for his strong early-game dueling potential, sustain, and crowd control, but his weaknesses—lack of mobility, reliance on close-range combat, and vulnerability to crowd control—make him susceptible to the right counters. Champions like Olaf and Graves can out-sustain and out-damage him, while Lee Sin and Kindred can disrupt his engages and deny his sustain. If you’re struggling against Xin Zhao, picking one of these champions and shutting him down early will prevent him from becoming a late-game powerhouse. By kiting him, interrupting his combos, and punishing his immobility, you can neutralize his impact and control the flow of the game.