TL;DR
- Xin Zhao can efficiently solo dragon in Season 5 with proper setup
- Red buff is mandatory for sustain during the dragon encounter
- Optimal jungle path: Krugs (Smite) → Red Buff → Raptors → Dragon
- Use Smite when dragon health reaches approximately 800 HP
- Battle Cry at level 3 significantly improves survival chances
Many League of Legends players discover the thrill of dragon soloing through highlight videos featuring champions like Pantheon and Fiora. While these demonstrations showcase impressive mechanics, they often leave newer players wondering if alternative champions can achieve similar results. The good news is that multiple champions possess the capability to take down the dragon alone with proper execution.
Xin Zhao emerges as an excellent alternative for dragon soloing, particularly in Season 5 where the dragon’s mechanics have been adjusted. His combination of sustain, damage output, and jungle clearing efficiency makes him surprisingly effective for this objective. Understanding which champions can accomplish this feat expands your strategic options significantly.
The foundation of successful dragon soloing begins with proper rune and mastery configuration. While the visual guide provides specific setups, understanding the underlying principles helps adapt to different game situations. Your rune selection should prioritize attack speed for faster jungle clearing and sustain through Xin Zhao’s passive healing.
Magic resistance becomes particularly important for dragon encounters, as the dragon deals significant magic damage with its attacks. However, your equipment choices play a crucial role in supplementing defensive stats. Consider building early magic resistance items if you plan to attempt dragon soloing before reaching your core damage items.
Proper ability sequencing dramatically impacts your dragon soloing capability. The standard jungle skill order receives a crucial adjustment at levels 3 and 4 to maximize survivability during the encounter.
Learning Battle Cry at Level 3 instead of the conventional skill order provides substantially improved survival potential. This ability not only increases your healing through basic attacks but also reduces cooldowns with each strike, creating a sustainable damage and healing loop against the dragon.
Securing the red buff becomes non-negotiable for successful dragon soloing attempts. The health regeneration provided by this buff creates the necessary sustain to survive the dragon’s consistent damage output. This requirement applies regardless of whether you start on the blue or purple side of the map.
The optimized jungle route follows this sequence: Krugs (using Smite immediately) → Red Buff → Raptors → Dragon. This path maximizes experience gain while ensuring you reach the dragon with adequate health, levels, and cooldowns available. Monitor your Smite cooldown carefully—when the dragon’s health drops to approximately 800, your Smite should be available again for the finishing blow.
Season 5 introduced changes to dragon behavior that experienced players can exploit. The dragon’s attack patterns and damage output have been modified, creating opportunities for champions with sustain mechanics to succeed where they previously struggled. Understanding these seasonal adjustments separates successful attempts from failed ones.
Common mistakes include attempting dragon without red buff, improper skill sequencing, and misjudging Smite timing. Advanced players can optimize further by tracking enemy jungler movement and coordinating with laners to create distraction opportunities. For comprehensive jungle strategies, check out our Complete Guide to master all aspects of map control.
Timing your dragon attempt between 5-7 minutes typically yields the best results, as this window often catches opponents unprepared while providing adequate item progression.
Action Checklist
- Configure runes and masteries for attack speed and sustain
- Execute jungle path: Krugs (Smite) → Red Buff → Raptors
- Learn Battle Cry at level 3 for enhanced survival
- Engage dragon when health is full and cooldowns are available
- Use Smite when dragon health reaches approximately 800 HP
No reproduction without permission:OnLineGames Guides » How to Make XinZhao Solo the Dragon Master Xin Zhao's dragon solo strategy with optimal runes, jungle path, and timing for Season 5 success
