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League of Legends: Xin Zhao Skins’ Review – StrategyZero
Jul 262012
 
Xin Zhao, the Seneschal of Demacia
Xin Zhao, the Seneschal of Demacia

Xin Zhao, the Seneschal of Demacia is a warrior at heart who feels at ease in both the arena and the military. His skins reflect this fact as well as many stages of his life as Noxian gladiator, Demacian soldier or any other spear wielding warrior. To discover how Xin Zhao looks in his fighter outfits read further on this skins’ review.

Commando Xin Zhao
Commando Xin Zhao Splash Art Commando Xin Zhao Model
Category: Regular
Price: 520 RP
Concept: Commando as a member of the Demacian Commandos.
Model: Moderate model changes for Xin Zhao and his spear.
Particles: No new particles.
Animations: No new animations.
Sounds: No new sounds.
Splash Art: Commando Xin Zhao looks like half a splash art but what little is shown is reasonably good. The background, or what little of it is actually drawn, depicts abundant foliage with sun rays. It doesn’t look bad but the inclusion of a sort of fog seems strange; yet it’s passable. Xin Zhao is well portrayed: his clothes show folds, his armour shines under the sun and his stance shows determination. Oddly, the pony tail is whimsically drawn; not to say it’s plain weird. Additionally, he looks maybe too stern for someone standing alone in the middle of a forest. Besides, the limited colour palette brings little variety and while consistent it also feels restrictive. The last straw is how half of the piece is masked as the darkness of a sunny forest. This economy in background use erodes the quality of the splash art and results in an unsatisfactory product.
Rating: Star clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZero
Conclusion: Commando Xin Zhao is an alright skin that makes use of a militaristic style but doesn’t exploit it very well. It’s adequate that the skin doesn’t heavily reference modern warfare so that it doesn’t look unfitting for a fantasy setting. The armour does look good, though a bit flat, and the spear design is nice. Conversely, the modern army reference remains as the core concept and so the skin doesn’t convince; truth is, the skin isn’t attractive. Maybe it’s the subdued execution but the fact remains that Commando Xin Zhao looks rather plain.

Imperial Xin Zhao
Imperial Xin Zhao Splash Art Imperial Xin Zhao Model
Category: Regular
Price: 520 RP
Concept: Xin Zhao imagined as a Chinese warrior.
Model: New textures for Xin Zhao and his spear.
Particles: No new particles.
Animations: No new animations.
Sounds: No new sounds.
Splash Art: Imperial Xin Zhao’s splash art is quite good and eye-catching. The background shows stone statues that provide an adequate setting. Xin Zhao poses dramatically in an excellent depiction. Not only are lighting and shading superb but also the use of perspective and attention to detail. Unfortunately, Xin Zhao’s silhouette is delineated with a yellow aura. Coupled with the different style used between his portrayal and the background the resulting piece seems made from two different layers. Although this lowers the quality of the piece and leaves a bad impression it still is a good splash art.
Rating: Star clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZero
Conclusion: Imperial Xin Zhao is a simple and appealing skin that manages to deliver its concept with just new textures. The skin isn’t stunning but it’s really well done: the armour looks sturdy and believable, the clothes follow the colour scheme and appearance is adapted into that of a veteran warrior. The final result is good but the colour palette ends up feeling too mute and restricted. Imperial Xin Zhao is a nice and cheap skin recommended for fans of Chinese warriors; it’s not great but does enough with its modest textures.

Viscero Xin Zhao
Viscero Xin Zhao Splash Art Viscero Xin Zhao Model
Category: Legacy
Price: 975 RP
Concept: Xin Zhao dressed as a Noxian gladiator from The Fleshing arena.
Model: New model for Xin Zhao and his spear.
Particles: No new particles.
Animations: No new animations.
Sounds: No new sounds.
Splash Art: The splash art of Viscero Xin Zhao is interesting and straightforward. The background is The Fleshing Noxian arena for gladiators. While the setting contains an ample amount of details the drawing is uneven; one example is the border of the platform in the middle of the piece. Fortunately, the oppressive though drab arena is effective at displaying Xin Zhao’s lethality; experienced firsthand by the massive dead warrior. Xin Zhao’s stance and depiction is just as effective: the dents on his armour, the blood dripping from his spear, his defiant expression show how good of a gladiator he is. Still, while the metal is very nicely drawn other parts look sketchy in comparison; like cloth, skin and hair. In the end, Viscero Xin Zhao has an impressive splash art that is brought down by unequal quality.
Rating: Star clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZero
Conclusion: Viscero Xin Zhao harkens back to Xin Zhao’s days as a gladiator which makes the skin both suitable and relevant. Furthermore, the style is realistic yet appealing: the armour protects his exposed side, a loincloth his modesty and his spear resembles a trident; similar to a Roman retiarius. In addition to this, touches like the scars on his body, the mail under the armour and the matching spikes on his left gauntlet and helmet add depth without being unnecessary embellishments. In conclusion, Viscero Xin Zhao is a great skin recommended for fans of Xin Zhao and gladiators.

Winged Hussar Xin Zhao
Winged Hussar Xin Zhao Splash Art Winged Hussar Xin Zhao Model
Category: Legacy
Price: 975 RP
Concept: Xin Zhao wearing the armour of a Polish Winged Hussar cavalry soldier.
Model: New model for Xin Zhao and his spear.
Particles: No new particles.
Animations: No new animations.
Sounds: No new sounds.
Splash Art: Winged Hussar Xin Zhao is a piece that prefers to fill the background with a few colours and make it pass for a sky, so as to focus on Xin Zhao himself. As such an outstanding portrait of Xin Zhao is in order but not delivered. In fact, the piece seems to do as much as would suffice to get it simply done. So the horse is well delineated but simply inked, Xin Zhao shows good reflections and use of perspective but the shading makes him look plain. The problem may be that the piece has an acceptable concept but the execution is lacking: the composition is too titled to the right while the colours are dark and mesh with each other. Therefore, this isn’t an horrible piece but it leaves much to be desired to even resemble good.
Rating: Star clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZero
Conclusion: Winged Hussar Xin Zhao is a skin based on the eponymous Polish cavalrymen. This stylized version of the Winged Hussars follows the historical look of the armour in general but still adds some extra ornamentation; especially the vambraces and spaulders. Overall, the classic Winged Hussar aesthetic is respected and executed well; in particular the helmet and cuirass. The boots and trousers look practical but the design and colours clash with the armour. It seems as if the skin is at odds trying to accomplish historical accuracy and an exciting fantasy look at the same time. Therefore, the upper body is ornamented while the lower half is plain and one can only wonder why there’s no protection for the hands plus what is a cavalryman doing on foot. Ultimately, Winged Hussar Xin Zhao adapts the look of the elite cavalry, not as effectively as it deserved but, well enough.

Warring Kingdoms Xin Zhao
Warring Kingdoms Xin Zhao Splash Art Warring Kingdoms Xin Zhao Model
Category: Regular
Price: 1350 RP
Concept: Xin Zhao in the image of Zhao Yun from the Three Kingdoms period.
Model: New model for Xin Zhao and his spear plus new lightning particle for the spear’s blade.
Particles: New particles for Three Talon Strike, Battle Cry, Audacious Charge and Crescent Sweep.
Animations: New beginning of match animation.
Sounds: New sounds for Three Talon Strike, Battle Cry, Audacious Charge and Crescent Sweep.
Splash Art: This piece’s only background is a distant hurricane on the left. The sudden stop of the horse adds dynamism but hardly compensates for the empty setting. The whole of the piece is presented in motion and that is reflected in both Xin Zhao and his horse. The gusts of wind displayed to reinforce the movement seem redundant and annoying, as they occlude the portrayal, but are tolerable. At least, the equine looks incredible and echoes Xin Zhao’s expression; also nicely depicted. In fact, Xin Zhao’s impeccable armour shines and the clothes twist, like the horse’s neck, to face the viewer; a nice touch that adds immersion to the piece. All things considered, it’s a splash art that readily catches attention and gathers interest on the subject but ends up being just a really good portrayal while it could’ve been much more.
Rating: Star clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZero
Conclusion: Warring Kingdoms Xin Zhao is a fantastic skin in more than one way despite its price. The armour is lavishly designed but doesn’t cover much of his body nor looks very sturdy. The clothes are rather simple but the dragon pattern on the chest breaks the monotony. The spear looks practical and is nicely designed so as to match Xin Zhao’s style. Overall, the look isn’t great but it does a good job at representing a stylized warrior. Fortunately, the wind and lightning particles are a great addition that adds a welcome layer of fantasy. The particles are eye-catching in their rather measured way. Even if they don’t feel spectacular, Three Talon Strike is simply re-coloured, they give Xin Zhao a distinct identity. Sadly, the new sounds are quite difficult to notice and so struggle to add to the skin; except for Crescent Sweep’s gusts of wind, which do stand out. Therefore, he certainly looks and feels fantastic but in an appealing way. All in all, it’s a rather good skin for Xin Zhao fans that suffers from a rather steep price. The additions are nice but they fail to add up to an impressive whole. So, if you’d like a dazzling fantasy fighter then this is a good choice; but better caught while on sale.

Secret Agent Xin Zhao
Secret Agent Xin Zhao Splash Art Secret Agent Xin Zhao Model
Category: Regular
Price: 975 RP
Concept: Xin Zhao as a spear-wielding spy.
Model: New model for Xin Zhao and his spear.
Particles: New particles for Crescent Sweep.
Animations: New recall animation.
Sounds: New recall sounds.
Splash Art: With a flash of light behind and the proposal of an alien creature being destroyed we find the hero dramatically posing after his finishing move. It’s nothing revolutionary but certainly functional. The background is more suggestions than anything else and what little is concrete leaves the feeling of wanting to know more; knowing that it’s impossible. Fortunately, the basics work: Xin Zhao’s portrayal is quite good and while the diffuse right leg might be a bit too much the rest is good. The shading is good, there’re detailed folds and also highlights for his hair. Even his spear can be clearly seen though, sunglasses and beard aside, Xin can look too similar to Graves at a glance.
In the end, the piece works as a portrayal and spotlight for Xin Zhao’s new enterprise. It straightforward but that also works to its advantage. The background would’ve welcomed more than just suggestions but the overall result is good; even if there’s room for improvement.
Rating: Star clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZero
Conclusion: It doesn’t take a second look to notice that Secret Agent Xin Zhao isn’t a skin to take seriously. The suit is simple but effective, the modern spear preposterous and the facial hair pointless. At least the new recall does a good job at explaining how the spear would fit a spy: the classic gadget briefcase. The only other addition is some new particles for Crescent Sweep’s buff and they don’t amount to much.
The adaptation is reasonable and not without appeal but it’s nothing out of the ordinary. The concept has been seen before and Xin Zhao doesn’t do anything particularly interesting with it. Therefore, Secret Agent Xin Zhao is a skin for Seneschal fans. It offers something different but not remarkable.

Dragonslayer Xin Zhao
Dragonslayer Xin Zhao Splash Art Dragonslayer Xin Zhao Model
Category: Regular
Price: 1350 RP
Concept: Xin Zhao as a dragon hunter.
Model: New model for Xin Zhao and his spear. New dragon for his recall
Particles: New particles for his abilities, auto-attack and recall.
Animations: New vertical sweep auto-attack and recall animation.
Sounds: New sounds for his abilities, auto-attack and recall.
Splash Art: Three dragons of, perhaps, various sizes around, lots of, assumedly, blazing red flames and a warrior in the middle. While a bit of the dragons is visible they are insinuations that don’t represent their relevance to the concept at hand. The rest is a messy chaos of red tones that, frankly, only fills space.
Sadly, Xin Zhao also has his fair share of problems. The dragon armour’s general outline is good thanks to the florid spaulders and the quality of the right one and the head is quite attractive; with great use of light also. Things get worse as we move away from that central area of focus. The colours lose vivaciousness and lines become more sparse and general; perhaps giving way to the red mist around. The spear’s blade manages an interesting, cinder-evoking gem but the rest starts to blur away; especially as the handle is followed to the other end, just like following each limb to their end. The perspective also seems too abrupt with hands that appear to change size too much despite not being that far from the face. The rest of the body also strikes as having a less than convincing outline: as if proportions weren’t right.
All in all, this is a disappointing splash art that barely sets a context for Xin Zhao to act. The pose says nothing and the depiction has visible issues. In general terms, the splash art manages to give an idea of the Dragonslayer look but it doesn’t effectively bring excitement to the proposition.
Rating: Star clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZero
Conclusion: As a familiar and traditional concept Dragonslayer Xin Zhao doesn’t have to justify its appeal but instead should strive to stand apart with an identity of its own. That isn’t the case: the Seneschal looks like another warrior in dragon armour. That doesn’t mean that the armour isn’t appealing with its scale-like plates. On the contrary, the armour design is quite nice except that the front of the cuirass looks like plates of leather. The idea is for the armour to resemble a reptilian body but the result is that it looks flimsy in comparison with the sturdy plates of metal and the weighty, exaggerated spaulders. The fact that the back, as well as the areas behind arms and thighs look simplistic doesn’t help the overall design either. The helmet shares the stylisation problem as it doesn’t cover the whole face, necessary as protection against flames, and leaves ample room for the long mane of white hair to show off; a stylish echo of the unprotected hands. Without a doubt, the approach is in form over function in an uneven way but, at least, it manages to be attractive. The spear follows suit with a simple handle but a stylish blade that evokes a forge’s fire and a scale-piercing design.
Particles are a rather simple affair with all abilities making use of some sort of swirls of flame. They are nice but too similar to each other and also unimaginative. There’s nothing that hasn’t been seen before even though they are nice to look at. In particular, Challenge’s burning indicator is a good touch. Three Talon Strike has some nice swirls similar to Wind Becomes Lightning. Audacious Charge closes the swirls in circular manner in a rather eye-catching way while Crescent Sweep is a rather conventional but suitable spread of flames with shy aftereffects.
In spite of the flamey visuals, the aural department doesn’t include any burning sounds. Instead the abilities retake the spear’s forge suggestion with several different kinds of metal scrapping and rustling. In practice, it’s rather attractive and different from the usual. Regardless, there’s an obvious dissonance with the visuals: you see flames but hear metal.
In terms of animations there’s little to note. The recall is a simple battle against a dragon that strikes as a show put on to present the warriors; with them fighting a dummy to display what it’s all about. The new auto-attack animation is a vertical sweep while holding the tip of the spear’s handle which is quite fitting. It’s strange that such an obvious addition isn’t added to Classic and something more stylish, perhaps that relies on the skin’s unique spear design, isn’t used in its place. At any rate, it’s a good touch.
Overall, Dragonslayer Xin Zhao is a skin with appeal but conventional. It doesn’t do much beyond what would be expected from a Dragonslayer. There’s the dragon armour, the dragon weapons and some fire. The metallic sounds are a fine change but they seem to come out of nowhere. For fans of the Seneschal, Dragonslayer Xin Zhao is quite a good warrior skin but one that doesn’t make the effort to transcend basic expectations.

Cosmic Defender Xin Zhao
Cosmic Defender Xin Zhao Splash Art Cosmic Defender Xin Zhao Model
Category: Regular
Price: 1350 RP
Concept: Xin Zhao as a cosmic warrior.
Model: New model for Xin Zhao and his spear plus new glow for his hair, left spaulder and spear’s blade.
Particles: New particles for his abilities, auto-attack and recall.
Animations: New recall animation.
Sounds: New sounds for his abilities, auto-attack and recall plus processed voice-over.
Splash Art: At a glance, the piece gives the impression of a poster showing a hero from a space age. Of space, the entire background is full but there really isn’t much content in it; even the swirl of darkness seems to fill empty room. It’s not the setting that gives context to the portrayal but the approach itself.
Xin Zhao appears only from the waist up and what’s seen is rather dimly coloured. There’s some use of light but the source seems weak so that colours are subdued and surfaces look rather dull; a far cry from the colourful three-dimensional persona. This darkness gives the portrayal a more serious tone and makes details like the spear and helmet’s light more eye-catching. However, along with the side view and partial depiction, makes the portrayal quite vague as to how Xin Zhao actually looks. Thus, hair made out of space may only add insult to injury as another deviation from the in-game look; besides the hair looks like jelly.
It can’t be denied that the style of the splash art gives it personality. Unfortunately, it’s style at the expense of clarity and noticeably so. What is seen in the splash art little has to do with what’s seen in-game. On top of this, while the portrayal is good it’s also rather brief and, ultimately, imprecise.
Rating: Star clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZeroStar clip art used in skin reviews at StrategyZero
Conclusion: Being so colourful and bright Cosmic Defender Xin Zhao looks more like a magical warrior from high fantasy than an astral fighter. Actually, there’s no indication of his stellar theme so that the skin seems more magical than cosmic. The hair’s glow doesn’t really look like space, the armour is all style with some practical designs taking the background and the lower body looks simpler than the overloaded upper-half. One thing that is well done is the spear. Even though it doesn’t have any cosmic feel it has a design that is attractive and interesting with a facemask before a glowing blade.
In terms of particles, Three Talon Strike is the only connection to the cosmic theme; which ends up feeling out of place. The spear leaves a constellation trail as it moves; whether Xin Zhao walks or attacks which is a fantastic choice but the only one of its kind. The rest of abilities and auto-attacks use colourful trails and glows that seem uninspired even if noticeable. Crescent Guard doesn’t fare much better with its swirls but the shields denoting the damage prevention are a nice touch and fit for similar designs seen in other abilities.
Sounds seem particularly similar to classic but with a higher pitch and a metallic echo to them. Truth be told, the audio seem a lacklustre area with little to offer. Perhaps the high pitch of Crescent Guard could be called memorable but that’s because of its stridency.
The recall is a simple but eye-catching demonstration of skill, at first. Then an object descends to land around Xin Zhao’s spear to allow the teleport. There’s no hint at any constellation and the device seems disconnected from what the theme is about. The first part is pure Xin Zhao, though, so it works; it would work in any of his skins, in fact.
All in all, Cosmic Defender Xin Zhao hardly delivers what the skin proposes. It passes for a rather eye-catching and stylish high fantasy spearman but there’s little indication of anything cosmic. Even at that the skin seems content to catch the eye with colourful trails and glows that lack substance. Therefore, there’s no meaning to what is offered which leaves the skin feeling hollow. If looks are all you are looking for and you like the overloaded approach of the skin then there’s something to like but no substance to be had.

Conclusion

Xin Zhao’s skins are all variants of spearmen with varying degrees of quality but there are interesting options. The recommended skin is Viscero Xin Zhao as it successfully portrays an interesting and important part of his past.

Additionally, Warring Kingdoms Xin Zhao is also a good choice that provides an appealing and fantastic wind-powered warrior look. There’re inconsistencies and missed opportunities though which don’t help the appeal of the skin. Regardless, it delivers a good deal of what it promises; yet perhaps not enough.

A more whimsical option is Secret Agent Xin Zhao. It’s certainly a skin with funny intentions but also one that ends up feeling somewhat pedestrian; though it has its appeal.

Similar in concept to Warring Kingdoms, Dragonslayer Xin Zhao is a fantastic warrior with some eye-catching yet heavily stylised armour and weapon. The skin is appealing but can feel derivative given that it mostly ticks the boxes of what is expected from it. Had it went an extra step to stand out, it’s would’ve been the fantasy warrior of choice for Seneschal fans.

Winged Hussar Xin Zhao and Imperial Xin Zhao aren’t bad options either: the first lets down with its execution and the second is restricted by it; still they are both good skins at their prices. Finally, Commando Xin Zhao may appeal to fans of modern armies but while it isn’t unsuitable it neither is exciting.

Cosmic Defender Xin Zhao practically avoids the cosmic theme and instead offers a high fantasy warrior full of style and colour. Beneath the eye-catching surface there’s no substance so that the skin is all about looks without meaning. With this in mind, it becomes a matter of good looks in an overloaded approach for anyone considering this skin.

  50 Responses to “League of Legends: Xin Zhao Skins’ Review”

  1. Tranks for the skins review..!

  2. Im thinking of buying Viscero Xin Zhao, but im unsure if Xin is getting a new skin soon 🙁

    • A Romance of the Three Kingdoms inspired skin is supposed to be in the works for both Xin Zhao and Jarvan IV. They are intended to be released to commemorate the first year of League of Legends in China; released by the end of 2011.

      Viscero Xin Zhao is quite a nice skin but waiting would be the wisest choice if you don’t want to purchase both.

    • yes i remember when they announced those skins but they are still not released? do u think they have been canceled
      (thanks for reply)

      • They are, indeed, not released yet and there aren’t any news about them either. To be sincere, nothing says that they been cancelled; especially as they seemed to be well received.

        We’ll probably just have to wait for the next year.

  3. how bout the warring kingdom xin zhao?

  4. This page needs to be updated with Warring kingdoms xin

  5. warring kingdoms xin have a new lightning sound for his E

    • Sorry for the late answer. Not only is there a new sound for Audacious Charge but also for his other abilities. The problem is that they are hardly noticeable; which doesn’t help the skin.

  6. I don’t like viscero due to it being a 975 skin with no new spell effects
    Pretty much made the decision to spend a bit more on warring kingsoms due to that

    • It’s a fair point but you’ll be paying quite a bit for that. While Viscero is certainly not at the same technical level we think it’s a more reasonable investment.

      Hope you enjoy Warring Kingdoms.

  7. Since Xin Zhao recently got updated visually, does it make any of his skins better? Like commando and Imperial, for example. Is it just me or commando looks more visually appealing after the visual update?

    • The new colours help make the skins more varied. In essence, they still provide the same as it’s just a texture update but they are more appealing now.

  8. Hey Zero, I saw secret agent xin zhao and he looks kinda good to me, would you please review him after he comes out? thanks a bunch.

  9. Quick release for this review, Zero! Keep up the pace! Can’t wait for HH Akali’s!

    • Indeed, unfortunately this Secret Agent didn’t have that many tricks at his disposal. Now we have to keep our eyes open for that mysterious kunoichi.

  10. Xin Zhaos Secret Agent Skin, seems to be based off of a CCG detective. This is from an anime named Tokyo Ghoul. so this makes it awesome!

    11/10 Would buy again – IGN.

    • Interesting, though the skin could’ve elaborated and better reflected the source with some extra additions. Hope you enjoy it.

  11. Zero urgent question, if viscero, warring kingdoms and secret agent are on the same rp price which one would be the best investment?

    • As far as features goes Warring Kingdoms is the most elaborate skin thanks to its fancy particles. The problem is that they don’t justify the price of the skin. Truth be told, the skin doesn’t add anything that justifies such a high price. Viscero has the advantage of a nice concept and lore reference. Secret Agent has it’s humour and specific spy theme to stand out.

      In terms of sheer features, Warring Kingdoms is the most attractive but be aware that you’d be paying extra for something that would perfectly befit a cheaper skin.

  12. Is the commando Xin Zhao better than Imperial Xin Zhao. I find commando xin zhao better. Can you help me? Which one should I buy? I’m really really avid fan of Xin Zhao.

    • Both are simple skins but Imperial fits Xin Zhao better. It also has a more interesting concept and the implementation is better; after all it has three stars as oppossed to Commando’s two. For an army skin Commando can deliver something but it doesn’t do a good job.

  13. Which is better, Commando or Imperial?

  14. Got Warring Kingdoms Xin Zhao on a 50% discount. Really a great skin. Unfortunately, lacks some sound effects, though his particles are really great. This is probably the best Warring Kingdom skin. The concept fits to him. 1250 RP is a really big investment.

    For you Zero, which is better, Warring Kingdom Xin Zhao or Warring Kingdom Jarvan 4?

    • Perhaps Warring Kingdoms J4 tries a bit more but we still think that both skins should do better for the price they have. They have some nice things to offer but we agree that they are expensive. The concept are suitable without a doubt but the implementation should’ve tried harder. Hope you enjoy the skin.

  15. im wondering why viscero xin zhao was demoted from 5 stars to 3 stars, lasttime i got voscero as a mystery gift and i came on here to check it out and it was labeled as 5 stars. any reason why the skins rating has been demoted from 5* to 3*? im just curious, thanks (:

    • We checked and Viscero never had more than four stars. Recently we’ve been making a pass on re-models at 975 RP to better adjust their rating. If a skin offers only a new model at 975 RP then it goes down to three stars. The new base price for re-models is 750 RP and, on top of that, skins at 975 RP can, nowadays, offer much more like new particles, sounds and even animations.

      To keep the reviews up to date with the evolution of the game we have to reassess ratings so that they can more accurately reflect the value of a skin. That’s the reason why Viscero Xin Zhao went down to three stars. There may still be some exceptions, especially in champions that don’t offer anything beyond re-models but that’s something that is to change with visual upgrades and new skins.

  16. xin’s splash arts have been updated =]

  17. My i ask? Which one is Better Secret Agent Xin Zhao or Warring Kingdoms Xin Zhao?

    • It depends on what you expect from the skin and how much you are willing to pay for the changes that each offer. Secret Agent Xin Zhao is a deviation from the usual warrior style that doesn’t fit that well yet you may like the reference. It doesn’t have many relevant changes but its price isn’t as high as in other cases.

      Warring Kingdoms fits right in the fantasy of League and also with Xin Zhao’s personality. There are interesting changes but nothing really remarkable that would fully justify the price. It’s a nice skin that needs some extra development to really capture its concept. It presents it well but without impressingin any specific area.

      In either case we find the skins in need of extra work. There’s also the matter of which concept you like and whether the additional changes that the higher price carry are worth it for you. Overall, neither is a bad skin yet they aren’t as good as they could be.

      Perhpas Warring Kingdoms has some advantage because it suits game and champion well and is appealing. It can also disappoint with the complacent implementation it has. In both cases, we would recommend to get the skins on sale.

  18. His chest isn’t bare on Dragonslayer, it’s just covered in lighter colored plate that looks a bit fleshy. It’s pretty obvious when you look at the splash art, and in the chromas of the skin you can see it changes color (such as on the purple one) to something that is definitely not the same as his hands which are actually exposed. Great review other than this though 🙂

    • We gave the model a closer look and you are right. The idea of the armour is to resemble the body of a reptile which we found has a few problems; though it’s a good feature. Thanks for the correction, we’ve changed the review and hopefully it’s more accurate now.

  19. Thoughts on the Xin Zhao update, especially with his skins?

    • The ability update seems to make Xin Zhao more interesting. More abilities to use with skill instead of simply getting a speed buff by pressing a button. There’s more decision-making to do in the new Wind Becomes Lightning and it suits his style better.

      Skins tend to stay rather similar to what they were. Even the most elaborate ones as Warring Kingdoms and Dragonslayer; which is a pity really. They could’ve easily added some extra flair but that’s how things are.

  20. Though chromas aren’t worth the RP as I would wait for the next IP sale, what chroma if any do you recommend on Dragonslayer Xin Zhao? Also will you be reviewing Xin again as his kit was changed or will you leave them as is?

    • We’ll update the review after the ability update. Although, to be fair, things will stay quite similar to how they are now; sadly.

      With regards to chromas, we are afraid that they are re-colours of armour and spear head. At a glance, we’d say to choose the colour you like the most. Comparing with the base skin blue and red may be the ones that stand apart the most but mostly because of the contrast with the hair. Truth be told, they are too straightforward.

  21. Ahhhh ok , seems they can’t do much to a chroma with a simple skin . thanks again for the update ! Sadly I feel like they ruined warring kingdoms with the changes dragonslayer has the best particles atm

    • On the contrary, some chromas add unique designs and patterns that give a distinct personality to each one. Take a look at Mecha Malphite chromas, for instance. Unlike many others, they aren’t re-colours. Many add different decoration that make each chroma have its own style. With textures much can be done as old 520 RP skins showed. Most of the time it’s not what the technology allows but whether it’s taken advantage of.

      We agree that Warring Kingdoms has suffered from the upgrade. The re-coloured particle for Three Talon Strike is disappointing even if it doesn’t look bad. Dragonslayer seems to have received more attention and yet we don’t see an improvement either. It’s probably better looking, more unique, than Warring Kingdoms but still not as impressive as it could be.

  22. Hmhm…What does Zero have to say about skin teams?

    • We’d say that they should prioritise quality over quantity. After all, the game has thousands of skin so it’s not as if they have nothing to sell. Skins need a well defined identity and an execution with depth which captures the nuances of each concept. Visual upgrades should add instead of homogenise skins under the new basic template of each champion. It’s a great opportunity to re-launch skins which has been wasted so far.

      There’s much more that could be done to improve skin and we aren’t talking about adding more and spending more as the only way of doing things better. It’s a matter of doing better with what you have. It’s quite possible, many past skins are proof of that. We’d like to think that Riot wants to keep improving every aspect of the game but we aren’t so sure; unfortunately.

  23. What do you think about new Xin’s classic splash? :<

    • Doesn’t really look like Xin Zhao. Unless we are looking at a hint at a rework that transforms him into an armoured soldier then this isn’t him. He’s an arena fighter, closer to a gladiator than soldier. That’s why Viscero Xin Zhao suits him so well. It’s a splash art with some nice characteristics but not for him.

  24. Have you looked into the possibility of Secret Agent Xin Zhao’ s recall being a Tokyo Ghoul reference? My friends and I always thought it was.

    • It could be. We don’t know much about Tokyo Ghoul so could you point us to something more specific? If the reference is clear enough it may warrant inclusion in the review. Although, we don’t know how popular Tokyo Ghoul so the reference may be lost for some.

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