Secret Agent Xin Zhao

Secret Agent Xin Zhao caught me completely off guard when I got it from a hextech chest last month. After around 55 games with it, I'm genuinely surprised how clean this skin feels compared to other Xin Zhao skins, especially considering it's one of his older releases.

The Q animation on Secret Agent feels noticeably smoother than base Xin, with each strike having this crisp sound effect that makes CS timing easier. His W wind slash has better visibility too, the projectile stands out more in teamfights which helps me track whether I actually hit priority targets. But what really sold me was the E dash animation, it's less clunky than Dragonslayer and doesn't have that weird pause at the end. During a baron fight yesterday, I managed to E flash onto their fed ADC perfectly because the animation cancel felt more responsive than usual. The ult knockback also has this satisfying thud that makes you feel the impact when you pop it to peel.

Compared to Cosmic Defender which I used to main, Secret Agent is purely cosmetic but somehow feels better to play. The suit and briefcase aesthetic is kinda cringe but good, giving off this James Bond vibe that works surprisingly well on Xin. Is Secret Agent Xin Zhao worth it if you're buying? Probably not at 975 RP when newer skins exist, but if you get lucky with a chest like me, it's absolutely worth using over base.

This skin won't make you climb or give you any real advantage, but it definitely makes the champion feel less dated. For Xin mains who want something different without breaking the bank on his legendary skins, Secret Agent delivers more than expected.