Jhin is a burst ADC who plays like a caster. He fires 4 shots then reloads, with the 4th shot always critting for execute damage. His W root and R sniper add utility no other ADC has.
Abilities
Skills Overview
P
Whisper
Passive
Jhin's hand cannon, Whisper, is a precise instrument designed to deal superior damage. It fires at a fixed rate and carries only four shots. Jhin imbues the final bullet with dark magics to critically strike and deal bonus execute damage. Whenever Whisper crits, it inspires Jhin with a burst of Move Speed.
Whisper: 4 shots then reload. 4th shot ALWAYS crits and deals bonus %missing HP. AS converts to AD and MS.
Q
Dancing Grenade
Bounce · AoE · Execute
Jhin launches a magical cartridge at an enemy. It can hit up to four targets and gains damage each time it kills.
CD: 7/6.5/6/5.5/5 · Cost: 40/45/50/55/60
Q bounces between targets, gaining damage with each kill. Last-hit a minion with Q to bounce for massive damage to the next target.
W
Deadly Flourish
Long Range · Root
Jhin brandishes his cane, firing a single shot with incredible range. It pierces through minions and monsters, but stops on the first champion hit. If the target was recently struck by Jhin's allies, lotus traps, or damaged by Jhin, they are rooted.
CD: 12 · Cost: 50/55/60/65/70
W roots enemies marked by allies or your abilities. Long range — use for picks and follow-up CC.
E
Captive Audience
Trap · Slow · Vision
Jhin places an invisible lotus trap that blooms when walked over. It slows nearby enemies before dealing damage with an explosion of serrated petals. Beauty in Death - When Jhin kills an enemy champion, a lotus trap will bloom near their corpse.
CD: 2 · Cost: 30
E places invisible traps that slow and reveal. Place in lane bushes and common paths.
R
Curtain Call
Long Range · 4 Shots · Execute
Jhin channels, transforming Whisper into a shoulder-mounted mega-cannon. It is able to fire 4 super shots at extreme range that pierce through minions and monsters, but stop on the first champion impacted. Whisper cripples enemies hit, which slows them and deals execute damage. The 4th shot is perfectly crafted, epically powerful, and guaranteed to critically strike.
CD: 120/105/90 · Cost: 100
R fires 4 long-range shots. 4th shot deals massive execute damage. You can fire all 4 or cancel early.
Skill Leveling Order — Max Q first, then W, then E · R at 6 / 11 / 16
| Level | Q | W | E | R | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Take Q — bounce poke | ||||
| 2 | Take W — root | ||||
| 3 | Take E — trap | ||||
| 4 | Level Q | ||||
| 5 | Level Q | ||||
| 6 | R — Curtain Call | ||||
| 7 | Level Q | ||||
| 8 | Level W | ||||
| 9 | Q maxed ✓ | ||||
| 10 | Level W | ||||
| 11 | R rank 2 | ||||
| 12 | Level W | ||||
| 13 | Level W | ||||
| 14 | W maxed ✓ | ||||
| 15 | Level E | ||||
| 16 | R rank 3 | ||||
| 17 | Level E | ||||
| 18 | E maxed ✓ |
Itemization
Recommended Builds
Core Build
Duskblade of Draktharr
Lethality + invis on kill. 4th shot crits hard with lethality.
3100g
Boots of Swiftness
MS converts to AD via passive. Swifties = more AD.
900g
Rapid Firecannon
Extended range 4th shot from maximum distance.
2500g
Infinity Edge
4th shot always crits — IE amplifies it massively.
3400g
Situational
Lord Dominik's Regards
Armor pen.
2900g
Bloodthirster
Lifesteal + shield.
3400g
Guardian Angel
Revive.
3200g
Duskblade → RFC → IE. 4th shot lethality crit from max range deletes anyone.
Runes
Precision Primary
Fleet Footwork
MS burst for kiting. Jhin converts MS to AD.
Presence of Mind
Mana sustain for Q and W.
Legend: Bloodline
Lifesteal.
Coup de Grace
Execute damage — synergizes with 4th shot.
Sorcery Secondary
Absolute Focus
Bonus AD above 70% HP.
Gathering Storm
Free AD scaling.
Shards
Adaptive Force · Adaptive Force · Health
Gameplay
How to Play Jhin
01
Early Game
Q Bounce Poke, 4th Shot Trades
- Q through dying minions for bounce damage. Last-hit → bounce to champion = big poke.
- 4th shot always crits. Walk up for 4th shot trades — auto and walk away.
- W roots enemies marked by your autos or ally damage. Follow up support CC with W.
- E traps in lane bushes reveal ganking junglers.
- Reload timing matters. Don't engage with 1 shot left — reload first.
02
Mid Game
W Root Picks, R Snipes
- W picks from fog of war. Root someone and your team kills them.
- R snipes fleeing enemies from long range. 4th R shot deals massive execute damage.
- 4th auto + RFC = long-range crit that chunks 40-50% HP.
- Fleet + passive MS means you're deceptively fast. Kite with MS bursts.
- E around objectives for vision and slow zones.
03
Late Game
4th Shot One-Shots
- 4th shot crits for 1500+ damage. One auto deletes squishies.
- R 4th shot executes from across the map. Snipe low-HP enemies.
- Position to always have 4th shot ready for fights. Reload before engaging.
- W root through your frontline — it passes through everything. Long-range CC.
- MS from crits lets you kite faster than any other ADC.
Teamfighting
How to Teamfight as Jhin
Jhin bursts with 4th shot, roots with W, and snipes with R. He's a burst caster ADC, not a DPS machine.
1
Poke — R Sniper
Before fight
01
R from long range to poke. 4th shot executes.
02
W root marked enemies.
03
E traps in fight area.
R channels for the full duration. You're stationary and vulnerable. Use from behind your team.
2
Burst — 4th Shot
Execute damage
01
4th shot always crits. Deals %missing HP.
02
Q bounce through minions to the enemy champion.
03
W root for follow-up.
3
Kite — MS Burst
Movement
01
Crit hits give MS burst. Kite with it.
02
Fleet Footwork adds more MS.
03
Reload while repositioning.
Start fights with 3rd shot. Auto (3rd) → auto (4th crit) → reload → auto (1st) for maximum burst in minimum time.
Tips & Tricks
Advanced Mechanics & Hidden Tech
Advanced mechanics for Jhin.
Basic
4th Shot
4th shot ALWAYS crits and deals bonus %missing HP damage. It's your most important auto — don't waste it on minions in fights.
Intermediate
Q Bounce Kill
Q gains damage with each bounce kill. Last-hit a dying minion with Q → it bounces to the champion for massive damage.
Basic
W Root
W roots enemies marked by your autos or ally abilities. It passes through everything — use from behind your team.
Advanced
R 4th Shot Execute
R's 4th shot deals the most damage and can be aimed carefully. Always fire all 4 shots — 4th is the execute.
Intermediate
MS Conversion
Jhin converts AS into AD and MS. Buy Swifties — the MS literally gives you more AD.
Basic
Reload Timing
You reload after 4 shots. Time your all-ins to start on 3rd or 4th shot for maximum burst upfront.
Matchups
Counters & Matchups
Jhin struggles against tanks who survive his burst and ADCs who out-DPS him in extended fights. He excels against immobile targets he can snipe.
Click any matchup to expand tips & how to play against them
Loses Against
Samira windwalls your W and R. She dashes in and kills you during reload.
W after her windwall ends. Don't R when she has windwall up.
Lucian's burst and mobility overwhelm your reload windows.
Poke with Q. Don't trade autos — he fires faster.
Kai'Sa's burst matches yours and she has a dash.
W root her when she R dashes. Kite backward.
Wins Against
Kog has no escape. W root + 4th shot kills him easily.
W root → 4th shot burst. He can't escape.
Twitch is weak in lane. Q poke dominates.
Q bounce poke constantly. 4th shot trades.
Ashe has no dash. W root catches her easily.
W root → 4th shot. She can't escape.