Sikong Zhen's build has shifted again? Lightning Dagger and Shadow Blade are now core items—is the on-hit build no longer popular?

The equipment adjustments for the new season have been around for over a month now, and nearly all hero mains are actively seeking fresh ideas and new playstyles. The changes to items like Shadow Blade and Lightning Dagger have particularly shifted many heroes' build directions, and Sikong Zhen is no exception. This hero has always had a solid following in the player community—partly because he's simply enjoyable, offering a lot of strategic depth, and partly because his build paths constantly allow for creative experimentation.

In the past, when people mentioned Sikong Zhen, the first thing that came to mind was the on-hit build, paired with Zephyr for sustained damage. However, more and more players are now leaning toward an attack speed–focused setup, with Lightning Dagger and Shadow Blade becoming core items. Some players are curious—how good is this new build, really? Let's take a look.

First, let's check the build plan. The core three items are pretty much fixed: Swift Boots, Lightning Dagger, and Shadow Blade. For the fourth slot, the Demon's Bane replaces the previously used Zephyr. The physical/magic defense items are flexible, mainly depending on the enemy lineup. For the fifth item, options include Rage Dragon Sword Shield, Frost Shock, Thornmail, or Omni Arms, all of which are used. The sixth item is for magic resist, chosen based on the situation—either Eternal Night or Witch's Cloak, with Witch's Cloak being more popular. To be honest, Eternal Night's cost-effectiveness isn't as good anymore.

Of course, there are alternative approaches. The first four items can be Lightning Dagger, Shadow Blade, Frostbite, and Demon's Bane, paired with Swift Boots. The final item still depends on the enemy composition. The whole setup revolves around attack speed, which is clearly different from the old on-hit build. However, some players care more about practical feel, so the order can be adjusted to personal preference. Additionally, there are small details regarding runes and starting items—some players customize runes for attack speed and start with the Quick Shotgun as a transitional item, making the early game much smoother.

The reason this build is gradually becoming popular isn't hard to figure out. The official equipment adjustments are the biggest driving force. Shadow Blade's passive got a boost—5% movement speed that doubles after a crit, improving mobility a lot. Meanwhile, items like Demon's Bane and Lightning Dagger, which are on-hit items, now have an internal cooldown added by the developers. The strength of the on-hit build has naturally been dialed back. With these changes, players naturally started exploring the attack speed route.

Moreover, based on practical testing, many players report that the attack speed bonus from Shadow Blade combined with Lightning Dagger's chain lightning makes wave clearing and team fights much smoother compared to Zephyr. However, Shadow Blade's trigger condition isn't as stable as Zephyr's, and it doesn't provide the same bonus when pushing towers, so it's a trade-off.

Additionally, the Red Buff is quite important for Sikong Zhen. If you're playing him in the sidelane, the priority for securing the Red Buff is even higher than for the marksman. Without the Red Buff, his damage output against multi-frontline lineups is noticeably insufficient. However, if conditions allow, you should try to contest for it. As for whether to switch to this new build, it still depends on your personal feel. This playstyle demands better farming awareness and timing for engages, so it's more comfortable for players who have a certain level of proficiency with Sikong Zhen.

Finally, let's talk about some new developments related to Sikong Zhen. The source dream skin "Zhenxie" is currently being pushed forward. It had been a while since we heard any news, but now updates are coming in succession. Not long ago, the poster voting ended, and Option 3 for Sikong Zhen's poster won with 2.31 million votes—the one where he sits on a chair with his feet on the table.

Currently, the outdoor scene voting is underway, with two options: one is a "Strange Tales Tea Restaurant" and the other is "Detective Agency Street," both in a weird urban legend style. Players can go to the "Discover & Create" section in the game lobby to cast their votes. Participation also rewards you with growth points and credits. Fans of Sikong Zhen might want to keep an eye on this.

That's all for the attack speed crit build and the source dream skin for Sikong Zhen. What do you think of this build? Or are you still using Zephyr?

*This article is authorized for publication by Tian Cai Shao Nv Ji*