Chou

Chou's kit offers a dynamic playstyle, but also demands high execution. His primary strengths lie in his exceptional mobility and potent crowd control. Chou can quickly close gaps or escape danger with his dashes, and his ability to knock enemies airborne or kick them into his team makes him a powerful initiator and disabler. Furthermore, his second skill grants him crucial control immunity, allowing him to shrug off many enemy CC attempts and maintain pressure.

However, Chou also has notable weaknesses. His damage output, while significant with proper scaling, isn't as high as some dedicated assassins, requiring precise combos to secure kills. His medium durability means he can be vulnerable if caught out of position or if his control immunity is on cooldown. Most importantly, Chou has a high difficulty rating, meaning his effectiveness is heavily dependent on player skill, timing, and understanding of his complex skill interactions.

Understanding Chou's matchups can give you a significant edge in battle.

• Best Against Aurora: Chou performs exceptionally well against Aurora. Her passive and slow effects make it easier for Chou to reach her, allowing him to initiate and deliver continuous crowd control after kicking her towards his teammates, preventing her from casting her powerful abilities.
• Counters Gord: Chou is a strong counter to Gord. Gord lacks mobility and is particularly vulnerable when casting his ultimate, which roots him in place. Chou can freely use his skills, especially The Way of Dragon, to cancel Gord’s ultimate, disrupting his damage and leaving him exposed.
• Countered by Nana: Nana can be a challenging opponent for Chou. Nana’s skills, particularly her Molina Smooch, can easily stop Chou's movement. This prevents Chou from approaching her or her teammates, effectively shutting down his aggressive initiation attempts and making it difficult for him to close the gap.

A common and effective combo for Chou involves initiating on a target, locking them down, and bursting them with a sequence of skills and basic attacks.

First, ensure your passive, Only Fast, is active by moving 10 units. Then, use Shunpo to dash into range, gaining control immunity and a shield while applying Physical Penetration. Immediately follow with the first cast of Jeet Kune Do. Weave in your passive-empowered basic attack for extra damage and a slow. Follow up with the second cast of Jeet Kune Do, then quickly execute the third cast to knock the enemy airborne and reset Shunpo's cooldown. While the enemy is airborne, unleash The Way of Dragon, tapping it twice quickly to maximize its damage and keep them locked down. If the target somehow survives, you can use the refreshed Shunpo to chase or disengage as needed.

To truly master Chou and dominate the Land of Dawn, focus on these key aspects:

1. Master Chou's intricate skill combos, particularly the third cast of Jeet Kune Do, to consistently land the knock-up and reset Shunpo, enabling extended periods of mobility and crowd control.
2. Time your Shunpo usage precisely to negate crucial enemy crowd control effects, turning potential disadvantages into opportunities for engagement or escape, while also benefiting from its shield and physical penetration.
3. Prioritize building items like Blade of Despair and Endless Battle to significantly amplify Chou's physical attack scaling and burst damage, ensuring your combos hit with maximum impact.
4. Adapt your ultimate, The Way of Dragon, to the evolving battle: use a quick double-tap for maximum damage and single-target lockdown, or a single kick to disrupt enemy formations, save allies, or secure your own retreat.