Guide Sections (13)
Champion Stats
Low elo players cannot dodge skillshots that they cannot see coming. They move in straight lines, they stand still to farm, and they walk predictably when running away. Xerath capitalizes on these habits by landing 80%+ of his poke, forcing the enemy bot lane to recall every 30 seconds. They also don't understand his objective control—you can steal Dragons and Barons with Q/W/R from complete safety, turning 50/50 smite fights into guaranteed steals. Furthermore, low elo supports rarely know how to peel assassins off you, which means YOU need to hit your E stun—but once you learn to self-peel, you are truly unstoppable.
The Artillery Poke
Start W (Eye of Destruction). Walk to lane. Wait for the enemy to walk up to the wave. Cast W so the CENTER (not the outer ring) hits them—it deals 50% more damage and applies a much heavier slow. Follow up immediately with an Auto-Attack to proc Arcane Comet and your passive mana restore. You've just chunked them for 25% of their HP at Level 1 and gotten mana back for free. Repeat this every time your W is available and they step forward. By Level 2, they're recalling or dead.
When They Ban Xerath
If Xerath is gone, Vel'Koz is the best 'long-range-math' pivot. If you want more lasers, Lux. But nothing replaces the R-snipe. The arcane power is elsewhere.
Vel'Koz for geometry. Lux for simplicity. Ziggs for bombs. Vel'Koz is the closest 'Math Mage' alternative.
What to Max on Xerath
Max Q for the waveclear and poke range. Max W second for the slow strength and damage. E (Shocking Orb) stun duration scales with distance, but damage is lower.
Mastering Xerath's Kit
Arcanopulse. Charge up beam. Long range. Deals damage in a line. Slows self while charging.
Eye of Destruction. Circle blast. Center deals 50% extra True-like (Magic) damage and heavy slow. Outer deals less.
Shocking Orb. Line projectile stun. Stun duration increases with distance traveled (up to 2.25s).
Rite of the Arcane. Root yourself. Fire 3-5 Arcane blasts at massive range. Vision is key.
Who Xerath Beats (And Who Beats Xerath)
Hard. Rush Zhonya's. Exhaust is viable summoner.
Hard. Save E for her ult. Stay far back.
Skill. You out-range him, but he can shuffle you.
Zed/Fizz/Talon. Assassins exist to kill you. Stay under tower. Take Barrier/Exhaust.
Beats: Immoblie mages (Annie/Brand). Loses to: Assassins (Zed/Fizz). Skill: Other artillery (Vel'Koz/Lux). Position better.
Overextending for Poke
Stop missing! If you miss your skills, you are literally a minion with a staff. Xerath has zero utility outside of raw damage, so every missed Q or W is wasted mana and a lost trade. Practice your aim in Practice Tool—seriously, spend 30 minutes hitting bots. Beyond mechanics, you are the most immobile mage in the game. If you cross the river without vision, if you walk into fog of war, if you extend past your tower without tracking the enemy jungler, you are dead. Positioning is 90% of playing Xerath correctly. If a Nautilus hooks you, that's your fault for being in hook range, not your support's fault for not blocking it. Stay behind your frontline, always.
When They Outrange You
Dodge Zac or Nocturne. They engage from outside your vision and you have no escape. Dodge Fizz. Untargetable shark dash.
Only Vel'Koz matches you. Everyone else, you outrange. Use it.
Dodge Nocturne. He turns off your vision. You can't aim. Then he kills you. Just dodge. Also Zac (jumps from fog).
The Backline Artillery
Siege. Poke. Poke. Poke. Do not commit to a fight until someone is at 50% HP. Once the fight starts, use R (Rite of the Arcane) to snipe the carry in the backline. Save E for the assassin who tries to flank you. If you land your stun, you live. If you miss, you die.
Q charge slows you. Be careful. W center deals true damage (Wait, no, extra damage/slow). E stun duration scales with distance.
Stand a screen away. Q poke. W slow. E stun. R execute. If you are on the same screen as the enemy, you are too close.
The Artillery Build
Dark Seal + Mejai's Soulstealer Rush. You shouldn't be dying anyway, so stacks are free. Horizon Focus for vision. Rabadon's Deathcap for pure damage.
Luden's and Horizon Focus. You're a living artillery piece. Position at the edge of the map and fire. If you miss, you're useless. If you hit, they're dead. Snipe the ADC from their own base.
Luden's -> Horizon Focus -> Rabadon's. Maximize range damage. Horizon Focus reveals them. You are a sniper. One shot, one kill.
When Xerath Hits Hardest
Level 6 (Global Presence). Luden's Companion Completion (Poke spike). 25 Mejai Stacks (God Mode).
Luden's Echo completion. One Q takes 40% of their HP. Level 16 R range is cross-map.
Level 6 (R unlock). Luden's Spike. Level 16 (R range/shots). You scale into a siege engine. Don't die early.
The Fountain Snipe
Landing every single shot of your Ultimate on a dodging target. They will accuse you of scripting. Accept the compliment. Snipe them while they are backing.
R range allows you to kill them in fountain from outside base? Almost. Snipe them recall. It causes ragequits.
Killing someone while they recall in their base. The ultimate disrespect. Type 'Calculated' in chat. Aim small, miss small.
Recent Patch History
Recent Balance Changes
| Patch | Date | Type | Changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| V14.9 | May 1, 2024 | BUFF | Base stats buffed |
| V14.7 | Apr 3, 2024 | ADJUST | Base stats adjusted |
| V13.22 | Nov 8, 2023 | BUFF | Base stats adjusted |
| V13.17 | Aug 30, 2023 | ADJUST | P buffed, W buffed, Base stats nerfed |
| V13.14 | Jul 19, 2023 | BUFF | P adjusted, Base stats nerfed |
