How to beat Xerath

Common role: Mid

The best counter to Xerath in Mid is Teemo: 62.5% win rate over 41 ranked games on patch 26.17.

An artillery mage who snipes you from a screen away with endless long-range poke.

What makes Xerath dangerous

Xerath out-ranges almost everyone, charging a long-range skillshot (Q), stunning (E), and raining down his ultimate as long-range artillery. He zones and pokes you out of lane and objectives before fights even start, chipping your health from safety.

How to play against Xerath

• 1Dodge his skillshots — every bit of his damage is a telegraphed skillshot (Q, W, E, R). Sidestep and stand behind minions.
• 2He's completely immobile with no escape. Gap-close onto him or all-in — once you're on him, he's helpless.
• 3Bait his E stun before you engage — it's his only peel. Without it he can't stop your dive.
• 4Close the distance under his artillery — respect the poke, but he has no answer once a diver or assassin reaches him.

Weaknesses to exploit

• ✓Completely immobile with no escape.
• ✓All his damage is dodgeable skillshots.
• ✓E stun is his only peel — bait it.
• ✓Deleted the moment a diver reaches him.

Abilities & how to counter them

What each of Xerath's abilities does — and how to play around it.

• P
  Mana Surge

  Xerath's basic attacks periodically restore Mana. Whenever Xerath kills a unit, this cooldown is reduced.

• Q
  Arcanopulse

  Fires a long-range beam of energy, dealing magic damage to all targets hit.

• W
  Eye of Destruction

  Calls down a barrage of arcane energy, slowing and dealing magic damage to all enemies in an area. Targets in the middle receive additional damage and a stronger slow.

• E
  Shocking Orb

  Deals magic damage to an enemy and stuns them.

  Strong: a stun that peels divers and sets up his poke. Weak: bait it before you engage — it's his only peel.

• R
  Rite of the Arcane

  Xerath immobilizes himself and gains numerous long-range barrages.

  Strong: long-range artillery that rains down from a screen away. Weak: all skillshots — dodge them, and gap-close onto him since he's fully immobile.

Itemization

Xerath is AP artillery. Dodge his skillshots, gap-close with mobility, and bait his E stun before diving. Magic resist blunts his poke; assassins and divers hard-counter him.

This guide covers Xerath's core kit and playstyle — advice that holds up across patches.