How to beat Xerath

Common role: Mid

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
  Afflux de mana

  Les attaques de base de Xerath restaurent régulièrement du mana. À chaque fois que Xerath tue une unité, ce délai de récupération est réduit.

• Q
  Rayon arcanique

  Tire un rayon d'énergie à longue portée, infligeant des dégâts magiques à toutes les cibles touchées.

• W
  Œil de la destruction

  Fait tomber un barrage d'énergie arcanique, infligeant des dégâts magiques et ralentissant tous les ennemis dans la zone. Les cibles au centre de la zone d'effet subissent des dégâts supplémentaires et sont ralenties davantage.

• E
  Orbe d'électrocution

  Étourdit un ennemi et lui inflige des dégâts magiques.

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

• R
  Rite arcanique

  Xerath s'immobilise et obtient plusieurs tirs de barrage à longue portée.

  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.