Champion Guide

Xerath Guide

By LoLSuggest

Mid

Xerath is an artillery mage: incredibly high, consistent damage from huge range, poking almost anyone out of lane before 6 and one-shotting ADCs with a few items. Every ability is a skillshot and he has no escapes, so positioning is everything.

Recommended Setup

Our recommended Xerath build

Our recommended runes, summoner spells and items. Compare build win rates on the stats page.

Items

Starting Items

Core Items

Situational Items

The main page is Arcane Comet with Manaflow Band, Transcendence and Scorch (or Gathering Storm), plus Presence of Mind and Coup de Grace. An alternative setup prefers Axiom Arcanist and Absolute Focus, with Presence of Mind and Cut Down or Bone Plating and Unflinching. Take Flash with Barrier, or Cleanse into heavy crowd control; an alternative setup usually takes Exhaust when there's an assassin and Teleport when there isn't. Start Doran's Ring with two potions and buy Lost Chapter or Dark Seal on your first back. Luden's Echo is the staple first item, followed by Horizon Focus, Shadowflame and Sorcerer's Shoes, then Void Staff or Rabadon's Deathcap. Mejai's Soulstealer and Stormsurge suit snowballing. Against assassins, add Zhonya's Hourglass, or Banshee's Veil against heavy AP. Always buy Control Wards.

Runes

Primary Tree

Secondary Tree

Summoner Spells

Strengths

Incredibly high, consistent damage from range.
Huge range — he can always farm safely under tower with Arcanopulse.
Rite of the Arcane reaches side lanes, jungle fights and even Baron or Dragon from mid.

Weaknesses

Every ability is a skillshot — if you can't hit them, you can't play him.
No built-in escapes, so assassins who reach him usually kill him.
Assassins and mobile mages like Fizz, Akali, LeBlanc, Zed or Viktor are the hardest matchups.

Laning Phase

Balance harassing with last-hitting: hit your opponent with Arcanopulse while they walk in their wave to poke and push at once. Throw Eye of Destruction first, where they'll walk to last-hit, since it slows them for Q. Use W to farm safely under tower. Against assassins like Fizz, Akali or Irelia, stay near your tower, don't waste Shocking Orb, and ward for their engage; take Bone Plating if needed. Instead of roaming through the river, shove and walk through your own jungle until Rite of the Arcane is in range of a fight.

Mid & Late Game

Your job is to kill the enemy backline from the safety of your own; sit far from their engage and leave tank shredding to your ADC. Hold your damage for allied area crowd control like Jarvan IV, Malphite or Zac, then drop E, W, Q onto the grouped enemies. Keep looking for ultimate kills, especially in bot lane, and use Control Wards along your rotations. Only channel your ultimate from a safe position.

Key Tips

Flash backwards after casting Shocking Orb to lengthen the stun — duration counts from where you stand when it hits.
You can Flash while channelling Arcanopulse for unexpected range.
Eye of Destruction and each ultimate shot grant vision, which helps check brushes or objective health.

Matchups

Matchups and synergies

Our picks for difficult opponents, favorable lanes and strong allies. Compare matchup win rates on the stats page.