League of Legends Xerath: Abilities, Builds, and Tips

Xerath is a popular champion in the online multiplayer game, League of Legends. He is an Ascended Magus of ancient Shurima, a being of arcane energy writhing in the broken shards of a magical sarcophagus. For millennia, he was trapped beneath the desert sands, but the rise of Shurima freed him from his ancient prison. Xerath is known for his powerful abilities that deal massive damage from a long range.

Xerath’s abilities include Arcanopulse, Eye of Destruction, Shocking Orb, and Rite of the Arcane. Arcanopulse is a long-range skillshot that deals magic damage to enemies in a line. Eye of Destruction creates a zone that deals magic damage to enemies within it and slows them. Shocking Orb is a skillshot that deals magic damage and stuns the first enemy hit. Rite of the Arcane is Xerath’s ultimate ability, which channels for a few seconds before unleashing a barrage of magic damage in a large area.

Xerath is a popular pick for mid lane players due to his long-range abilities and ability to safely deal damage from a distance. However, he is also vulnerable to assassins and champions with high mobility. Learning to play Xerath effectively requires good positioning and timing, as well as understanding his strengths and weaknesses. Overall, Xerath is a powerful champion that can carry games when played correctly.

Xerath’s Background

Xerath is an Ascended Magus of ancient Shurima, a being of arcane energy writhing in the broken shards of a magical sarcophagus. He was once a mortal mage who sought to unlock the secrets of immortality, but his thirst for power led him down a dark path. He betrayed his fellow mages and made a deal with dark forces, which transformed him into a being of pure energy.

For millennia, Xerath was trapped beneath the desert sands, but the rise of Shurima freed him from his ancient prison. Driven by his thirst for power, Xerath seeks to reclaim his former glory and rule over all of Shurima.

Xerath is a powerful mage who wields the power of arcane energy. He is able to manipulate the very fabric of reality, unleashing devastating spells that can destroy entire armies. Xerath’s abilities are centered around his ability to channel and control arcane energy, allowing him to unleash powerful spells that can obliterate his enemies.

Xerath is a formidable opponent, and his mastery of arcane energy makes him a force to be reckoned with. He is a powerful mage who is feared by all who face him in battle, and his thirst for power knows no bounds.

Abilities of Xerath

Xerath is a mage champion in League of Legends with a unique set of abilities that allow him to deal massive amounts of magic damage from a long range. Here are his abilities:

Ascended Form

Xerath’s passive ability, Ascended Form, grants him bonus armor and magic penetration based on a percentage of his ability power. This bonus increases as he levels up.

Arcanopulse

Xerath’s Q ability, Arcanopulse, allows him to fire a long-range beam of energy that deals magic damage to all targets hit. This ability has a short cooldown and can be used to poke enemies from a safe distance.

Eye of Destruction

Xerath’s W ability, Eye of Destruction, calls down a barrage of arcane energy that deals magic damage to all enemies in an area and slows them for a short duration. This ability is great for clearing minion waves and can be used to zone enemies in team fights.

Shocking Orb

Xerath’s E ability, Shocking Orb, fires an orb of energy that deals magic damage to the first enemy hit and stuns them for a short duration. This ability is great for setting up kills and can be used to interrupt enemy abilities.

Rite of the Arcane

Xerath’s ultimate ability, Rite of the Arcane, allows him to channel for a short duration and fire up to three long-range blasts of energy that deal massive magic damage to all enemies in a target area. This ability has a long cooldown but can be devastating in team fights if used correctly.

Overall, Xerath’s abilities allow him to deal massive amounts of magic damage from a safe distance. He is a great champion for players who enjoy playing from the backline and poking enemies down before engaging in fights.

Playing as Xerath

Xerath is a long-range mage that excels at poking and sieging. In order to play Xerath effectively, players need to master his skillshots and position themselves well in team fights.

Early Game

In the early game, Xerath’s main goal is to farm and poke the enemy laner. Players should focus on landing their Q ability, Arcanopulse, to deal damage to the enemy laner and minions. Xerath’s passive, Mana Surge, allows him to restore his mana with basic attacks, so players should try to weave in basic attacks when possible to conserve their mana.

Xerath’s W ability, Eye of Destruction, can be used to zone the enemy laner and prevent them from farming. Players should aim to place the ability between the enemy laner and their minions to force the enemy laner to choose between taking damage or missing out on farm.

Mid Game

In the mid game, Xerath’s poke becomes even more powerful. Players should look to group with their team and siege enemy towers. Xerath’s ultimate, Rite of the Arcane, has a long range and can be used to poke the enemy team from a safe distance. Players should try to position themselves behind their team and use their ultimate to whittle down the enemy team’s health.

Xerath’s E ability, Shocking Orb, can be used to stun enemies and set up kills for the team. Players should aim to hit multiple enemies with the ability to maximize its effectiveness.

Late Game

In the late game, Xerath’s poke becomes even more important. Players should look to poke the enemy team before team fights to weaken them before engaging. Xerath’s ultimate can be used to deal massive damage to the enemy team during team fights. Players should try to position themselves in a safe location and use their ultimate to deal damage to multiple enemies.

Xerath’s Q, W, and E abilities can also be used to peel for the team’s carries. Players should aim to hit enemies that are trying to dive their carries to protect them.

Overall, playing Xerath requires good positioning and the ability to land skillshots. Players who can master these skills will be able to poke and siege effectively, making Xerath a valuable addition to any team.

Countering Xerath

Xerath is a long-range mage champion in League of Legends who excels at dealing damage from afar. However, there are ways to counter him both in champion selection and in-game tactics.

Champion Counters

Xerath is weak against champions who can close the gap quickly and get into his face. These champions can easily dodge his long-range skill shots and disrupt his combos. Some of the best champions to counter Xerath are:

Kassadin: Kassadin’s ultimate ability allows him to quickly close the gap and silence Xerath, preventing him from casting spells.
Fizz: Fizz’s playful/trickster ability makes him untargetable and allows him to dodge Xerath’s skill shots. He can also close the gap quickly with his ultimate ability.
Yasuo: Yasuo’s wind wall can block Xerath’s skill shots, and his mobility allows him to quickly close the gap and engage Xerath.

Tactical Counters

In addition to champion counters, there are also tactical counters that can be used to deal with Xerath’s long-range abilities.

Flanking: Flanking Xerath can catch him off guard and disrupt his positioning. Champions with high mobility and gap-closing abilities are ideal for flanking.
Dodging: Dodging Xerath’s skill shots is crucial to avoiding his damage. Players can use quick movements and side-stepping to avoid his abilities.
Engaging: Engaging on Xerath when his abilities are on cooldown can give players a window of opportunity to deal damage and take him down.

By utilizing these champion and tactical counters, players can effectively deal with Xerath’s long-range abilities and come out on top in their matches.

Xerath in Different Game Modes

Summoner’s Rift

Xerath is a popular pick in Summoner’s Rift, particularly in the mid lane. His long-range abilities make him an excellent poke champion, allowing him to harass enemies from a safe distance. In addition, his ultimate, Rite of the Arcane, can deal massive amounts of damage to enemies in a large area.

When playing Xerath in Summoner’s Rift, it’s important to focus on farming and harassing the enemy laner. Xerath’s abilities have long cooldowns, so it’s important to use them wisely. Players should also be aware of their positioning, as Xerath is vulnerable to ganks due to his lack of mobility.

ARAM

Xerath is also a strong pick in ARAM, where his long-range abilities can be used to poke enemies from a safe distance. In addition, his ultimate can deal massive amounts of damage to enemies in the narrow lanes of the Howling Abyss.

When playing Xerath in ARAM, players should focus on poking enemies with their abilities and staying at a safe distance. It’s important to be aware of enemy engage abilities, as Xerath is vulnerable to being caught out of position.

Teamfight Tactics

In Teamfight Tactics, Xerath is a powerful Sorcerer champion with high damage output. His ultimate, Arcanopulse, can deal massive amounts of damage to enemies in a large area, making him a strong pick in team fights.

When using Xerath in Teamfight Tactics, players should focus on building a strong Sorcerer team composition to maximize his damage output. It’s also important to position Xerath in a safe location, as he is vulnerable to being targeted by enemy assassins.

Xerath’s Skins

Xerath has a total of 7 skins in League of Legends as of October 2023. Each skin has its unique design, particle effects, and recall animations. Here are the skins available for Xerath:

Runeborn Xerath – This skin features Xerath in a blue and gold outfit with glowing runes. His abilities have blue particle effects that match his appearance.
Battlecast Xerath – Xerath’s appearance in this skin is that of a machine with red and black colors. His abilities have red particle effects and feature robotic sounds.
Scorched Earth Xerath – This skin depicts Xerath as a fiery entity with burning red and orange colors. His abilities have fire particle effects that match his appearance.
Guardian of the Sands Xerath – In this skin, Xerath appears as a desert guardian with sandy colors and a gold headdress. His abilities have sand particle effects and feature desert-themed sounds.
Cosmic Xerath – Xerath’s appearance in this skin is that of a cosmic entity with purple and blue colors. His abilities have cosmic particle effects and feature space-themed sounds.
Dark Star Xerath – This skin features Xerath as a dark entity with black and purple colors. His abilities have dark particle effects and feature ominous sounds.
Pulsefire Xerath – In this skin, Xerath appears as a futuristic entity with blue and silver colors. His abilities have futuristic particle effects and feature robotic sounds.

Each skin has its unique splash art, which can be viewed on the League of Legends website. Players can purchase skins using in-game currency or real money. Some skins may only be available during specific events or promotions.

Community Reception

Xerath has been generally well-received by the League of Legends community. Players appreciate his unique playstyle and his ability to deal massive damage from long range.

According to MOBAFire, a popular community-driven website for League of Legends strategy guides, Xerath is considered a strong pick in the current meta. The site’s user-generated guides for the champion have high ratings and are frequently updated to reflect changes in the game.

Xerath’s popularity is also reflected in his pick and ban rates in professional play. In the 2023 World Championship, he was picked or banned in over 60% of all games played. This is a testament to his effectiveness in high-level play and his importance in the current competitive landscape.

Despite his strengths, Xerath is not without his weaknesses. His lack of mobility makes him vulnerable to ganks and all-ins from mobile assassins and fighters. Additionally, his reliance on skillshots means that he can struggle against opponents who are skilled at dodging or blocking his abilities.

Overall, Xerath’s reception in the League of Legends community has been positive. While he may not be the easiest champion to play, his high damage potential and unique playstyle make him a favorite among many players.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Xerath’s abilities and how do they work?

Xerath is a mage champion in League of Legends with a unique kit that revolves around long-range poke and burst damage. His abilities are as follows:

Arcanopulse (Q): Xerath charges up and fires a long-range bolt of energy, dealing damage to all enemies in a line. This ability can be charged for increased range and damage.
Eye of Destruction (W): Xerath calls down a blast of energy to a target area, dealing damage to all enemies within. After a brief delay, the area is also slowed.
Shocking Orb (E): Xerath fires an orb of energy that deals damage to the first enemy hit and stuns them briefly. The orb can also be detonated mid-air for area of effect damage and a longer stun.
Rite of the Arcane (R): Xerath channels for a short time before unleashing a barrage of magic missiles that deal damage to all enemies in an area around him. This ability can be aimed and fired in three separate volleys.

What are some tips for playing Xerath effectively?

To play Xerath effectively, it’s important to stay at a safe distance and make use of his long range abilities. Here are some tips:

Use Arcanopulse to poke at enemies from a distance and charge it up for increased damage when possible.
Eye of Destruction can be used to zone enemies away from objectives or chokepoints, or to slow down enemies chasing after you or your allies.
Shocking Orb is a great tool for setting up ganks or escaping from enemies. Try to hit enemies with it first to stun them before detonating it for extra damage.
Rite of the Arcane is a powerful ultimate that can deal massive damage to enemies in teamfights. Try to aim it at the enemy backline to take out squishy targets.

What is the lore behind Xerath and his place in the League of Legends universe?

Xerath is an Ascended Magus from the ancient empire of Shurima. He was once a mortal man who sought to gain power by unlocking the secrets of magic, but was transformed into a being of pure arcane energy after a failed ritual. Xerath was trapped beneath the sands of Shurima for centuries before being freed during the events of the game’s lore. He now seeks to reclaim the power he believes is rightfully his and become the undisputed ruler of the world.

What are the most popular Xerath skins and how can they be obtained?

Xerath has several popular skins, including Runeborn Xerath, Battlecast Xerath, and Guardian of the Sands Xerath. These skins can be obtained through the in-game store using Riot Points, which can be purchased with real money or earned through gameplay.

Has Xerath undergone any recent reworks or changes in patch notes?

As of the current patch, Xerath has not undergone any significant reworks or changes. However, players should always check the patch notes for the latest updates and changes to their favorite champions.

How does Xerath’s ultimate ability work and when should it be used?

Xerath’s ultimate ability, Rite of the Arcane, is a powerful channeling ability that fires three volleys of magic missiles in quick succession. This ability can deal massive damage to enemies in a teamfight and should be used when enemies are grouped up or when you need to take out a high priority target. However, be careful when using this ability, as it leaves you vulnerable to enemy attacks while channeling.