Xerath · Mid

Xerath Safe Play Guide

DefensiveData-drivenHardPatch 16.19.1

476Updated 15 hours ago

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This guide is assembled by the site from match data and the game's own information — nobody wrote it by hand. Official and community guides appear alongside it when they exist.

Overview

This guide is about playing Xerath safely and consistently. Safe mid means farming under your tower, waiting for your items and only following your jungler when the enemy jungler is seen elsewhere. The kit brings crowd control (stun) with Shocking Orb.

Strengths

High magic damage: Riot rates it 10/10 in magic.
Crowd control: Shocking Orb applies a stun to set up kills.
Long attack range (525) for safe trades in lane.

Weaknesses

Fragile: Riot rates it 3/10 in defense.
No dash or blink in the kit: vulnerable to ganks without vision.
Mana-hungry early: spamming abilities leaves you empty before the fight.

Build cheat sheet

Pick the build that fits what you want to do this game.

Defensive buildDefensiveRecommendedKeeps enough damage while adding armor, ability power and magic resist through Zhonya's Hourglass, Banshee's Veil and Dusk and Dawn. Choose it against dive, assassins or a lane you can't win.
Against magic damageDefensiveSituationalFor a team that kills with abilities: magic resist boots and a magic resist item in the core.

Builds

Defensive build

DefensiveRecommended

Open build

When to use it

Keeps enough damage while adding armor, ability power and magic resist through Zhonya's Hourglass, Banshee's Veil and Dusk and Dawn. Choose it against dive, assassins or a lane you can't win.

Where it's played

Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.

Summoner's RiftRed side · bottom leftBlue side · top right

MidMain60% of matches
SupportPriority 240% of matches

Starting items

Doran's RingHealth Potion

Core items

1Zhonya's Hourglass
2Banshee's Veil
3Dusk and Dawn

Boots

Mercury's Treads

Situational

Dead Man's PlateAgainst heavy physical damage.Kaenic RookernAgainst heavy magic damage.MorellonomiconCuts the enemy's healing.Void StaffAgainst tanky teams.

Runes

Primary· Sorcery

Secondary· Resolve

Shards

Summoner spells

Flash
Teleport

Abilities

Mana SurgePassiveXerath's basic attacks periodically restore Mana. Whenever Xerath kills a unit, this cooldown is reduced.
QArcanopulse9/8/7/6/5s80/90/100/110/120 mpFires a long-range beam of energy, dealing magic damage to all targets hit.
Cooldown
9·8·7·6·5
Cost
80·90·100·110·120
Range
750
WEye of Destruction14/13/12/11/10s80/90/100/110/120 mpCalls 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.
Cooldown
14·13·12·11·10
Cost
80·90·100·110·120
Range
1000
EShocking Orb13/12.5/12/11.5/11s60/65/70/75/80 mpDeals magic damage to an enemy and stuns them.
Cooldown
13·12.5·12·11.5·11
Cost
60·65·70·75·80
Range
1050
Basic ability — applies a stun. Save it for priority targets or to interrupt a channel.
RRite of the ArcaneUltimate130/115/100s100 mpXerath immobilizes himself and gains numerous long-range barrages.
Cooldown
130·115·100
Cost
100
Range
5000
Ultimate. Plan your fights around its cooldown.

Strategy

1Safe laning

Safe mid means farming under your tower, waiting for your items and only following your jungler when the enemy jungler is seen elsewhere. Trade when the enemy uses an ability on the wave: that's the moment they can't answer.

2Surviving fights

Use Rite of the Arcane where it changes the fight, not where it's safe, and keep your distance until the enemy uses their engage. You have no escape in the kit, so your position is your defence: stay behind someone who can protect you.