Kiting the jungle around takes awhile to get used to. But what you dont wanna do is sit still and face tank the jungle. There's a trick for blue and red buff if you're a ranged champion to not take any damage from the buffs themeselves (I highly recommend looking this bug up it is really helpful when sustaining the jungle). Just learn how to kite the jungle around and the harsh early game gets realllly easy.

There are many ganking spell patterns you can do as Xerath. MY personal favorite (if you have red buff) is to apply red buff with your ranged AA's and follow up with either the E for the stun OR the W for extra slow and then followed by the E for the stun. These ganks seriously are effective if mastered.

Xerath's mid game is when he is the hardest to play. Xerath is really bad at keeping objective control. Other superior junglers such as the infamous Elise and Lee Sin are just so much better at taking dragon and barons. Try your best to keep full control on dragon although it is difficult, make sure to have complete vision control of the area before dragon even spawns if possible.

Xerath is **** at skurmishing. If the opponent can get close up on you in early levels you will pretty much lose 90% of the time. Keep track of where the enemy jungler is at ALL times if you can. Ward defensively, not aggresively, there is a low chance you will be doing counter-jungling as Xerath.

Pretty much the standard mage role in teamfights, sit behind front line poke enemies aim for the enemy carries if possible :)