Thanks a lot! Same thoughts here (esp. the assists part). I try to use the second cast of Arcanopulse to last hit (as in after it cools down). If not I spam keys and hope damage output gets me the kill. But really... 31 assists?

Awesome guide. I have played a few games as Xerath now, and really like his gameplay. All my other heroes are melee assassin's, so he is a far cry from what I am used to. But, using him well, you can dish out tons of damage. Now I just need to get good at landing kills rather than assists (last game I went 9-5-31, assisting on virtually all my team's kills). I have found that ghost and flash really is the best combo of summoner spells, giving him a ton of mobility. For boots, the two high mobility ones are best in my opinion. Also, I started out by maxing mage chains second, but I found out quickly that, as you mention in your guide, the cooldown reduction for locus of power is much more worthwhile.

Awesome guide. I have played a few games as Xerath now, and really like his gameplay. All my other heroes are melee assassin's, so he is a far cry from what I am used to. But, using him well, you can dish out tons of damage. Now I just need to get good at landing kills rather than assists (last game I went 9-5-31, assisting on virtually all my team's kills). I have found that ghost and flash really is the best combo of summoner spells, giving him a ton of mobility. For boots, the two high mobility ones are best in my opinion. Also, I started out by maxing mage chains second, but I found out quickly that, as you mention in your guide, the cooldown reduction for locus of power is much more worthwhile.

To everyone, sorry for the really long silence. I will be stuck on the Moon or so for how often I can comment, much less change the guide (until Dec 6). Really sorry.

And for TheTrooper15...
Honestly when I saw the downvote my first reaction was to rage. However, your long essay merits thanks for at least leaving the comment, and possibly some good points. Here, out of laziness, I address your feedback in the order that you wrote it.

Para 2-3, flat and percentage MPen
Most of your points about MPen are correct... it's just that if you look carefully the section "The Rift" and some in "Item Build" contain the same points in different wording. However, I must thank you for the feedback nonetheless. It may be hard to believe but until you put this up I completely did not realise the explanation in "The Rift" was pathetically inadequate. I will add some as soon as I am able. Just bear in mind I already arrived at your points, its just that I did a bad job of articulating it. I believe your most significant misunderstanding is why I buy Sorc shoes, it's for the early game when your %MPen is still low whereas opponents have... 30 MR. That gives you total 28.55 flat MPen which makes you hurt bad until the start buying MR mid-late game.

Para 4, Mana
I disagree here and there. From experience, 2 Doran's Rings and the regen seals and masteries (and Morello's later) are more than sufficient in almost all cases for regen. While this build does not create a nice big mana pool due to the lack of Rod of Ages and/or Archangel's Staff, I find it not as useful compared to the other items I use. Sorry, but I stand by my build, the mana is sufficient. Try not to overkill on mana and regen, it reduces the AP and utility you can get.

Para 4, the rest of your points
I'm not quite sure what you're getting at, so I'll answer each sentence.
- Yes I still think Xerath can't hit single-target like a Leblanc or Malz or even a Brand.
- His CC, while not the least in the game, is still woefully insufficient.
- You mean with full CDR? Yeah, you can use the stun often in small skirmishes. I mean in teamfights, when everyone dies quickly and you won't get to cast more than twice.
- Do note that Xerath's stun is slow to proc and this hampers things.
- Do note that Xerath's stun has a pathetic range (relatively).
- Most melee champs have a distance closer, the bane of Xerath.

Para 5, flexibility
I believe you misunderstand my point. I am trying to say Xerath will not build varied items like some other champs. While your opponents should be feeling your pressure on their builds, this is about your build, not theirs. And that won't change too much.

Para 6-9, assorted thoughts
- Xerath is not at an adantage against enemy mages. He has less damage than the concentional mage and his skills and build have a complete lack of defence. He can't outrange anyone if he wants to stun, and has huge problems with opponent distance closing abilities.
- Most mages get Abyssal Scepter and Banshee's Veil and maybe Rod of Ages or Rylai's.
- W-Q-E-Q has a total scaling of 1.9, completely unable to kill any level 18 champ with a giant's belt.
- Morello's < DFG due to active's range. Morello's is the only real place to get good CDR without sacrificing AP. Ionian will overstack CDR (I already have 39%).
- Archangel's is way overkill, see above.
- I do emphasise on solo mid, where the * did I say go lane with people?
- And boots of swiftness/mobility? Hell YES! That's just NOT stupid. Sorry for the play on your words, but it's true. It's better than all the other boots, it lets you keep up late game and saves your positioning. Please note I also mention that changing boots is very low priority.
- Didn't you read? Ez and Nidalee outlane Xerath due to their skillshots. You obviously haven't been playing against good solo mids. If someone is good, they will land a painful shot every time you cast Locus of Power. Oh, and I never said I get 1-shotted, but it is painful late game due to complete lack of defensives. Then again, I do say to get Banshee's Veil. Tryn isn't worthless past 6, Xerath's puny stun and/or passive doesn't make a dent in him, while his slow is death for Xerath. On the other hand he kills Xerath in 3 seconds properly runed.
- Play smart? There are hard counters, play against a good player (you obviously haven't) and you'll see.

If you have read until here, I thank you for your attention. I hope my points have brought you around and hopefully you will give a much needed (and deserved imo) upvote. Word of advice too: read guides more thoroughly and attentively. You kind of miss a lot of things.

Edit: Hey I realised you trolled here because your guide was way worse and you didn't like your rating. Oh well, idiots exist.

Overall, the items and rune choices aren't horrible... not what I would pick, but a matter of preference rather than necessity. Where my problem lies is with the actual written guide.

First, your discussion of MPen is circular. You basically say "He has a ton of Mpen already, but we really need Mpen!" If you take percent MPen, flat is useless, as it is applied BEFORE percentage. For instance, a target with 200 MR. You have, say, 60% Mpen. That leaves them with 80 MR at the end. Now, with that same 60% Mpen and 20 Flat, you take that 200, subtract 20 (now 180) and then take off 60%- that leaves 72. Your boots just took off 8 MAGIC RESIST. Total. that was their overall benefit. Not only are you not helping yourself, you are wasting an item slot to absolutely 0 benefit to yourself. As for squishies, Xerath has enough raw damage that he can easily overcome anyone who isn't building MR. Remember, the tanks are left with 80 in that above example- a squishy probably didn't even have close to that to start.

I know you DO mention the option of not taking flat pen, but you never come out and say why you should or shouldn't. you should decide one way or another and stick to it. Sorc shoes are, IMO, completely counterproductive on Xerath.

Secondly, you ignore Mana and Mana regen almost completely. This, i believe, ties into your comment about his lack of CC and single target damage. The reason you think that is because your build does not play to his strengths. In a 1v1 fight late game, i can stun almost constantly. I simply run in circles, stunning them over and over until they die. With proper positioning, Xerath can 1v1 any melee champ, most casters (veigar is an exception) and many ranged DPS due to his extreme ability range. Not only are those not weaknesses, those are some of his major strengths!

Next, your comment about how he has a fixed build that cannot adapt. You are confusing the issue. Xerath should not be adapting to the other team- he should be forcing THEM to adapt to HIM. His build is not fixed because he is not flexible- it is fixed because he should be crushing people. Damage? Got it. Mpen? Got it. Armor? Got it (thanks to passive) CC? Got it. He has no individual, specific weaknesses except to heavy CC and getting team-ganked, and there really is no non-tank that doesn't have those issues.

Finally, assorted thoughts. Xerath destroys enemy mages. He can outrange anyone, can outburst anyone but Brand and Veigar, and can CC brand before he can close. Veigar is really the only threat, except possibly a good Fiddlsticks (silence+fear.) Most mages do not get any MR, so he's hitting nearly for true damage on them. In fact, I can generally take down any mage without even bothering to ult. W+Q+E+Q is usually enough as soon as you get Rabadon's. Morello's is nice, but there is better out there. Ionian boots give the same CDR, and remember Sorc shoes are useless, while Archangel's gives you DOUBLE the mana regen, more AP, and some actual mana. Without taking up another slot, those two are vastly superior to Morello's, plus AA grows over time. Xerath has an EXTREMELY good farm with W+Q. You should be solo mid. There is no need for you to lane with anyone, and you are only hurting your team if you try to.

And boots of swiftness/mobility? Hell no. That's just stupid.

Ezreal and Nidalee are on your list of difficult champs. How are you playing that Nid can 1-shot you and Ez rapes you in lane? There are some of the easier champs for Xerath, in my experience. Tryn is worthless. Just run and stun him. His ult doesn't prevent stuns. I can 1v1 him late game without much of an issue. I will reiterate- The only people Xerath needs to worry about are HP tanks, stealth champs, and Veigar. Everyone else can be beaten IF YOU PLAY SMART.

EDIT: Oh, and I forgot Kassadin. Yeah, Kass sucks. He can kill you quite easily. So Veigar and Kass are Xerath-counters, and there really is nothing you can do about that on your own. Gank time!

Great guide! +1

Good Guide

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