Nocradem: That is very correct. There is more than 1 way to play a champion, especially Xerath. This is just my way of playing him, what I find is good in pretty much any situation verses any team composition. I definitely don't disagree with you however, as that build is very strong at taking out your opposition so long as you're out of their reach and your team can protect you. IMO Xerath already has enough burst late game to fully take out any squishy target with his full combo, which is why I chose the build I'm using. Your build is more situational but packs much more damage to both tankies and squishies. Again, both work very well depending on your situation, thanks for your comment! :)

If i may say, fiddling around with some numbers on Xerath, I'm wondering as to why there isn't any flat penetration items in your build, with the massive penetration of both VoidStaff and Locus of power giving 64% overall mpenetration; adding penetration items of both sorc shoes and Liandries makes it so that anyone who has less than 120 mres takes true damage. Assuming your team gives you blue as the mid caster, you wouldn't need the cool-down reduction from Lucidity boots, and even then if you get to late game, you could possibly get blue elixir as well. I find that Athene's Mp regen bonuses often don't cut it for me while having maxed cooldown reduction, especially during longer drawn out sieges and typically grab an AA staff as opposed to it, or even with it, allowing you to poke from long range whilst everyone is "dancing" for an engage.

It may be because I have a different view on Xerath as opposed to you, my view being him being a glass mortar hyper-carry with no need for the usual durability items, but the final build I would envision Xerath to have to maximize his potential is Seraphs, Deathcap, Voidstaff, Sorc shoes, Morelonomicon/Athenes, Liandries, as well as this i take Mpen Quints and marks, Scaling health Seals and AP/lvl glyphs, As to why so squishy, you've said it yourself, xerath is a "tank" blowing things up from far away, and so if you have a competent team, enough vision as well as the ability to position well, you shouldn't have to engage close combat with anyone, and should you need to, i personally run barrier which can be substituted with cleanse due to the fact that this build has Seraphs in it, Overall damage output is 3463 single q spell cycle (2660 without e) with 44 flat mpen and 64% mpen Dealing true damage to anything under 125 mr, so if anyone gets caught out by an ally, there is a large chance for instant death.

That being said, my xerath also lacks some early game power and relies more on farm and safe play until he manages to get a Needlessly large rod after tear and sometimes kages.

But that is just my take on it, there are many ways of playing each champion most of the time, and I suppose I am just so overwhelmed by the possible damage output on Xerath that i simply had to share what I think could be a very good way to build xerath.


If you read all of that, Thank you for your time and consideration on this one's words.
Nocradem

iwillhaveyourbabies: It's more often now to take mage chains and max it over locus of power, since its less situational with the current matchups. I agree with what you're saying however.

Hey, I was reading over your guide and I noticed you said that you would take Mage Chains over Locus in match-ups where a close-range engage was likely.
"If your lane opponent has high mobility, good gap-closing skill(s) or can just fight you head on, take Mage Chains over Locus of Power."

I agree with this statement with a corollary: take Locus anyway if you can't win the lane. For example, against any decent Kassadin, where the stakes are equal at level 6, no damage from Mage Chains will let you be able to take him out -- at best you can force him out of lane with your ult. At that point you're much better off just taking points into Locus, grabbing blue whenever possible, and trying to stay alive while poking him out of lane. Your objective at that point shouldn't be trying to kill, but trying to stay alive while poking; all of this is accomplished by taking Locus. Similarly, in a case where you are being dumpstered on by any champ, Locus will serve you far better than Mage Chains simply because it will let you stay in lane. Xerath's kit is forgiving, but only if you have Locus and mana -- otherwise, you have no hope of playing a bad lane.

~3 month Xerath main

NOTE: I take Mage Chains over Locus when I'm up against gap-closers/poor escape souls who I can dumpster on. So against champs like Annie, (bad) Ryze, and Lux, all of whom I can usually destroy in a match-up, I will consider taking Mage Chains over Locus. When I'm up a kill or two, if I'm feeling adventurous, I consider taking Mage Chains against Katrina and other gap-closers who don't hard-counter me in lane. I NEVER take Mage Chains over Locus against a Kassadin -- I just grab blue and poke like **** until my jungler can come over and try and relieve me.

CaptainSwiftBro and Frobil: Thanks you guys!

I haven't been playing an AP champ for a long time now and I was sceptical at first whether Xerath would fit my playstyle, but now after some games I have to say I really like him. This guide is excellent. Keep up the good work!

Great guide! Defineatly deserves the number 1 spot for Xerath's guides! :)

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