Xerath Support Build Guides, Runes, Items, and Abilities

Xerath is a powerful long-range mage in League of Legends, known for his ability to poke and deal massive damage from afar. He excels at harassing enemies with his abilities, making him a strong choice in both the mid lane and as a support. His passive, Mana Surge, helps him sustain his mana by periodically restoring it after basic attacks. Xerath’s key strengths lie in his long-range skill shots:

Arcanopulse (Q): A long-range beam that damages all enemies in its path. Eye of Destruction (W): Deals area damage and slows enemies in the center of the impact zone. Shocking Orb (E): A stun that can disable targets, making them easy to hit with his other abilities. Rite of the Arcane (R): An ultimate that turns Xerath into a living artillery, firing long-range shots that deal massive damage from a distance.

Xerath thrives in positioning and precision, making him a terrifying presence in the backline during team fights. His ability to poke enemies before engagements or snipe them from a safe distance makes him one of the best champions for zoning and consistent damage output in any match.

Unmatched Long-Range Poke: Xerath excels at harassing enemies from an extreme distance. His abilities, especially his Q and ultimate, allow you to poke down enemies without putting yourself in danger, giving your team an advantage before fights even start.

High Burst Potential: Despite being a poke mage, Xerath can burst down squishy enemies with a well-placed combo. His stun (E) sets up deadly follow-up attacks, making him a threat even to mobile champions.

Lane Dominance: Xerath’s strong laning phase comes from his ability to safely farm from a distance and poke down opponents. Against melee champions or those with short-range abilities, Xerath can control the lane and deny farm.

Strong Crowd Control: His E, Shocking Orb, provides reliable crowd control by stunning enemies, giving Xerath both defensive utility and offensive opportunities to lock down key targets.

Team Fight Impact: Xerath shines in team fights with his ability to rain down damage from a distance. His ultimate, Rite of the Arcane, lets him influence fights from afar and finish off low-health targets, making him a constant threat even when not directly in the fray.

Objective Control: Xerath’s range gives him a unique edge in controlling objectives like Dragon and Baron. He can poke enemies trying to contest or defend these objectives, often forcing them to back off before they get a chance to fight.

Xerath is an ideal choice for players who enjoy long-range mages with high skill expression, offering massive damage and strong zoning in both lane and team fights.

• Stand as far back as possible and use your range advantage to harass and poke the enemy laners down. Use your Arcanopulse (Q) and Eye of Destruction (W) from far away so they cannot trade back with you.
• Delay a team fight for as long as possible while you aim to poke the enemy with your abilities. Look to fight when the enemy is low.
• Make use of your Passive by auto-attacking enemy champions or minions in lane to top your mana back up. This will allow you to continue harassing the enemy with your abilities.

• Basic: E + Flash
• Medium: W + E + Q
• Hard: E + Flash + W + Q + Rx3

1. Early game

• Harass the enemy throughout the laning phase with your Arcanopulse (Q) and Eye of Destruction(W). Your goal is to constantly harass the enemy whenever possible and get kills.
• After destroying the bottom lane tower, rotate to the mid lane and try to take that tower. This will open up the map and give your team a gold lead. Poke and harass the enemy Mid laner and force them away from the objective to make it easier to secure the mid lane tower.
• Whenever your Ultimate Rite of the Arcane (R) is up, try to use it on the enemy laners to get their health low. Ideally, poke them down first before using it to make it easier for you to kill the enemy.

2. Mid game

• Try to delay team fights for as long as possible while you harass the enemy and poke them down with your Arcanopulse (Q). If you can get them low, then you can commit to the team fight.
• Keep a constant eye on what major objective is spawning next. If it’s spawning soon, make sure you place vision around the objective as quickly and as safely as possible before retreating to safety. Having vision around major objectives is key.
• As a Support, you’re quite vulnerable and can easily be killed when going to ward, when you’re moving around the map, and when you’re alone. To reduce the chances of dying and getting caught out of position, try and stick with your team at all times.

3. Late game

• Ward major objectives and place vision in high traffic areas in the late stages of the game. Keep them warded so you can see the enemy move around the map and see them starting the objective.
• Stay with your team at all times. Avoid moving around the map alone so you do not get caught out. Getting caught out will result in your team having to play 4v5. Do not ward alone unless you know where the enemy is.
• Peel for your allies as much as possible. Keeping them alive for as long as possible in team fights is a must in order to win the game.

Xerath offers unparalleled long-range poke, making him a nightmare for enemies to deal with, both in lane and during team fights. His ability to control space, harass from a safe distance, and provide reliable crowd control makes him a highly valuable pick for players who want to dominate from the backline. With excellent burst damage potential and utility, Xerath rewards precision and positioning, making him a fantastic choice for those who enjoy skill-intensive mages.

Mastering Xerath’s kit allows you to have a significant impact on any game, making him a rewarding champion for players who thrive on high-damage, long-range spellcasters.