Should Xerath get nerfed?

Oakleaf Ranger·Aug 8, 2018·2 votes·1,465 views

I feel like this champion has finally become strong enough that anyone who can't match his range has almost no control or say in the lane.

He can trade from such a long range that the only thing you can really do is just dodge. If you try to close the distance to be able to trade back he has the means to slow you easily or stun you before you can get close enough.

And if he doesn't want to trade or just farm out the lane, he has enough damage to just afk wave clear from such a safe distance to make interactions minor to non existent.

I think nerfing the mana return on non champion from his passive is needed as a bigger trade off for those who don't play him aggressively and opt to try and wave clear safely continuously.

21 Comments

Stars ShaperAug 8, 20183 votes

If anything he needs buffs.

His whole kit is potentially countered by tier 2 boots and any character with 1 and a half magic resist item can ignore his damage unless he got extremely fed.

KRATOS WAR GOD KJan 11, 20191 votes

yesssss

Colton147Aug 8, 20182 votes

The Xerath is scripting. [slayer-jinx-wink]

RyzeTheSmurfMageAug 8, 20181 votes

This. Unless the Xerath is a main or has super luck he is gonna miss half his abilties at least.

larejaredhellTPAug 8, 20182 votes

you never played xerath, how would you know that.

Oakleaf RangerAug 8, 20181 votes

{quoted}

you never played xerath, how would you know that.

Because I have played against the champion enough times? In particular with both champions who can and can't match his range.

You ever play something with shorter effective range into him that has no gap closer? Its just non stop q dodging and farming until mid game comes. Hardly a interactive lane.

Stars ShaperAug 8, 20183 votes

Do you expect a full artillery character to be interactive when you yourself don't bring anything to the field that can reach him?

Oakleaf RangerAug 8, 20181 votes

During the laning phase? Yes

Spamming wave clear and poke from a safe distance without a lead should have a drawback.

Stars ShaperAug 8, 20181 votes

If anything that's the opposite. Artillery can be closed by more easily once there aren't turrets around and thus can be flanked.

There is no reason why Xerath should be approachable by some1 without a gap closer and even less the range of Darius. Any midlaner has either range or tools to get in range, I don't know what characters you are playing.

Oakleaf RangerAug 8, 20181 votes

Ryze, Swain, Malzahar, Vladimir and annie?

They have the tools to get in his effective range without Xerath mispositioning?

Well considering towers are always up at the start of the game, how exactly does that address what I take as an issue with Xerath in the laning phase?

Stars ShaperAug 8, 20182 votes

I can understand Annie and Ryze to struggle pre-6 (Annie can outburst Xerath at that point, Ryze can build defensively) but those 2 are what Xerath counters best probably (if we don't consider earlygame Azir).

Vladimir can just build Spirit Visage asap and call it a day, Xerath will never hurt you.
Malzahar can farm with his E and make use of his passive while harassing Xerath with his Q when he can.
Swain can just use his Eye of Doom (Vision of Empire) each time it's available and Xerath is casting his Q.

All you have to do is focusing on dodging and getting closer while doing so. Zed has more range than Xerath with his shadow and I don't see you whining about it.

Oakleaf RangerAug 8, 20181 votes

There was a reason I used the word EFFECTIVE range. If you want to get technical then yes Zed is among the champions with the largest range.

But are going to tell me that just hitting people with shadow Q is all you need to do be successful on Zed? I didn't list him because he can match his range and gap close.

No one builds SV on Vlad anymore unless vs a extremely heavy magic comp. And then you have to buy another item because you do no damage with SV.

Malzahar passive (and in general) sucks in the early game. Its a 28+ second cool down that resets on any damage taken.

Swain W is slow enough that Xerath can charge and shoot Q and get out of it before it pops.

If anything all your doing is making me believe more that his passive or Q needs a mana nerf to force him to play riskier.

Stars ShaperAug 8, 20183 votes

So you want to have the chance to threaten Xerath under the following conditions:

Playing short range ppl that he usually counters.
Not building accordingly ("No1 builds SV anymore", well you should against Xerath and I don't see how a MR+amplify healing as Vlad mid against a heavy magic hitter is a wasted slot).
Not behaving accordingly (dodging while coming closer nor timing accordingly your skills).

Xerath is supposed to play from far away and come in to AA for mana, if don't like it ban him but the issue is with you, not Xerath.

Oakleaf RangerAug 8, 20181 votes

Im not saying he shouldn't have any advantage or favor vs short range threats. And yes not even vlad builds SV anymore. If you mained him you would know that a lot of his nerfs were aimed specifically so he could stop rushing SV while still dealing decent damage.

Trying to approach Xerath as a close range threat is next to impossible as if he just wants to play far back.

You have to far past the minion wave, dodge the aoe slow, and the stun. Then dodge on the way back after using your cool downs. So yes the possibility of doing all that and having a positive trade is very little for short range immobile champions.

If xerath wants to keep making me dance to his Q's, he should have to periodically get out of his safe zone to get mana back. And not just on minions.

Edit: I still remember his last and groaned because they decided to buff his w slow. Pretty sure that wasn't the issue he was having.

RyzeTheSmurfMageAug 8, 20182 votes

Personal experience with Ryze (I also play Xerath) you need to move consantly and try to predict until Xerath runs out of mana and is forced to auto minions for it. When he does that try to poke with the spread from E and W E Q for easy damage When the minions don't block your Q and free shield for his damage.

Oakleaf RangerAug 9, 20181 votes

I have played all the champs I listed quite a lot (except annie). Its not that I'm "losing" to xerath, its that I can't really build an advantage vs him if he is good.

If he doesn't want to interact with me as a short range threat, there is little I can do to force a favorable interaction.

Which is what this other person doesn't seem to under or comprehend on why I that is a issue that should be fixed.

Alex h8721Aug 8, 20182 votes

xerath is fine, hovering right around a 50% winrate in plat + and diamond + with a very low pickrate. Sounds like the epitome of balanced to me.

KRATOS WAR GOD KJan 11, 20191 votes

i play xerath as my main all the time if u are really passive thair is no way ill get u as soon as i miss my e and i dont have flash im dead he is a really squishy champ the way to counter him is easy but i wont tell u;)

Oakleaf RangerJan 15, 20191 votes

I can't believe people are still postinf on this old as fuck post...

Jesus at least the other person was honest about his stupidity. This champion still hit's like a truck with just Q in laning phase. Why ever bother using E or W outside kiting someone away or going for an all in?

Playing passive against Xerath is still just dodging Q the whole laning phase. And anyone good only plays the lane passive against Xerath because they don't have enough effect range to really play aggressive.

A champion doesn't have to be meta to have issues worth addressing fyi. I could lock in Karthus 24/7 and not have to give a fuck about Xerath if I wanted to. But I also value diversity and a interactive laning phase that is more than just "dodge" because I didn't pick something with a gap closer or enough range.

PoskeJan 11, 20191 votes

Xerath does neeed nerf but not for your reasoning

He is opressive poke support

Velkoz is clunky Brand just got nerfed

you ll see either him or Taliyah as poke supports

MoonscourgeJan 11, 20191 votes

Vulnerable to all ins, as he as always been. His strength is that he CAN keep you at rang eif you eat every ability, but if you dodge a couple of them you can easily return the favor. He doesn't need nerfing.