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@Riot: If this is all Xerath gets...

Stars Shaper··2 votes·507 views

Then there is no reason for picking him over Lux.

I might seem early and pessimistic about it but lets take a look at the status quo. Right now the only Advantage of Xerath in terms of sieging and damage is that his Q is an Area skill. An advantage that gets thinned by a lot in late game when Lux ultimate can reach a really low CD.

I told myself to wait for the changes before making any opinion about it and that's what I got:

  • Shocking Orb (E) stun duration changed to .5 to 2 seconds from .75 to 1.75 seconds.
  • Rite of the Arcane (R): Number of shots increased to 3/4/5 from 3 at all ranks. Damage changed to to 200/230/260 from 190/245/300.

The first change just enforces his "cast from afar" playstyle with no drastical changes. The ultimate now will need to hit with more shots in order to deal the same (and more) amount of damage which makes it really hard to beat down any1 with a tiny bit of mobility killing his choice about target picking.

Going back to Xerath vs Lux now the numbers are in total favor of the Lady of Luminosity in terms of total mana, mana costs, damage output, CC, wave clear and safeness.

Since this is the first iteration fo the MYMU Patch I want to ask to Rioters about their testing and if there is space for more changes. If I remeber correctly they wanted to make Xerath more focused about landing spells from afar so I'm wondering if him having an "Inner" and "Outer" range for skills as passive and have damage/utility based on where of the 2 they are cast can be a thing. Or anything that gives him an edge over a "Burst Mage" that has better Artillery than the "Artillery Mage" by definition.

10 Comments

Fasmodey3 votes

As a Xerath main, I like this change.

Current Xerath max potential damage:

900 + %129 of AP

PBE Xerath max potential damage:

1300 + %215 of AP

That is even higher than in first moments of his rework. It was 1000 + %180 of AP.

So you're highly rewarded if you can hit all of them. That's huge. That ult single handly overwhelms all combined basic spells of a lot mages in damage-wise. That's even HIGHER THAN Syndra max potential ult damage which is 1260 + %140 of AP.

So, I'm glad with this change but I dont know if it's overbuff. I'm just disappointed about no improved visual. They promised it for 3 years but we got nothing.

Stars Shaper1 votes

But it relies on hitting 5 shots and if you are playing against ppl that know what to do it's not going to happen the majority of times.

I'm majorly disappointed by the continous lack of synergy with Keystones (while Lux can proc TLD with Skill+AA) and with a kit that is outshined by a mage that doesn't even fall in the same category.

Fasmodey1 votes

[{quoted}](name=Stars Shaper,realm=EUW,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=yqiJz62v,comment-id=00010000,timestamp=2016-04-20T17:03:15.118+0000)

But it relies on hitting 5 shots and if you are playing against ppl that know what to do it's not going to happen the majority of times.

I'm majorly disappointed by the continous lack of synergy with Keystones (while Lux can proc TLD with Skill+AA) and with a kit that is outshined by a mage that doesn't even fall in the same category.

If It was reliable it wouldn't have that much damage. It rewards for hitting hard skillshots now, current ult damage isn't enough for that much effort. So I like this change.

E is a nerf most likely but it is required for the artillery mage.

Stars Shaper2 votes

My instance is that it's kinda unfair for Xerath to have such limitations + no synergy with keystones + vulnerability to divers. If it wasn't that a safe and bursty character as Lux had better numbers on everything I wouldn't be complaining (except for the keystone thing, I'm tired of chosing the lesser of 2 evils).

I like the fact that I can get such high numbers if I aim good but the effort I put in is far higher than what others put and will make Xerath just a "virtuosity pick".

Fasmodey1 votes

[{quoted}](name=Stars Shaper,realm=EUW,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=yqiJz62v,comment-id=0001000000000000,timestamp=2016-04-20T17:19:10.352+0000)

My instance is that it's kinda unfair for Xerath to have such limitations + no synergy with keystones + vulnerability to divers. If it wasn't that a safe and bursty character as Lux had better numbers on everything I wouldn't be complaining (except for the keystone thing, I'm tired of chosing the lesser of 2 evils).

I like the fact that I can get such high numbers if I aim good but the effort I put in is far higher than what others put and will make Xerath just a "virtuosity pick".

Interesting because I currently feel comfortable on Xerath. I have no troubles that much. He needs weakness otherwise he would permabanned top tier mage. I wouldn't want that. Let him be weak against assassins, because he is strong as fuck against squishies. I just killed an Ezreal with two Q and got penta yesterday.

Stars Shaper1 votes

And this si totally fair, I agree with you.

Let me ask you, have you played Aurelion Sol? I've did it since day one as I've decided to make him my main the moment they anounced him (I've been maining Xerath since S3). He is a champion with defined strenghts and weaknesses and he also suffers divers but since he is tankier and has some ways to peel he can last longer than Xerath.

They both have chances to outplay their counters and get away free, I've been winning against Zeds and Talons with Xerath aswell as with Aurelion. The difference is that Sol has a kit that works with items and keystones and if you put the right effort in elarning him he can be game changing in every teamfight. It's a kind of solidity I didn't find in Xerath since the Masteries update.

Fasmodey1 votes

[{quoted}](name=Stars Shaper,realm=EUW,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=yqiJz62v,comment-id=000100000000000000000000,timestamp=2016-04-20T17:34:21.896+0000)

And this si totally fair, I agree with you.

Let me ask you, have you played Aurelion Sol? I've did it since day one as I've decided to make him my main the moment they anounced him (I've been maining Xerath since S3). He is a champion with defined strenghts and weaknesses and he also suffers divers but since he is tankier and has some ways to peel he can last longer than Xerath.

They both have chances to outplay their counters and get away free, I've been winning against Zeds and Talons with Xerath aswell as with Aurelion. The difference is that Sol has a kit that works with items and keystones and if you put the right effort in elarning him he can be game changing in every teamfight. It's a kind of solidity I didn't find in Xerath since the Masteries update.

Let's be honest, Xerath is weak against assassins but not much as Aurelion Sol. This champion is completely shit against Fizz, Akali etc.

I use TD for keystone. I definitely buy Rylai or Luden, depends to enemy. If I bought Luden Ican destroy a squishy from +5000 range. If I bought Rylai, after first hit, it becomes easier to hit.

TD is the best choice for Xerath, not super uber useful like how DT is on Brand but anyway, it's k.

Chaotic Reks1 votes

Unseen buff that's gonna make Xerath god-tier mid:

-HIS CURRENT PASSIVE-

With all the nerfs changes to mana regen, Xerath is gonna be the only mage that can effectively sustain his mana without regen, making him omnipresent in midlane. His niche is an artillery poke mage that can get his mana back.

Fasmodey2 votes

[{quoted}](name=NyX Reks,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=yqiJz62v,comment-id=0000,timestamp=2016-04-20T14:21:17.218+0000)

Unseen buff that's gonna make Xerath god-tier mid:

-HIS CURRENT PASSIVE-

With all the nerfs changes to mana regen, Xerath is gonna be the only mage that can effectively sustain his mana without regen, making him omnipresent in midlane. His niche is an artillery poke mage that can get his mana back.

New items are not that bad, please. Morello + Tog literally means limitless source in a bloody teamfight. Actually, poke champions like Xerath, Ziggs are in worse situation because of this, they're about the spam skills, if they can't kill someone, they're oom. But with Orianna, at least one person dies.

Stars Shaper1 votes

I'd rather lose that passive for a more siege oriented one.

Since Xerath Passive replenishes a fixed amount of mana it doesn't get better with mana items, plus his base mana and mana regen are lower compared to Lux which means that his passive is just a risky way to keep him in line with mages who only need a mana item to work.

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