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Please do not rework Xerath

AP Lucian OP·10/12/2013, 2:49:04 AM·10 votes·858 views

No offense Riot, but the rework is a bit too much. I'm a Gold 2 Xerath main and I find him perfectly suited where he is. His constant shift to and from locust of power is one of his main strengths as a source of mobile artillery. By reworking Xerath, he is now a weaker version of his past self. In essence, the rework is a huge nerf to Xerath and all it really does is make him more appealing and "fun" to players who don't usually play him. While making him appear to the general audience is a good idea, there are better ways to change Xerath than completely removing his old kit and replacing him with a new one. The new Xerath will have a charged long range Arcanopulse that has the same range as it would if Xerath were in his locust of power, but that is about the only good side to the new Xerath. Otherwise, his W spell will not be used if he chooses to fight with the 4 ult charges he gets. His E spell, likewise, will be entirely useless until he comes in for cleanup, but since he is too far away the chances of that happening are very rare. Finally, Xerath's new ultimate makes him unable to cast ANY spell except the four ult charges, rendering completely susceptible to any gap-closer, and absolutely no escape whatsoever from that unless he exceeds the time limit or casts all four charges. I believe that this rework, in essence, gives Xerath a lower opportunity to participate in fights and do damage as an overall long range artillery type of mage. Thank you for reading, and again, I hope that you will not rework Xerath.

11 Comments

Teho10/12/2013, 2:15:25 PM2 votes

IMO his new kit makes him stronger against champs with gap closers, because he no longer needs to immobiize to hit at a range which is 200 units longer than his current Q + W. Although I do agree he needs to retain a more consistent anchoring ability, which is why I suggested his ult should be a toggle that gives him better damage resist or some alteration to his abilities normal damage or charge time, with the Mortar rounds on an independent mana cost and cooldown. They are weakening his dueling power for stronger artillery (which he will be by far the best ap artillery in the game) and his abilities will be in a dodge or die style. With that said I hope they make his damage output appropriatley high to compensate for longer cast times, and his E really needs to be able to hit a selective target ( piercing multiple champs, ranged aoe, or single target idc) so he can lock down high priority targets .

CarlosDnger10/13/2013, 10:58:00 PM2 votes

I don't particularly like the rework either. The Q now telegraphs while being charged and is effectively like a Varus arrow. If I wanted to play Varus, I would play Varus. The amount of prep time is far larger than than a quick W+Q which just lays out a quick snipe on a running or unaware opponent.

Then there is the E which no longer benefits from a range boost. This reduces the CC potential at range.

Then there is the new W which is simply another nuke that has no range benefit. Riot made note that Xerath players enjoyed being the "long range mage sniper." Tell me what about the new W is anything like a sniper. Xerath players stated they lacked the quick long range blasts and enjoyed the play mechanic of little to no mobility. How does this W add to this feel? The fact is it doesn't. This skill cannot be used in combo with the Q unless Xerath gets close... something he doesn't want to do. Close and gritty is precisely where Xerath doesn't want to be.

As for the Ult, I don't feel the same way the OP does. Given its range it will NEVER be used when in sight of enemy champions. It won't even slightly matter what gap-closers others have. 2500 lvl 6 range is large enough to dump all 4 charges and move before anyone even see's you. As a side note, the current graphic for the ult is pathetic. It looks like a fountain squirt.

I like Xerath as is, but if he must change the changes do not have to be as drastic. The current passive is effectively worthless. Making a squishy character only barely less squishy is meaningless. Increasing his ratios, CD lengths, and making the passive better should be enough.

JackAqua10/12/2013, 3:12:00 AM1 votes

His new Kit is weird. It just doesn't seem to fit so well together like the old ult. Personally I don't like it and I don't think I'll ever play the new Xerath if he stays this way ...

TaK0s10/12/2013, 10:02:28 AM1 votes

Completly agree on the point about his kit not feeling together it feels like you use basic skills to fight and r to pick off running people which i didnt think was the point of the rework also the e dosent feel right even the animation is lackluster i feel maybe making his ult actually interact with the rest of the kit is the key to success

Alusyd10/12/2013, 3:04:19 AM1 votes

Get rid of Xerath completely!

Yung Renga10/12/2013, 3:32:03 PM1 votes

Agreed...

SatanRejectDusk10/12/2013, 4:18:24 PM1 votes

Xerath is fun and great the way he is. I have yet to buy the champion, but i play him whenever i am on my friends account. So i think there is no need for a rework to be done on him

diddiykong10/13/2013, 3:49:22 AM1 votes

the main reason I think they re-wroked xerath is due to how easy it is to hit his ult on any target that isnt close to 500ms or mobililty abilites to dodge them making his e-r combo to strong, i absolutely love playing xerath and hate facing it so much at least with what i have seen of his reworked abilities u can now interupt his q before getting a full charge or force him to do a short range q so it wont hit your backline, only thing i dont like about his rework is no more movement speed bonus from when you would cancel your lotus amking him less able to kite and re position in fights

benconix10/13/2013, 9:20:32 PM1 votes

I agree. I have been using xerath for a while now and i see so much potential as he is. I love the visual upgrade though. I feel that if anything the new update will just make his face seen again and he will eventually be more underplayed in the future than he is currently. I believe making a new skin and giving him a slight buff will do the trick in terms of making him used more. Also I do like the idea of the stun not needing to be a chain of his w&e. Good job over all Riot and keep up the good work!

FudgeNouget10/12/2013, 2:27:34 PM1 votes

I completely agree with this post. Xerath seems to be fine as it is now as a long range artillery mage. The change really will make him susceptible to gap closers and he won't have as much versatility in skills when using R.

Cerbearus10/12/2013, 3:05:34 AM1 votes

He is able to cancel his ult at any time. And remember all these things are still being tested and not final. I find his new stun to be worlds better than his old one where you had to e then see if you can hit an ult or q on that ahri/vayne