Nami vs Xerath
Skill matchup
Build vs Xerath
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Nami: Echoes of Helia, Moonstone Renewer, Ardent Censer, Ionian Boots of Lucidity, Dream Maker, Staff of Flowing Water, Mikael's Blessing, Imperial Mandate.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Xerath's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Xerath's basic attacks periodically restore Mana. Whenever Xerath kills a unit, this cooldown is reduced.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 9s | 14s | 13s | – |
| 6 | 7s | 14s | 13s | 2m10 |
| 9 | 5s | 13s | 13s | 2m10 |
| 11 | 5s | 12s | 13s | 1m55 |
| 16 | 5s | 10s | 12s | 1m40 |
| 18 | 5s | 10s | 11s | 1m40 |
Playing as Nami
Tips to maximize your impact
- Bubble a slowed target
Cast Aqua Prison (Q) on a slowed or immobile target, or where they're heading: the bubble lands in an area and stuns every enemy on impact.
- Bless your ADC before their trade
Cast Tidecaller's Blessing (E) on your ADC just before they trade: their next autos and abilities slow and deal bonus magic damage.
- Bounce your Ebb and Flow
Cast Ebb and Flow (W) so it bounces from one champion to another: it heals each ally, damages each enemy, and only hits the same champion once.
- Tidal Wave to engage or disengage
Cast Tidal Wave (R) to engage or to break an enemy engage: enemies hit take a knock-up and a slow, which lasts longer on those farther away.
Playing against Xerath
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Stay behind your minions
Keep minions between you and Xerath: Shocking Orb (E) stuns the first enemy hit, for longer the farther it has traveled.
- Change direction
Don't stand still, and change direction often: Arcanopulse (Q) hits a target moving forward or backward in a straight line much more easily.
- Engage while he charges
If you can engage, go in while he charges Arcanopulse (Q): he slows down by up to 50%, and he has no dash to escape.
- Interrupt his Rite of the Arcane
If you have CC and can reach him during Rite of the Arcane (R), use it: he channels the ult, and interrupting it stops his shots.
Other Nami matchups
Patch 16.21.1