Nasus vs Xerath

Nasus
vs
Not enough games
Xerath
Heavy pokeHeavy AP damageHigh burstHeavy CC

Build vs Xerath

The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup

Recommended items for Nasus: Trinity Force, Frozen Heart, Spirit Visage, Mercury's Treads, Jak'Sho, The Protean, Thornmail, Randuin's Omen, Dead Man's Plate.

Starting items

Doran's Shield
Health Potion

Core build

Trinity Force
1
Frozen Heart
2
Spirit Visage
3

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Jak'Sho, The Protean
5

Summoner spells

HasteTeleport75%
FlashTeleport25%

Other options

Jak'Sho, The Protean
Thornmail
Randuin's Omen
Dead Man's Plate
Force of Nature
PrecisionPrecision
Fleet FootworkFleet Footwork
TriumphTriumph
Legend: HasteLegend: Haste
Last StandLast Stand
ResolveResolve
UnflinchingUnflinching
Second WindSecond Wind
Ability HasteHealth ScalingHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Xerath's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Mana Surge (P)

Xerath's basic attacks periodically restore Mana. Whenever Xerath kills a unit, this cooldown is reduced.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
39s14s13s–
67s14s13s2m10
95s13s13s2m10
115s12s13s1m55
165s10s12s1m40
185s10s11s1m40

Playing as Nasus

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Last-hit with Siphoning Strike

    Last-hit minions with Siphoning Strike (Q): each kill with the spell permanently increases its damage, by more on large minions and champions.

  2. Wither their carry

    In teamfights, cast Wither (W) on their carry: the slow grows stronger over the spell's duration and also reduces their attack speed.

  3. Fury of the Sands as the fight starts

    Cast Fury of the Sands (R) as you enter a teamfight: for 15 seconds, you gain health and resistances, damage nearby enemies, and Siphoning Strike (Q) comes back faster.

  4. Farm instead of forcing early

    Early on, farm rather than force trades: Siphoning Strike (Q) stacks are permanent, and every minion you last-hit makes you stronger later.

Playing against Xerath

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

Patch 16.21.1