Nautilus vs Xerath

Nautilus
vs
53.9%

over 1275 games

Xerath

Skill matchup

Heavy pokeHeavy AP damageHeavy CCHigh burst

Build vs Xerath

Build adapted to this matchup

Recommended items for Nautilus: Locket of the Iron Solari, Knight's Vow, Bandlepipes, Mercury's Treads, Celestial Opposition, Solstice Sleigh, Thornmail, Bramble Vest.

Starting items

Health Potion
x2

Core build

Locket of the Iron Solari
1
Knight's Vow
2
Bandlepipes
3

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Celestial Opposition
5

Summoner spells

FlashDot65%
FlashHeal20%

Other options

Celestial Opposition
Solstice Sleigh
Thornmail
Bramble Vest
Kaenic Rookern
Protoplasm Harness
Zeke's Convergence
Bloodsong
Frozen Heart
Mikael's Blessing
Randuin's Omen
Heartsteel
Abyssal Mask
Force of Nature
Jak'Sho, The Protean
Sunfire Aegis
Dead Man's Plate
Redemption
Imperial Mandate
Zaz'Zak's Realmspike
Spirit Visage
Hollow Radiance
Unending Despair
Oblivion Orb
Dark Seal
73.2% WR82 games
ResolveResolve
AftershockAftershock
Shield BashShield Bash
Bone PlatingBone Plating
UnflinchingUnflinching
InspirationInspiration
Biscuit DeliveryBiscuit Delivery
Cosmic InsightCosmic Insight
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 Nautilus

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Hook their carry

    Aim Dredge Line (Q) at their carry: you and your target are pulled toward each other, and they're briefly stunned.

  2. Auto right after your Dredge Line

    After Dredge Line (Q), land an auto right away: Staggering Blow (passive) roots the target after the stun, giving your ADC time to arrive.

  3. Switch targets to root

    In teamfights, hit a new target whenever you can: your first auto on each target triggers Staggering Blow (passive) and briefly roots them.

  4. Depth Charge on their backline carry

    Cast Depth Charge (R) on their backline carry: every enemy the shockwave crosses along the way also takes a knock-up and a stun.

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