Xerath vs Nasus
Favorable matchup
Build vs Nasus
The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup
Recommended items for Xerath: Luden's Echo, Shadowflame, Rabadon's Deathcap, Sorcerer's Shoes, Blackfire Torch, Dark Seal, Mejai's Soulstealer, Horizon Focus.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Nasus's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Nasus drains his foe's spiritual energy, giving him bonus Life Steal.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 7.5s | 15s | 12s | – |
| 6 | 5.5s | 15s | 12s | 2m |
| 9 | 3.5s | 14s | 12s | 2m |
| 11 | 3.5s | 13s | 12s | 1m40 |
| 16 | 3.5s | 11s | 12s | 1m20 |
| 18 | 3.5s | 11s | 12s | 1m20 |
Playing as Xerath
Tips to maximize your impact
- Charge Arcanopulse to poke from range
Charge Arcanopulse (Q) to poke from long range: its range grows with the charge, but you slow down by up to 50% in the meantime.
- Slow before your Arcanopulse
Slow your target with Eye of Destruction (W) before Arcanopulse (Q): the center of the zone slows the most, and a slowed target dodges poorly.
- Stun, then center your Eye
Land Shocking Orb (E), then center Eye of Destruction (W) on the target: stunned, they can't dodge it, and the center slows the most.
- Finish from long range with your ult
Cast Rite of the Arcane (R) to finish a fleeing target or support a distant fight: your shots reach 5000 range, with bonus damage per champion hit.
Playing against Nasus
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Deny his farm early
Early on, take a trade whenever he steps up to last-hit a minion: each kill with Siphoning Strike (Q) increases its damage for the whole game.
- Freeze near your tower
Freeze the wave near your tower: to farm with Siphoning Strike (Q), he then has to step up and expose himself to ganks.
- Wait out his storm
Once he hits level 6, don't engage during Fury of the Sands (R): for 15 seconds, he gains health and resistances, and his area damage scales with your max health.
- Hit him while backing off
In teamfights, if you're ranged, hit him while backing off: he has no dash, only Wither (W), a slow that grows stronger over time.
Other Xerath matchups
Patch 16.21.1