Xerath vs Nasus

Xerath
vs
56.3%

over 32 games

Nasus

Favorable matchup

Split pushHeavy AD damageVery tankySustained DPS

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

Doran's Ring
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Luden's Echo
1
Shadowflame
2
Rabadon's Deathcap
3

Standard

Sorcerer's Shoes
4Magic pen
Blackfire Torch
5

Summoner spells

FlashTeleport68%
FlashBarrier16%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Blackfire Torch
Dark Seal
Mejai's Soulstealer
Horizon Focus
Malignance
Liandry's Torment
Void Staff
Oblivion Orb
Morellonomicon
Zhonya's Hourglass
Stormsurge
SorcerySorcery
Arcane CometArcane Comet
Manaflow BandManaflow Band
TranscendenceTranscendence
ScorchScorch
PrecisionPrecision
Presence of MindPresence of Mind
Coup de GraceCoup de Grace
Adaptive ForceAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Nasus's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Soul Eater (P)

Nasus drains his foe's spiritual energy, giving him bonus Life Steal.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
37.5s15s12s–
65.5s15s12s2m
93.5s14s12s2m
113.5s13s12s1m40
163.5s11s12s1m20
183.5s11s12s1m20

Playing as Xerath

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

Patch 16.21.1