Xerath vs Senna
Build vs Senna
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, Void Staff, Zhonya's Hourglass, Stormsurge.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Senna's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
When units die near Senna, their souls are periodically trapped by the Black Mist. Senna can attack these souls to free them, absorbing the Mist that held them in death. Mist fuels her Relic Cannon's power with increased Attack Damage, Attack Range, and Critical Strike Chance. Attacks from Senna's Relic Cannon take longer to fire, deal bonus damage, and briefly grant her a portion of her target's Move Speed.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 15s | 11s | 26s | – |
| 6 | 15s | 11s | 26s | 2m20 |
| 9 | 15s | 11s | 26s | 2m20 |
| 11 | 15s | 11s | 26s | 2m |
| 16 | 15s | 11s | 23s | 1m40 |
| 18 | 15s | 11s | 20s | 1m40 |
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 Senna
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Punish her when she goes for a soul
Take a trade when she steps up for a soul: each bit of Mist she absorbs with Absolution (passive) gives her AD, attack range and crit.
- Spread out if her embrace hits you
If Last Embrace (W) hits you, move away from your allies: after a short delay, you and nearby allies are rooted.
- Target her when she steps up
If you can engage, target her when she steps up for Piercing Darkness (Q): she has no dash to get away.
- Beware the wraiths
Back off when her team disappears into Curse of the Black Mist (E): her allies are camouflaged there, then fast and unselectable.
Other Xerath matchups
Patch 16.21.1