Xerath vs Talon

Xerath
vs
44.2%

over 43 games

Talon

Hard matchup

Heavy AD damageHigh burstDive threat

Build vs Talon

Build adapted to this matchup

Recommended items for Xerath: Luden's Echo, Shadowflame, Rabadon's Deathcap, Sorcerer's Shoes, Horizon Focus, Stormsurge, Blackfire Torch, Zhonya's Hourglass.

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
Horizon Focus
5

Summoner spells

FlashTeleport75%
FlashBarrier11%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Horizon Focus
Stormsurge
Blackfire Torch
Zhonya's Hourglass
Dark Seal
Rylai's Crystal Scepter
Mejai's Soulstealer
Malignance
Void Staff
50.0% WR6 games
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

Talon's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Blade's End (P)

Talon's spells Wound champions and large monsters, stacking up to 3 times. When Talon attacks a champion with 3 stacks of Wound, they bleed for heavy damage over time.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
38s9s0s–
67s9s0s1m40
96s8.5s0s1m40
116s8s0s1m20
166s7s0s1m
186s7s0s1m

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 Talon

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Dodge his blades on the return

    Get out of the path of Rake (W), especially on the return: the returning blades slow you, and each spell that hits brings you closer to Blade's End (passive).

  2. Push to keep him in lane

    Push your wave whenever you can: he then has to stay and farm instead of roaming by vaulting walls with Assassin's Path (E).

  3. Engage when his ult is on cooldown

    If you can engage, go for him while Shadow Assault (R) is on cooldown: it's his main way out of a fight, and it comes back in 100 to 60 seconds.

  4. Ping as soon as he disappears

    Ping your team as soon as he leaves your vision, and ward the paths behind walls: Assassin's Path (E) lets him vault walls to roam through the jungle.

Patch 16.21.1