Xerath vs Talon
Hard matchup
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
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Talon's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
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
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 8s | 9s | 0s | – |
| 6 | 7s | 9s | 0s | 1m40 |
| 9 | 6s | 8.5s | 0s | 1m40 |
| 11 | 6s | 8s | 0s | 1m20 |
| 16 | 6s | 7s | 0s | 1m |
| 18 | 6s | 7s | 0s | 1m |
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 Talon
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- 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).
- 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).
- 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.
- 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.
Other Xerath matchups
Patch 16.21.1