Summoners!
The Xerath rework is here and ready for testing on the PBE. We wanted to help better shape Xerath to fit the modern League of Legends environment, improve the character’s feel and sell his fantasy as a mage commanding unleashed power.
After listening to your feedback, we’ve made the following major changes:
The Xerath rework is here and ready for testing on the PBE. We wanted to help better shape Xerath to fit the modern League of Legends environment, improve the character’s feel and sell his fantasy as a mage commanding unleashed power.
After listening to your feedback, we’ve made the following major changes:
- Passive: No longer grants armor, now grants % magic penetration and restores mana on basic attacks.
- Q: Can now be charged to increase the spell’s range. Mana cost and damage slightly increased.
- W: Is now a targeted AoE explosion that deals additional damage in the center and slows all enemies struck. Enemies in the center are slowed more.
- E: Is now a skillshot missile which stuns champions.
- R: Is a combination of Xerath’s old W and R.
- Immobilize yourself to gain a super-long ranged attack which deals magic damage each time you click the cursor for 3 seconds. (Max 4 shots)
Our intent is to ensure that Xerath’s core pattern is fun and engaging, but his ultimate use is a rare, powerful long-ranged attack.
Please provide feedback – our future tweaks to Xerath will be influenced by your input.
Where should we be focusing our feedback?
- Ultimate - I am particularly interested in feedback on Xerath's ultimate. It has a very unique control method that will take some getting used to.
- Spell names - this is a unique opportunity to contribute your idea for what Xerath's spells should be called. I'll be reviewing EUNE, EUW and NA for ideas!
- Range - Xerath's ult gives him ridiculous range. This is intended to be his strength. Please let me know how it feels both as user and victim.
- Relative power of abilities - I want to know if you feel like too much damage is tied up in a particular ability.
- Skin VFX - His Battlecast and Runeborn skins have new colors. Provide feedback!
- Audio - How do his new abilities sound?
Where should I not be focusing my feedback?
- Molten Xerath - This skin hasn't been updated yet.
- Xerath's model - We did not overhaul his model, just add animations for the new Arcanopulse and ultimate attack.
Xerath has been in development for a while and we feel reasonably confident in his core abilities and VFX. I do want to hear your concerns, but keep in mind, we are not very likely to dramatically change Xerath's Q/W/E visually.
Thank you guys, I am looking forward to letting you see a few iterations of Xerath before he goes live.
-Xelnath
Wizardlock of Game Design
P.S. Zenon the Stoic has kindly offered to help me with Xerath. Please assist him if he has any questions.
