Battlecast Xerath

Picked up Battlecast Xerath from a mystery chest last month and honestly wasn't expecting much since I'm usually running Dark Star. After around 55 games though, this skin completely changed how I play the champ.

The Q charge feels way more responsive than base skin, especially when you're trying to poke through minion waves. That mechanical arm extending gives you better visual feedback on your range, which I think makes last hitting with Q easier when you're low on mana. His W has this satisfying thunk sound that makes landing it feel more impactful, and the E projectile is actually cleaner to track in teamfights. During a baron dance yesterday, I landed three consecutive stuns because the orb stands out so well against the river terrain. Compare this to Runic or Guardian where the abilities blend into certain backgrounds and you'll see why Battlecast might give you a slight edge.

But the ult is where this skin really shines. Those targeting lasers make it insanely easy to track where your shots are going, and enemies seem to panic more when they see those red beams locking onto them. Playing against Dark Star Xerath feels smooth, but Battlecast just has better visibility for both you and your opponents. The animations feel less clunky overall, probably because the robotic theme fits his kit naturally.

Is Battlecast Xerath worth it? If you main him or play artillery mages regularly, absolutely grab it when you can. Not quite pay to win, but the clearer animations definitely help you land more skillshots. My experience with Battlecast Xerath convinced me to keep it over Dark Star, and that's saying something since I usually prefer cosmic themes.