Talk:Xerath/@comment-2179912-20140312122030

I fail miserably with his new ult, and I'm (was) a Xerath mainer. For me it doesn't even function as an AoE skillshot, because...

FACTS:

1) AoE's are generally meant to cover more than one little spot on the ground. That allows the caster to zone out and outmaneuver his enemy.

2)This ult doesn't. You can only target and cover one position.

3)It's not even linear! The enemy can't only dodge sideways. He can dodge in every direction!

4) Given the range of the blasts, the oponnent has these options to dodge: continue moving as normal. Move backwards. Turn left. Turn right. Stay still. (If they move diagonally, say left-backwards, and you target either left or backwards, the blast might hit them, so that's a bad choice. I leave those out.) So they have 5 routes of escape which they can change instantly, as many times as they want, with no cost, and giving no signs of which one they'll take half a second later.

5) You have to be able to predict that. In other words, you need to choose one of these five routes, half a second in advance, and pray the enemy walks in the right direction. So you have 1 in 5 chances to hit them -- that's if they use no escape abilities.

6) You hit them? Good job! You just did 1 Zac's Q in damage (more base but less scaling, roughly the same). Too bad you usually need to hit two or three to get the kill.

And I tell you- if your opponnent is good, or just good at spamming movement commands, you have no chance of predicting where they'll be half a second later. All the other sniping abilities in the game (1) don't notify the enemies, (2) don't have the AoE of zigg's Q- they are at least linear or have a decent AoE, (3) don't require you to go through all that three goddamn times.

Therefore, I present you the first ludicrusly high risk, medium reward ability in the game. Have fun!