User blog comment:Simbey/Real Talk: Xerath rework/@comment-5514182-20140122060651

Say what you will, but as a Xerath player I actually like this rework. His damage is now spread throughout his abilities, so he isn't completly screwed if he's caught without his ult. He has more CC, a slow and a stun that are both rewarded for being used at a range. The ranges of his basic abilities are about the same as those during his current. His ultimate now has semi-global range, between the range of a and a.

Sure, I'll miss the "Mark target => Stun" and the "W>Q, Reposition, W>Q, etc." but I think this is a better version of Zerath than his previous. Also, mana regen passive is pretty decent, since building early regen on him usually meant you had no damage in lane.