Talk:Xerath/@comment-24191440-20150106190254/@comment-24055932-20150106194856

I've seen it a few times, but if played on the toplane, Xerath in general is a counterpick. There are too many common toplaners that just screw Xerath. All together, Xerath's kit is more suited to be a midlaner than a toplaner. The curve of the minions path doesn't always allow for good waveclear angles, and the path between the two turrets is wider, so you are easily ganked or all-inned.

I guess you commonly face opponents that dodge less than 50% of your skillshots, so you are capable of wearing them down before you run out of mana. Unluckily, hitting skillshots gets harder, and if you happen to play versus an easy-to-hit champ, he'll most likely go flask + pots. He'll sustain your damage and freeze the lane right in front of his turret. Now you are in a really bad situation - no mobility, only a slow and a stun, and the permanent thread of getting ganked. If you on the other hand happen to face a bruiser or assassin, he'll all-in you the instant you make a mistake.