Xayah and Rakan are not only one of the most iconic duos in the League of Legends universe, but their gameplay also reflects the perfect synergy of two champions who were designed to work together. Their abilities, when used in combination, can dominate the bot lane with impressive mobility, control, and burst damage. In this post, we’ll break down their core abilities, how they synergize, and how to maximize their potential when playing as or with this dynamic duo.
Xayah’s Abilities:
Passive: Clean Cuts
Xayah’s auto-attacks leave behind feathers that can be recalled with her W ability. These feathers deal damage to enemies they pass through, making Xayah a powerful champion in terms of poke damage and zone control. The more feathers on the field, the more devastating her damage becomes.
Q: Double Daggers
Xayah throws two daggers in quick succession, each dealing damage to enemies in their path. This ability is great for farming, poking, and hitting multiple enemies in team fights. It also works well in combination with her other abilities, especially when she’s able to recall the daggers to deal extra damage.
W: Deadly Plumage
Xayah’s W enhances her auto-attacks by increasing attack speed and making them deal bonus damage. This ability is key to her damage output in both laning phase and team fights. It also boosts Xayah’s overall survivability, as she can weave in and out of fights faster while dishing out damage.
E: Bladecaller
Xayah pulls back all of the feathers that she’s left on the ground, dealing damage and stunning enemies who are struck by the feathers. This ability is perfect for zoning enemies and setting up kills. In team fights, it can dissuade enemies from diving on her or her teammates.
R: Featherstorm
Xayah’s ultimate allows her to become untargetable for a short period of time, while she throws all of her feathers in a wide area, dealing damage to any enemies hit. This ability is great for disengaging or finishing off low-health enemies, and it pairs perfectly with Rakan’s ultimate to lock down and finish off multiple targets.
Rakan’s Abilities:
Passive: Fiora’s Agility
Rakan’s passive grants bonus movement speed after casting abilities, which allows him to quickly maneuver around the battlefield. This mobility is essential for engaging, disengaging, and repositioning during team fights.
Q: Gleaming Quill
Rakan’s Q ability is a long-range skill shot that heals allies hit and damages enemies. This ability is useful for poke and sustain in the laning phase, while also providing valuable healing in fights.
W: Grand Entrance
Rakan charges into battle with a dash, knocking up enemies in his path and dealing damage. This ability is crucial for engaging fights and can be used to set up kills for Xayah, especially when she uses her W to follow up with damage.
E: Battle Dance
Rakan dashes to an ally champion, shielding them and granting movement speed. This ability not only provides protection for allies but also allows Rakan to reposition quickly, enabling him to be a versatile engager and protector.
R: The Quickness
Rakan’s ultimate sends out a charm that affects all enemies in a large radius, causing them to be charmed and walk toward him. This ability is incredibly powerful when used in combination with Xayah’s Featherstorm, as it locks down enemies and provides her with a safe opening to unleash her damage.
Synergy Between Xayah and Rakan:
Xayah and Rakan are a perfect example of champions that were designed to work in tandem. Their abilities complement each other beautifully, making them incredibly effective when played together. Here’s how their synergy works:
Engage and Disengage: Rakan can use his W (Grand Entrance) to engage the enemy, quickly setting up a combo for Xayah’s E (Bladecaller), especially if she’s positioned well. Rakan’s R (The Quickness) can charm enemies, giving Xayah an opportunity to follow up with her ultimate (Featherstorm) and secure multiple kills.
Protection and Mobility: Rakan’s E (Battle Dance) can protect Xayah, shielding her from incoming damage and giving her the mobility to reposition. Xayah, on the other hand, can poke and deal consistent damage with her Q and passive, allowing Rakan to focus on setting up engages or disengages.
AoE Damage and Control: In team fights, Rakan’s ultimate (The Quickness) is a great tool to initiate crowd control, while Xayah can follow up with her Featherstorm and Bladecaller to clean up. Together, they can control the battlefield and zone out enemies with their combined AoE (area-of-effect) damage and crowd control.
Gameplay Tips:
Laning Phase: In the early game, play carefully around Rakan’s abilities. Use Rakan’s Q to poke the enemy, and use Xayah’s Q to farm and poke safely from a distance. Remember to coordinate your W abilities; Xayah’s Deadly Plumage increases attack speed and damage, while Rakan’s Grand Entrance provides the initiation needed to engage or disengage.
Team Fights: Always look to coordinate your ultimates. Rakan’s R can charm enemies, setting them up perfectly for Xayah’s R, which will deal massive damage to any enemies trapped in the charm. Be mindful of positioning; Xayah excels at damage when she’s safe, and Rakan thrives when he can be the initiator or protector.
Vision and Map Control: Both champions have the ability to move quickly and protect each other, so make sure to ward key areas to set up for picks or escapes. Xayah’s mobility, combined with Rakan’s dashes, makes it easier to play aggressively or safely depending on the situation.
Watch Xayah and Rakan in Action!