With the latest updates to Teamfight Tactics in patch 10.8, the meta is sure to experience significant shifts. One of the biggest changes will likely be Xerath – the first 5-cost Sorcerer champion of this season. Therefore, it’s essential to understand Xerath’s power for the “players”.
Here are some compositions that can synergize perfectly with “Ultimate Sorcerer” Xerath:
6 Sorcerer Composition
This composition does not activate 8 Sorcerers but instead opts for 2 Vanguard champions to increase the team’s durability. Notably, with the activation of 6 Sorcerers + 3 Shadow, Xerath can still achieve immense power equivalent to activating 8 Sorcerers if Mordekaiser and Lux are taken down. The sorcerers who can become the main carry in this team if Xerath is unavailable are Syndra (if she reaches 3 stars) or Vel’Koz.
In this composition, Mordekaiser can serve as a secondary carry before Xerath comes into play. Thus, you can build a temporary lineup of 4 Vanguards and 4 Sorcerers.
6 Shadow Composition
In this lineup, it’s not 4 Sorcerers but 6 Shadows that will be the main source of power for Xerath. To achieve this, Xerath should be positioned as safely as possible, avoiding Assassins, Blitzcrank, and other threats to deal damage effectively.
Regarding the Shadow champions above, Jarvan IV and Mordekaiser will be the two main “tanks” who can stall until Xerath uses his abilities, completing their role. Lux is an essential champion if you want to play Xerath, as it activates both Sorcerers and provides crowd control. In the lower line, if there are many physical damage items, you can equip Jhin to become the second carry, countering 4 Mystic compositions. Karma will protect Xerath with a shield buff. Additionally, Vel’Koz can deal relatively decent damage (though not as much as Xerath), and Zoe has a stun ability on an enemy, so if you don’t need her, you could swap her for another sorcerer to maximize damage.
8 Sorcerer Composition
This is an “all-in” composition as it is very risky, but the greater the risk, the greater the reward. Specifically, the entire team gains up to 125% ability power, so even without tanks, any sorcerer will deal a lot of damage, especially Xerath. With such strong offense, the only defensive role is handled by Poppy. Additionally, there is no item that provides champions with the Sorcerer trait, so the only way for the lineup to maintain the damage of activating 8 Sorcerers and still have durability from Poppy is to reach level 9.
The most important items for Poppy are Dragon Claw and Thornmail, while the most critical items for Xerath are Morello’s Evil Tome and Archangel’s Staff.
Before that, you can temporarily use a few different compositions, equipping items for a “temporary carry” before Xerath appears. For example, the following two compositions:
4 Guardian Composition
This will be a safe composition with the choice of 4 Guardians and 2 Mystics, allowing Xerath to be protected while dealing damage comfortably. Additionally, in this composition, you can still utilize the power of “Xin Zhao the World” with Dragon Claw, Thornmail, and Titan’s Resolve. If not playing Xin Zhao, you can switch to another Guardian, Rakan, who, despite a reduced knock-up range, has his maximum energy cost reduced from 150 to 100, making Rakan still reliable and usable. Another note is that you should only use and equip items for Rakan or Xin Zhao, or else you will lack items for other carry champions.
In the backline, Sona will be a mobile “ancient stone” with the ability to continuously spam skills to heal and provide energy for the entire composition with the Chalice of Blessing (in patch 10.8, this item can restore energy for the champion holding it). Like other compositions, Xerath will be the primary source of damage, so he needs to have Morello’s Evil Tome or Rabadon’s Deathcap to compensate for the damage when only activating 2 Sorcerers. If you have the Celestial Guardian’s Emblem, it should be given to Xerath for earlier skill usage.
Note: The item Silent Cloak received a slight buff in patch 10.8, so consider this when positioning the “clumped up” lineup.