Xerath vs Orianna Counter Pick

Two 525-range mages, both on mana, both dealing magic damage, and the split still lands at 56.8% for Xerath across 673 mid games recorded on patch 16.13.1.

Resistances explain a good part of it. Orianna sits on 26 base magic resist and 565 base health, the lowest values on either side of the matchup, while every point of Xerath’s damage is magic. Her 20 base armor and 91.4 at level 18 barely enter the exchange, since his 55 base attack damage is not what threatens her, and his own 22 armor is equally idle in reverse. That leaves health totals, 2,398 against 2,435 by level 18, as the only cushion either one holds.

The structural difference is where each has to stand. Orianna’s power travels with her Ball: Command: Attack fires it out, Command: Protect attaches it to an ally, and Command: Shockwave launches enemies toward wherever it sits, so damage and utility both require her to be near the fighting, and Clockwork Windup adds magic damage that grows the more she attacks the same target. Arcanopulse and Rite of the Arcane ask only for line of sight, and Mana Surge refunds mana on basic attacks to keep the poke running. Xerath also walks 15 units faster, 340 to 325. Difficulty reads 8 against 7. See Orianna.