How To Play Xerath Zilean
Hey guys NicMakesPlays here!
Today I’m going to go over a deck that has been picking up a ton of steam, Zilean Xerath.
This deck has been doing amazing on ladder this season as well as winning/topping multiple tournaments.
It has a good matchup against a ton of the field and can hold its own against Ahri Kennen as well.
We’re constantly covering new decks so be sure to check out our previous deck guides.
Deck Code: CEBQGBIKAYNUSBIEA4GSKJRHLEBQKBYHBMHAEAIEA5GAEBIKAGTACAIBAQDTW
[See NicMakesPlays Xerath Zilean deck details]
Win Condition
The goal of this deck is to control the game with Xerath and Zilean until turn 8 when you can play the Arsenal.
iT usually wins on turn 8 with the Arsenal or by applying pressure with the unit while removing theirs with your Xerath/Time Bombs/removal spells.
Mulligans
In this deck, you want to mulligan for early game units that bring out Landmarks such as Inventive Chemist and Rock Hopper.
These cards help level Xerath while also being blockers in the early game. Zilean is also a good card to mulligan for because it puts Time Bombs in your deck and lets you Predict your next draw.
Hexplosive Minefield is another great card you can mulligan to help against Aggro.
Card Choices & Key Synergies
Inventive Chemist / Rock Hopper
Inventive Chemist and Rock Hopper allow you to start leveling Xerath while holding down the early game. Inventive Chemist’s Landmark is a simple card that deals 1 damage.
This is perfect fodder for Desert Naturalist and Rite of Arcane to trigger their abilities.
Rock Hopper summons Roiling Sands which can be used to make favorable combat trades and get rid of enemy threats.
Often times your opponent has to make awkward plays so their key units aren’t given Vulnerable by Roiling Sands, which is beneficial for you in itself.
Endless Devout / Desert Naturalist
Endless Devout is an amazing monster to hold down the mid-game in terms of field presence and value. Endless Devout is a 3|3 that when it does it summons a Landmark which Countdowns 3 to summon a 5|3 Fearsome.
This can help you trade well, level Xerath, and give you fodder for Desert Naturalist and Rite of Arcane. Desert Naturalist curves perfectly on turn 4 if Endless Devout dies on turn 3.
You can summon Desert Naturalist killing the Devout’s Landmark and then have a 5|3 with Fearsome, a 5|4, and a 2|4 on turn 4.
This allows you to put on a ton of pressure, hold down the field, and transition smoothly into the late game for The Arsenal.
Zilean / Xerath
Zilean and Xerath are your Champions of the deck. Zilean adds Time Bombs to the deck which is extremely powerful at clearing the board, refueling, and helping to level Xerath.
If you level Zilean you can also easily out grind most matchups for an alt win condition.
Xerath just got buffed to have an extra health making him much harder to remove.
You can leave Xerath in your backrow to control the game and clear enemy units each turn, which is especially strong when he is leveled. This allows you to rack up a ton of value while safely transitioning to turn 8 to play The Arsenal.
The Arsenal / Ancient Hourglass
The Arsenal is your main win condition of the deck. Throughout the game, you destroy a ton of Landmarks making him come out with a plethora of keywords. The Arsenal can gain Elusive or Overwhelm to win the game with. This is particularly strong when backed up by Spellshield or with Scout to attack twice. In certain matchups, Lifesteal, Regeneration, and Tough can be enough to win, boasting his 8|8 stats.
Ancient Hourglass has a particularly nice combo with The Arsenal. If you use Ancient Hourglass on The Arsenal he is summoned again which makes him gain double the keywords. ‘Ancient Hourglass doubles as protection to keep your key units such as Zilean and Xerath alive. It can also be used to combo with Xerath, so when he is returned to the field he deals damage with his effect.
Hexplosive Minefield / Rite of Arcane
Hexplosive Minefield and Rite of the Arcane are two powerful Landmark synergy cards this deck has access to. Hexplosive Minefield is great against Aggro decks to stop their key offensive cards by stunning units such as Poppy, Lulu, Elise, and Quinn.
Rite of the Arcane is greatly removable since it deals damage and helps level Xerath. You can use Rite of Arcane to kill key units such as Miss Fortune, Lulu, Elise, and Ahri.
Good Matchups
This deck is great against a wide spread of matchups. Against Midrange you can use Hexplosive Minefield on their key offensive turns, Rite of Arcane to kill their important units, and Endless Devout + Desert Naturalist to control the mid-game.
When turn 8 hits you can usually summon The Arsenal and win from there. Against Aggro you can mulligan for Inventive Chemist, Rock Hopper, and Zilean to hold down the early game.
Pokey Stick can help remove their units if they are going wide as well.
Then you can stabilize with Endless Devout, Desert Naturalist, and Xerath in the mid-game. Once you have board control you are free to command the game from there.
Bad Matchups
Control can be tough if they have multiple answers for The Arsenal. Zilean can help you out grind these matchups and keep playing more recurring threats than they have answers.
Ancient Hourglass is also good against Control to keep The Arsenal and leveled Zilean alive against removal spells such as Vengeance.
Rite of Negation can help against Control in these scenarios as well.
Tech Choices
If you want to tech in cards you can cut copies of Hexplosive Minefield and Rite of Negation.
Quicksand – This is a generic burst Spell to help in combat trades and against Elusives/Overwhelms.
Treasure Seeker – This card can give you more early game blockers against Aggro and the Waking Sands combo well with the Vulnerable from Roiling Sands.
Ancient Preparation – This card can help level Xerath right away, as well as set up your next draw and dig for Time Bombs/The Arsenal later in the game.
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