Welcome to our guide on Xayah, one of League of Legends' most intriguing champions. Known as "The Rebel," Xayah offers a gameplay experience that's all about strategy, quick moves, and smart play. This article is designed to help both new and experienced players get a better grip on how to use Xayah's abilities effectively. We'll break down each of her skills, offering clear explanations and tips to help you improve your game. If you're looking to up your strategy with Xayah and learn how to make the most of her unique abilities, you're in the right place. 

Make sure to check out our League of Legends Champions page for a breakdown on all champions in the game. 

Xayah skills in League of Legends

Let’s take a look at Xayah’s skills and how to use them:

Passive: CLEAN CUTS

After using an ability, Xayah's next basic attacks will hit all targets along their path and leave a Feather.

• Effect: After using an ability, your next 3 attacks pierce through enemies, dealing damage to all in their path. Hitting an enemy with your first attack leaves a feather on the ground for 6 seconds. You can store up to 5 feathers. 
• How to use it: Xayah's passive, Clean Cuts, weaves seamlessly into her combat style. After using an ability, your next three attacks pierce through enemies, dealing damage to all in their path. This adds a layer of depth to your attacks, rewarding precise positioning and target selection. Remember, the first enemy hit takes the brunt of the damage, so aim carefully! Additionally, your attacks leave feathers on the ground, setting the stage for some truly game-changing maneuvers.

Q: DOUBLE DAGGERS

Xayah throws two damaging daggers that also drop Feathers she can recall.

• Effect: Throw two daggers in a line, dealing damage and leaving feathers on hit.
• How to use it: Your bread-and-butter ability, Double Daggers, hurls two daggers in a line, dealing damage and leaving feathers in their wake. This is your go-to tool for poking enemies in lane, farming minions safely from a distance, and setting up zones of control with your feathers. Remember, the second enemy hit takes reduced damage, so prioritize champions for maximum impact.

W: DEADLY PLUMAGE

Xayah creates a storm of blades that increase her Attack Speed and damage while also granting her Move Speed if she attacks a champion.

• Effect: Increase your attack speed and damage for a short duration. Gain bonus movement speed if you attack a champion within the duration.
• How to use it: Deadly Plumage is your damage amplifier, boosting your attack speed and damage for a short burst. This ability shines during trades and all-ins, letting you melt through enemies with a flurry of feathery fury. But remember, it's not just about raw damage. Deadly Plumage also grants bonus movement speed if you hit a champion within its duration, making you a nimble warrior, weaving between attacks and dodging enemy abilities.
   

E: BLADECALLER

Xayah calls back all her dropped Feathers dealing damage and rooting enemies.

• Effect: Recall all dropped feathers, dealing damage and rooting enemies they pass through.
• How to use it: Bladecaller is your secret weapon, offering both engage and disengage potential. This ability recalls all dropped feathers, dealing damage and rooting enemies they pass through. Imagine the possibilities! Initiate a teamfight by pulling enemies into your team's grasp, or use it as a cunning escape tool, rooting pursuers in their tracks. The more feathers you have on the ground, the wider the root zone and the more damage it deals, so plan your feather placements strategically.

R: FEATHERSTORM

Xayah leaps into the air becoming untargetable and throwing out a fan of daggers, dropping Feathers she can recall.

• Effect: Leap into the air, becoming untargetable for a short duration. Throw out a fan of daggers, dealing damage and leaving feathers on the ground.
• How to use it: Featherstorm is Xayah's ultimate expression of aerial dominance. Leap into the air, becoming untargetable for a short duration, before raining down a storm of daggers that damage enemies and leave feathers in their wake. This ability offers valuable survivability, letting you dodge crucial enemy abilities or reposition in the heat of battle. You can also use it to initiate surprise attacks from an unexpected angle, leaving enemies bewildered and feathered. Remember, the daggers land in a fan shape, so aim carefully to hit multiple enemies and maximize the impact.
   

Bonus Tip: Master the synergy between your abilities. Use Double Daggers and Bladecaller to set up zones of control with feathers, then activate Deadly Plumage for increased attack speed while enemies are rooted. Featherstorm offers a way to reposition and set up new feather zones for later manipulation.

Best Xayah build in League of Legends

Playing Xayah effectively means being smart about your Feather placements and always keeping enough mana for your ultimate escape move, Featherstorm. Since Xayah is a bit weaker at the start, it's best to stay cautious and avoid aggressive opponents. Here is the best Xahay build:

• Spells: Flash and Ghost for quick moves.
• Main Runes: Lethal Tempo for faster attacks, with Presence of Mind and Legend: Bloodline for mana and life steal, and Coup de Grace for finishing off opponents. Biscuit Delivery and Magical Footwear are great for sustenance and mobility.
• Items: Start with Kraken Slayer for damage, Berserker's Greaves for speed, and then add Navori Quickblades. Round off your build with Lord Dominik's Regards, Bloodthirster, and Guardian Angel for durability and extra power.
• Skills: Prioritize E, then W, then Q.

Alternative build

For a slightly different approach, you can swap in runes like Taste of Blood and Ultimate Hunter for more healing and cooldown reduction. Item-wise, Stormrazor can replace Kraken Slayer for an initial item, depending on your preference. Each build variation has its own win rate, showing Xayah's adaptability to different play styles.

Remember, the best build can change based on who you're up against. It's wise to adjust your strategy to match the game you're in, ensuring Xayah's potential is fully unleashed.

Xayah release date in League of Legends

Xayah fluttered into the League of Legends arena on April 19, 2017, alongside Rakan, introducing players to not just a new champion but a new chapter in the game’s lore.

Where is Xayah from?

Xayah hails from Lhotlan Village in Ionia, a region known for its deep connection to magic and nature. Her story is one of rebellion against the encroaching forces threatening her homeland, making her a champion of preservation and resistance.

Xayah voice lines

Xayah’s voice lines reveal her as a fierce, determined Vastaya fighting tirelessly for her people’s survival. Her lines range from reflective musings about nature and magic to playful banter with her counterpart, Rakan, showing her multifaceted personality.

Here are some of her voice lines in the game:

• "Let's cut 'em to ribbons."
• "Ah, silence, so golden. Like Rakan. Kind of miss him. Even if he is... noisy."
• "The vastaya named the world. We named the trees, the wind, the mountains. We know their power."
• "If love is feeling so deeply for another that you want to chew your way under their skin, then I love Rakan..."
• "We pledged ourselves to each other in the middle of a tavern brawl. The whole place reeked of vomit, sweat and blood. It was so
• romantic!"
• "They'll probably label me a war criminal one day, but not today."
• "The world owes the Vastaya a great debt. I'm here to collect."
• "I'm just an ordinary girl. An ordinary girl with an infinite supply of death quills."
• "Tavern brawls just seem to find me."
• "Nature bends towards chaos. Give in, or break."
• "Vi-om tann va'h."
• "Chaos is the preferred state of nature."
• "Sometimes people die for a good cause – namely, mine. That's why I'm an optimist."
• "I hate flowers. Tiny skulls stuffed with twigs, on the other hand..."
• "Cloudy days are my favorite."
• "Ionia used to be so nice... before humans tamed all that wild cataclysmic magic."
• "Humans. They're so very blind."
• "Spiders are my spirit animal."
• "Once, magic was everywhere, or as the Vastaya say: om upo sa't."
• "Ionia's meddling birthed our rebellion."
• "I prefer to work at night, because, y'know, the sun? Bright? Yuck!"
• "Pandemonium follows me everywhere I go. It's like a puppy I once fed..."
• "Nature is wild and untamed, not balanced."
• "Magic is not some river that can be easily channeled. It is a churning sea that goes where it pleases."
• "If Rakan were here, I'd make out with him untl his ears bled. He loves it when I do that."
• "I really hate anyone who's not me... or Rakan.""Ionians never learn."
• "Talking to anybody about anything is never on my to-do list."
• "No one will block my path."
• "Rebellion puts the fire in my blood."
• "We Vastaya are only half of our full glory."
• "All women desire Rakan. Like they'd know what to do with him."
• "They say I don't know when to quit. Like that's a weakness."
• "I will rest when our homelands are restored."
• “Our Vastayan essence fades with each passing day."
• "Oh, I was born to ruffle feathers."
• "Talking to people makes me want to stab them... so I do."
• "If our existence is everyone else's chaos, so be it."
• "Victors are the sole authors of history. Time to write our chapter."
• "Compromise is so unsatisfying."
• "Sabotage takes patience and time... and lots of feather daggers."
• "I'll do whatever needs to be done... twice, just to be sure."

Xayah voice actor

The voice that brings Xayah to life is Laila Pyne, whose performance captures the character's complexity—from her fierceness to her moments of tenderness. Pyne’s portrayal adds depth to Xayah, making her a memorable character in the League of Legends universe.

Who is Xayah's boyfriend?

Xayah’s partner is Rakan. They come from the same group, called the Vastaya, and they fight to protect their people and their homeland, Ionia.

Rakan is loud, energetic, and playful. Xayah is more focused and serious. But they care about each other deeply and work together in everything they do. Their bond is strong in the lore, and it shows in the game too.