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New League of Legends champions Xayah and Rakan revealed

Xayah and Rakan are coming to League of Legends (Riot Games)
Xayah and Rakan are coming to League of Legends (Riot Games)

Riot Games has revealed two upcoming champions for League of Legends. Xayah is an AD carry, while Rakan is intended to be played in the support role. Both champions are available for play right now on the PTE.

Based on a few teasers, we were unsure if the duo were actually two distinct champions or something along the lines of Kindred, which had two characters combined into one champion. Now, though, we know Xayah and Rakan are a true bottom lane lover duo. The two even have a synchronised special recall animation if they go back to base together

Xayah’s abilities feature her feathers. Whenever she uses an ability, she pierces enemies with her basic attacks and leaves feathers on the ground. Her Double Daggers (Q) throws out two more feathers, dropping where they land. Her Deadly Plumage (W) empowers her autoattacks and activates her passive. Finally, her ultimate Featherstorm lets her jump into the air, becoming untargetable, and throw out a cone of feathers in front of her after a delay.

To take advantage of the featherly litter, there’s her Bladecaller (E). Upon activation, all of the feathers rush back to Xayah, damaging anyone they hit on the way. If she hits an enemy with more than one, they’re briefly rooted.

Rakan exists to protect Xayah from harm while she deals damage. His passive generates a shield periodically, its cooldown being reduced by attacking an enemy champion. With Gleaming Quill (Q), he tosses out a projectile that deals damage and heals in an area of effect around Rakan after a moment (or if he gets close to an ally). Grand Entrance (W) launches Rakan forward, knocking up enemies after a short pause. Battle Dance (E) gives him the ability to jump to an ally twice within a short amount of time, protecting them from damage.

The Quickness is his ultimate, which operates like a combination between Kled’s Chaaaaaaaarge!!! and Ahri’s Charm by making Rakan run in a line, charming and damaging anyone in his path.

Xayah and Rakan mark the first time that two League of Legends champions’ abilities actively get better if the other is in the game. Rakan’s Battle Dance gets a longer range if he’s jumping to Xayah, while Xayah’s Deadly Plumage also activates on Rakan if he is nearby. Teams will want to consider drafting both of them in comps to get their full power.

Other than the initial group of 40 and the Pantheon/Gragas release date in 2010, this is the first time that Riot has worked to drop two champions on the same day.


Taylor Cocke was planning on playing Galio support for a while, but Rakan seems like a good time. Follow Taylor on Twitter @taylorcocke.