10 Best Champions To Counter Xayah In League of Legends

Xayah is a powerful ADC known for her high burst damage, crowd control, and strong self-peel with Featherstorm (R). With her Deadly Plumage (W), she can out-trade many opponents, while her Bladecaller (E) root makes it difficult for enemies to engage on her. However, Xayah has clear weaknesses—she relies on proper feather positioning, is immobile without her ultimate, and struggles against champions who can burst her down or outrange her. In this article, we’ll go over the 10 best champions to counter Xayah and how to exploit her weaknesses to shut her down in lane and team fights.

#10: Nilah

Nilah is a strong counter to Xayah because she can out-sustain her in trades, bypass her poke, and punish her lack of mobility. Xayah relies on spacing and feather positioning to deal damage and root enemies with Bladecaller (E), but Nilah’s Jubilant Veil (W) allows her to dodge Xayah’s auto-attacks and abilities, making it difficult for Xayah to land her feathers effectively.

Another key advantage Nilah has is her short-range but high burst and sustain in fights. While Xayah prefers to kite enemies and set up her Bladecaller root, Nilah excels at dashing in with Slipstream (E) and using Apotheosis (R) to disrupt fights before Xayah can position her feathers properly. Additionally, Nilah’s healing from her passive lets her sustain through Xayah’s poke, giving her an advantage in extended trades.

To win this matchup, Nilah players should focus on engaging aggressively when Xayah’s abilities are down, using W to dodge her damage, and capitalizing on her all-in potential with E and R. If played correctly, Nilah can completely shut down Xayah’s kiting potential and overpower her in fights.

#9: Kog’Maw

Kog’Maw is a strong counter to Xayah because he outranges her, deals consistent damage, and punishes her lack of mobility. Xayah relies on positioning her feathers and using Bladecaller (E) to root enemies, but Kog’Maw’s long-range poke from Bio-Arcane Barrage (W) and Living Artillery (R) allows him to trade from a safe distance, making it difficult for Xayah to land her damage effectively.

Another key advantage Kog’Maw has is his sustained DPS in extended fights. While Xayah relies on bursting enemies with her feathers, Kog’Maw’s continuous damage output from his high attack speed and percent-health damage makes him a significant threat, even if Xayah tries to kite. Since Xayah lacks high mobility outside of Featherstorm (R), Kog’Maw can poke her down before she ever gets a chance to engage.

To win this matchup, Kog’Maw players should focus on keeping their distance, using W to trade from range, and punishing Xayah whenever she mispositions. If played correctly, Kog’Maw can outdamage Xayah in fights and deny her the chance to use her feathers effectively.

#8: Varus

Varus is a strong counter to Xayah because he outranges her, can poke her down before fights, and has strong crowd control to punish her lack of mobility. Xayah relies on setting up her feathers for Bladecaller (E), but Varus can harass her from a distance with Piercing Arrow (Q) and force her to play defensively before she can even set up an engage.

Another key advantage Varus has is his strong lockdown potential with Chain of Corruption (R). If Xayah tries to engage or use her Featherstorm (R) to reposition, Varus can root her in place, preventing her from escaping or kiting effectively. Additionally, his Lethality build allows him to burst her down quickly before she can set up her feathers.

To win this matchup, Varus players should focus on poking Xayah in lane, using R to lock her down before she can ult, and taking advantage of his superior range. If played correctly, Varus can keep Xayah from ever getting a good engage and shut her down before she becomes a threat.

#7: Twitch

Twitch is a strong counter to Xayah because he can ambush her, outdamage her in extended fights, and bypass her feather positioning. Xayah relies on proper spacing and feather setup to root enemies with Bladecaller (E), but Twitch’s ambush playstyle with Q – Ambush allows him to engage from unpredictable angles, making it hard for Xayah to set up her feathers effectively.

Another key advantage Twitch has is his high sustained DPS in team fights. While Xayah has strong burst damage with her feathers, Twitch’s Spray and Pray (R) gives him massive AoE damage and attack range, allowing him to hit Xayah and her team from a safe distance. Since Xayah lacks mobility outside of Featherstorm (R), Twitch can chase her down easily and apply Deadly Venom stacks for a massive Execute with Contaminate (E).

To win this matchup, Twitch players should look for stealth engages with Q, use R to outrange Xayah, and take advantage of his superior DPS in extended fights. If played correctly, Twitch can prevent Xayah from positioning properly and eliminate her before she can deal damage.

#6: Jinx

Jinx is a strong counter to Xayah because she outranges her, scales better in team fights, and punishes her lack of mobility. Xayah relies on proper feather positioning to root enemies, but Jinx’s long-range rockets from Switcheroo! (Q) allow her to poke Xayah from a safe distance, making it difficult for Xayah to trade effectively.

Another major advantage Jinx has is her passive, Get Excited!, which gives her a massive movement speed boost after securing a kill or assist. This allows Jinx to chase Xayah down even after she uses Featherstorm (R) to escape. Additionally, Super Mega Death Rocket! (R) gives Jinx an execute tool, letting her finish off Xayah even if she tries to disengage.

To win this matchup, Jinx players should focus on keeping their distance with Q, punishing Xayah’s short range, and using their passive to chase her down after a kill. If played correctly, Jinx can outscale Xayah and deny her opportunities to engage.

#5: Miss Fortune

Miss Fortune is a strong counter to Xayah because she can poke her down in lane, outdamage her in team fights, and punish her lack of mobility. Xayah relies on positioning her feathers for Bladecaller (E) roots, but Miss Fortune’s Make It Rain (E) slow forces her to stay in place or reposition poorly, disrupting her ability to set up feathers effectively.

Another major advantage Miss Fortune has is her superior AoE burst damage. While Xayah deals damage over time through feather setups, Miss Fortune can instantly shred through her with Bullet Time (R), especially in team fights where Xayah is forced to dodge multiple sources of damage. Additionally, Miss Fortune’s early-game poke with Double Up (Q) allows her to pressure Xayah in lane, making it difficult for her to farm safely.

To win this matchup, Miss Fortune players should focus on poking Xayah in lane, using E to slow her down, and ulting at the right time to deny her ability to reposition. If played correctly, Miss Fortune can shut down Xayah before she can use her ultimate to escape.

#4: Lucian

Lucian is a strong counter to Xayah because he can dash around her feathers, outtrade her in short skirmishes, and punish her lack of mobility. Xayah relies on setting up feathers for her Bladecaller (E) root, but Lucian’s Relentless Pursuit (E) lets him dash away from the feathers, avoiding her main source of crowd control.

Another major advantage Lucian has is his strong early-game trading power. With Lightslinger (Passive) and Piercing Light (Q), Lucian can burst Xayah down before she gets a chance to set up her damage. Additionally, his The Culling (R) allows him to deal heavy damage from range, forcing Xayah to either burn her ultimate early or risk dying in lane.

To win this matchup, Lucian players should play aggressively in the early game, use E to dodge Xayah’s feathers, and capitalize on his superior mobility to outmaneuver her. If played correctly, Lucian can pressure Xayah heavily in lane and prevent her from scaling into a late-game threat.

#3: Ashe

Ashe is a strong counter to Xayah because she outranges her, can slow her continuously, and has strong engage tools to punish her lack of mobility. Xayah relies on proper feather positioning for Bladecaller (E) roots, but Ashe’s constant slows from Frost Shot (Passive) and Volley (W) make it hard for Xayah to move freely and position her feathers effectively.

Another major advantage Ashe has is her powerful engage with Enchanted Crystal Arrow (R). If Xayah is caught without her ultimate (Featherstorm), Ashe can stun her from long range, allowing her team to collapse and burst Xayah down before she can retaliate. Additionally, Ashe’s Hawkshot (E) provides vision control, making it harder for Xayah and her support to set up surprise engages.

To win this matchup, Ashe players should focus on poking Xayah with W, kiting her with slows, and using R to punish her when her ultimate is down. If played correctly, Ashe can completely control Xayah’s movement and deny her opportunities to engage.

#2: Draven

Draven is a strong counter to Xayah because he outdamages her in the early game, snowballs harder, and punishes her lack of mobility. Xayah relies on scaling and setting up feathers for Bladecaller (E) roots, but Draven’s Spinning Axes (Q) empower his basic attacks, allowing him to win trades instantly and force Xayah to play defensively.

Another key advantage Draven has is his early-game dominance and ability to snowball. Xayah typically plays for the mid-to-late game, but Draven’s League of Draven (Passive) rewards him with extra gold for kills, accelerating his lead much faster. Additionally, his aggressive playstyle with Blood Rush (W) allows him to chase Xayah down and prevent her from setting up her feathers properly.

To win this matchup, Draven players should play aggressively in the early game, capitalize on their damage advantage, and force all-ins before Xayah can scale. If played correctly, Draven can dominate the laning phase and make it impossible for Xayah to come back into the game.

#1: Caitlyn

Caitlyn is the best counter to Xayah because she outranges her, punishes her weak mobility, and zones her with traps. Xayah relies on proper feather positioning and short-to-medium-range trades, but Caitlyn’s longest base attack range among ADCs allows her to poke Xayah down before she can get close enough to trade effectively.

Another major advantage Caitlyn has is her ability to zone and control the lane. With Yordle Snap Trap (W), Caitlyn can control Xayah’s positioning, making it harder for her to step up to farm or set up for Bladecaller (E) roots. Additionally, 90 Caliber Net (E) provides Caitlyn with a disengage tool, allowing her to kite Xayah and avoid her all-ins.

To win this matchup, Caitlyn players should focus on harassing Xayah with auto-attacks, placing traps strategically to limit her movement, and using E to escape if Xayah tries to engage. If played correctly, Caitlyn can dominate Xayah in lane and prevent her from ever reaching her late-game power spike

Conclusion

Xayah is a strong ADC with high burst damage, crowd control, and self-peel, but her weaknesses—lack of mobility, reliance on proper feather positioning, and vulnerability to ranged poke—make her susceptible to the right counters. Champions like Caitlyn and Varus can outrange her and deny her positioning, while Draven and Lucian can dominate her in early trades before she scales. If you’re struggling against Xayah, picking one of these champions and playing aggressively to deny her farm and force unfavorable trades will prevent her from becoming a late-game threat. By keeping her at a distance, punishing her cooldowns, and not letting her set up her feathers, you can neutralize her impact and take control of the game.