Xerath vs Garen MID Matchup Guide | LaneStomp

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Xerath

VS

Mid

Garen

Xerath vs Garen

Updated Jun 5, 2026

Overview

Xerath is a high-range artillery mage who must use poke and wave control to deny Garen free farm and prevent him from engaging.
Prioritize lane priority and poke to keep Garen at bay, leveraging Xerath's superior range and cooldown advantage.

Trading pattern

Trade with (Q) poke combined with (W) slows to land easier follow-up damage and keep Garen at range.
Hold (E) defensively to peel or use only when you are certain to stun Garen and prevent his engage.
Punish Garen after he uses (Q) silence, as his threat window is down and he has less reach.

Danger windows

(Q) silence and (E) spin combo create a dangerous short trade window; avoid extended fights during this.
After (Q) is ready, respect his engage potential and keep max range spacing.
Post level 6, be cautious when low health as Garen's execute (R) can finish you if you overextend.

Early game

Use (Q) and (W) to poke Garen early and punish his attempts to farm, forcing him off the wave.
Avoid using (E) aggressively early unless guaranteed to hit, as missing it forces you to play defensively.
Hold the wave near your side to reduce Garen's all-in threat and keep room to reposition.

Power spikes

Level 6: Use (R) to follow up on poke or defensive stuns, enabling picks or forcing Garen back.
First completed mana/AP item: Increase poke pressure and wave control to deny Garen farm and force him to play cautiously.
Respect Garen's level 6 execute (R) window by avoiding extended trades when he is near execute range.

Win conditions

Use long-range poke with (Q) and (W) to deny Garen free farm and force him off the wave consistently.
Track (R) cooldown to safely commit to all-ins or roams when available, maximizing map pressure.
Leverage wave control and positioning to avoid Garen's engage windows and punish cooldowns for sustained lane dominance.