Introduction

Rakan, The Charmer, is one of League of Legends' most dynamic support champions, renowned for his electrifying mobility, crowd control, and unparalleled synergy with his lover, Xayah. Whether you're darting across teamfights or setting up game-winning engages, Rakan's playful flair and high-skill ceiling make him a favorite among support mains. This guide dives deep into Rakan's lore, abilities, playstyle, and strategies to help you unleash his full potential on the Rift.

Who is Rakan? Lore and Background

Rakan hails from the Vastayan Lhotlan tribe, a free-spirited troupe of performers known for their magical dances. His rebellious nature and love for Xayah—a fellow Vastayan revolutionary—drive his quest to reclaim their homeland from human invaders. In-game, Rakan's personality shines through his witty voice lines and acrobatic animations, embodying a mix of charm and chaos. Understanding his lore enriches the experience of playing this agile protector, whose loyalty to Xayah translates into unique gameplay mechanics.

Rakan's Abilities Breakdown

Rakan's kit revolves around mobility, healing, and disruptive crowd control. Here's a breakdown of his abilities:

  1. Passive – Fey Feathers

    Every 40–15 seconds (based on level), Rakan gains a shield that activates when he damages an enemy champion. This passive encourages aggressive trades, allowing him to mitigate poke damage during skirmishes.

  2. Q – Gleaming Quill

    Rakan fires a feather projectile, damaging the first enemy hit. If it strikes a champion or epic monster, he heals himself and nearby allies. Use Q to harass enemies in lane and sustain your ADC.

  3. W – Grand Entrance

    Rakan dashes to a target location, knocking up enemies in the area. This is his primary engage tool, perfect for initiating fights or interrupting channeled abilities.

  4. E – Battle Dance

    Rakan shields an ally and dashes to them. He can cast this ability twice, with the second dash prioritizing Xayah if she's nearby. Use E to reposition during fights or escape sticky situations.

  5. R – The Quickness

    Rakan gains movement speed and charms enemies he touches, forcing them to walk toward him. Pairing R with W creates devastating engages, making it essential for turning teamfights.

Playstyle: The Agile Engage Support

Rakan thrives as a mobile initiator, excelling at picking off isolated targets or disrupting entire teams. Early game, focus on poking with Q and shielding allies with E. Post-level 6, look for roam opportunities to snowball mid or jungle.

In teamfights, prioritize diving the backline with R + W combos, then nerdle use E to retreat to your carries. His hit-and-run playstyle demands precise timing—mistiming an engage can leave him vulnerable due to his squishy stats.

Synergy with Xayah: The Lover's Duo

Rakan's gameplay is intrinsically tied to Xayah. Their passive allows them to recall together when near each other, and Rakan's E range is doubled when dashing to Xayah. This duo dominates bot lane with relentless aggression:

  • Level 2 Power Spike: Coordinate W (Rakan) + E (Xayah) for early kills.

  • Ultimate Combo: Use Rakan's R to charm enemies into Xayah's feather traps (E).

  • Split Push Safety: Rakan can quickly join Xayah across the map using E.

While Rakan pairs well with other ADCs, his synergy with Xayah is unmatched, making them a staple in competitive play.

Best Builds and Runes for Rakan

Rakan's itemization focuses on ability haste, survivability, and team utility. Here's a meta build for Season 13:

Core Items:

  • Shurelya's Battlegrounds: Enhances engage potential with bonus movement speed on ability casts.

  • Zeke's Convergence: Synergizes with Rakan's ult, slowing enemies affected by The Quickness.

  • Chemtech Putrifier: Applies Grievous Wounds with his AoE abilities.

Situational Items:

  • Mikael's Crucible: Against heavy CC comps.

  • Knights Vow: For tankier builds.

Runes:

  • Primary (Resolve): Guardian, Font of Life, Bone Plating, Revitalize

  • Secondary (Sorcery): Manaflow Band, Transcendence

Guardian provides survivability, while Sorcery runes address mana issues and cooldown reduction.

Advanced Tips and Tricks

  1. Flash + W Engage: Catch enemies off-guard by league of legends

    flashing before casting W for extended range.

  2. Escape with E: Use E to dash to allies (or minions) when chased.

  3. Ultimate Bait: Pretend to retreat, then activate R to charm overconfident pursuers.

  4. Roam Timings: After securing lane priority, assist mid or jungle to spread your impact.

Conclusion

Rakan's blend of flair, mobility, and game-changing CC makes him a thrilling pick for support players. By mastering his combos, optimizing builds, and leveraging his synergy with Xayah, you'll become the backbone of every teamfight. Dive into the Rift, charm your enemies, and let the dance of victory begin!

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