Rakan: The Charmer

Rakan is a champion in League of Legends classified as a Support (legacy class: Catcher). He is played in the bottom lane alongside an ADC. Rakan uses Mana as his resource and deals Magic damage. His range type is Melee (Attack Range: 300), making him a rare melee enchanter-diver hybrid.

Released on April 19, 2017, Rakan is one of the most dynamic supports in the game. He forms a unique duo with Xayah, sharing exclusive synergy mechanics. Currently on patch..

📊 Base Statistics

💡 Key Note: Rakan is a melee champion, which means getting in range to proc heals and engage abilities puts him at risk. His extreme mobility and shields compensate for this vulnerability – always look for the right moment before committing.

Passive: Fey Feathers

Cooldown: 40 – 12.75 seconds (based on level)

INNATE – Shield Generation: Periodically, Rakan grants himself a shield for 30 – 247.94 HP (based on level) (+95% AP) that lasts until broken. After being out of combat for 5 seconds, any leftover shield is restored to its maximum value.

Each of Rakan’s basic attacks and ability hits reduces Fey Feathers‘ cooldown by 1 second per enemy champion hit, rewarding aggressive repositioning and frequent ability usage.

INNATE – LOVER’S LEAP: If either Rakan or Xayah is channeling Recall, the other may move nearby and channel their own Recall to join them. Both reach base at the time the initiator’s Recall completes. This is a powerful utility mechanic in duo play.

Q: Gleaming Quill

Cost: 45 Mana  |  Cooldown: 11 / 10 / 9 / 8 / 7 sec  |  Cast Time: 0.25  |  Target Range: 900  |  Effect Radius: 200  |  Width: 130  |  Speed: 1850

ACTIVE: Rakan slings an enchanted feather in the target direction, dealing magic damage to the first enemy hit.

If the target is an enemy champion or epic monster, a radius is marked around Rakan. After 3 seconds, or if an allied champion enters the radius, Rakan heals himself and nearby allied champions for 40 – 210 HP (based on level) (+55% AP).

💡 Pro Tip: Q is Rakan’s main poke and healing trigger. In lane, use it to chip enemies, then reposition with Battle Dance to proc the heal on your ADC. Max Q second for sustained healing output in extended fights.

W: Grand Entrance

Cost: 50 / 60 / 70 / 80 / 90 Mana  |  Cooldown: 14 / 13 / 12 / 11 / 10 sec  |  Cast Time: None  |  Target Range: 650  |  Effect Radius: 275  |  Speed: 1700

ACTIVE: Rakan dashes to a target location. After a 0.35-second delay upon arrival, he deals magic damage to nearby enemies and knocks them up for 1 second.

⚠️ Important: Rakan can be knocked down by any immobilizing or polymorphing crowd control during the dash. Time your engage carefully to avoid being interrupted mid-air.

💡 Pro Tip: Grand Entrance is the core of Rakan’s engage toolkit. Combine W into R for a devastating combo – dash in, knock up, then immediately activate The Quickness for a near-instant AoE charm on grouped enemies.

E: Battle Dance

Cost: 40 / 45 / 50 / 55 / 60 Mana  |  Cooldown: 20 / 18 / 16 / 14 / 12 sec  |  Cast Time: None  |  Target Range: 700 (1000 on Xayah)  |  Speed: 1250 + 80% MS

ACTIVE: Rakan grants a shield to the target allied champion for 3 seconds, then dashes to and around them. Battle Dance can be recast within 5 seconds at no additional cost.

⚠️ Important: Similar to Grand Entrance, Rakan can be knocked down by immobilizing or polymorphing crowd control during the Battle Dance dash.

💡 Pro Tip: The double cast makes Battle Dance an exceptional peel tool in teamfights. Shield your ADC, jump to them, then recast to jump back to another ally. The extended range on Xayah makes this ability even more powerful in duo play.

R: The Quickness (Ultimate)

Cost: 100 Mana  |  Cooldown: 130 / 110 / 90 sec  |  Cast Time: 0.5  |  Collision Radius: 150

ACTIVE: Rakan breaks into a captivating sprint for 4 seconds, gaining ghosting and 75% bonus movement speed. During this time, he deals magic damage to enemies he collides with and charms + slows them by 75% for a duration. This cannot affect the same enemy more than once.

When Rakan collides with his first enemy champion, he gains an additional 75% bonus movement speed that decays after 0.5 seconds by 20% every 0.5 seconds, then 15% after decaying 60% over 1.5 seconds. Colliding with each champion extends The Quickness duration by 0.25 seconds.

⚠️ Note: During The Quickness, Rakan cannot basic attack enemy champions he did not collide with, unless the attack command was inputted before activation.

💡 Pro Tip: Always pair R with W for the full combo. Land Grand Entrance (W) first to knock enemies up, then activate The Quickness immediately. The knock-up groups enemies perfectly for Rakan to dash through multiple targets, stacking charms and extending duration. A well-executed W + R combo can charm an entire frontline.

🎯 Strategies and Gameplay Tips

Early Game (Levels 1–6)

• Q Poke in Lane: Use Gleaming Quill to chip the enemy botlane at range (900 units). Always position to allow an ally to enter the heal radius – don’t waste the second half of the ability.
• E as Repositioning Tool: Battle Dance isn’t just a shield – use it to reposition after a skirmish. Two casts mean two dashes. Retreat to your ADC, then dash again to safety or a different ally.
• Level 3 Power Spike: Once you have W + E + passive, you have real engage threat. Look for W dash + knock-up into level 3 skirmishes. You hit harder than most supports early.
• Lover’s Leap Recall: If playing with Xayah, coordinate Recall timing. Recalling together saves several seconds and creates a free window for your ADC to base safely.

Mid Game (Levels 7–13)

• Roam Potential: Rakan’s speed and mobility make him one of the best roaming supports. After pushing a wave, use E on an ally mid or jungle and dash into position for a surprise engage.
• W + R Combo: This is your primary teamfight pattern. Dash with W to knock up clustered enemies, then immediately activate R to charm them as they land. The timing window is tight but devastating.
• Peel With E Double Cast: In fights where your ADC is threatened, use both Battle Dance casts defensively – shield, reposition, shield again. Few supports can provide this level of sustained mobility-based peel.

Late Game (Level 14+)

• Front-to-Back Engage: With full AP build, Rakan’s W deals significant damage. Open fights by diving the backline with W + R, charming carries, and then using E to escape back to your team.
• AoE Charm Priority: In teamfights, maximize The Quickness by running through as many enemies as possible. Each collision extends duration and refreshes the movement speed burst, making you nearly uncatchable.
• Shield Priority: Late game, Battle Dance shields become significantly stronger with AP. Prioritize shielding your highest-damage carry first before repositioning.

⚔️ Core Combo Guide

1. Full Engage Combo (Teamfight): W (dash + knock-up) → immediately R → dash through clustered enemies for multi-charm → E to peel or escape
2. All-In 1v1 Dive: W → auto → Q → R → E onto ally to escape
3. Peel Combo: E (shield ADC + dash to them) → E recast → Fey Feathers passive shield active
4. Xayah Synergy: Coordinate Lover’s Leap Recall → R engage during Xayah ult to pin enemies with feathers

❌ Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

• Using W Without Setup: Grand Entrance has a 0.35-second delay. Against experienced players, dashing in alone telegraphs your engage. Use fog of war, R speed, or Xayah’s ult to disguise your approach.
• Wasting Q Heal: Gleaming Quill’s heal requires an ally to enter the marked radius. If your ally is out of range or you’re fighting alone, you get zero healing. Communicate positions before committing to Q trades.
• Not Recasting Battle Dance: Forgetting the E recast is a massive lost opportunity. That second dash costs zero mana – use it every time for added mobility, peel, or repositioning.
• Activating R in Isolation: The Quickness charms multiple enemies, but only if you actually run through them. Using R without W setup in a spread-out fight wastes its enormous teamfight potential.
• Dying During Engage: Rakan’s passive shield doesn’t protect against burst. Don’t dash headfirst into a fed assassin – save E double cast to get out when things go sideways.

⚙️ Recommended Build and Itemization

Core Items

• Shurelya’s Battlesong: Active movement speed boost synergizes perfectly with Rakan’s aggressive dashes. Shields for the whole team during engage.
• Locket of the Iron Solari: AoE shield protects your team during W + R combo. Pairs with Battle Dance shields for multi-layered protection.
• Redemption: Sustain for your team in prolonged fights. The active can be cast while dead, making it a no-brainer on a support who often trades his life for a successful engage.

Situational Items

• Mikael’s Blessing: If the enemy has heavy CC, this cleanses your ADC and adds healing. Exceptional against teams with hooks (Blitzcrank, Nautilus).
• Ardent Censer: If your ADC and team have strong on-hit damage, Ardent multiplies their output. Stack with Shurelya for full enchanter-engage hybrid.
• Zeke’s Convergence: Locks a tether to your carry for slow field when you CC enemies. Naturally activates during Grand Entrance knock-up combos.

⚔️ Counter Picks & Matchups

✅ Rakan Counters

1. Thresh – Rakan’s dash speed and double E make him nearly impossible to hook. Battle Dance lets you dodge Death Sentence cleanly while maintaining peel on your ADC.

2. Senna – Long-range sniping supports get punished hard by Rakan’s sudden dive angle. His W range forces Senna to back off or risk a knock-up.

3. Soraka – Zero mobility. Rakan can easily close the gap on Soraka, interrupt her Wish with W knock-up, and apply constant pressure in lane.

❌ Rakan is Countered By

1. Lux – Light Binding roots stop Rakan mid-W dash. A single root during Grand Entrance cancels the knock-up and leaves Rakan stranded. Her range also outpokes Q safely.

2. Morgana – Black Shield completely negates The Quickness charm. A Morgana player watching for your R start will Black Shield their carry instantly, turning your ultimate into wasted mana.

3. Leona – Wins level 2 all-ins. Her point-and-click CC (E + Q) stops Rakan’s dashes and her tankiness means she out-sustains him in extended trades.

FAQ

Q: Is Rakan good without Xayah?

A: Yes. While the Xayah synergy (Lover’s Leap, extended Battle Dance range) is genuinely powerful, Rakan is a top-tier support in any botlane composition. His engage, peel, and mobility are fully functional with any ADC.

Q: What’s the best way to use The Quickness?

A: Always pair it with Grand Entrance first. W knocks enemies up and clusters them, then R runs through multiple targets at once, maximizing charm stacks and duration extensions. Solo R without W setup is a wasted ultimate.

Q: Should I build AP on Rakan?

A: It depends on the matchup. Full AP Rakan is viable in coordinated play for massive shield values and W burst, but standard Shurelya’s + Locket is the safest path. AP items scale all his shields and heals significantly.

Q: How does Rakan’s Lover’s Leap with Xayah work?

A: If one player starts Recall, the other can walk nearby within the recall window and start their own Recall. Both arrive at base at the same time. It saves valuable time and creates a free trading window in lane.

Q: Is Rakan beginner-friendly?

A: Rakan has moderate complexity. His basic kit is easy to understand but his ceiling is high – knowing when to engage with W, how to chain W + R, and managing double Battle Dance casts under pressure takes practice. Not the easiest starting support, but one of the most rewarding to master.