Bot
Play the return-line rule: keep three feathers in front of dives, then step for the diagonal after Q so E cuts through the dash or retreat path instead of snapping straight back from where you first stood
R belongs where the dive breaks—erase the engage spell that actually starts the loss, land with a fresh feather spread, and turn that landing into the pull back through the same body that just came in
Bank threat in the wave and keep the recall clean, because Xayah gets more than comparable ADCs from turning hidden Q + auto feather lines into an on-time first-component lane instead of brawling every wave
Take the short side wave only when the next fight is not about to start and you can see the engage pieces that force your R. Xayah likes collecting one wave, maybe two, then being early to the next grouped fight with room to lay feathers before anyone reaches her. If dragon, Baron, or a tower contest is forming, leave sooner than you would on a more independent ADC; showing up late costs you more because you arrive with no feather floor set and have to react cold. A good rule is simple: catch the wave, push it out, then move before the map asks for your R.
After using an ability, Xayah's next basic attacks will hit all targets along their path and leave a Feather.
Xayah throws two damaging daggers that also drop Feathers she can recall.
Xayah creates a storm of blades that increase her Attack Speed and damage while also granting her Move Speed if she attacks a champion.
Xayah calls back all her dropped Feathers dealing damage and rooting enemies.
Xayah leaps into the air becoming untargetable and throwing out a fan of daggers, dropping Feathers she can recall.
