Want to learn how to play Aatrox in League of Legends?
Aatrox is a champion released in League of Legends in 2013. At his base form, Aatrox is a champion that wants to fight everyone all the time. Two of his abilities are made for team fights, and the other two are built for sustainability.
This combination makes him ideal for a top-lane bruiser, which allows you to stay in the lane and push minion waves.
Aatrox can also impose his will in the top lane and escape any ganks with minimal consequences or damage.
His core ability to sustain the lane is his Blood Thirst (W), which heals him every third auto-attack. This heal is pretty significant, making Aatrox a pain to deal with if you ever come up against him.
If you’re looking for a solid pick in the top lane, Aatrox is one you should consider.
Today, we will show you how to play Aatrox in League of Legends.
Let’s begin!
Abilities
Aatrox is a lane bully who can snowball quickly in the early game. If you can get ahead of the enemy top laner, try to abuse it as much as possible to secure more kills in the lane and increase your chances of winning the game.
Deathbringer Stance (Passive)
INNATE – Aatrox periodically empowers his next basic attack to gain a 50 bonus range and deal 5 to 12% of the target’s maximum health as bonus physical damage, but capped at 100 against monsters.
Aatrox also heals for 100% of the post-mitigation damage dealt. This damage is reduced to 25% against minions.
Whenever Aatrox hits at least one enemy champion or monster with his basic attack or ability, the cooldown of Deathbringer Stance is reduced by 2 seconds, modified to 4 if he hits with the Sweetspot of The Darkin Blade.
The Darkin Blade (Q)
ACTIVE – Aatrox can activate this ability three times before it goes on cooldown, with a 1-second static cooldown between casts. If Aatrox does not recast the ability within 4 seconds of the previous cast, it also goes on cooldown.
Aatrox swings his greatsword for each of the three casts, dealing physical damage to enemies struck within a distinct area.
Enemies hit with a Sweetspot of the area are dealt 60% bonus damage and get knocked up for 0.25 seconds. Each cast increases The Darkin Blade’s damage by 25%.
FIRST CAST – Aatrox’s first strike affects a 625 x 180 units rectangular area, with him centered on the backline and the Sweetspot at the farthest edge.
SECOND CAST – Aatrox’s second strike affects a trapezoidal area in the target direction, with its Sweetspot at the farthest edge. The ability’s hitbox begins 100-units behind Aatrox and extends 475-units in front of him, measuring between 300 and 500-units wide from behind.
THIRD CAST – Aatrox’s third strike affects a 300-radius area centered on a target location that is 200 units in front of him. This also has a 180-radius Sweetspot within.
The Darkin Blade inflicts 55% damage to minions, and its knock-up duration from hitting the Sweetspot is doubled to 0.5 seconds against monsters.
Infernal Chains (W)
ACTIVE – Aatrox sends a chain in the target direction, dealing physical damage to the first enemy it hits. This is doubled against minions and slows them by 25% for 1.5 seconds.
If Infernal Chains hit an enemy champion or large monster, a tether is formed between a source within the impact zone and the target for 1.5 seconds that reveals the target’s location on the map.
Umbral Dash (E)
PASSIVE – Aatrox heals for a percentage of the non-persistent post-mitigation damage he deals against opponents and is increased during World Ender.
ACTIVE – Aatrox dashes in the target direction.
World Ender (R)
ACTIVE – Aatrox unleashes his true demonic form, causing all nearby enemy minions and monsters to flee from him for 3 seconds. During its duration, affected opponents are also slowed by up to 99%.
For the next 10 seconds, Aatrox gains ghosting and bonus movement speed, decaying by 10% of the current bonus every 0.25 seconds.
While transformed, Aatrox gains bonus attack damage and 5% increased size. He also receives increased self-healing from all sources.
Aatrox Gameplay
Aatrox’s first significant spike is at level 3 when he gains access to all his basic abilities. This allows you to go for favorable trades. Once you’ve built your first core time, Aatrox can start playing aggressively in the lane.
When Aatrox has obtained his World Ender (R), he will put increased kill pressure on your enemies.
The extra damage and heal he gets from his kit can help him snowball the entire game.
Once Aatrox reaches level 9, his The Darkin Blade should be maxed out. At max level, this ability should have a reduced cooldown and additional haste, meaning it will be on a very short cooldown.
As you transition to the mid-game, Aatrox should have items that will reduce his abilities cooldown.
Aatrox also tends to fall off later in the game as the enemy builds items that can counter his abilities. During this stage, most enemy champions will be grouped up as well, making it harder for you to secure solo kills.
However, if you can time your entry, you should still be able to pick off the enemy’s carry during late-game team fights.
During clashes, you must play around with your World Ender (R) in the late game. Fighting with and without your ultimate could be the difference between winning a team fight or losing it. When maxed out, Aatrox’s ultimate is difficult to deal with due to its sustain.
Runes
Precision
Resolve
Bonus
- +9 Adaptive (5.4 AD or 9 AP)
- +9 Adaptive (5.4 AD or 9 AP)
- +6 Armor
Item Build
That ends our guide on how to play Aatrox in League of Legends. If you have questions or other concerns, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below, and we’ll do our best to answer them.
