Aatrox vs Gnar
Skill matchup
Build vs Gnar
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Aatrox: Eclipse, Sundered Sky, Death's Dance, Plated Steelcaps, Spear of Shojin, Black Cleaver, Voltaic Cyclosword, Sterak's Gage.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Gnar's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
While in combat Gnar generates Rage. At maximum Rage his next ability will transform him into Mega Gnar, granting increased survivability and access to new spells.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 16s | 7s | 22s | – |
| 6 | 13s | 7s | 22s | 1m30 |
| 9 | 10s | 7s | 22s | 1m30 |
| 11 | 10s | 7s | 22s | 1m |
| 16 | 10s | 7s | 17s | 30s |
| 18 | 10s | 7s | 12s | 30s |
Playing as Aatrox
Tips to maximize your impact
- Hit with the edge of your blade
Land the edge of The Darkin Blade (Q): enemies hit by the edge take a short knock-up and more damage, so Umbral Dash (E) heals you for more.
- Reposition your blade with your dash
Cast Umbral Dash (E) during The Darkin Blade (Q) to put the edge on your target: the dash doesn't interrupt your other spells.
- Trap your target with your chains
Cast Infernal Chains (W) when the target can't leave the zone, against a wall or in a chokepoint: if they stay inside, they get pulled back to the impact point.
- Transform before the teamfight
Cast World Ender (R) before you engage, not in the middle of the teamfight: you instantly gain AD, increased healing and move speed.
Playing against Gnar
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Play hard against Mini Gnar
Take your trades when he's Mini Gnar with little Rage Gene (passive): he then has no stun and none of Mega Gnar's defenses.
- Dodge his boomerang
Dodge Boomerang Throw (Q): it slows you, and if he catches it on the way back, its cooldown drops.
- Short trades
Take short trades: on every third auto or ability that hits you, Hyper (W) adds damage based on your max health.
- Stay away from walls
Stay away from walls against Mega Gnar: GNAR! (R) knocks back every nearby enemy, and those who hit a wall are stunned.
Other Aatrox matchups
Patch 16.21.1