Darius vs Aatrox

Darius
vs
50.5%

over 4491 games

Aatrox

Skill matchup

Heavy AD damageHigh sustainSplit pushSustained DPS

Build vs Aatrox

Build adapted to this matchup

Recommended items for Darius: Youmuu's Ghostblade, Dead Man's Plate, Death's Dance, Plated Steelcaps, Stridebreaker, Sterak's Gage, Force of Nature, Spear of Shojin.

Starting items

Doran's Blade
Health Potion

Core build

Youmuu's Ghostblade
1
Dead Man's Plate
2
Death's Dance
3

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Stridebreaker
5

Summoner spells

FlashHaste63%
FlashDot33%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Stridebreaker
Sterak's Gage
Force of Nature
Spear of Shojin
Executioner's Calling
Bramble Vest
Trinity Force
Thornmail
Randuin's Omen
Black Cleaver
Chempunk Chainsword
Kaenic Rookern
Tiamat
Serrated Dirk
Jak'Sho, The Protean
Quicksilver Sash
Spirit Visage
Mortal Reminder
Guardian Angel
The Collector
Maw of Malmortius
Mercurial Scimitar
Sundered Sky
B. F. Sword
Serpent's Fang
Hullbreaker
Endless Hunger
61.3% WR462 games
SorcerySorcery
Stormraider's SurgeStormraider's Surge
Nimbus CloakNimbus Cloak
CelerityCelerity
Gathering StormGathering Storm
PrecisionPrecision
Legend: AlacrityLegend: Alacrity
TriumphTriumph
Attack SpeedAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Aatrox's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Deathbringer Stance (P)

Periodically, Aatrox's next basic attack deals bonus magic damage and heals him, based on the target's max health.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
314s18s9s–
610s18s9s2m
96s16.5s9s2m
116s15s9s1m40
166s12s7s1m20
186s12s5s1m20

Playing as Darius

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Hit with the edge of your axe

    Aim the outer edge of Decimate (Q): only the blade heals you and applies Hemorrhage (passive). The handle, in the center, deals less damage.

  2. All-in at five stacks

    Go all-in when your target has five Hemorrhage (passive) stacks: you gain a massive AD bonus, and Noxian Guillotine (R) hits harder with each stack.

  3. Save Apprehend for runners

    Save Apprehend (E) to pull back an enemy who retreats, not to start a trade: it's your only pull, on a 26 to 16 second cooldown.

  4. Execute to recast your R

    Cast Noxian Guillotine (R) on the lowest-health target: its true damage ignores armor, and if it kills, you can recast it right away.

Playing against Aatrox

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Avoid the edge of his blade

    Stick to him or step out of range when he casts The Darkin Blade (Q): only the edge, at the end of each swing, knocks you into the air and deals full damage.

  2. Get out of his chains fast

    Leave the Infernal Chains (W) zone before it closes, with a dash if you have one: otherwise you get pulled back to the impact point and take the damage again.

  3. Trade after his blade

    Take a trade right after the three swings of The Darkin Blade (Q): it's his only knock-up, with a 14 to 6 second cooldown depending on rank.

  4. Short trades

    Take short trades: Umbral Dash (E) heals him for part of all the damage he deals to champions, so a long trade favors him.

  5. Respect his level 6

    Once he hits level 6, back off when he casts World Ender (R): he gains AD and increased healing, and every takedown extends its duration.

Patch 16.21.1