Aatrox's Role

I don't understand why no one plays Aatrox.

I started playing towards the end of season 5, right around the ekko release (I THINK). I started playing with the free champ rotation, but then I blew 10 bucks on Aatrox, literally JUST because he looked cool.

I had no idea what mobafire or loking was, so I threw on whatever made sense to my lvl 5 self; Nashor's, Zephyr, Wit's End, and basically anything that gave attack speed so I could proc his w.

About 8 months and 300k mastery later, my typical build is Bloodthirster, Rageblade, Rav. Hydra, BoRK, and maybe a Merc Scimitar or Maw. Runes are all attack speed with the exception of armor seals. I run the updated Warlord's (lifesteal).

Aatrox is not a team fight oriented champion. He's supposed to be a constant lane threat who draws two or three or four people to come for him, away from the rest of the map so his team can get objectives. And if they don't send enough, you end up with a double, auto minions until you're back to full health, and keep pushing until you have three towers and an inhib by 15 minutes.

I can't tell you how many times I've gotten flamed for not building tank. Aatrox needs to build straight damage and sustain, to the point where you're healing more than the damage they can dish out to you.

You poke/trade early game with your e/blood thirst, sustain back up, dodge skillshots, and farm up. Usually after bloodthirster and rageblade, I can win a fight against almost any top laner.

Also, if your team engages in a 4v5 and loses, you're not the one to blame. Any time anyone dies, it is almost exclusively their fault. When I play Aatrox, I make it explicitly clear that I will rarely participate in teamfights, and will be pushing nearly the entire game.

I'm not trying to post a build on boards, I just feel like Aatrox is rarely played to his potential. I'm aware there aren't that many Aatrox mains out there, but I hope this might be of some use to anyone who DOES main him.