Aatrox needs some love

For me, it feels like if i go tank, i hurt as much as wet paper, but if i go damage, i fall apart like wet paper. Even going hybrid, it feels like you aren't reaching your full potential.

I LOVE , and when i usually jungle, i do ok, but i wish i didn't have to choose between hitting like a truck made of glass, or a Unkillable Warrior with a feather sword. That kind of split difference makes me realize that he needs both some tank, but decent damage to do well on his own.

As for kit specifics, what riot is doing soon is a step in the right direction, but here are my suggestions.

**Passive: ** Old/current: his passive is handy, but very situational. Currently, it's good for tower diving, and tricking someone who wasted everything on you. Aside from that, he's a sitting duck.

New/proposed: Since he's usually surrounded when his passive is popped, (besides riots current 7.5 plans), i suggest some kind of cc mechanic, like a fear or stun while he's reviving. Not only will this fix his issue with people ganging up on him, but it also fits thematically.

Q- Dark Flight:

Old/current: Aatrox's q is central to his playstyle, this is the ability that makes him a diver. I like how it's semi spammable, but it's unreliable.

New/proposed: I like the suggestion about making the hitbox bigger, but i would also suggest him being immune while he rises up, since it's stupid how he can be targeted in the first half. I also thing a slight range increase will make him a much better diver.

**W- Blood Price/ Thirst: ** Old/current: His W is odd, it makes him a drain tank, but doesn't really make sense in a stat kinda way. What i mean is that the scaling is off, it doesn't scale with lifesteal, and it's just clunky and kinda one dimensional.

New/proposed: First and foremost, the scaling needs to be fixed, second, there needs to be more interaction because it's just a boring damage or heal. I would suggest some kind of stick, maybe on the lines of what had on his previous passive, or maybe he could mark the enemy on the third hit of blood price, that also goes back to the thematic theme where he helps his allies overpower his enemies, where the mark would allow extra damage or something.

E- Blade of Torment:

Old/current: This thing is pointless, it's just a tool to harass lane and slow.

New/current: Ok, this is gonna be tricky. If he's gonna be a successful Diver, this needs a overhaul. What i propose is some kind of defensive ability. Something that comes to mind is his big cloak-like wings. He could cover himself in his wings, during this time he get's a shield based on his blood Meter. Also if anyone attacks him while cloaked, they are burned, similar to 's sword. Now to compensate, he can't move, but if he cancel's it early or if it run's out, the wings lash out in a crescent like pattern, slowing his enemy's and burns them.

**R- Massacre: ** Old/current: All this is is a "now my attack speed get's faster" and that's it. This is another problematic ability.

New/Proposed: Now i do kinda like the attack speed and increased ranged, but i think he should be more rewarded for ulting more people. Going back to the fear mechanic, i think this would be a perfect way to make his ult more menacing.

How this would all fit together is that enemy's would be punished for ganging up on him during passive, Q would be slightly changed, W would have more impact on chasing down opponents or helping your team whittle down marked enemies, E would give him some defense and again making enemies cautious about attacking the demon with burning wings, and his R would again help him go into the enemy and allow the theme of "terrifying demon".

Let me know what you guys think. Let's make Aatrox a great Champion to play again. [slayer-pantheon-thumbs]