Thoughts on Aatrox 7.5 Changes (+Adaptation Suggestions)

So, 7.5 came out today, and with it, Aatrox's balance changes. I'm going to warn you all of this much: I've only played one Custom Vs. AI Match as Aatrox today just to get a feel for what he is now, so, take this all with a /mountain/ of salt. I'm not going to be totally right in my assumptions or suggestions, but it's better than saying "Riot ruined him" on the first day of his changes being live.

So, to start off, I just want to go over what's changed on him now:

• Passive - Blood Well has been changed to gaining Blood per damaging ability cast (including the passive proc of Blood Price), and when he reaches 100 Blood, he gains a buff increasing his Attack Damage, Attack Speed, and allowing him to revive for 30% of his health if he dies during the buff. The buff drains his Blood Well over 4 seconds, and if the buff is still active, damaging enemy champions or being damaged by enemy champions completely refreshes the buff's duration.
• **Basic Abilities - Dark Flight, Blood Thirst/Blood Price, & Blades of Torment - all of their base damages have been lowered, Dark Flight's ratio has been changed to Total AD, ratios have been increased slightly, Blades of Torment has a flat health cost, Blood Thirst heals for %Missing Health.

So, I'm sure a lot of people have noticed that Aatrox doesn't feel quite as vicious an attacker - and that's because now, he isn't. He doesn't passively gain attack speed for his Blood, but he does gain a boost to his AS when he fills his well, making him fight harder when it counts. Personally, I feel that it's still a little odd to go from a skirmisher whose attack speed ramps up as he fights to what Aatrox is now, but - perhaps it's a welcome change.

But, early on, it also seems that he doesn't quite have enough damage to spar off blows with his opponents, especially compared to some more aggressive Champions like Riven or Yasuo who have the tools and damage to trade more than effectively. I'm not sure exactly how to feel about this, but I suppose I should be more or less irritated. But, even if I am annoyed at what I perceive as low early-game damage, I could still very much be wrong, and I know that Riot will work to push Aatrox in the right direction once more time with him has been spent, and better information on where he's standing at has been found.

So, now onto suggestions for adapting to the new Aatrox: First and foremost, he's not a high-attack-speed skirmisher anymore, and paired with the changes to Warlord's Bloodlust, he's probably going to be needing a different set of items and Masteries. My suggestion would be to build like you would for Champions like Fiora or Renekton - builds that make every hit count and set you up to take hits - items like Ravenous Hydra, Black Cleaver, Spirit Visage, Maw of Malmortius, etc. - and with Mastery Pages probably involving Fervor of Battle over Warlord's Bloodlust.

Again, I have to re-state: these are observations and suggestions, and should be taken very, very lightly. I'm not sure how much of what I'm saying will ring true and what all is just simple-minded supposition, but I'm hopeful that at least something I said will be useful.