Aatrox thoughts from an ex-main
I have been waiting for this for ages, oh boi. I stopped playing Aatrox ever since the Juggernauts update (or not as active). The first thing I did when I got home is lock in Aatrox top and try it (I called my lane first dw). And here's my thoughts in detailed per ability (I'll leave passive for last):
Q: Longer CD and significantly less base dmg. To be honest, it is not as bad as I thought it would be. It's AD scaling gotten up so I didn't feel like it lacked damage, but it's definitely less spammable due to it's CD. And thank god that cost was unnecessary, truly felt it.
W: I feel like the heal is a lot less than before, but I didn't really bother me, and I maxed W last so makes sense. His blood price is a lot more better, the hp cost way very costly so I rarely used it before.
E: Probably the saddest to me, not because of the increased CD, it's because the removal of AP scaling, RIP AP Aatrox URF...You will be very missed (if you don't know what I'm talking about, search up AP Aatrox URF) But seriously tho, I think it's a better than before.
Passive: The biggest change. The new added passive is pretty nice and works hella well with ultimate, but there is a problem. As most people already pointed out, IT DRAINS SO FAST. The issue is that it doesn't fill fast, but when you do fill it. you have to use it very effectively within the 5 seconds. The issue is I faced a Yasuo, it was pretty annoying cause he kept dashing away when ever I got it, Even when I Q at him, he can still escape. My suggestion that it takes longer than 5 seconds, or that it can be refreshed in combat (like if you E the stack still applies, thus extending the duration) stacking can be reduced by half to keep it balanced. Now the second part, revive. I think it makes a lot more sense to have revive up when blood well is filled. Because it's meant to be a second chance during battles, not another Anivia passive. But here's the problem, Since he is a sustain bruiser, 30% hp revive can be nothing mid game, especially if you're the team's diver. My suggestion is that the revive hp scales with level 25%-50% maybe?
Overall, I think these changes do put Aatrox in a better spot temporarily. They weren't supposed to make him OP, just fix his few problems. I am not saying that they fixed the main issues COMPLETELY, they can still definitely work on his passive a little more, maybe ult too. But one thing for certain is that he is less trash now, still not a good pick tho.
"Pain is temporary, victory is forever !" -