I played Azir as a top laner because you can build him semi-tanky with ap and you have a good engage with a lot of cc. I personally think he is kind of mana thirsty, especially because you need his sand soldiers up in order to use your q and e. I would run out of mana way too quickly because a basic w e q costs 170 mana
FyshinaTux1 votesI've yet to play him, but it appears as though he would make a good disengage support (like Janna), but with more poke.
Alternatively, he could also be played mid as a high damage Mage, or top as an AP Offtank Mage.
The stats that I see being important on him (at a first glance, without having seen any of the specifics on his kit) are CDR, AP, and AS (as it looks like his sand soldiers AS is based on his AS, as they attack with his auto attack clicks), and Mana/Mana Regen.
For midlane, I'd strongly suggest starting Tear to deal with the mana issues, then possibly a Grail if the mana issues are THAT bad, just stick with the Tear if they're not THAT bad. After Tear, I'd say Nashor's would be a decent pickup on him, possibly a great pick-up depending on the interaction of his Sand Soldiers and on-hit abilities. Then finishing out your CDR with a CDR item you feel would be good for your situation, then building into some AP.
Top lane, I'd say get that RoA for the "tanky bruiser" type, then Nashor's, Then more "tanky AP" items, remembering to stay away from the Abyssal Scepter because of how short the range is on its Aura, and how long his max range is (I feel it would be ideal to keep them between your max range, and the range of Abyssal).
Support, just... build supporty(?)...
Those are my thoughts, though I haven't played him yet.
As far as mechanical gameplay, I can see a "tank" Azir dropping a Sand Soldier in the middle of the enemy team, pulling himself to it, then ulting someone into his team as some form of engage, while sending his Sand Soldier(s) into the enemy team to slow them to disallow saving the separated person.
When getting all'in'd, you could drop a sand soldier behind the enemy, lunge them max range behind you, then pull yourself to them to slow the enemy and escape (as opposed to the knee-jerk reaction of just throwing one into existence behind you and fleeing).
Again, I have yet to play him as I don't have a PBE account, but those are my thoughts.
