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Let's talk about Aatrox

Grizzley117·6/16/2017, 2:10:21 AM·2 votes·808 views

Greetings gameplay board! Let me preface this saying I took a long break from League back in the fall of 2016 and just came back seriously a few days ago. In addition, I've spent the majority of my time playing ARAM to familiarize myself with the game again, so forgive me if I'm ignorant on the meta on SR or anything else you would consider common knowledge these days. I'm making this thread, in fact, to get myself reacquainted with the game and in particular, one of my favorite champions. Enough of the intro though, and let's dive in (get it? cuz its Aatrox...)!

So... Aatrox... to get to the point, how is he doing these days? I know he had that rework back in 7.5 (I think), so he's different from when I played him. I used to take him top lane, but now he appears to be a jungler, as well. I've done a bit of research on what all they changed and having played a game of ARAM with him, he almost feels... I hate to say it, but a bit weaker. That just might be because of the slightly different style of playing him, and building him. Maybe. Like I said, I have very little knowledge of the meta or the game to be quite honest with you. But let's keep the discussion civil. This is not the thread to complain in. I just want honest and productive discussion. So fellow Aatrox lovers, how do you think he's doing right now? Need to have items on him? Tips and tricks? Anything would be helpful before I hit the Rift in ranked with my favorite Darkin.

9 Comments

DunkinNoobs6/16/2017, 2:45:30 AM2 votes

Aatrox is one of the better top laners right now; not quite top tier but just below the meta picks like Kennen, Riven, Jayce, etc. His laning is particularly strong when played well, easily handling even the likes of champs like Darius, Jayce, Kennen, and Teemo when played properly. The more mobile, high damage champs like Riven and Fiora can give him a hard time, especially at very early levels, but he tends to outscale them during the mid game before he starts losing to them again at 3+ items.

Aatrox will typically either rush Titanic Hydra or Botrk depending on how you want to play the lane. Generally, rush Botrk if you want to kill your laner and and Tiamat->Hydra if you just want to outpressure them. Hydra rush is generally the safer option since it contains 2 ruby crystals while Botrk is the more snowbally option since it builds out of AD. Botrk rush is especially effective if you're facing a tank top with a tank jungler, and you should be able to 1v2 them easily if you play correctly.

As for gameplay, you'll almost always want to start W first. Trade with your lane opponent using the damage W and heal back and damage you take with the healing W. If done correctly, most lane opponents will be in all in range by the time you hit lvl 3. Make sure your bloodwell is stacked, jump in, and beat the shit out of them. This will reliably force a flash or kill against most top laners that don't have ridiculous disengage like Shen. Also remember that, as Aatrox, since you have so much sustain and access to a revive, normal trading rules don't apply to you. Even trades are actually won trades for you if you can safely heal back up afterwards, so don't be afraid to trade as often as possible.

Beyond the first item, BC is a very common pickup for most Aatrox players. It has a very good mix of stats, the armor shred helps against tanks (particularly if you went botrk first), and it gives you the extra sticking power you need to keep winning 1v1's. You'll want to spend most of the game splitting and hard farming but you can group if your team has an advantage and can push objectives. Aatrox is particularly good at diving towers thanks to his bloodwell so don't afraid to use it; the CD is much shorter after the rework, so use it or lose it.

Commander Javik6/16/2017, 2:49:41 AM2 votes

220k M7 Aatrox main here , although bronze ... Nvm

When the rework went live , we HATED it a whole fucking lot . Our subreddit was flodded with " AATROX IS SHIT NOW " threads . IIRC , at one moment , the first 2 pages were full of threads like this .

I hated it too , but I liked the changes . It was awful to play him right after the rework since he still had the same low base HP ( 540 i guess , now it's 580 ) and still the same Q cooldown .

Riot said that they will keep him on their radar and they've kept their word , and hotfixed him the next day iirc because they acknowleged that he was way too weak considering the changes to his passive .

Since the hotfix that gave him +40 base hp and Q cd changed from 16-11s to 13-11s , he's been in a great spot . At some time , he had the 1st %WR ( 55%) on toplane .

Since the rework , he's been in the top 10 toplaners very often . But , his playrate didn't evolved much , it's still flying around 0.5-1.5% , but that's a thing i don't give a damm about . In fact i'm glad that people still consider him shit and don't play him . I still think that he's overtuned , but not overpowered .

Items ... Yes ... There are some ...

The meta build on Aatrox is : item 3153 item 3071 item 3748 item 3065 item 3742 but this build is sooooo fucking boring and sooooo not unique that it makes me want to puke . Most of toplaners can do this build . But Aatrox is not " most of toplaners"

A different build is : item 3046 item 3812 item 3071 item 3065 item 3742 and it's funnier but riskier .

Some other items that you can consider are : item 3142 item 3124 item 3814 item 3022 item 3078 item 3053 item 3074

EDIT : Don't be a sheep and don't build item 3153 every single game . Sure , this gives him a nice mix of stats he desires , but gl with fighting squishies with the shitty AS it provides . Only build it if they have 3+ tanks . If you feel like you get kited too much item 3046 item 3044 + boots is already enough .

Overall , Aatrox is in a good spot . completely different spot than he was before the rework . He's not the " balance nightmare " anymore , but a very decent toplaner capable of facing even the most oppresive toplaners and be relevant even if the laning phase wasn't the best .

Commander Javik6/16/2017, 3:36:21 AM1 votes

Why Titanic over Ravenous ? Because it gives HP and Aatrox loves HP now .