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What exactly happened with Aatrox? (Open Discussion)

Onwodori·12/15/2019, 11:07:11 PM·3 votes·2,199 views

Hello everyone,

I've been playing since early season 4, maybe even late season 3, so I was in the game when there was RIFE amounts of jank. Gangplank was a meme-y one-percent-crit-rune carry, Warwick required the tactile skill of an arthropod, and Yorick was-- well, Yorick was.

However, I distinctly remember getting a champ and, while I wasn't especially good at him, or any champ for that matter, he felt correct, in gameplay, lore, voice, visuals, etc.

It was, of course, Aatrox. And a lot of people feel this way about him. There are entire comprehensive video essays in the community about how he's the one champion to ever be removed through update, and I am inclined to agree, with the removal of his last hold over revival mechanic.

So why is this the champ Riot is digging their heels in over? Kog'maw was reverted, LeBlanc was reverted. Is it because it was a full VGU update? Is it a matter of pride, that they don't wish to admit that it isn't a successful VGU but don't wish to open the door to criticism towards other VGUs? Galio, in my opinion, is another unsuccessful update, but he at least has a lot of remnants from his previous form, though his personality went from stoic and grim to loud rugby bloke.

Anyway. That's my thought and question on the matter for you all to discuss. Do you think Riot would ever consider handing us back pre-rework Aatrox, the one that was actually being played by casuals and lauded by competitive play? Perhaps a big "Time" event would allow them to flex him back into existence without admitting error, so a Zilean VGU could be our one hope for something like this in the future, where previous iterations for champions return with a few minor tweaks for modernization-- not all of them, mind you, because no one needs a 12 polygon count, full AP Sion shambling up to them in lane to dump a Cryptic Gaze for half their health as a painful point and click stun.

I have to finish my manuscripts now, wish me luck.

-Onwodori

10 Comments

Galiö12/16/2019, 12:11:52 AM2 votes

Galio item 3070

1Eragon712/16/2019, 1:37:16 AM2 votes

What the fuck do you mean aatrox is so broken. 60% healing is the most broken stat in the game. Honestly, aatrox can beat any champion, making it impossible to play the shitty class that is mage.

Paroe12/16/2019, 1:48:45 PM1 votes

It was, of course, Aatrox. And a lot of people feel this way about him. There are entire comprehensive video essays in the community about how he's the one champion to ever be removed through update, and I am inclined to agree, with the removal of his last hold over revival mechanic.

I love how every "main" thinks this when their champion receives a VGU. Karma, Trundle, Sion, Sejauni, Poppy, Warwick, Malzahar, Swain... just to name a few who were completely changed with their VGU's. Never forget malzahar, the first and most egregious victim of riots change for the sake of change policies

In the case of Aaty boy he was a victim of riots desire to pump out concepts without fully fleshing them out - the result was that the initial iteration was either to strong or not and lacked a cohesive theme to both his kit and gameplay, while having a severe disconnect between his lore. Do you remember the original aatrox lore? It made him out to be this amazing AD based support that led the battle by giving his allies attack speed, movement speed, lifesteal, and tenacity. In gameplay terms the tenacity wouldve been bad but the lore still had a theme the champion didnt live up to. His current iteration is much more balancable, flashier, more fun to play against, has a TON more skill expression, and his gameplay fits his lore.

Ravenous Howls12/22/2019, 11:02:00 AM1 votes

Aatrox's abilities are actually still quite similar to his original. His Q was a knock up and his W still heals but doesn't have that damage buff, but gives a some mobility, and his E is still a ground slow but with hard CC pull back and his ult is the same. The biggest change was the removal of the blood well and the revive mechanic. But game play wise he is much the same just more streamlined. Do I love the new design completely? No. Did I love the old design completely? No. But I think he's in the right direction at the moment. I want him to have his revive mechanic back and maybe just tune some other numbers to make him less oppressive early.