Aatrox: The Darkin Blade

So recently, Riot made a post about Trust issues and Aatrox. It was said that he would receive significant work during the diving fighters update. When I first logged onto league that day and saw Aatrox on the home page. I was overjoyed. I love Aatrox but shy away from playing him due to his current state.

http://na.leagueoflegends.com/en/news/community/q/ask-riot-trust-question-and-aatrox

So, in light of this. I'd like to suggest my own changes for Aatrox in hopes of them maybe inspiring Riot's Design team (and maybe other players!), just as Aatrox did the soldiers.

My thoughts on why Aatrox should be changed and why I'm suggesting the changes I am. I believe Aatrox is probably one of hardest hit Champions after grievous wounds became easily accessible by any role in the game. kicks Aatrox while he's down with it's dual armor pen and healing reduction. His game play revolves around doing much over the span of the game or nothing at all as his "drain tank" role becomes hard to capitalize on when he's behind and is down right oppressive when he's ahead.

Before the change ideas, I'd like to note that some of these ideas are completely new and might be breaking the rules of what's possible, but I believe they have serious potential. I'll explain in more depth each change afterwards.

PASSIVE (Changed): Blood Well Aatrox no longer benefits from lifesteal from items, runes, and masteries. (Nor from life on hit or damage dealt items such as Cull, Death's Dance, and Hextech Gunblade.)

When Aatrox consumes health for his abilities, the health is stored within the blood well. (Blood Well Maximum: [10-50% max HP] based on Lv) 3/4/5% damage dealt to Aatrox is also stored in the blood well. (33% effective against minions and monsters.) Lifesteal will directly increase the percentage of health and damage being translated into the well. When taking fatal damage, Aatrox will enter stasis and heal himself for 5/10/15% of his Max HP + 100% of his CURRENT blood well over 3 seconds.

Q (Changed): Dark Flight --- Range: 650 (225,75) - Cost: 10% Current Health - Cooldown: 16/15/14/13/12

Aatrox leaps into the air after a brief delay, smashing into the ground at a range dealing 40/85/130/175/220 + 30% Bonus AD physical damage and knocking up enemies in the epicenter for 1 second.

W (New): Living Blade --- Toggle Ability/Passive (Toggle CD = 0.5 Seconds)

Passive: Aatrox gains 10/20/30/40/50 bonus attack range and 10/20/30/40/50% bonus attack speed.

Toggle on: While active, Aatrox's basic attacks cleave his targets hitting in an area around his initial target. On hit effects are applied only to the initial target and his attacks cannot critically strike while this is active. Each attack consumes 5% of Aatrox's Maximum Blood Well.

Toggle off: Every third hit, Aatrox gains 1/2/3% of his maximum blood well and restores that much health to himself. These values are increased by lifesteal percentage and doubled when Aatrox is below 50% hp.

E (New): Darkin Flame --- Range: 1000 - Cost: 5% Current Health - Cooldown 12/11/10/9/8

Aatrox rips the ground asunder in front of him in a linear skill shot using his sword dealing 35/70/105/140/175 + 50% bonus AD physical damage to targets hit. This area bursts into flame 1 second later dealing 30/60/90/120/150 + 80% AP magic damage.

R (New): Manifestation --- Passive Cost 75% Maximum Blood Well/Active Cost 100% maximum Blood Well ---- Cooldown 120/100/80

Passive: Aatrox can now spend 75% of his maximum blood well to use a skill that is currently on cooldown, with different/additional effect. Q Manifestation: Aatrox spirals forward 500 units, dealing 25% of the sacrificed blood well health to targets hit as physical damage. E Manifestation: Aatrox steps forward swinging his sword in an 180 degree angle in front of him at 300 range, dealing 25% of the sacrificed blood well as physical damage to all targets hit.

Active: Aatrox consumes his entire blood well (100%), erupting in power and striking bloodlust and courage within his allies. This causes his allies to each gain 25% of Aatrox's maximum blood well as a shield for 5/10/15 seconds and while the shield persists, 1% of the damage dealt by this ally will fill Aatrox's blood well.

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Okay, so here I'll explain the changes and why I thought they would work out well for Aatrox. Before that, yes, I understand this slightly changes his identity from an Auto attacking lifesteal monster, but I feel like this would benefit him more in the long run.

Passive: Blood Well [zombie-brand-mindblown] No longer benefits from lifesteal. WHAT.

Yes, I believe this will allow Aatrox to use lifesteal in a different way, (recasting abilities and influencing other percentages in his kit) as well as push power to other parts of his role, such as letting his blood well scale on max hp. Since lifesteal quickly gives diminishing returns due to his blood well now scaling it opens up 3 (4 for the fun lovers) builds in my opinion.

Disruptive Tank: Diving Fighter AD Assassin: Super Fun on Hit

I'll let you guess which is the super fun fun one.

Q (Changed): Dark Flight --- Range: 650 (225,75) - Cost: 10% Current Health - Cooldown: 16/15/14/13/12 Aatrox leaps into the air after a brief delay, smashing into the ground at a range dealing 40/85/130/175/220 + 30% Bonus AD physical damage and knocking up enemies in the epicenter for 1 second.

Left pretty much the same (Aatrox is Iconic for his Blood Well and Dark Flight), with slightly lower scaling to open up power to his R. Giving him immunity to CC during the wind up would probably be a good addition.

W (New): Living Blade --- Toggle Ability/Passive (Toggle CD = 0.5 Seconds)

Passive: Aatrox gains 10/20/30/40/50 bonus attack range and 10/20/30/40/50% bonus attack speed.

Toggle on: While active, Aatrox's basic attacks cleave his targets hitting in an area around his initial target. On hit effects are applied only to the initial target and his attacks cannot critically strike while this is active. Each attack consumes 5% of Aatrox's Maximum Blood Well.

Toggle off: Every third hit, Aatrox gains 1/2/3% of his maximum blood well and restores that much health to himself. These values are increased by lifesteal percentage and doubled when Aatrox is below 50% hp.

An updated rendition of his original Blood Price/Thirst, giving Aatrox AoE Titanic Hydra styled auto attacks in exchange for his blood well. This will allow Aatrox to deal damage to several targets at once during a teamfight, while retaining his previous healing/damage toggle.

E (New): Darkin Flame --- Range: 1000 - Cost: 5% Current Health - Cooldown 12/11/10/9/8

Aatrox rips the ground asunder in front of him in a linear skill shot using his sword dealing 35/70/105/140/175 >+ 50% bonus AD physical damage to targets hit. This area bursts into flame 1 second later dealing >30/60/90/120/150 + 80% AP magic damage.

An updated rendition of his original E, Blades of Torment. This skill gives Aatrox a window of burst by combining it with his Q: Dark Flight. Blades of Torment gave little incentive to not throw it directly into your opponent's face due to the thinning hitbox. A slow could possibly be added to the first or second instance of damage.

R (New): Manifestation --- Passive Cost 75% Maximum Blood Well/Active Cost 100% maximum Blood Well ---- >Cooldown 120/100/80

Passive: Aatrox can now spend 75% of his maximum blood well to use a skill that is currently on cooldown, >with different/additional effect. Q Manifestation: Aatrox spirals forward 500 units, dealing 25% of the sacrificed blood well health to targets hit >as physical damage. E Manifestation: Aatrox steps forward swinging his sword in an 180 degree angle in front of him at 300 range, >dealing 25% of the sacrificed blood well as physical damage to all targets hit.

Active: Aatrox consumes his entire blood well (100%), erupting in power and striking bloodlust and courage >within his allies. This causes his allies to each gain 25% of Aatrox's maximum blood well as a shield for >5/10/15 seconds and while the shield persists, 1% of the damage dealt by this ally will fill Aatrox's blood >well.

This will allow Aatrox to make a choice in his gameplay when he dives in, to either sacrifice his blood well attempting to remove a priority target, or use it to assist his team in the fight by giving them a large portion of his health as a shield. Aatrox's old ultimate gave much to be desired in my opinion and this gives you the feeling of an War God leading his army to victory. Movement speed, and or passive life on hit for a percentage of Aatrox's blood well could also be added to the shield persisting effect.

With these changes, Aatrox will most likely function best with the first shown build. Tanking and disrupting the entire team while his team deals damage and refills his onslaught through his Blood Well. These changes also still let Grievous wounds take a toll on him as his primary weakness aside from hard CC as well as open up new paths to take regarding lifesteal in his kit.

Possible New Quotes ~ Attacking Strike at their heart! Pick up your sword. Fight! or Flee! Courage BURNS within you. If you have no will to strike, you have no will to live. Come! Fuel my masterpiece!

~ Movement. I've no time for petty business. This is a battleground, buried and forgotten. My sword thirsts for their blood. It's time for my next creation. Let rage empower your intentions.

~ Items. : I will cut them all down at once! : Come! Fight! You shall feed my blade! : This one did not have the courage I seek. : The previous owner had not deserved such a fine work. : Not quite what I had in mind, but it shall suffice. : A little flimsy, albeit very handy. : Infinity Edge? I think not. : This shows promise. : Ooh.. Ruined King.. How your name fails to permeate time. : This is one king, who is both known and unknown. : This omen is for my enemies who's courage fails them. : Do not run from destiny, carve your name with your sword! : What a feeble thing. : I feel my sword pulsing with bloodlust.

I'm not super versed in the way of scaling/numbers but I feel like these numbers will suffice. If anyone has comments, suggestions, or criticisms. Please post and I'd love to discuss it with you. Till next time!