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Aatrox's W?

Gold Light·9/12/2018, 9:14:43 PM·2 votes·2,089 views

So this is something that I've been dismissing perhaps far longer than I should have. Out of Aatrox's entire kit, his W ability, Infernal Chains, is the one that I've had the hardest time figuring out since his rework. All the abilities are powers we know he could do in lore; fancy sword combos, dashing around, healing himself through blood, and growing wings. However, we don't really have any canon precedent for Infernal Chains. What exactly IS this ability?

Let's look at the basics: obviously it's a reference to his demonic design, and it's supposed to play on the theme of "dragging enemies into Hell." In-lore, though, Aatrox isn't a demon, and we don't REALLY have anything to suggest that there's a League equivalent to Hell (the Shadow Isles and the Void are the closest candidates, but they aren't really.) So... Where do the chains actually come from if he summons them in a battle? Where does the portal lead to? Is this ability even a part of his canon power set, or is it like Garen's ultimate, in that it's just a thematic ability he has in-game but not in-canon?

Just some thoughts I've had as of late. IDK if we'll ever get a proper answer, but I'd love to learn more about this ability and its implications.

2 Comments

Fasmodey9/12/2018, 10:49:15 PM3 votes

He knows magic, especially the forbidden magic that darkins discovered after Fall of Shurima."Possesion" of an host is one of them.

Darkins are are not just brutal forces. They never were. I mean, they are former Ascended, it is not surprising they were more of Nasus and not Renekton, heck I believe even Renekton have a few tricks and just isn't a fan of them. It is possible he doesn't find magic honorable, enough for him to go for melee combat exclusively.

Umbral Regent9/12/2018, 10:37:01 PM1 votes

I think (and this is a pretty heavily emphasised "think") it's supposed to tie in thematically to his being an imprisoned god. Out of the three known Darkin, he is the one with the strongest tie and response to their imprisonment.

Varus is more focused on enacting vengeance, and seems to see the imprisonment as an insult to the Darkin that needs to be rectified.

Rhaast seems less concerned with his imprisonment, and more concerned with just getting out of it to wreak havoc, perfectly content to struggle with Kayn for control of his body, and then to just go out and RIP AND TEAR once he seizes control.

But Aatrox is focused solely on his imprisonment; he laments being brought so low from godhood, his pride and will to live shattered by being bound into his sword, and he lashes out, trying to free himself, and makes a desperate gamble to that end; if he ends the world, he can be free.

So Aatrox is the most closely tied to being an imprisoned god, so I think that may be why he has Infernal Chains. It would make at least some sense for him to force others to share in his despicable fate.

But, that's just supposition, so take it with a grain mountain of salt.