Aatrox · Top
Aatrox for Beginners
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This guide is assembled by the site from match data and the game's own information — nobody wrote it by hand. Official and community guides appear alongside it when they exist.
Overview
Aatrox belongs to Riot's Fighter class and is played mainly as Top (100% of the public matches we measured). It fights in melee range and uses blood well. In this guide you play it as Top: your job is to win a long one-on-one lane, pressure the side and matter in team fights. Aatrox is of average difficulty: learn the basics below and it rewards you quickly.
Strengths
- Mobility: Umbral Dash lets you reposition, engage or escape.
- Sustain from Deathbringer Stance.
- High physical damage: Riot rates it 8/10 in attack.
Weaknesses
- Melee range: ranged opponents can poke it in lane.
- Isolated lane: vulnerable to ganks when you push.
Build cheat sheet
Pick the build that fits what you want to do this game.
Builds
Simple build
When to use it
The standard build with only two situational answers: fewer decisions, so you can focus on your lane and your abilities.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
1100%- TopMain100% of matches
Starting items
Core items
- 1Black Cleaver
- 2Trinity Force
- 3Spear of Shojin
Boots
Situational
Runes
Primary· Precision
Secondary· Resolve
Shards
Summoner spells
Flash
Teleport
Abilities
Deathbringer StancePassivePeriodically, Aatrox's next basic attack deals bonus magic damage and heals him, based on the target's max health.
QThe Darkin Blade14/12/10/8/6sAatrox slams his greatsword down, dealing physical damage. He can swing three times, each with a different area of effect.- Cooldown
- 14·12·10·8·6
- Range
- 25000
WInfernal Chains18/16.5/15/13.5/12sAatrox smashes the ground, dealing damage to the first enemy hit. Champions and large monsters have to leave the impact area quickly or they will be dragged to the center and take the damage again.- Cooldown
- 18·16.5·15·13.5·12
- Range
- 825
EUmbral Dash9/8/7/6/5sPassively, Aatrox heals when damaging enemy champions. On activation, he dashes in a direction.- Cooldown
- 9·8·7·6·5
- Range
- 25000
RWorld EnderUltimate120/100/80sAatrox unleashes his demonic form, fearing nearby enemy minions and gaining attack damage, increased healing, and Move Speed. If he gets a takedown, this effect is extended.- Cooldown
- 120·100·80
- Range
- 25000
Strategy
1What Aatrox does
Aatrox belongs to Riot's Fighter class and is played mainly as Top (100% of the public matches we measured). It fights in melee range and uses blood well. The kit brings mobility with Umbral Dash and sustain with Deathbringer Stance. Its ultimate is World Ender.
2The basics
In this guide you play it as Top: your job is to win a long one-on-one lane, pressure the side and matter in team fights.
- Wave management: know when to freeze, slow push or crash the wave.
- Teleport: use it to return to lane without losing experience or to join a fight that decides the game.
3Common mistakes
Most new players lose games with the same few mistakes. Avoid these and you'll already be ahead:
- Pushing without vision when the enemy jungler hasn't been seen.
- Using Teleport on a fight that is already lost.
- Fighting the enemy on their power spike instead of yours.
4Your first games
Top is an island: few ganks, long trades and a lot of wave management. Freeze the wave near your tower when you're weaker and push it when you want to roam or recall. Use the simple build in this guide and don't worry about situational choices yet.
Tips
- Wave management: know when to freeze, slow push or crash the wave.
- Teleport: use it to return to lane without losing experience or to join a fight that decides the game.
- Check the minimap every few seconds: most deaths come from a jungler you didn't see.
- Learn what World Ender does before anything else: it's the ability that wins fights.
Changelog
- Guide created for patch 16.19.1.
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