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Playing Against Aatrox
TopPatch 16.2.1
What They Do
AD drain-tank bruiser. He relies on hitting specific 'sweetspots' on his three-part sword slam to deal massive damage and heal. He is a mid-game powerhouse who becomes nearly unkillable if he gets resets during his ultimate.
Abilities (What to Watch For)
| Ability | What You'll See | What It Means For You |
|---|---|---|
| His sword glows with a red aura | His next basic attack deals bonus % max HP magic damage and heals him. Avoid trading when you see his sword glowing | |
| Three distinct sword slams (Rectangle, Trapezoid, Circle) | The 'sweetspots' (darker red areas) knock you up and deal extra damage. Stay close for Q1 and Q2, but back away from Q3 | |
| A rectangular chain skillshot on the ground | If hit, you must exit the zone within 1.5s or you get pulled to the center. Walk sideways to escape the shortest edge of the rectangle | |
| A short dash, often used during his Q animation | He uses this to reposition his sweetspots. It also gives him passive healing against you. It has a 18-14s cooldown early | |
| He grows demonic wings and fears nearby minions | He gains massive AD, movement speed, and significantly increased healing from all sources. Takedowns extend this duration |
Respect
- !Sweetspots→Landing these allows him to chain CC you and heals him for a portion of the damage dealt. Missing them guts his DPS
- !Pull-back→If you get pulled to the center, it guarantees he lands a high-damage sweetspot and usually results in a lost trade or death
- !Reset Potential→A single takedown during extends the duration and MS, allowing him to steamroll your entire team with infinite healing
- !Level 6 All-in→The moment he hits 6, his healing bonus makes it impossible to win a sustained 1v1 unless you have Ignite or Greivous Wounds
Punish
- +is on cooldown→Early game this is 18-14s. Without it, he cannot reliably land sweetspots or escape. This is your primary all-in window
- +Missed →Without the pull, he lacks the CC to keep you in his zones. Step up and pressure him while the chain is down
- +Levels 1-3→His cooldown is very long (14s) and his damage is low. Bully him early before he gets levels in his Q and E
- +After he uses on a minion→He loses his biggest burst of healing and damage for several seconds. Trade immediately after he wastes it on a last-hit
Laning Tips
- •Buy an early Executioner's Calling or Bramble Vest. Anti-heal is mandatory to stop his and sustain
- •When hit by , walk out of the SIDES of the rectangle. It is the shortest path to safety
- •Stay inside the 'dead zones' of [[Aatrox:Q1]] and [[Aatrox:Q2]] (too close to him) to avoid the sweetspot knockup
- •Save your mobility spell (dash/blink) to dodge his [[Aatrox:Q3]] or to escape the zone
- •Don't take long, extended trades when his is active; he wins through superior drain-tanking
- •Aatrox's cooldown starts after the first cast, but the window to use all three is short—bait the first two then engage
Teamfight Warning
- âš Avoid fighting in tight chokepoints where his sweetspots can hit multiple teammates at once
- âš Save hard CC (Stuns/Roots) specifically for when he activates to prevent him from attacking and healing
- âš If he gets a takedown, his refreshes; disengage immediately if you lose a teammate early in the fight
- âš Ignite him the moment he activates to cut the massive healing bonus he receives
- âš Do not let him flank; he relies on the movement speed to reach backline carries
AI-generated counterplay guide • Patch 16.2.1 • Cached