How to beat Aatrox

Common role: Top

The best counter to Aatrox in Top is Nocturne: 65.7% win rate over 44 ranked games on patch 26.17.

A healing skirmisher who chains three sword slams and revives with his ultimate.

What makes Aatrox dangerous

Aatrox lands the sweet-spot of his three Q slams for heavy damage and self-healing, pulls you in with his W chain, and his ultimate boosts his damage, healing and gives a revive. He's an all-in bruiser who out-sustains trades and snowballs off a won fight.

How to play against Aatrox

• 1Dodge the sweet-spot (edge/center) of his Q slams — that's where his damage and knock-up are. Sidestep and his healing and damage collapse.
• 2Cut his healing with Grievous Wounds — Aatrox lives off the sustain from his Q. Anti-heal turns his all-ins into losing trades.
• 3Don't dive him at low health — his ultimate revive turns a kill into a reset. Wait out the revive or CC him through it.
• 4He's immobile between his Q dashes. Kite him after he uses W-pull and E-dash — that's his no-mobility punish window.

Weaknesses to exploit

• ✓Skillshot-reliant — dodge his Q and he does little.
• ✓Healing is hard-countered by Grievous Wounds.
• ✓Immobile outside his ability combo.
• ✓Weak if his all-in is disengaged or kited.

Abilities & how to counter them

What each of Aatrox's abilities does — and how to play around it.

• P
  Deathbringer Stance

  Periodically, Aatrox's next basic attack deals bonus magic damage and heals him, based on the target's max health.

• Q
  The Darkin Blade

  Aatrox slams his greatsword down, dealing physical damage. He can swing three times, each with a different area of effect.

  Strong: the sweet-spot (edge/center) of his three slams deals huge damage and knocks up. Weak: dodge the sweet-spot and his damage and healing collapse.

• W
  Infernal Chains

  Aatrox 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.

• E
  Umbral Dash

  Passively, Aatrox heals when damaging enemy champions. On activation, he dashes in a direction.

• R
  World Ender

  Aatrox 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.

  Strong: boosts his damage/healing and revives on a kill window. Weak: don't dive him low — wait out the revive or CC him through it.

Itemization

Aatrox is AD with heavy self-healing. Grievous Wounds (Bramble Vest, Executioner's, Thornmail) is mandatory, plus armor and slows to kite his combo. Dodging his Q is worth more than any item.

This guide covers Aatrox's core kit and playstyle — advice that holds up across patches.