The Tragic Tale of Aatrox: From Hero to God-Killing Despair
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Aatrox’s story is a profound and tragic one, charting the fall of a noble warrior from grace and his descent into a being of unimaginable destruction. Once a paragon of Shurima, a heroic Ascended warrior, he was betrayed and imprisoned, leading to a spiral of madness and a relentless pursuit of oblivion. He is now known as the Darkin Blade, a sentient weapon wielding immense power and driven by an all-consuming desire to end all of creation, including himself. Aatrox’s narrative is one of corrupted ideals, unbearable torment, and a nihilistic rage born from despair, making him one of the most compelling and tragic villains in the world of Runeterra. His story is a cautionary tale of how even the most righteous can fall and the terrible consequences of imprisonment and betrayal.
A Shuriman Hero’s Rise and Fall
The Ascended Warrior
Before his corruption, Aatrox was among the mightiest of the Ascended, god-warriors of Shurima. He was a beacon of hope, renowned for his skill in battle and his unwavering dedication to justice. His appearance was awe-inspiring, his armor gleaming like a constellation of hope, and his wings shimmered with the golden light of dawn. He commanded respect from both his fellow Ascended and the mortals of Shurima, leading countless armies to victory and always at the forefront of noble conflicts. His conduct was so exemplary that others would gather at his side, and ten thousand mortals of Shurima marched behind him. He was everything a hero should be – brave, honorable, and righteous. This period represents the zenith of his life, a time before the darkness consumed him.
The Darkin War and Imprisonment
The tides turned during the Great Darkin War, a conflict that plunged Shurima into chaos and ruin. The Ascended, once guardians of their civilization, became corrupted by their own power and the influence of the Void, turning into the tyrannical Darkin. Aatrox, however, still held onto his sense of justice and did not initially fall to the Void, but the war took a terrible toll. Growing disillusioned with the senseless bloodshed and lack of leadership, Aatrox’s sanity began to erode. He became increasingly violent and mad, seeing mortals as beneath him or simply fodder for his armies. Eventually, Aatrox and his forces were defeated by the Targonian Aspects, celestial beings who intervened on behalf of the Sunborn, and brought down his forces. Never suspecting treachery, Aatrox was deceived by his enemies and imprisoned. A power greater than a thousand suns pulled him into his own sword and trapped his immortal essence there. This event was a brutal betrayal that sealed his fate, transforming him from a noble warrior to a creature of endless suffering.
The Torment of Imprisonment
Trapped within his own blade, Aatrox suffered an eternity of agonizing darkness. Robbed of his ability to die, he was bound to the suffocating confines of the weapon, a sentient prisoner of his own making. He continued to hopelessly reach out of his prison in agony, but only to fail and feel the deep despair over and over again. The sword became a symbol of his torment, a constant reminder of his fall from grace. This period was crucial in turning Aatrox into the vengeful, nihilistic being he is today. This endless torture was the catalyst for his burning hatred and desire for annihilation.
Rebirth and the Path of Destruction
Millennia passed before Aatrox finally found a means of escape. He used hemomancy to possess a desperate mortal warrior who tried to wield his blade, quickly corrupting and transforming the body into a grotesque approximation of his former Ascended form. He was reborn, a monstrous figure fueled by the rage and despair he had accumulated over eons. He had become the Darkin Blade, a living weapon of incredible power and the embodiment of war and death. Now, Aatrox marches towards his ultimate, merciless goal: to drive all of creation into a final, apocalyptic battle. He clings to a desperate, blind hope that this destruction will bring an end to his cursed existence and his eternal torment within the blade.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How did Aatrox become evil?
Aatrox was not born evil. He was a noble and just Ascended warrior of Shurima who became corrupted by the torture of his imprisonment within his own sword. The millennia of suffering, combined with the disillusionment he experienced during the Great Darkin War, warped his mind and turned him into the nihilistic destroyer he is today.
2. What does Aatrox want?
Aatrox seeks the obliteration of all existence. He believes that if he can cause a final, apocalyptic battle where everything is destroyed, he might finally find release from his eternal torment and the suffocating prison of his blade.
3. What inspired Aatrox’s design?
Aatrox was partially inspired by the **Balrog and Sauron from J.R.R. Tolkien’s *The Lord of the Rings. His appearance was also influenced by **Amon from the manga and anime series *Devilman.
4. Has Aatrox killed a god?
Yes, Aatrox has defeated and seemingly killed Pantheon, a celestial being of immense power, who was inhabiting the body of Atreus, but Atreus’s body survived this ordeal. Afterward, Atreus, now without Pantheon’s power, has even managed to defeat Aatrox, cutting off his arm in the process.
5. Why is Aatrox so sad?
Aatrox is consumed by despair and loathing. The heavenly powers he once embodied have been wiped from the world, and all memory of them has been lost. This injustice, combined with his eternal imprisonment and suffering, has led to profound sadness and a desire to destroy everything.
6. Who defeated Aatrox in lore?
Aatrox was originally defeated during the Great Darkin War by the Targonian Aspects who intervened on behalf of the Sunborn. In more recent lore, it is implied that Xolaani eventually defeats Aatrox, absorbing him.
7. What does Aatrox fear?
Ironically, Aatrox fears his own cursed existence and the thought of never finding peace. This is why he seeks the end of everything. Mechanically, in the game he unleashes a demonic form, fearing nearby enemy minions, but this is purely for gameplay purposes.
8. Is Aatrox missing an arm?
Yes, Aatrox lost one of his host bodies and an arm when Atreus, drawing on the power of the slain Pantheon, sliced it off. This caused him to drop the host body and likely end the host’s life.
9. Why is Aatrox so mad?
Aatrox became mad due to the lack of leadership and purpose during the Great Darkin War. He began to disregard mortal life completely, viewing them as either beneath him or simply as soldiers for his armies. The subsequent imprisonment further fueled his madness and hatred.
10. What happened to Aatrox’s lore after his imprisonment?
Aatrox’s lore revolves around the torture and despair he suffered within his sword prison, as well as his desperate search for a mortal host. This has led him to constantly seek conflict and destruction, bringing death to all that he crosses.
11. Why does Aatrox have a body?
Aatrox has a body because he possesses and corrupts a mortal host who attempts to wield his blade. Using hemomancy, he reshapes the host into a monstrous reflection of his former glory.
12. What is Aatrox’s sword called?
Aatrox’s sword is not named, but it is known as his “greatsword.” It is a powerful artifact that serves as both his prison and weapon.
13. Who ultimately kills Aatrox?
While Aatrox has not been completely destroyed in the lore, the new expansion of the card game Legends of Runeterra suggests that Xolaani has absorbed Aatrox, effectively ending his existence as he is known, although the finality of this has yet to be established.
14. Who does Aatrox hate?
Aatrox hates celestials, Ascended, and the entire world of Runeterra for his imprisonment. He especially hates Pantheon, the Targonian Aspect who played a role in his downfall. He also has a deep hatred for Xolaani, because he went to great lengths to erase her from history.
15. Who is stronger in lore, Aatrox or Pantheon?
In lore, Aatrox is considered more powerful than Pantheon, being an Ascended warrior empowered by the sun, which was created by Aurelion Sol. However, Pantheon’s power also comes from a divine source, making their battles ones between titans. The fact that Atreus alone, without Pantheon’s divine power, managed to overcome and defeat Aatrox in their last meeting suggests that both are powerful foes and the victor is greatly dependent on the circumstances.