Who Counters Aatrox the Hardest? A Comprehensive Guide
The Darkin Blade, Aatrox, is a formidable top lane champion in League of Legends, known for his strong lane presence, sustain, and devastating late-game potential. However, no champion is invincible, and understanding his weaknesses is key to countering him effectively. While several champions can make Aatrox’s life difficult, some stand out as particularly strong counters. Analyzing data and in-game matchups, champions like Fiora, Kled, and Vayne consistently prove to be some of Aatrox’s hardest counters, though the reasons for their success vary. This article will delve into why these champions, along with others, are so effective against Aatrox, and provide a comprehensive view of the counter-matchups.
The Key Characteristics of an Aatrox Counter
Before diving into specific champions, let’s define what makes a counter effective against Aatrox. A good counter typically possesses one or more of the following:
- Mobility: Aatrox relies heavily on landing his Q – The Darkin Blade to deal damage and heal. Champions with high mobility can often dodge these attacks, reducing his damage and sustain.
- Anti-Healing: Aatrox’s sustain is crucial to his game plan. Champions with abilities that reduce healing can greatly hinder his ability to stay alive and in the fight.
- Duel Power: Aatrox excels in drawn-out fights. Champions with strong dueling capabilities, especially those that excel in short, bursty trades, can easily exploit Aatrox’s weaknesses.
- Consistent Damage: Champions who can consistently apply damage, rather than relying on skill shots, can disrupt Aatrox’s rhythm and prevent him from fully engaging.
- Range Advantage: While Aatrox can dash, champions with significant range can poke him down from afar, making it hard for him to get close enough to initiate.
Top Champions That Counter Aatrox Hard
Let’s explore some of the most effective counters to Aatrox in detail:
Fiora: The Grand Duelist
Fiora is often considered one of the top counters to Aatrox. Her kit allows her to excel in duels and exploit Aatrox’s weaknesses. Fiora’s W – Riposte can parry Aatrox’s crucial abilities, negating damage and potentially stunning him. Her Q – Lunge provides high mobility, making it difficult for Aatrox to land his abilities. Additionally, Fiora’s passive – Duelist’s Dance, combined with her ultimate, Grand Challenge, helps to bypass Aatrox’s sustain and deal true damage, making her particularly lethal. Data supports this, with many matchups showing Fiora with a clear advantage over Aatrox.
Kled: The Cantankerous Cavalier
Kled is another champion who poses a significant threat to Aatrox. His unique playstyle, revolving around his mount, Skaarl, gives him several advantages. Kled’s Q – Bear Trap on a Rope can interrupt Aatrox’s attacks, while his W – Violent Tendencies provides powerful burst damage. Kled’s ultimate, Chaaaaaaaarge!!!, makes it difficult for Aatrox to escape and can be used to engage or disengage. Kled is a tenacious fighter and a natural lane bully, allowing him to overwhelm Aatrox.
Vayne: The Night Hunter
Vayne, while a marksman, can be a potent counter to Aatrox in top lane. Her mobility with Q – Tumble allows her to dodge Aatrox’s abilities, and her W – Silver Bolts deals true damage, which can bypass Aatrox’s sustain and resistances. Vayne’s E – Condemn can also disengage from Aatrox or pin him against a wall for easy damage. While she’s more vulnerable early, with good spacing and itemization, Vayne becomes a nightmare for Aatrox. Vayne is often a top pick versus bruisers due to her ability to kite and out-duel.
Other Notable Counters
- Olaf: Olaf’s ultimate, Ragnarok, grants him immunity to crowd control, which is crucial to get close to Aatrox and use his high damage and sustain against him. While stats show a relatively even win rate, skilled Olaf players can easily overwhelm Aatrox.
- Naafiri: This champion can consistently apply damage and has good mobility to outmaneuver Aatrox’s Q. The pack of hounds makes her a difficult opponent for melee champions.
- Yorick: Yorick’s ghouls and the Mist Maiden provide constant pressure and can harass Aatrox from afar, making it hard for him to engage.
- Heimerdinger: His turrets are difficult for Aatrox to deal with, and he can zone Aatrox with consistent poke and slow down his approach.
- Illaoi: Her tentacles can be hard for Aatrox to manage, and her overall damage output is quite high and difficult to sustain through.
- Tryndamere: Tryndamere’s ultimate ability, Undying Rage, makes him immune to death, which allows him to often win duels with Aatrox and out-sustain his damage output over a longer fight.
Why Some Champions Struggle Against Aatrox
Certain champions tend to struggle against Aatrox due to their lack of the necessary tools to deal with him. Champions like Yasuo, Akali, and Briar often lack the mobility and sustain to trade favorably with Aatrox. While he has some counters, Aatrox has a diverse list of enemies he can take down with ease.
Adapting Your Playstyle
It is crucial to understand the matchups and adapt your playstyle. Whether you’re picking one of his counters or facing one of them, playing against Aatrox is an exercise in patience, positioning, and timing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 frequently asked questions regarding Aatrox counters:
1. Is Aatrox hard to play?
Yes, Aatrox is considered a difficult champion due to his reliance on landing his Q’s, positioning, and needing good decision-making skills to win fights.
2. Does Olaf beat Aatrox?
Aatrox has a slightly lower win rate against Olaf than expected, indicating that Olaf is a moderately difficult matchup for Aatrox.
3. Who are the worst picks against Olaf top?
Vayne, Camille, Wukong, Singed, Trundle, Kled, and Fiora are all considered poor picks against Olaf.
4. Is Darius a good counter to Aatrox?
While Darius is a strong duelist, data suggests that Aatrox’s win rate is about 50% against Darius, making it a relatively even matchup.
5. What is Aatrox’s greatest weakness?
Aatrox’s greatest weakness is his reliance on landing his skillshots and his dependence on sustain through damage dealing, which can be mitigated by mobility or healing reduction.
6. Can Aatrox be blind picked?
Aatrox is considered a reliable blind pick due to his strong performance in many matchups.
7. Is Aatrox good late game?
Aatrox scales well into the late game, especially if he can get ahead early, but itemization from his enemies can make it more difficult.
8. Who is the strongest Darkin?
In terms of lore and gameplay, Aatrox is often considered the strongest Darkin.
9. Is Aatrox a lane bully?
Yes, Aatrox is a strong lane bully who can snowball quickly if he secures an early lead.
10. What counters Aatrox in lore?
Lore-wise, Aurelion Sol, Kindred, and potentially Rhaast, Varus, and Xerath are the only characters capable of truly defeating Aatrox.
11. What does Aatrox fear?
Aatrox fears being forgotten and returning to his imprisoned state. In gameplay, his ultimate causes enemy minions to flee, indicating his dominance.
12. Can Yasuo win against Aatrox?
Yasuo has a statistically lower win rate against Aatrox, suggesting Aatrox wins this matchup more often.
13. Is Aatrox stronger than Pantheon lore-wise?
Yes, lore indicates Aatrox is more powerful than Pantheon, as he was an Ascended being, which was powered by Aurelion Sol’s power.
14. What is Aatrox’s sword called?
Aatrox’s sword does not have a specific name. It is simply referred to as his “greatsword.”
15. What champions can stop Aatrox from scaling into late game?
Champions like Fiora, Vayne, and Kled can stop Aatrox’s scaling by denying him the early leads that he needs.
Conclusion
Understanding who counters Aatrox and why is crucial to mastering the top lane. Champions like Fiora, Kled, and Vayne can consistently challenge Aatrox due to their mobility, anti-healing, and duel power. By understanding these matchups, you can make informed decisions in champion select, leading to more victories against the Darkin Blade. Remember to adapt your playstyle and capitalize on his weaknesses.