Aatrox alternatively known as World Ender has huge carry potential, however, without a proper build the only thing he can do is end games in favor of enemies. There is no reason to fear though, as today we will cover the absolute greatest builds to dominate your opponents as you climb through each rank on the ladder!
The items
Starting items
The starting items for Aatrox are pretty straightforward, you will want to pick either a Doran’s blade or a Doran’s shield as well as one health potion.
I recommend taking the blade for most games, especially below Diamond. It will provide you with great damage, and most players will not be poking you enough to justify spending gold on the shield.
Main items
Eclipse
Eclipse is the first item you will want to build on Aatrox. It will give you amazing damage coupled with a decent amount of ability haste. The item also has a shield which you should be taking advantage of in short trades.
Sundered Sky
Despite his fearsome presence, Aatrox can be really squishy and easy to kill. A good way to remedy this weakness is to buy sundered sky as a second item. This item will significantly enhance your durability, and it also has a great amplifier on basic attacks.
Black Cleaver
The HP stacking can resume. The third item you should pick up is most definitely the Black Cleaver. Alongside the HP buff, you will also receive a great amount of ability haste and damage. The most significant amplifier will be the armor reduction that comes with this item. It will allow you to shred through enemies with much higher ease!
Sterak’s Gage
Sterak’s Gage is the item that brings Aatrox’s fantasy to life. It gives you a lifeline after dropping below 30% HP and most importantly increases the character’s size by 10%. The item is great for catching enemies off guard, and trapping them into unwinnable fights!
Guardian Angel
Guardian Angel is a perfect choice for the last item. It acts as a great deterrent for enemies in team fights, which indirectly makes you sustain longer.
Boots
As Aatrox, you will most definitely want to pick up defensive boots. The choice lies between mercury’s treads and plated steel caps. When analyzing which one to pick, you will need to consider two factors, enemy CC, and enemy basic attack damage. Which one poses a bigger threat?
If the enemy has too much CC, the choice is simple, likewise, if the enemy has too much attack power in basics (Vayne for example), just wish them a Merry Christmas and pick plated steel caps.
If you are confused and not sure what to buy, that is no issue at all. The most general recommendation would be Mercury’s threads, as they will serve you well throughout the game regardless of anything!
Builds Tips
All these items synergize well with Aatrox’s intended playstyle. When you are not on cooldown, you can make short trades and harass your enemy, on cooldown, you pretend nothing has ever happened and pray the enemy does not realize they can fight you. In essence, just play around your cooldowns.
In conclusion
Aatrox is one of the greatest top lane champions and has immense potential when built correctly. The core idea is to build bruiser items that feature a mix of HP and damage. These are great for short trades, and they play in perfectly with his natural sustain. Rest assured, this is a great general build to employ as you master other aspects of the game!