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Game patch 26.20Data Dragon 16.20.1

Reference patch 16.20.1

Aatrox Jungle · Normal Draft

Aatrox can be selected here as a deliberate player-chosen strategy, but it is not a primary role. The pick still needs a matchup and team plan.

Player-chosen flexStandard Summoner's Rift preparation
Champion overview
Review patch unknownRecommendation review pending

These patches track recommendation review, build validation and item lookup separately. Updating item data does not complete a build review.

Recommendation patch
— Data Dragon
Build validation patch
16.19.1 Data Dragon
Item lookup patch
16.20.1 Data Dragon

Normal Draft · Jungle

Fighter jungle baseline

Follow the completed-item order as a pre-game reference. Components and owned items do not create extra inventory slots.

Player-chosen flex
S
Draft / Ranked opening · separate from item 1

Scorchclaw Pup

450 gold

Provides a Smite upgrade and damage plus a slowing burn after the companion is fully grown.

1
First item

Trinity Force

3,333 gold

Adds health, haste and a flexible first fighting power spike.

2
Boots

Plated Steelcaps

1,200 gold

Reduces pressure from physical attacks during ganks and objective fights.

3
Armour shred

Black Cleaver

3,000 gold

Shreds armour during extended fights after your first item.

4
Fight sustain

Death's Dance

3,300 gold

Adds temporary durability when you commit to a physical-damage fight.

5
Safety

Guardian Angel

3,200 gold

Adds a revive after the damage core is established.

6
Low-health safety

Sterak's Gage

3,200 gold

Adds health and a low-health shield after enough bonus health is established to support it.

Complete build choices

Choose the route before play

Recommendation review pending

AlternativeToo much healingChempunk Chainsword adds anti-heal without abandoning attack damage and health.View full route

Best when: Chempunk Chainsword adds anti-heal without abandoning attack damage and health.

  1. First itemTrinity Force
  2. BootsPlated Steelcaps
  3. Chempunk Chainsword
  4. Fight sustainDeath's Dance
  5. SafetyGuardian Angel
  6. Low-health safetySterak's Gage
AlternativeSustained magic damageKaenic Rookern is a defensive answer when repeated magic damage is the real problem.View full route

Best when: Kaenic Rookern is a defensive answer when repeated magic damage is the real problem.

  1. First itemTrinity Force
  2. BootsPlated Steelcaps
  3. Armour shredBlack Cleaver
  4. Kaenic Rookern
  5. SafetyGuardian Angel
  6. Low-health safetySterak's Gage

Complete build comparison

Complete build comparison

Recommendation review pending

AlternativeToo much healingChempunk Chainsword adds anti-heal without abandoning attack damage and health.View full route

Best when: Chempunk Chainsword adds anti-heal without abandoning attack damage and health.

  1. First itemTrinity Force
  2. BootsPlated Steelcaps
  3. Chempunk Chainsword
  4. Fight sustainDeath's Dance
  5. SafetyGuardian Angel
  6. Low-health safetySterak's Gage
AlternativeSustained magic damageKaenic Rookern is a defensive answer when repeated magic damage is the real problem.View full route

Best when: Kaenic Rookern is a defensive answer when repeated magic damage is the real problem.

  1. First itemTrinity Force
  2. BootsPlated Steelcaps
  3. Armour shredBlack Cleaver
  4. Kaenic Rookern
  5. SafetyGuardian Angel
  6. Low-health safetySterak's Gage

Runes and summoner spells

Runes and summoner spellsAatroxJungle

Build value through repeated combat while keeping Smite for camps and objectives.

Normal Draft
Primary tree

Precision

ConquerorTriumphLegend: AlacrityLast Stand
Secondary tree

Domination

Sudden ImpactRelentless Hunter
Summoner spells
FlashSmite
Keep Smite

Smite is part of Jungle companion progression and objective security. The movement or combat spell beside it is the adjustable slot.

Change the movement spell

Ghost can fit sustained access; Flash can fit one immediate reposition. Use the champion's route and intended fights to choose.

Static alternatives

Compare the problem before changing the plan

These choices are not selected from live scores. Use one only after you identify the stated match problem yourself.

Too much healing

Chempunk Chainsword

Chempunk Chainsword adds anti-heal without abandoning attack damage and health.

Sustained magic damage

Kaenic Rookern

Kaenic Rookern is a defensive answer when repeated magic damage is the real problem.

Kit reference

Aatrox abilities

Ability names, descriptions and numeric fields come from Riot Data Dragon. Practical reads are independently written; the current in-game tooltip remains authoritative.

Abilities Data Dragon 16.20.1Cooldown / Cost / Range Data Dragon 16.20.1
P
Passive

Deathbringer Stance

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

Practical readDeathbringer Stance is an automatic part of the kit involving basic-attack interaction and damage. Track when its condition is active instead of treating every fight the same way.

Maximum-health interaction

This effect references a maximum-health value. Check whether the current tooltip uses the caster's or the target's health before comparing damage or protection.

Protection

The protection or sustain is part of the cast's value. Compare its timing with incoming damage rather than reading only the offensive effect.

Q
Q ability

The Darkin Blade

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

Practical readThe Darkin Blade contributes damage. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.

Cooldown14/12/10/8/6 secListed range25000 units
W
W ability

Infernal Chains

What it doesAatrox 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.

Practical readInfernal Chains contributes damage. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.

Cooldown18/16.5/15/13.5/12 secListed range825 units
First target

The first valid unit in the path receives or stops the effect, so minions, monsters or champions can change the result where the tooltip allows them.

E
E ability

Umbral Dash

What it doesPassively, Aatrox heals when damaging enemy champions. On activation, he dashes in a direction.

Practical readUmbral Dash is part of Aatrox's E pattern. Read its listed effect first, then track the cooldown and condition that make the next use valuable.

Cooldown9/8/7/6/5 secListed range25000 units
Protection

The protection or sustain is part of the cast's value. Compare its timing with incoming damage rather than reading only the offensive effect.

Movement

The cast changes position or access. Account for where the champion finishes, not only where the ability begins.

R
Ultimate

World Ender

What it doesAatrox 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.

Practical readWorld Ender contributes protection or sustain and damage. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.

Cooldown120/100/80 secListed range25000 units
Protection

The protection or sustain is part of the cast's value. Compare its timing with incoming damage rather than reading only the offensive effect.

Adapt the plan

What to do when the game changes

Judge the whole lane or map state, not only personal kills. Choose the situation closest to the current game.

Even plan

Keep the clear moving and choose high-information plays

1
Pathing

Track opposing camps and lane states instead of forcing the first visible target.

2
Map play

Trade sides of the map when contesting would require weaker lanes to move first.

3
Fights

Save important control for the enemy who threatens your carries or objective access.

Pings, movement and objectives

Aatrox Jungle map plan

Link each clear to the next informed decision. Pings should tell lanes where you are pathing and whether the team is contesting or trading an objective.

Ahead

Turn tempo into controlled territory

Ping
Use On My Way before entering a lane, Assist Me before an objective and Danger when nearby lanes cannot move to an invade.
Path or gank
Gank when the lane has reach, damage and a safe exit. Do not wait beside a protected target while camps and the next objective disappear.
Objective
Establish vision with the nearest winning lane, keep Smite available and avoid chasing away from the objective after gaining control.
Even

Choose the play with the clearest information

Ping
Use On My Way early enough for the lane to prepare, Assist Me only when nearby lanes can move, and Retreat when the contest has already become late.
Path or gank
Prefer a lane with crowd control, damaged opponents or a favourable wave. A visible opponent is not automatically a usable gank.
Objective
Check Mid and Bot priority before Dragon, or Mid and Top before Herald. Set a safe entrance before beginning the objective.
Behind

Trade the map instead of forcing recovery

Ping
Ping Retreat from lost contests, Danger on likely invades and On My Way when covering a vulnerable lane or remaining camp.
Path or gank
Counter-gank or help only when allies can survive until arrival. Repeated low-chance ganks deepen the camp and level deficit.
Objective
If entry is unsafe, trade for camps, a wave, vision or the opposite objective. Keep Smite and crowd control for a contest the team can actually reach.
Objective setup

Four calls, in order

Pings create a shared plan; they do not replace checking waves, vision and who can move.

  1. 1
    Before the route

    Decide which camps lead toward the objective and ping the nearby lanes before they spend the wave or recall timing.

  2. 2
    Check priority

    Confirm which nearby lanes can move first. Do not convert an isolated objective marker into a forced fight.

  3. 3
    Control entry

    Move with a teammate, sweep one entrance and keep Smite available before committing damage to the objective.

  4. 4
    Finish or turn

    Call whether the team is finishing, fighting or leaving. Mixed decisions are more dangerous than either clear choice.

Later objectives: Repeat the same process around later major objectives: handle nearby income, communicate the route, enter through vision and agree on the fight before committing.

Use the guide

Put Aatrox into a real matchup

Compare a specific opponent, return to the champion overview, or choose another champion without losing the queue distinction.

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