Start together
Review rerolls and the shared bench, then leave with an opening that fits this champion and the team around it.
Game patch 26.20Data Dragon 16.20.1
Reference patch 16.20.1
Darius ARAM · Howling Abyss
A champion-specific Howling Abyss plan with ARAM starting, shopping and teamfight rules. Summoner's Rift roles are not used here.
One shared laneOne-lane Howling Abyss preparationReview 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
Howling Abyss rules
Prepare for one shared lane
ARAM removes the normal Rift role map. Build around the champion, the five-player team and the next fight instead.
Shop while dead
You cannot Recall to buy. Plan components before leaving the shop and use each death timer deliberately.
Share health relics
A relic heals nearby allies after a short delay. Signal it and avoid taking the trigger when a lower-health teammate needs the area.
Fight with the wave
Minions create structure pressure and safer space. Clearing first can be more useful than forcing another low-health engage.
ARAM · Howling Abyss
ARAM tank reference
Compare the opening with Riot's ARAM Recommended shop before leaving base. After that, purchases happen only while dead; the six usable inventory slots do not increase.
ARAM opening · separate from item 1
Guardian's Horn
950 goldAn ARAM health and regeneration starter to compare with the current Recommended shop.
Physical-defence Boots
Plated Steelcaps
1,200 goldAdds movement and basic-attack defence against physical pressure.
Mixed resistance
Jak'Sho, The Protean
3,200 goldAdds mixed resistance during extended fights.
Armour and wave control
Sunfire Aegis
2,800 goldAdds health, armour and close-range wave control.
Against magic damage
Kaenic Rookern
2,900 goldAdds dedicated magic resistance against sustained spell damage.
Against critical strikes
Randuin's Omen
2,700 goldAdds armour and critical-strike protection against attack-heavy opponents.
Health and recovery
Warmog's Armor
3,100 goldCompletes the permanent inventory with health and recovery after the resistance core.
Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.
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.
- Physical-defence BootsPlated Steelcaps
- Mixed resistanceJak'Sho, The Protean
- Chempunk Chainsword
- Against magic damageKaenic Rookern
- Against critical strikesRanduin's Omen
- Health and recoveryWarmog's Armor
Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.
AlternativePhysical burstDeath's Dance delays physical damage so takedowns can stabilise the fight.
View full route▾
Best when: Death's Dance delays physical damage so takedowns can stabilise the fight.
- Physical-defence BootsPlated Steelcaps
- Mixed resistanceJak'Sho, The Protean
- Death's Dance
- Against magic damageKaenic Rookern
- Against critical strikesRanduin's Omen
- Health and recoveryWarmog's Armor
Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.
AlternativeThey stack armourBlack Cleaver shreds armour during extended fights.
View full route▾
Best when: Black Cleaver shreds armour during extended fights.
- Physical-defence BootsPlated Steelcaps
- Mixed resistanceJak'Sho, The Protean
- Black Cleaver
- Against magic damageKaenic Rookern
- Against critical strikesRanduin's Omen
- Health and recoveryWarmog's Armor
Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.
Runes and summoner spells
Runes and summoner spellsDariusHowling Abyss
ARAM rewards reliable access to clustered fights. Mark helps a melee front liner enter; Flash preserves a separate escape or reposition.
Resolve
Grasp of the Undying
Font of Life
Conditioning
Overgrowth
Precision
Triumph
Legend: Haste
Flash
MarkMark and Clarity are mode-specific choices. Do not copy this pair onto a Summoner's Rift page.
Choose the second spell around access, survival and team resources rather than treating every ARAM champion as a diver.
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.
Physical burst
Death's Dance
Death's Dance delays physical damage so takedowns can stabilise the fight.
They stack armour
Black Cleaver
Black Cleaver shreds armour during extended fights.
Kit reference
Darius 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
Hemorrhage
What it doesDarius' attacks and damaging abilities cause enemies to bleed for physical damage over 5 seconds, stacking up to 5 times. Darius enrages and gains massive Attack Damage when his target reaches max stacks.
Practical readHemorrhage is an automatic part of the kit involving damage. Track when its condition is active instead of treating every fight the same way.
Q
Q ability
Decimate
What it doesDarius winds up and swings his axe in a wide circle. Enemies struck by the blade take more damage than those struck by the handle. Darius heals based on enemy champions and large monsters hit by the blade.
Practical readDecimate contributes damage. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.
Cooldown9/8/7/6/5 secCost25/30/35/40/45
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.
W
W ability
Crippling Strike
What it doesDarius's next attack strikes an enemy's crucial artery. As they bleed out, their Move Speed is slowed.
Practical readCrippling Strike contributes a slowing effect. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.
Cooldown5 secCost40Listed range300 units
E
E ability
Apprehend
What it doesDarius hones his axe, passively causing his physical damage to ignore a percentage of his target's Armor. When activated, Darius sweeps up his enemies with his axe's hook and pulls them to him.
Practical readApprehend contributes damage. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.
Cooldown26/23.5/21/18.5/16 secCost70/60/50/40/30Listed range535 units
R
Ultimate
Noxian Guillotine
What it doesDarius leaps to an enemy champion and strikes a lethal blow, dealing true damage. This damage is increased for each stack of Hemorrhage on the target. If Noxian Guillotine is a killing blow, its cooldown is refreshed for a brief duration.
Practical readNoxian Guillotine contributes damage. Its value changes with cooldown, range and target access; recognise the setup before moving into its effective area.
Cooldown120/100/80 secCost100/100/0Listed range460 units
Movement
The cast changes position or access. Account for where the champion finishes, not only where the ability begins.
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.
Ahead plan
Protect the lead while the lane stays shared
Wave
Clear together and keep enough health to use the next structure window.
Map play
Use brushes and the available healing safely; there are no side lanes to abandon.
Fights
Keep useful allies in reach and avoid giving away shutdowns through an isolated chase.
Even plan
Trade around health, range and the next wave
Wave
Let the team clear without spending every important cooldown at once.
Map play
Track the shared lane, brush control and available relics rather than looking for a Rift rotation.
Fights
Use the champion's reliable range, protection or control before forcing a low-percentage engage.
Behind plan
Use structure space and coordinated clears
Wave
Clear from safety and avoid dying before the next minion wave reaches the structure.
Map play
Wait for teammates to respawn instead of walking into the shared lane alone.
Fights
Punish overextension and preserve the cooldown that can stop the first enemy commitment.
Shared-lane plan
Darius on Howling Abyss
Read health, range, wave position and respawn timing together. ARAM has no side-lane rotation, neutral-objective setup or normal ward-control loop.
Before the fight
Clear or escort the wave, check which allies are alive and preserve enough health to use the champion's reliable range, protection or engage.
During the fight
Use the nearest safe target and the team's reachable follow-up. Do not cross the whole enemy formation for a single low-health champion.
After the fight
Push with surviving minions, take the safe structure damage available and reset only through a real death rather than donating one alone.
Keep preparing
Stay inside the ARAM ruleset
Compare another champion, review all Howling Abyss builds, or return to the champion overview. Rift lanes and counter-pick claims stay out of this mode.