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Game patch 26.22Data Dragon 16.22.1

Reference patch 16.20.1

Darius Top · Swiftplay

Darius has an established solo-lane plan with the income and space needed to trade, manage waves and influence a side lane.

Primary roleFaster starting rules and queue evidence
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

Swiftplay · Top

Fighter baseline

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

Primary role
S
Swiftplay opening · separate from item 1

Guardian's Horn

950 gold

Adds health, regeneration and broad champion-damage reduction for a durable Swiftplay opening.

1
First item

Trinity Force

3,333 gold

Completes the six-item inventory with health and out-of-combat recovery after enough bonus health is established.

2
Boots

Plated Steelcaps

1,200 gold

Reduces incoming basic-attack damage and adds armour; choose it for repeated attacks rather than melee identity alone.

3
Armour shred

Black Cleaver

3,000 gold

Adds health, haste and armour shred for extended physical-damage fights where repeated contact is realistic.

4
Fight sustain

Death's Dance

3,300 gold

Adds temporary physical-damage durability for committed fights and rewards takedowns with recovery.

5
Safety

Guardian Angel

3,200 gold

Adds a revive for a high-value late fight after the functional damage or durability core is established.

6
Health and recovery

Warmog's Armor

3,100 gold

Adds a large health pool and out-of-combat recovery after enough bonus health is already established.

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.

  1. First itemTrinity Force
  2. BootsPlated Steelcaps
  3. Chempunk Chainsword
  4. Fight sustainDeath's Dance
  5. SafetyGuardian Angel
  6. Health and recoveryWarmog's Armor

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

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. Health and recoveryWarmog's Armor

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

Complete build comparison

Complete build comparison

Recommendation review pending

Build review neededFighter baselineRecommendation review pendingView full route

Recommendation review pending

  1. First itemTrinity Force
  2. BootsPlated Steelcaps
  3. Armour shredBlack Cleaver
  4. Fight sustainDeath's Dance
  5. SafetyGuardian Angel
  6. Health and recoveryWarmog's Armor

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

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. Health and recoveryWarmog's Armor

Buy this only after selling the Guardian starter when all six permanent slots are needed.

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. 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 spellsDariusTop

Take measured lane trades, scale durability and keep a route back to the map.

Swiftplay
Primary tree

Resolve

Grasp of the UndyingDemolishSecond WindOvergrowth
Secondary tree

Precision

TriumphLast Stand
Summoner spells
FlashTeleport
Long-lane safety

Teleport preserves recalls and side-lane access. Ignite is a deliberate pressure trade-off, not a universal upgrade.

Respect the matchup

Keep the defensive secondary runes when repeated poke or one committed trade can decide the lane.

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

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 (s) / Cost / Listed range (units) 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.

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.

Cooldown (s)9/8/7/6/5Cost25/30/35/40/45
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.

Cooldown (s)5Cost40Listed range (units)300
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.

Cooldown (s)26/23.5/21/18.5/16Cost70/60/50/40/30Listed range (units)535
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.

Cooldown (s)120/100/80Cost100/100/0Listed range (units)460

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

Trade around the wave and your strongest cooldowns

1
Lane

Keep health and minions balanced so one poor trade does not decide the lane.

2
Map play

Move after the wave is handled and communicate if the opposing Top laner leaves first.

3
Fights

Choose between front-line duty, side pressure and carry access according to the champion kit.

Pings, movement and objectives

Darius Top map plan

Manage the long lane before leaving it. A useful move begins with a handled wave, a visible route and a teammate who knows you are coming.

Ahead

Use the side-lane lead without donating it

Ping
Ping Enemy Missing when the opposing Top leaves, then On My Way before a flank or objective move.
Stay or move
Push the wave before moving. Stay if leaving would hand several minions or your tower back to the opponent.
Objective
Arrive through a known route and mark whether you are front-lining, flanking or protecting a carry. Do not enter alone before the team can follow.
Even

Make the wave create the first move

Ping
Use Enemy Missing early, Danger on the route they may take, and On My Way only after your own wave is handled.
Stay or move
Move after pushing or on a shared recall. Do not follow through unwarded river merely because the opponent left first.
Objective
Tell the team whether you can move before the objective starts. Approach with vision and save the cooldown needed for the first real commitment.
Behind

Protect experience and communicate the pressure

Ping
Ping Enemy Missing immediately and Retreat if teammates are about to meet the stronger Top laner without you.
Stay or move
Do not match a stronger opponent through darkness. Clear the safe wave, then group by the shortest controlled route.
Objective
State early if you cannot contest. If the team still fights, provide control or protection instead of attempting an isolated flank.
Objective setup

Four calls, in order

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

  1. 1
    Handle the wave

    Push, catch or communicate the wave before leaving so the opponent does not gain a free move and free income.

  2. 2
    Signal the route

    Use On My Way for the route you are actually taking and Danger where an unseen opponent may arrive.

  3. 3
    Enter together

    Move through controlled vision with the Jungler or another ally instead of face-checking the objective alone.

  4. 4
    Choose the job

    Decide whether you are engaging, front-lining, flanking or protecting a carry before the fight begins.

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 Darius 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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