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ARAM · Howling AbyssMatchup guidePatch 16.20.1

Vex vs Darius

Build, runes, abilities and practical pre-game checks in one queue-aware reference.

VexVSDarius

Matchup guide

Choose the matchup

Search any two champions. ARAM uses one shared lane, so no Rift role selection is required.

VS
FormatOne shared lane

Choose two champions from the list.

ARAM context

One shared lane, one champion-specific plan

The page uses ARAM starting, shopping and teamfight rules. Its internal build source is not shown as a Rift assignment.

Howling Abyss
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

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.

01
Start together

Review rerolls and the shared bench, then leave with an opening that fits this champion and the team around it.

02
Shop while dead

You cannot Recall to buy. Plan components before leaving the shop and use each death timer deliberately.

03
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.

04
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 spell 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.

Death-only shopping
S
ARAM opening · separate from item 1

Guardian's Orb

950 gold

An ARAM ability-power starter to compare with the current Recommended shop.

1
Haste Boots

Ionian Boots of Lucidity

900 gold

Adds inexpensive haste and movement for repeated casts.

2
Spell core

Luden's Echo

2,750 gold

Adds mana and repeated spell impact.

3
Long-range follow-up

Horizon Focus

2,700 gold

Rewards reliable long-range spell contact.

4
Late spell power

Rabadon's Deathcap

3,500 gold

Multiplies the completed ability-power core.

5
Against resistance

Void Staff

3,000 gold

Adds percentage magic penetration against meaningful resistance.

6
Final option

Shadowflame

3,200 gold

Completes the permanent inventory with stronger magic damage against low-health targets.

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 healingMorellonomicon applies anti-heal. Buy it earlier only when healing is already deciding fights.View full route

Best when: Morellonomicon applies anti-heal. Buy it earlier only when healing is already deciding fights.

  1. Haste BootsIonian Boots of Lucidity
  2. Spell coreLuden's Echo
  3. Morellonomicon
  4. Late spell powerRabadon's Deathcap
  5. Against resistanceVoid Staff
  6. Final optionShadowflame

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

AlternativeThey burst meZhonya's stasis can absorb a committed dive or lethal burst window.View full route

Best when: Zhonya's stasis can absorb a committed dive or lethal burst window.

  1. Haste BootsIonian Boots of Lucidity
  2. Spell coreLuden's Echo
  3. Zhonya's Hourglass
  4. Late spell powerRabadon's Deathcap
  5. Against resistanceVoid Staff
  6. Final optionShadowflame

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

AlternativeOne spell stops meBanshee's spell shield can protect the first important cast against you.View full route

Best when: Banshee's spell shield can protect the first important cast against you.

  1. Haste BootsIonian Boots of Lucidity
  2. Spell coreLuden's Echo
  3. Long-range follow-upHorizon Focus
  4. Banshee's Veil
  5. Against resistanceVoid Staff
  6. Final optionShadowflame

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 neededARAM spell referenceRecommendation review pendingView full route

Recommendation review pending

  1. Haste BootsIonian Boots of Lucidity
  2. Spell coreLuden's Echo
  3. Long-range follow-upHorizon Focus
  4. Late spell powerRabadon's Deathcap
  5. Against resistanceVoid Staff
  6. Final optionShadowflame

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

AlternativeToo much healingMorellonomicon applies anti-heal. Buy it earlier only when healing is already deciding fights.View full route

Best when: Morellonomicon applies anti-heal. Buy it earlier only when healing is already deciding fights.

  1. Haste BootsIonian Boots of Lucidity
  2. Spell coreLuden's Echo
  3. Morellonomicon
  4. Late spell powerRabadon's Deathcap
  5. Against resistanceVoid Staff
  6. Final optionShadowflame

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

AlternativeThey burst meZhonya's stasis can absorb a committed dive or lethal burst window.View full route

Best when: Zhonya's stasis can absorb a committed dive or lethal burst window.

  1. Haste BootsIonian Boots of Lucidity
  2. Spell coreLuden's Echo
  3. Zhonya's Hourglass
  4. Late spell powerRabadon's Deathcap
  5. Against resistanceVoid Staff
  6. Final optionShadowflame

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

AlternativeOne spell stops meBanshee's spell shield can protect the first important cast against you.View full route

Best when: Banshee's spell shield can protect the first important cast against you.

  1. Haste BootsIonian Boots of Lucidity
  2. Spell coreLuden's Echo
  3. Long-range follow-upHorizon Focus
  4. Banshee's Veil
  5. Against resistanceVoid Staff
  6. Final optionShadowflame

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

Runes and summoner spells

Runes and summoner spellsVexHowling Abyss

This general ARAM spell page supports repeated ranged casts and the mode's higher mana pressure. Replace Clarity only when the champion does not need the resource.

ARAM
Primary tree

Sorcery

Arcane CometManaflow BandTranscendenceGathering Storm
Secondary tree

Precision

Presence of MindCut Down
Summoner spells
FlashClarity
Howling Abyss only

Mark and Clarity are mode-specific choices. Do not copy this pair onto a Summoner's Rift page.

Protect the next fight

Choose the second spell around access, survival and team resources rather than treating every ARAM champion as a diver.

Matchup notes

What changes when Darius is opposite you?

Pre-game kit comparison
Shared-lane interaction

Compare reliable reach and repeatable value

Track which champion can apply damage, control or protection without crossing the enemy team's safe space. ARAM does not turn this kit comparison into a lane-counter claim.

Team context first

Rerolls, allied range, engage and protection can matter more than either champion in isolation.

Your plan

Use the route you prepared

Use the champion-specific ARAM build as a starting reference, then check the current Recommended shop, your five-player composition and the next available death shop.

Ability reminders

Against Darius

  • When Darius's axe grab is on cooldown, he is vulnerable to harassment attacks.
  • Darius's ability to escape from fights is limited. If you have an advantage against him, press your lead.

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.

Only when enemy healing is deciding fights

Oblivion Orb

Oblivion Orb supplies healing reduction without committing to a completed Morellonomicon. Skip both when healing is not the problem or an ally already covers your target reliably. Healing reduction does not reduce shields.

Conditional component, not a core item. Complete Morellonomicon only when its stats and slot efficiency justify delaying another purchase.
They burst me

Zhonya's Hourglass

Zhonya's stasis can absorb a committed dive or lethal burst window.

One spell stops me

Banshee's Veil

Banshee's spell shield can protect the first important cast against you.

Ability reference

Compare both kits

Ability reference Data Dragon 16.20.1

Cooldown (s) / Cost / Listed range (units) Data Dragon 16.20.1

Vex

  1. P
    Doom 'n Gloom

    Vex periodically becomes empowered, causing her next basic Ability to fear enemies and interrupt dashes. Whenever a nearby enemy dashes, Vex applies a mark that can be consumed for bonus damage that also reduces the cooldown of her empowered state.

  2. Q
    Mistral Bolt

    Launch a damaging missile that accelerates mid-flight.

    Cooldown (s) 8/7/6/5/4 · Cost 45/50/55/60/65 · Listed range (units) 1200
  3. W
    Personal Space

    Gain a shield and damage nearby enemies.

    Cooldown (s) 16/15/14/13/12 · Cost 75 · Listed range (units) 475
  4. E
    Looming Darkness

    Summon a damaging and slowing zone that applies Gloom to enemies.

    Cooldown (s) 12 · Cost 70/80/90/100/110 · Listed range (units) 800
  5. R
    Shadow Surge

    Fire a missile that marks an enemy champion. Recast to dash to them and deal damage.

    Cooldown (s) 140/120/100 · Cost 100 · Listed range (units) 2000/2500/3000

Darius

  1. P
    Hemorrhage

    Darius' 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.

  2. Q
    Decimate

    Darius 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) 9/8/7/6/5 · Cost 25/30/35/40/45
  3. W
    Crippling Strike

    Darius's next attack strikes an enemy's crucial artery. As they bleed out, their Move Speed is slowed.

    Cooldown (s) 5 · Cost 40 · Listed range (units) 300
  4. E
    Apprehend

    Darius 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) 26/23.5/21/18.5/16 · Cost 70/60/50/40/30 · Listed range (units) 535
  5. R
    Noxian Guillotine

    Darius 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) 120/100/80 · Cost 100/100/0 · Listed 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 health, range and the next wave

1
Wave

Let the team clear without spending every important cooldown at once.

2
Map play

Track the shared lane, brush control and available relics rather than looking for a Rift rotation.

3
Fights

Use the champion's reliable range, protection or control before forcing a low-percentage engage.

Shared-lane plan

Vex 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.

ARAM only
1
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.

2
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.

3
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 with Howling Abyss information

Open the complete ARAM build or compare another champion. Rift role counters are intentionally kept out of this page.

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