AP Aatrox build with runes and items. AP Aatrox guide offers in-depth how-to play, skill order and tips. Play AP Aatrox build in League of Legends Patch 25.13!
You are not really AP champion, but you can make it work with two specific items!
You rush Hextech Rocketbelt #1, Liandry's Torment #2.
If you are against many HP stacking champions, you can rush Liandry's Torment first.
You get Cosmic Insight rune to use Hextech Rocketbelt more often.
You poke with Hextech Rocketbelt and First Strike to earn gold and burn enemies.
After core items, you adapt. You can play as a tank or as a damage dealer.
How to play
General
Use Hextech Rocketbelt active to poke your enemies all the time, earning gold with First Strike.
Adapt to the enemy team. Build tanky or more damage. You can play as a utility tank, poke, or even you can go some AD items to still have plenty of damage. Depends on the team and how you want to play.
For utility tank, remember that Liandry's Torment works good with Serpent's Fang (to counter shields) and Oblivion Orb (to counter healing).
Items
If you are doing really well and want to have even more AP dmg, you can go Lich Bane, Cosmic Drive and The Collector (it procs and works nicely with DoTs).
If your team needs strong Physical damage, you can just go AD items.
Cosmic Insight reduces the cooldown of all active items, so Zhonya's Hourglass really works well with this build.
Runes
Wait for the First Strike and proc it with your combo, to deal damage and earn gold.
Be careful to not get poked, because you waste First Strike procs.
Champion
Your main money-making combo is First Strike + Hextech Rocketbelt + following that up with The Darkin Blade (Q) + Umbral Dash (E).
Your alternate combo just for poke is Umbral Dash (E), then First Strike + Hextech Rocketbelt.
Tips and Tricks
The Darkin Blade (Q)
Q + Flash combo: You can use Flash during any time of The Darkin Blade (Q) animations. You can even combine that with Umbral Dash (E). You can Flash and E in any direction, making very spectacular and flashy plays.
To elevate your Aatrox's game, when you want to Q + Flash combo or Q + E combo, make sure to do it at the very last frame of the animation, so enemies won't have any time to react.
Flash or E at the very end of Q animation, to elevate your combo. This way your enemies won't have a chance to react.
Umbral Dash (E)
You can use Umbral Dash (E) for short dash, this way animation lasts shorter, and you can get crucial milliseconds to auto attack faster (can be deciding a factor in 1v1).
You can reset your auto attack timer with Umbral Dash (E). It might be crucial in duels, or when pushing enemy turrets.
World Ender (R)
Most people think of Aatrox’s R as just a tool to go all-in, but it actually has a lot of value even if you don’t fully commit. Just pressing World Ender (R) can scare enemies off — they’ll often back away, delay a fight, or play safe until it wears off. You can use that window to pressure them, take space, or secure an objective without even fighting.
Riot
Use Umbral Dash while casting The Darkin Blade to increase your chances of hitting the enemy.
Crowd Control abilities like Infernal Chains or your allies' immobilizing effects will help you set up The Darkin Blade.
Cast World Ender when you are sure you can force a fight.