Is Aatrox Physical or Magical? A Closer Look
When it comes to the iconic League of Legends champion Aatrox, one of the most striking aspects is his mysterious yet powerful abilities. His striking appearance and versatile gameplay can leave even the most skilled players pondering: "Is Aatrox a physical champion or a magical one?"
In this article, we’ll delve deeper into Aatrox’s abilities and examine the nature of his powers. Through a careful analysis of his abilities and playstyle, we’ll answer the pressing question and uncover the hidden secrets of this formidable champion.
Physical or Magic? What are the Telltale Signs?
Before we dive into the details of Aatrox’s powers, it’s essential to understand what makes a champion physical or magical. To determine which category Aatrox fits into, let’s review some key attributes:
| Attribute | Physical | Magical |
|---|---|---|
| Attacks | Dealing physical damage | Dealing magical damage |
| Scaling | Mostly dependent on strength and defense | Mostly dependent on ability power and other magical attributes |
| Spells | Basic attacks and specials | Powerful, often situational spells |
| Targeting | Usually targeted attacks | Sometimes targeted, but often has an area-of-effect or is used more strategically |
| Cooldowns | Fast cooldowns, quick cast times | Slower cooldowns, longer cast times |
Upon examining these attributes, Aatrox’s abilities initially seem more aligned with magic. However, as we’ll discuss below, it’s essential to consider Aatrox’s empowered sword swings, his Unbreakable Will, and Incredible Strength, which can tilt the scale in favor of physical powers.
Exploring Aatrox’s Abilities and Playstyle
Aatrox’s skillset can be broken down into his three basic abilities: Q (Bloodcharge), W (Injunction), and E (Dancing Graze). Furthermore, we’ll examine his ultimate, R (Asylum).
Ability Breakdown
| Ability | Damage Type | Duration/Effect | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bloodcharge (Q) | Magical | Channeled, 2500 / 3000 / 3500 | 500 | 75 / 80 / 85 (+0. 2 Ability Power) Physical Damage 10% Stun on enemy champions | 6000 |
| Injunction (W) | Magical | 200 | 12 | 6 / 7 / 8 seconds | |
| Dancing Graze (E) | Magical | 900 | 800 | Global, +15 / +20 / +25 physical damage if cast while moved | |
| Asylum (R) | Magical | 2 / 0.4 | 18 / 19 / 20% 0.1% (per level max 60 / 85 / 100%) mana cost on minions, large monsters |
The above chart provides an initial glance into Aatrox’s ability profile. Most of his abilities seem centered around magic damage, longer cooldowns, and less reliance on ability power and strength compared to other, more clearly magical champions like Lux. This is likely due to his role as a fighter and his goal of securing objectives.
Let’s zoom in on three key factors: E (Dancing Graze), Unbreakable Will, and his Passive, the Darkin Forge:
-
E (Dancing Graze) demonstrates Aatrox’s striking ability with global mobility (movement while charged) while providing additional, phyiscal damage based on the distance traveled.
- Unbreakable Will, an ability to self-heal while in the vicinity of death, displays resilience and dedication to fight despite adversity – a strong, physical-inspired trait. Empowerment with nearby minions can also extend the duration, further bolstering Aatrox’s combat capabilities, which mirrors his ability with physical weapons.
Passive: The Darkin Forge, as one of his unique aspects, allows for Aatrox to restore 1 (0) ability power during the second stack, reinforcing his position as a reliable, resource-efficient champion focused on building towards superior fight capability via his Bloodcharge.
We can identify that Aatrox indeed employs significant physical presence and attributes within his design and playstyle alongside the more predictable magical trappings of summoner ability damage and support. Both worlds, you might argue, converge – a fundamental element in maintaining balance while Aatrox’s performance continues to hold strong with respect to late-game opponents.