User blog:Care Level/Dunk Marathon Darius: The Toplane Experience

I jumped on the Rengar Freelo Train not too long ago, and I'm sure there are enough posts about freelo Rengar. The takeaway that's relevant here, though is a quote from Ryan Choi, the Rengod: "If you're not winning lane, it's because you don't have enough Doran's Blades". Thing is, this isn't a Rengar-exclusive phenomenon. Back when Riven was huge in Season 3, it was common knowledge. Build Doran's until you're shitstomping your opponent, then worry about real items. Well, it still works. In fact, it works for *most* top laners, if their goal is to do tons of damage in the midgame and not to soak up damage.

Enter Darius. Traditionally, he's had a couple of glaring issues. First of all, he needs to build full tank. Why? Because his engage is "just walk into the fight", so he's gonna take a lot of damage in the process. Fortunately, he has high base stats, so he can still do damage without building it. The unfortunate side effect of that, though, is that people overlook his ratios, thinking that "Darius builds tank" because "Darius isn't designed to do damage". Bull-fucking-shit he's not. Each passive stack has a 30% bonus AD ratio. Q has a 105% bonus AD ratio (if you don't suck). W scales up to 100% AD bonus damage. The Dunkening can shit out a 150%-AD bonus ratio. Also, Darius is a champ that autoattacks. A lot. Pull -> Q (70% AD) -> W (120-200% AD) -> AA (100% AD) -> Tiamat (100% AD) -> AA (100% AD) -> Q (105% AD) -> R (150% AD) -> bleed (150% AD) is what a normal full combo looks like, and for each point of AD you buy, you're getting 8.95 to 9.75 more damage on a full rotation. Yes, each Doran's Blade gives your burst about 70 extra damage at level 6. Yes, Ravenous Hydra gives your burst about 750 pants-shitting extra damage at level 13. Darius' AD ratios do not fuck around.

So instead of doing a sunfire rush or whatever, build Doran's Blades until you're dumpstering your opponent. And then build Tiamat, and Brutalizer, and Last Whisper. These items put the "Dunk" in "Dunk Marathon". Your last core item is Boots of Mobility with Alacrity, and that's the "Marathon" part. You're going to run around the map 'so fast' and dumpster people when you find them.

Runes: 15 AD, 9 flat armor, and whatever blues you're feeling. I run 5% flat CDR and 5% scaling CDR because the rune page is for Riven and she hits 40% with those runes, 5% from masteries, CDR boots, and Brutalizer, but you're not buying CDR boots. Dunk MARATHON, remember?

Masteries: 21/9/0 or 9/21/0 both work. I'm very tempted to take 3 points in utility so I can run even faster.

Summoners: Ghost (Why? Dunk MARATHON.  MAAAAAARAAAAATHOOOOOOOONNN!) and Ignite. If your lane opponent takes Teleport or some shit, it's a free snowball because they sure as shit can't scrap you without a combat summoner spell.

Item build: Are you winning lane? If yes, buy Tiamat, LW, Brutalizer, and Mobis (MARATHON!). If not, buy more Doran's blades (try for 3 or 4). Done with all of that? Grab Randuin's, Sunfire, Banshee's, or Spirit Visage depending on what the other team's damage is.

If you decide to join the marathon, post results below. Get out there and wreck face.