Talk:Aatrox/@comment-24910809-20140524162111/@comment-4636093-20140528170906

Heal is a lot better on Aatrox than Barrier. It gives a larger boost than Barrier, it heals you perminently (or as perminantly as you lose it anyway), and MOST importantly it removes all those healing debuffs like ignite which counter Aatrox so badly.

Blade of the Ruined King is better on Aatrox I think compared to Bloodthirster since it gives attack speed and synergizes with his W and Feral Flare's onhit. And you don't really need 2 lifesteal items especially not on the guy who heals like a Mundo constantly, and certainly not 3. A tanky item would be far better than ether of those, Randuin's or Frozen Mallet for a bit of extra CC.

Also always buy Merc Treads, always. You can make up attack speed elsewhere in the build, but if you can't hit things then you can't heal and you die. Especially if you're going for a carry build of Aatrox.