Talk:Aatrox/@comment-35229418-20151203194456/@comment-10136989-20151204132646

Botrk is currently really bad, the stats it gives just aren't worth it, unless the enemy team is really itemising into health, it's one of the reason health tanks like Mundo are currently dominating. Guinsoos gives a really insane amount of stats at full stacks, and I'd recommend it sometimes. Even ignoring the fact he does actually have a 1.6AP ratio, the item gives 64% attack speed 49 AD and 35 base on hit aoe damage at full stacks. It's not like Aatrox even has trouble stacking it, with devourer he can get 4 stacks at once, and the 325 range is pretty awesome. That being said I do prefer Hydra, the survivability it gives, the better aoe + reset, it just gives so much more in the first couple of seconds of a fight than Guinsoos which really needs the stacking.

I've had amazing success in top lane, like you say he is squishy, but knowing your limits is pretty huge. His lack of being a popular character really leads people into underestimating his early damage on W, and not respecting how easily he can dive you. The one bad thing about the current meta is how often people are taking ignite over teleport now, it really cripples his sustain just when he needs it, which kinda sucks. His jungling is obviously a very nice area, always start Q btw and stack your blood well up at the beginning of the game, it makes his clear much faster than someone like Warwick. The other thing is jungle to level 3 and get both buffs without using potions, you'll always remain around the half hp mark anyway. Then either burn both potions and go for a gank, or take scuttle and invade.

The only thing I find myself deciding over is going for Spirit Visage, or Maw. Both are great, one is significantly better offensively, one better defensively, but both can sustain you through fights insanely. Against a high magic damage team both would just wreck, but everyone is playing Zed/Lee/ADC at the moment which limits that. Armor items I don't really look past deadmans, it's incredibly good, pretty sure its getting a nerf this pbe cycle.