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This one is one is about average in terms of difficulty.
You'll out damage Aatrox for a while, but he has much more sustain in the early and mid game, so try to get a Vampiric Scepter before you finish your Phantom Dancer
Focus more on farming more than harass, as his lifesteal will make it hard to keep his health down early. With that in mind, you should still poke him if he get's too close.
Aatrox has a knockup and a slow, so be very careful of ganks, a deep Vision Ward is suggested.
As long as you haven't been feeding him, you should be good to kill him after you have Phantom Dancer , Vampiric Scepter , and hopefully something built into your Infinity edge.
Unless you're confident you can get a kill 1v1, if Aatrox use his Ult Massacre do your best to disengage from fighting him.
Azir
(Azir's intended meta is mid, but i see a lot of him top)
This is one of the easier lanes for Yasuo. Azir is listed as a counter to Yasuo, however I don't find this to be true.
Azir is very weak at level 1 and 2. Abuse that. If you're using the runes from this guide, you should be able to pickup first blood.
Azir is very immobile, if he wants to poke you, he can't escape. If Azir does his Arise!+ Conquering Sands Combo on you, use your Sweeping Blade through enemy minions to get out of the way of the damage, while gap closing to him to trade back.
Once he's done his inital combo, he can't do much else in terms of damage for a while, so try to poke at him directly after his combo, and as much as you can until it comes back up.
Although Azir is exceedingly weak during the laning phase, he will scale nicely into the late game, so be weary of his late game damage and crowd control.
Cho'Gath
This guy is pretty scary. You should be able to outplay him with some practice, but it's very dangerous. Pre 6 you may be able to win, midgame you'll have to play safe, and by lategame you can start being more confident, but don't underestimate Cho'gath.
Focus on getting farm to get Phantom Dancer] as quickly as possible. If you're getting harassed a lot, an early [[Vampiric Scepter will help with this lane.
Feral Scream is very powerful against Yasuo, as he relies heavily on being able to cast his abilities to deal damage early and mid game. Try your best to avoid getting hit by this.
If you see Cho'Gath use Rupture on you, try to Sweeping Blade through minions to get out of it's AOE.
If Cho'gath has missed his Feral Scream, try to go in to poke immediately. Just make sure you can use Sweeping Blade to disengage quickly after you've dealt some damage. Prolonged fights are not recommended unless you think you can pick up a kill.
Cho'Gath's Vorpal Spikes will harass you quite a bit. Try to hang back a bit and last hit if possible. Try not to get pushed under turret, so push out the wave a bit if Cho starts pushing up.
Another important note is that your Wind Wall will not block Cho'gath's Vorpal Spikes, so don't bother using it, save it for if you get ganked.
Cho'Gath's Feast is very powerful, and there's no real counterplay to it for Yasuo. My best advice is to just make sure you have enough health when fighting him, and pick up a Warmog's Armor/ Spirit Visage if you can.
Darius
Try to farm for items, because trading with him usually isn't worth it. If he walks up to you, try to bait out his Apprehend or Decimate. Once he burns one or both of those, you're good to trade some damage while his abilities are on cool-down.
Never fight Darius for prolonged periods of time unless you are confident you can get a kill, because his blood stacks from Hemorrhage and Crippling Strike will get you killed, and Decimate will allow him to win trades with the heal. If you want to fight him, stick to poking instead of a full on engage until he's low enough to secure the kill.
Darius' ult Noxian Guillotine, is extremely powerful so I would recommend avoiding fighting him at close range if you are low health.
However, if you're feeling confident, Yasuo's Steel Tempest Whirlwind can interrupt Darius' ult casting animation.
Early Boots of Speed will help with this lane. After getting Phantom Dancer go for The Bloodthirster Instead Of Infinity Edge.
Once you have a Statik Shiv and a Vampiric Scepter the lane will be easier, but still rough. Do your best to shove minions and try to roam, because it's very hard to kill Darius as Yasuo, especially since his Rework.
Dr. Mundo
This lane is pretty boring. You might kill him before level 6, but don't count on it. After level 6 you won't be killing him, but he won't be killing you either.
This is a farming heavy lane on both sides. Just do your best to CS and rush those items.
If Dr. Mundo attempts to go aggressive on you, give him a taste of Yasuo's Sweeping Blade + Steel Tempest combo and then Sweeping Blade off of him so you don't take too much damage from his Burning Agony.
You'll out trade him as long as you stand behind minions while farming.
Just make sure you get a Last Whisper for lategame, or life is going to be difficult in team-fights.
Ekko
Wind Wall to block Timewinder
Yasuo out damages Ekko, and you can easily block Timewinder.
As long as you don't get baited by Chronobreak and you watch for Parallel Convergence plus a jungle gank, this lane is very easy.
Fiora
Before the Fiora rework, this match-up was a lot harder. Now, since they reworked her ult and her passive it's much easier and you counter her in a lot of ways.
However, trading with Fiora is still dangerous. I recommend rushing Avarice Blade and farming neutrally until you have Phantom Dancer and Vampiric Scepter.
Keep a steady distance from Fiora, so she has to use Lunge to engage on you. Once she does, give her your Sweeping Blade + Steel Tempest combo and a second Steel Tempest as she runs, and dash out before she can try to trade back.
Now that Fiora's Riposte is a skillshot, it's much harder for her to block your Steel Tempest whirlwind. Once you have whirlwind, use your Sweeping Blade + Steel Tempest combo. Since this is very close to her and it's AOE, it's much harder for her to block it. Since they made this change, it's not recommended to use your Whirlwind in it's Skillshot form, instead use the AOE form.
Bladework is very powerful. Try to Sweeping Blade away from her if she activates it to stall it out. If she does land it, do your best to trade back. This is the main reason Vampiric Scepter is recommended after Phantom Dancer.
Fiora's OLD ultimate Blade Waltz Countered Yasuo a lot, as she could activate it to avoid Last Breath.
Fiora's NEW ultimate Grand Challenge is the opposite. If Fiora activates it, avoid it by using Sweeping Blade through minions, and then use your Steel Tempest whirlwind, followed by Last Breath. If you've stalled long enough, her ult should have expired and you'll be doing massive damage because "For the next 15 seconds after casting Last Breath, Yasuo ignores 50% of his targets' bonus armor".
That's either a kill for you, or a won trade.
Fizz
This should be a slam dunk lane for you as long as you know how Top fizz works. Generally, you can trade with him anytime you want and win, just be sure you're comboing smartly.
Combo and then escape, don't give him a chance to trade you.
The only thing about fizz that gives him a mechanical advantage is that he can use his Playful / Trickster to jump over your Steel Tempest Whirlwind. Try to bait it out, or use your Sweeping Blade+ Steel Tempest combo to ensure you deal maximum Whirlwind damage and allow yourself to land an ult.
Post level 6 is a bit different, but just save that wind wall for his ultimate and you'll still be winning trades.
Lategame fizz is sometimes scary, but if he's been under your thumb with no kills and little farm you shouldn't have anything to worry about.
Gangplank
This lane is not super difficult. Most gangplanks these days go for Crit. Essentially, you do what he does but better because of Yasuo's doubled crit.
Gangplanks's OLD passive was Grog Soaked Blade, and is now Trial By Fire. There is essentially no change except that it does True Damage instead of Magic Damage now.
Gangplank's Passive Trial By Fire isn't going to be doing too much early on, but make sure you get some Health pots on your backs until you have part of your shiv and Vamp scepter built, because it can do a lot of damage if you're not careful.
Yasuo can Wind Wall Gangplank's Parrrley, but the projectile is very fast, small and hard to see. It'll take some practice, but knowing how to do this will save you a lot of grief.
Powder Keg is pretty much useless vs Yasuo. Rush Phantom Dancer and get Boots of Speed. These Tier 1 boots along with Sweeping Blade make it pretty much impossible for him to explode the barrel while you're in it's range. Just dash out and walk around it.
Gangplank's ult Cannon Barrage, isn't going to be a big deal. If he pops it while you're fighting him, use Sweeping Blade on minions to get out of it's area of effect, and continue trading with him.
Garen
Ouch. This is gonna be rough. Let's break this lane down.
Garen as a champion does a lot to counter you. This is similar to the Cho'Gath lane, except a little easier.
Garen's Decisive Strike gives him movement speed allowing him to poke you and run out at a distance. Since it also silences, you can't Steel Tempest to trade back.
If you see him use this ability, try to dash away with Sweeping Blade and use your Steel Tempest before he silences you. Your Steel Tempest has greater range than his Decisive Strike so you should be able to use it before you're silenced.
Garen's Courage makes him very tanky as time goes on. You can wait out the active before poking him, but he will likely combo this with his Decisive Strike. Focus on rushing Phantom Dancer and try to get an early kill.
Garen's Judgment isn't actually all that great. Most garen's will try to Decisive Strike and then Judgment so you can't dash out, so do your best to keep your distance and bait him into wasting Judgment or Decisive Strike. If he wastes either of those, you can go in to harass him without much consequence, and dash out.
Garen's Demacian Justice is very powerful, and similar to Cho'Gath's ult. However, Garen's ult deals damage based on health missing. Being low health around Garen is generally bad, so try to disengage if you're getting too low.
Garen's passive Perseverance is very strong, so try to poke him as often as you can without putting yourself at major risk.
Early boots will help in this lane, so garen won't be able to use his Decisive Strike if you have boots and dash through minions.
Health/Armor will help against Garen in the late game. I suggest Randuin's Omen in this match-up Instead of getting Thornmail.
Gnar
This lane is easy, but unlike the Dr. Mundo lane, this is actually fun to play against.
Despite the fact that this lane is easy, it won't be easy if you don't understand how this lane works. That's why there is a lot to talk about.
Let's talk about how this lane will go based on level with Gnar Form.
levels 1-4 Mini Gnar:
Around this time Gnar is pretty weak. I would suggest trying to trade with him around this time window. I suggest getting Sweeping Blade at level 2, so you can trade with Gnar easier early on. Get Wind Wall at level 3, and you'll be able to trade him without much consequence. Farm is really important in this lane, which I'll go into later, but also make sure you're being aggressive at levels 1-4 to try and get first blood.
Levels 1-4 Mega Gnar:
Mega gnar early on isn't really too scary, but he does have a lot more survivability to your kit. When he's mega, try to focus more on farm.
If he decides to go aggressive on you, do your best to use your Sweeping Blade and Wind Wall to your advantage and dodge abilities. If he tries to Hyper / Wallop (Wallop) you, Sweeping Blade on him or minions. If he tries to Boomerang Throw / Boulder Toss you, be ready to Wind Wall it, or dodge it with Sweeping Blade.
Generally stay out of range of his Hop / Crunch (crunch) because it makes it easier for him to land the rest of his abilities. Be careful, because he can Hop mid transformation and crunch after transformation.
levels 5+ Mini/Mega:
This is around the time Gnar becomes more powerful, so at this point don't try to trade as much as levels 1-4.
Pretty much every Gnar you play against will go all in at level 6. Be ready for this and try not to get stunned against a wall by his GNAR!. What most people forget is that Yasuo Level 6+ is dangerous verses tanks because Last Breath gives Yasuo 50% armor penetration after he ults.
I've played this lane a lot, so hear are my final thoughts.
Mechanically, Yasuo beats gnar, because a good portion of his Mini and Mega damage is blocked by his Wind Wall and another good portion can be dodged by his Sweeping Blade.
Pay attention to when he is about to go mega, because it's usually when Gnar players go aggressive.
When Gnar goes into mega form after level 6, don't be afraid to fight him. Yasuo is one of the best suited champions to deal with mega Gnar, and you will always win the all in if you get your Last Breath damage on him.
Lategame ganr is pretty much the same as 6+ Gnar. Although try not to focus him in team-fights first.
Irelia
This lane is pretty even. Since Irelia is very squishy, play aggressive and poke her when she approaches farm. This is important, so that she can't use Hiten Style to regain her health as easily.
Once you have a Phantom Dancer and Vampiric Scepter, be a lane bully freeze farm and go for kills.
If she combos Bladesurge + Equilibrium Strike to stun you and walk away, dash through minions and trade back. Never let her get away with free damage, because you are the dominant champion in this lane.
Transcendent Blades doesn't do very much damage, and is only dangerous if you're low. Use Wind Wall to block it.
Jax
Counter Strike Block's not only your Auto Attacks, but also your Steel Tempest. This is the main reason this lane is so dangerous.
A good jax will time Counter Strike just right and then Leap Strike so that you can't dash out of it. This combined with the bonus damage from Empower can be very frustrating, but just relax.
Try to bait out his Counter Strike. Once it's on cooldown, this lane is a lot like the Irelia lane. Trade to the best of your ability once it's down.
You should win the trades early and part of mid game. Jax will inevitably outscale you in the late game, so try to pick up some early kills on him and roam.
Easy matchup as her q won't even damage you if you have your passive up, and if she goes in for a combo, make sure you punish her hard because you out damage her. Ensure you windwall her q if you don't have your passive up. If she ultimates you, e through her, and activate windwall.
Kassadin
simple matchup, you out shove, and out damage him, his q will just about pop your shield, you can also wind wall his q.
Lux
simple matchup, windwall her q, use your e to dodge her e, or just avoid it. You can easily outfarm and zone her away from creeps, you also out damage her, and the only real way for her to win is either, you missplay, or you get camped.
Orianna
similar to lux except she has a strong team fight, and she can simply stay safe until you get ganked. Just farm, unless she plays aggressive.
Pantheon
Skilled matchup, start cloth 4 and out sustain his mana pool and it's easy, if you make mistakes it can be difficult but your aim is simply to keep your flow up, and out sustain his mana pool.
Ahri
You can windwall every one of her abilities however this is mostly a skill orientated match up, if confident, rush statikk, if you feel like you want to play safe, rush hexdrinker. She can also aa you to break your shield.
Kayle
Bit difficult but still she lacks high range, so you can farm quite safely as she is forced to push the wave, and her e is predictable, so if she just used it, you can just wait it out.
Darius
You can easily stop his q heal by dashing into him, and will win all short trades thanks to your shield, but be careful as once he hits 6, he will kill you.
Zed
This matchup is a bit iffy in the fact you can outplay him, and out trade him early due to your shield, but he can kill you once he gets 6. Try to obtain a lane advantage pre-6, and make sure you dodge/windwall his q. He does a lot of damage if he lands a full combo, but if he misses it, he cannot fight back. Exhaust helps.
Annie
A skilled annie player is difficult due to how she will position herself, try to shove her in tower and force her to miss cs as the only way you'll kill her is if she makes a huge missplay, at 6 she can one shot you so ensure you have a hexdrinker as usual.
Akali
Pre-6 she's easy, post 6 she's difficult because of her stealth and ability to wait for her cooldowns, don';t underestimate her damage, and poke her down with q, never go for an all in as her thunderlord, and q proc will do huge damage.
Talon
Pre-6 (as usual) he can be bullied, but once he hits 6, and has at least an armor pen item, he will be looking to poke you down with his rake, and once your at least 70% hp, he will all in you and kill you. Exhaust is helpful.
Azir
Annoying champion to deal with, only real way of winning is A. He's not skilled with the champ. B.Farm safely and give up farm to harass C. Get jungle ganks
Renekton
difficult, just play safe and farm. Cloth 5 + pots can cheese him as you'll be able to out trade him and do a lot of damage back. If he jumps on you, e away, if he does a full combo, don't let him get away and fight him due to his cooldowns being down.
Malzahar
High threat due to his silence, suppression, and generally annoying kit with his passive. If you get flash ulti'd by this guy, you're most likely getting ganked so the only option is to either rush a qss which will offer magic resist and will mean you'll never die to his ultimate, or rush a hexdrinker for a shot at "winning lane" Generally playing passive is enough. Items to rush - Qss, hexdrinker, life steal, phantom dancer, frozen mallet. Mallet is so he can't kite you. Start Doran's blade and aim to get a early refillable as you'll be popping potions a lot. Life steal is helpful but generally farm, you will out scale him and will easily 1v1 him later in the game.
Fizz
He wins all short and long trades, so the only way to win this is not to die, and try to outplay him by using your dash to dodge his e, and q, but that's easier said than done. RUSH HEXDRINKER because once he hits 6, if he lands a fish on you, you're dead. You can windwall it but the animation is a bit tricky to see. exhaust is almost a must.
Irelia
Dangerous matchup due to how she can 100-0 you everytime you get into lane once she hits 6 as she has a targeted stun. Mostly just farm, and try to poke her down so she will be less likely to go for an all in. Rush survivability such as doran shield, and steraks and try to keep your health up with the life steal quints. Exhaust helps.
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