Hello Summoners!This is my Darius semi-tank guide. Darius is a champion who combines Attack Power with Durability,so the best way to build him is as a Tanky Damage Dealer who will be resistand to Physical AND Magic Damage.If you want to be a major threat to the enemy but still be durable, Darius is what you need.His ability set makes him a great threat to the enemy and a powerful ally.So now let's get to the guide.

PROS CONS

+ His Decimate deals great damage + He can pull his enemies to his team with Apprehend + Excellent mix of damage and durability + Ultimate that refreshes if it deal the killing blow + Noxian Guillotine deals TRUE DAMAGE + MURDERS squishies + Excellent add in any team + Punishes his enemies in lane

SPACE

SPACE

- Ranged champions can counter him in the lane - Crippling Strike is not a hard CC - If you not control your utlimate in battles you will deny many kills important for your teammates.Control your power - Dosn't have any escape mechanism - Short range on Apprehend - You need to practise a bit to master him - You must reach all 5 stacks for Noxian Guillotine to deal it's full damage

Greater Mark of Attack Damage x9 I find those runes to be the best choise for early and mid game.I recommend those strongly.
Greater Seal of Armor x9 Perfect againt any AD champion.I never play without them and i get rewarted.
Greater Glyph of Magic Resist x9 Same as the seal but for AP champions.This build is based on being resistand to magic damage and physical damage so these runes are must have.
greater quint of strength x3 Add more damage to your Noxian Killing Machine.

In theam fight Darius should be in the front line standing side to side with the team's Tank.Be careful for any mistakes in the enemy's positioning.If an enemy comes too close be sure to pull him right away,securing the first kill.When the fight starts and the enemy is distracted and they use their abilities on your Tank get in and unlease hell.Secure your kills with Noxian Guillotine BUT make sure you get the killing blow with it.If you do it right you and your teammate will be walking away victorius!

STARTING ITEMS

Now let's see how we start the game.My Starting Item is usually the Doran's Shield because it gives you many HPs,Health Regeneration and Armor,which is what you will need to stay in the lane longer and farm more without going back to base.You can also start with the Ruby Crystal and upgrade to phadge very early but I find the Doran's Shield way better.I don't recomend Boots because you need more HPs than speed early on.

EARLY GAME

If you are going well and have farmed much without having to go back,you can start buying your first major items.Crab your Mercury's Treads,2 Ruby Crystal(which you will then upgrade to Phage and Aegis of the Legion later) and a Long Sword.We are still very early in the game and we need to be more tough.If you want you can buy a Giant's Belt instead of the ruby crystals which is a very good choice.

MID GAME

Now things are getting harder.We need to stay durable but we must also build some damage.Buy a Hexdrinker to keep yourself safe from casters but also get some damage.You should have bought your Aegis of the Legion untill now.Build your way fot Randuin's Omen and be sure to keep farming when you get a chance.

LATE GAME

We have completed our Maw of Malmortius and our Randuin's Omen.If the enemy team is getting too tanky,a Madred's Bloodrazor can help with the extra Damage and it's passive.Or buy a Black Cleaver to help you destroy the enemy's armor before finishing them off.If the game has gone too far,buy a Frozen Mallet.Nothing can stop you now!

We have covered the items for any stage of the game but...how will you be a good Darius?Well,as we said before you are the team's Semi-Tank.So what do semi-tanks do?Your job in lane is to protect tour teammate from getting killed. Darius interacts well with ranged champions like Graves and Varus.You are a very powerful member of the team and you must make your enemies fear you in battles.When you see an opportunity,use your E, Apprehend to crab your opponent and bring him to you and your teammate.Then make sure he won't get away from you by landing a basic attack and then a Crippling Strike to get two attacks instantly.Use Decimate to destroy his health bar and take the kill with Noxian Guillotine.Farm a lot and get tanky early to get the advantage.Don't be afraid to get into the chaos of battle to save your teammates.As I said,your role is to protect your team and destroy enemies.Keep pushing the enemy team and the game will be yours.

Hemorrhage
Darius's basic attacks aply bleed,which deal damage for a short time
This is Darius's passive ability.What it basicly does is that it deals magic damage to the enemy for a few seconds after you hit them.This effect stacks up to 5 times.It also aids some of your abilities. Crippling Strike's cooldown is lowered depending on the stacks of Hemorrhage on it's target and Noxian Guillotine deals 20% MORE damage for EACH stack.Combine with Ignite for greater effect.You also get a bonus movement speed for every stack on enemy champions
Decimate
Darius swings his axe in a wide circle.Enemies struck by the blade take double damage than those struck by the handle.
This is Darius's damage tool.This ability applies 1 stack of Hemorrhage.You can use this ability to harass enemy champions with the outer circle to hit them with the blade of the axe.It deals great damage at any stage of the game.Use this ability first in a fight to deal much pain to the enemy.You can also use this ability to hit an enemy champion who is chasing you for the Movement Speed bonus.Max this ability first

Cripling Strike
Darius hits his enemy's artery,causing them to bleed.The target's Attack Speed and Movement Speed are lowered.
This ability causes your next basic attack to deal more damage and reset your attack timer.It cools down faster for every Hemorrhage stack on it's target.Use this ability right after you pull your enemy with Apprehend to make sure he won't run away.This ability also applies a stack of Hemorrhage.You can also use this when an enemy is chasing your lane mate or any other ally to slow him and get him to give up the chase or even dying to you.Max this ability second
Aprrehend
Darius pulls all enemies in front of him in a cone and he is passivly given Armor Penetration.
This ability is very similar to Nautilus's Dredge Line.It is a short range pull that pulls ALL enemies in front of you.Use this ability to pull enemies to your team or to pull an enemy who is chasing an ally to you and save them.This ability doesn't apply your Passive.Max this ability last.

Noxian Guillotine
Darius leaps to an enemy champion,dealing true damage that is increased by 20% for every stack of hemorradge.This ability's cooldown is refreashed if it deal the killing blow
This is an execution style Ultimate Ability.It's very powerful Ultimate that can be used very often in a teamfight.Be careful when to use it.Because it deals so much damage many players use it to steal kills.It's fun to do it but try not to steal kills very often.

Mercury's Treads: +25 Magic Resist UNIQUE Passive:Enhanced Movement 2(Doesn't stack with other boots) UNIQUE Passive +35 Tenacity..This boots will help you againts AP based Champions and also lower the duration of all disables and CC's on you.If you are fighting AD Champions,pick ninja tapi instead.

frozen mullet frozen mullet: +700 Health +20 Attack Damage UNIQUE Passive:Your basic attacks slow your target's Movement Speed by 40% for 2,5 seconds.This is a MUST HAVE for Darius.The slow will let you srick to your enemy for much longer and the extra Health will keep you alive in fights.The little boost of 25 AD is always welcome.Pick phadge early or/and giants belt to be durable early on.


Aegis of the Legion: +270 Health +18 Armor +24 Magic Resist UNIQUE Aura:Nearby allied champion gain 12 Armor,15 Magic Resist and 8 Attack Damage(effects you also) .This is an items that gives you a nice boost in defence with the price of 1950 Gold.Buy this item early-mid game to stay safe from harm.

Maw of Malmortius: +55 Attack Damage +36 Magic Resist UNIQUE Passive If you take Magic Damage that would leave you with less than 30% of your HPs you get a Shield that Absorbs 400 Magic Damage for 5 seconds UNIQUE Passive +1 Attack damage for every 2,5 health missing.This item protects you from Casters and gives you a nice Attack boost.Buy Hexdrinker early and then upgrade it to the Maw.

Randuin's Omen: +350 Health +75 Armor +25 Health Regen per 5 secs UNIQUE Passive -5% Cooldown Reduction and 20% chance on being hit to slow the attacker's movement and attack speed by 35% for 3 seconds. UNIQUE Active: Slows movement speeds and attack speeds of surrounding units by 35% for 2 seconds + 0.5 seconds for each 100 Armor and Magic Resist. 60 second cooldown. (500 Range).Late game item that will help you survive large fight and a Active that can help you get away from a chase.Combine with Magic Resist and Armor for greater effect.

Madred's Bloodrazor: +25 Armor, +40 Attack Damage, +40 Attack Speed. UNIQUE Passive: On hit, deals bonus Magic Damage equal to 4% of the target's maximum health, (max. 120 versus monsters).Good old Razors.Buy them late game when most champions get tanky.It will help you to bring them down easly.And who says no to some Attack Speed?

OR

Black Cleaver: +55 Attack Damage,+ 30 Attack Speed. UNIQUE Passive: Physical attacks reduce your target's Armor by 15 for 5 seconds, (maximum 3 stacks).Both items work and they do the same.You can choose either one of them.

Your champion ignores unit collision and has 27% increased Movement Speed for 10 seconds. 210 second cooldown..This is my personal favourite Summoner spell.It will help you catch up to an enemy and stay close to him long enough to kill him OR it helps you escape from gangs and ambusies.I recommend this Spell for any champion.


Ignites target enemy unit, dealing 70-410 true damage (depending on champion level) over 5 seconds and reduces healing effects on the target for the duration. 180 second cooldown.I think this is an important spell for every game.It is brilliant againt doctor mundo and Volibear.Combine with your passive and no one will get away alive!
OTHER CHOISES


Teleports your champion toward your cursor's location. 265 second cooldown..This is the best summoner spell by far.It can help you do pretty much everything like catching an enemy or make an escape from the enemy team when they are chasing you.I use it a lot but i think that Ghost suits Darius better


After casting for 4 seconds, teleports your champion to target allied minion, turret, or ward. 300 second cooldown..This spell is one of my favourites for solo-top or mid lane.It helps you to get into the action while you are in the other side of the map or to get you to a turrent that need to be defended.If you are playing Ranked or Draft mode and you want to go solo,this is the spell for you.

Darius has some interesting tricks that he can use in a game.

First,you can use your E to pull an enemy who is hiding behind a thin wall like that on your base.If you have seen an enemy gatting close to your base walls,you can crab him inside.He doesn't stand a chance.Use the same trick to steal the Blue Buff Golem.If you have vision on the Golem Camp,you can deny an important buff to the enemy.

2nd,activating W will reset your attack timer,so using W right after an attack can make you attack instantly again.Combo your attacks with this in mind.Try openning with Q followed by a basic attack into a W,pull them back with E,Q again and finish them off with R.If they don't die use ignite,if you left them with low life.

3d,you can use Decimate to hit an enemy chasing you to get the Movement Speed buff.

This paragraph will help you counter any enemy you fight againt and you will also learn what benifits you get from your lane mate.



Great lane mate.Pull the enemy to you,Alistar will knock him up and then throw him back to your turrent.You will both be very durable and you won't die often.Alistar's ability to heal around him is unmacthed and he will help you stay in the lane longer.

.Two pulls are better than one.Get behind him and wait for him to crab the enemy.When he does,pull the enemy EVEN further with your pull.Guaranteed success.
If you are facing Blitzcrank in a lane always stay behind your minions and try to kill his ability to pull you.Remember that rocket crab has way more range than E and your must be careful.

dr.mundo.His Q will help you land your attacks better and pull enemies easly.His Heart Zapper will damage enemies when they are pulled to you and his Ultimate will let him live longer and help you more.If you are facing Mundo,use ignite when he uses his ultimate to leave him helpless and always stay behind your minion wave.

.The Grand Master is someone you want by your side.His abilities will help you kill enemies and his stun will let you land everything in a heavy barage of combined damage from both of you.To counter him,you must play very defensive and be ready to harass him in every mistake he does.Try to pull him to your turrent if he jumps you.

.His slow make him a great ally and his Q a tough guy to fight.Combine your abilities with him to dominate your lane and let him farm his Q as much as he cans.Use your E and let him do the job.If you are fighting him keep him pinned down to his turrent and deny EXPs and Gold AND NEVER LET HIM FARM!

.Great burst damage,great Attack Damage,he is able to hold his ground and then get in and kill everyone.With you in his lane you will be a dominating lane.Remember not to steal his kills so he can reach his full power.If you are fighting him,always harass him when you can and pull him in for the kill.Try to pinn him down and don't let him farm.

.Same as Graves.She is super squishy so you must keep her alive and let her take all the kills and farm a lot.What ever you do don't let her die.Always sit in front of her so she can shoot arrows all day.Counter her with Armor and don't be scared to go directly at her.

This was my first ever guide and i really hope it helped you.I made this guide to share my game style and build that i use and i find very it very powerful.Please make suggestion about how to improve my guide and tell me if you want to add more champion counter strategies in the previous paragraph.I hope you like my hard work and get my going.Again i want your opinions about my guide to help me become better.

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