Hi, I'm CapnAusteve, and in this guide I'm going to do my best to teach and help you get better at my favorite Champion ever, Darius. Before we get started I must address the fact that no, I am not in the highest teir of, well anything, but I have been playing Darius for a rather long time now and I feel as though I can make a competent guide. So without further ado, lets jump on in.

The Pros to Darius are Pretty Simple:
Great Early Game Damage
Low CD Abilities
Good Harass for Champions that just want to Farm
A Very Deadly, Easy to Use Ulti

The Cons Are Kind of ... Low?:
Walking Kite in the Late Game
If You Fall Behind Early, You Stay Behind
Easy to Counter
Not a Good Gap Closer Without Flash

Whenever you start make your presence known in lane. You have one of the best early games in the game. When you see your opponent, kill him. If he walks up to get a farm, kill him. If he is under his tower, kill him. If he hides in his jungle, KILL HIM! Nah, but seriously though, you should be killing as often as possible as early as possible. Once you get ahead in lane it becomes pretty hard to be stopped. During the laning phase, if you get ahead don't be afraid to roam. Share your wealth and power with the team. If you fall behind ask for a gank and farm under your tower while you wait. For melee minions let the tower hit them twice then you hit them. On casters hit it once, let the tower hit it, then you hit it again. During this phase you should get all of your essential items, and at least one defensive item based on how well you're playing.

During this part of the game you should be roaming with up to two other team members gaining control of the map. Help your Jungler gank for bot, and clear the enemy jungle camps. Lay down wards on important objectives like Baron and Dragon. You're a force to be reckoned with so if you're ahead enough to where your team doesn't NEED you to fight and they can avoid doing so feel free to push out a lane, lay down a ward then regroup. During this time you should focus on keeping the enemy off of your ADCs and Mid Laners. If you can protect them while they farm, they will be your saving grace in the late game.

At this point your ADCs and Mid Laners should be, if not almost, full builds. Try to take the important objectives and maintain map control. The difference between Defeat and Victory could be a team fight you didn't see coming because you didn't ward ALL the paths to Dragon. In season 5 the Dragon Buff makes Baron almost pointless to go for. DO NOT GIVE THESE UP IF YOU'RE PAST 30 MINUTES AND YOUR TEAM HAS ONLY GOTTEN ONE WHILE THEIRS HAS GOTTEN 3 OR 4. YOU WILL LOSE. If you've managed to stay ahead look for easy engages. If you see the enemy ADC is alone, and you have vision on the rest of their team, don't be afraid to flash on them. Force 4v5s on the enemy. If you manage to kill the ADC, Jungler and Mid Lane of the enemy team, and still have all of yours, rush Baron, recall, and prepare for the final push. Everything matters at this point in the game, and if you can avoid being a walking kite, you'll be a very important part of your teams victory.