Tier A Beginner Patch 14.21
Marauder Aatrox — The Best Opener in the Patch
1-cost Aatrox reroll: the comp that lets you streak through Stage 2 with one-cost units and pivot into anything. Items, augments, and exact Stage 3 decision points.
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When to force it
Aatrox reroll is the default safe play from any opening hand that has a Tactician's Crown or two Aatrox copies on 2-1. It loses to high-roll Vayne, but it consistently top-6s and pivots cleanly into Galaxy Hunter or Marauder 6 at level 8.
Stage 2 — push the streak
Buy every Aatrox, Chogath, and Nasus. Slam a Bloodthirster on Aatrox before 2-5 if you have the components — the heal lets him carry uncontested fights and snowballs streak gold.
Stage 3 transition gates
On 3-2 you check three things: (1) Is Aatrox 2-starred? (2) Do you have 50+ gold? (3) Is anyone else hitting Marauders?
Three yeses → slow-roll on 6 toward Aatrox 3. Two yeses → level 7 on 3-5 and continue rerolling. Fewer than two → fast 8 and pivot to Stargazer flex.
Items
Aatrox BIS: Bloodthirster, Titan's Resolve, Sterak's. Acceptable: Hand of Justice replaces Titan's if you have no Belts. Filler frontline: Warmog + Sunfire on Nasus, Dragon's Claw + Gargoyle on Chogath.
Augments
S-tier: Marauder Crest/Heart/Soul, Pandora's Bench, Best Friends II, Tiny Titans, Family.
A-tier: Cybernetic Bulk II, Component Grab Bag, Better Together.
Closing
Aatrox is the floor that catches you when nothing else hits. Knowing how to play it from any opener is what separates a Plat player from a Diamond one.
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