The New League of Legends Champion Revives Aatrox's Old Kit
The latest League of Legends champion, Zaahen, brings back a mechanic once exclusive to Aatrox — a revive ability. This return surprises many fans, especially those wary of facing durable top laners.
Zaahen’s Combat Style and Abilities
Zaahen blends Aatrox's aggressive melee chase-down playstyle with Xin Zhao's methodical stacking damage. Designed as a tougher melee top laner, his kit mimics elements from both champions but remains distinct.
- Features dashes, pulls, and double strikes similar to Aatrox.
- Includes a passive that builds damage stacks reminiscent of Xin Zhao’s AD stacking.
- Possesses a revive mechanic comparable to Anivia’s ultimate.
Design Insights from Riot
Blake "Squad5" Smith, lead gameplay designer, explains: "Zaahen is inspired by Xin Zhao and other Darkin in the game. We tried to create something that hits similar notes but is uniquely his own."
Smith also acknowledges the irony of including a revive: "Riot removed Aatrox's revive passive with patch 9."
Community Reaction
Many players, especially squishy support mains, find Zaahen intimidating due to his durability and revive, which brings back a frustrating element long absent from the game. This new champion threatens to shift the meta and challenge players’ strategies on the Rift.
Author’s Summary
Zaahen revives a once-removed Aatrox ability and mixes it with Xin Zhao’s mechanics, creating a strong new top lane champion that feels both familiar and uniquely challenging.