Counters for Darius
Champion guide
Patch 7.3a
Champions against Darius
Favorable matchup
Kennen vs Darius
Kennen can limit Darius with ranged attacks and a stun ready to go. The condition is keeping distance and his third ability: going in to apply a mark can hand Darius the pull and the long fight he wants.
Why Kennen works against Darius
01
Marks set up an exit with crowd control
Kennen's abilities and empowered attack let him stack marks up to the stun. Threatening that crowd control makes it harder for Darius to chase without paying for it. Not all of your basic attacks apply a mark, and the active of your second ability needs a mark already applied.
02
Get out before the pull and the axe blade
His third ability gives speed to keep distance, but it doesn't make Kennen untouchable. Keeping it available lets you get out before the pull and avoid the blade of Darius's first ability, which is the part that heals him.
When to attack
Attack when Darius walks up to last-hit a minion and your third ability is available. If he misses the pull, you can add pressure; back off before he stacks Hemorrhage and turns the trade into a chase.
How to play Kennen
- 1Poke from your side of the wave and keep vision of the river; range doesn't protect you from a second enemy.
- 2Mix safe basic attacks with your shuriken when there's a clear line, without spending your third ability to land it.
- 3Set up marks before using your second ability and use the stun to get out if Darius is already close.
- 4Before a long fight or an all-in with your ultimate, check his stacks: crowd-controlling Darius doesn't erase the Hemorrhage he has already applied.
Mistakes to avoid
- Going in with your third ability for a mark and losing your answer to the pull.
- Believing every basic attack applies a mark, or that the stun removes Hemorrhage and his execute threat.
Playing Darius against Kennen
As Darius, use the wave to make the shuriken harder to land and don't give up health chasing every basic attack. Press when Kennen spends his third ability or lacks the energy to respond. If you land the pull, don't let him walk away for free, but don't chase through a huge wave or toward his jungler.
Execution matters
Jayce vs Darius
Jayce can wear Darius down in cannon form and break up an engage with the hammer knockback. It demands managing forms and mana: leaping onto a healthy Darius with no way out turns your range advantage into his best-case scenario.
Why Jayce works against Darius
01
The pressure starts before melee range
The cannon shot fired through the gate lets you contest last hits from afar. Minions can intercept it: you need an angle, not to fire repeatedly into a full wave hoping all the damage reaches Darius.
02
The knockback ends a trade; it doesn't restart it
The hammer third ability knocks Darius back to break contact. It's a useful exit if he closes in, but it doesn't clear Hemorrhage stacks. If you spend that knockback for damage and leap back in immediately, you're stuck in a long fight with no separation.
When to attack
Add pressure when Darius misses the pull and you have mana and the knockback available. Save the hammer engage for a weakened opponent with a clear retreat, not for starting from scratch against his wave.
How to play Jayce
- 1Poke in cannon form when Darius goes for a last hit and change your angle so you don't crash every shot into the first minion.
- 2Keep mana and your hammer third ability for his approach; don't spend all your resources pushing.
- 3If he reaches you, separate with the knockback and back off until the stacks fall off, without reopening the duel right away.
- 4Use your pressure for a favorable recall or a rotation; if you don't know the forms, prioritize a more familiar pick.
Mistakes to avoid
- Leaping onto a full-health Darius in hammer form without the knockback available.
- Using range as an excuse to push without vision; an overextended lane makes his chase and ganks easier.
Playing Darius against Jayce
As Darius, let the wave intercept his shots and save health for the window when Jayce has no knockback or mana. If he comes in with hammer and no way out, force contact and avoid wasting your axe blade against his mobility. Don't run after him at the cost of the whole wave.
Execution matters
Vayne vs Darius
Baron lane Vayne can punish Darius with range, true damage and Condemn. It's a demanding, fragile pick: if she gets pulled with no way out, the advantage disappears. You also have to make up for the frontline your team loses.
Why Vayne works against Darius
01
Condemn and Tumble preserve the spacing
Condemn can push Darius away and Tumble helps you reposition before the pull or the axe blade. They're no excuse to walk into his range. If he has already caught you and both tools are spent, Vayne lacks the durability to take his full sequence.
02
True damage punishes health; it doesn't guarantee the lane
Silver Bolts hits deal max-health true damage when you complete the sequence on the same target. That threatens a Darius stacking health, but switching targets and dragging the trade out until he has five stacks can turn the fight against you.
When to attack
Attack when Darius goes for a last hit, with Condemn available and space toward your side. If he misses the pull you can contest more basic attacks, but back off before he completes Hemorrhage or his jungler arrives.
How to play Vayne
- 1Pick this Baron lane variant only if you know how to play around range and your composition doesn't need you to be the frontline.
- 2Keep the wave near your side: Vayne doesn't want to farm exposed in an overextended lane without vision.
- 3Save Condemn to push him off and use Tumble to reach a safe position; the wall stun is an opportunity, not a requirement for retreating.
- 4If Darius comes in with movement speed or Flash, secure your exit first. Building a farm lead without dying is better than chasing the third hit.
Mistakes to avoid
- Spending Condemn for damage and Tumble forward, leaving Darius a pull you can't answer.
- Picking Vayne for the true damage without considering your jungler, your composition's support and your experience in Baron lane.
Playing Darius against Vayne
As Darius, look for an engage from a brush with denied vision and wait for Vayne to spend Condemn or Tumble forward. Don't chase down the whole lane eating basic attacks. Keep a favorable wave and coordinate cutting off her routes: forcing a fight where she has no space is worth more than contesting her range head-on.