The new League of Legends champion revives the strongest part of Aatrox's old kit and mixes it with Xin Zhao's

The New League of Legends Champion Revives a Classic Mechanic

The new champion Zaahen in League of Legends brings back the revive mechanic once held by Aatrox. Known for being a squishy support main, I find top laners scary, especially Aatrox, who consistently threatens champions like Janna and Senna with his persistent presence and strong kill potential.

Zaahen’s Inspiration and Playstyle

Zaahen combines the melee, chase-down combat style of Aatrox with the stacking damage mechanics found in Xin Zhao’s kit. With dashes, pulls, and double strikes, Zaahen’s abilities closely resemble Aatrox’s on paper but with unique elements added.

Lead gameplay designer Blake "Squad5" Smith explains: “Zaahen is a tougher, top lane melee character inspired by Xin Zhao, and other Darkin in the game. We tried to make something that felt like he hit similar notes but at the end of the day was uniquely his own thing.”

Unique Passive and Revive Mechanic

Zaahen features a passive that blends a stacking damage system similar to Xin Zhao’s attack damage buildup, along with a revive mechanic reminiscent of Anivia. This revival aspect is noteworthy as Riot Games removed Aatrox's revive passive in patch 9.

Smith remarks on the irony: “The revive is pretty ironic, given that Riot removed Aatrox's revive passive from League of Legends with patch 9.”
Player Reactions and Concerns

Zaahen’s return to the revive mechanic has sparked apprehension among players, especially those who have endured the frustration of facing Aatrox top lane. The blend of powerful melee abilities and a second chance to stay in fights makes him a formidable opponent.

Author’s summary: Zaahen reintroduces Aatrox’s iconic revive mechanic fused with Xin Zhao’s damage stacking, crafting a unique yet intimidating top lane champion that challenges players anew.

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PCGamesN PCGamesN — 2025-11-09

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