Darius has been a part of the League of Legends champion roster for over 10 years.
Since his release in May 2012, Darius has barely been changed. When he made his debut in the game, he was heralded as one of the best one-vs-one top laners—and that still remains true to this day. The Hand of Noxus can quickly burst down opponents and his potential to snowball into the late game is enormous.
One of the last things you want to do against Darius is to get up close and personal. Due to the champ’s high damage and bleeding mechanic, almost every trade will come out in his favor. With his Apprehend (E), it’s also easy for him to close the gap and finish you off once he hits level six.
There are, however, a few champions that counter Darius. Here are the best counters for the champion.
Quinn
Darius struggles heavily against ranged champions that can attack him from afar with no way of him successfully closing the gap. Quinn is one of the many top lane-oriented ranged champions that excel here, thanks to not only the near-sight of her Q but the bounce from her E that throws her backward. Quinn is also able to roam freely once she reaches level six, giving her room to gain an advantage over Darius without having to be in lane.
Vayne
Vayne is a great champion against Darius for the same reasons as Quinn. With the Night Hunter, however, you should have more mobility and crowd control, which will be pivotal in one-vs-ones in the top lane. In the late game, you’ll also become a dangerous carry, so you don’t have to worry about scaling.
Kayle
Kayle joins the lineup of ranged top laners that feast on immobile melee champions like Darius. Though her laning phase is one of the weakest in the game, mostly due to her basic attacks being melee until level six, once she unlocks her ultimate, she becomes a ranged champion that easily deals with her opponents from afar. Players should be wary to avoid trades with Darius early, however, as a fed Darius does not need to worry about whether his opponent is melee or ranged.
Sejuani
A staple of the current meta, Sejuani has nearly no counters in the top lane. While she normally thrives in the jungle, players have found great success playing her top thanks to her natural bulk, mobility, and surprising amount of damage. Though she doesn’t win the matchup against Darius handily, she makes the laning phase a lot easier for players who struggle against one of Noxus’ mightiest warriors.
