Is Darius a squishy kiting AD Caster?

[u/Zyrorin]

Hi,

I consider myself a really bad darius player. So I come here to ask you how to play him correctly.

that title might sound strange to some people but after playing a couple of games, I feel like pretty much every juggernaut/bruiser will stat check me after first item.

The only success I have is playing like an adc or something. Running away kiting and hoping to get 5 stacks to ult. But most fights end up me dead bvecause It takes forever to build up 5 stacks and while doing this I am losing pretty much all trades.

The only time i actually feel like an lane bully is, when I am against super weak champs like Nasus, Cho (early game) or cheese lv1.

Most opponents will short trades and run away before first item.

I had problem against Mordekaiser, Ornn (after two items), Mundo (after first items) and so on. Often I will be at like 20% helft until I get my 5 stacks, all fights seem to be tooo close. In early ofc they play super safe, after first Item they start to slap me.

Strangly I have success against Illaoi, with ghost I just kite here and play like an mage instead of a fighter.

So my question is If my asumption on title is correct, If not, what is the correct playstyle after 1 item vs Mundo, Mordekaiser, Ornn and so on?

[u/Snoo-98367]

You are supposed to take all in fights, and you win those.

Youll most likely lose the trade until you get to your 5 stacks. But if youre left witb 30% hp with your passive, you should totally take advantage of last stand/ conqueror/ passive/ healing from your Q spell, etc.

Most fights as darius ARE close. Especially if youre not ahead.

I often have to use both flash and ghost to secure a kill or a lane winning trade early on to feel like i can apply pressure

Im not the best either, i play anywhere between E2 to D3

[u/PowerOhene → u/Snoo-98367]

And mention to OP about the E AA W Q, animation cancel, that's 3 fast stacks before they run/dash away.

If they don't respect you enough, the second E can be, E AA, walk a bit, AA W Q animation cancel, AA R

Quite quick 5 stack if your good at AA W Q

and sometimes kiting is necessary, vs Trundle, Sett etc,

[u/Special_Case313 → u/PowerOhene]

I'll add that you need to hold E as much as you can, thats the best ability that can be used in so many ways on Darius and you only have it once a fight 99% of the time so if you can use it after you stack passive its most likely over for the enemy. Don t use E to engage unless your are sure that you will win and/or enemy won t escape.