Ready to unleash the brutal might of Noxus? Darius stands as one of 2XKO's most devastating fighters, combining crushing damage with a unique Wounding mechanic that makes blocking against him a dangerous proposition. Whether you're new to fighting games or looking to add a powerhouse to your roster, the Hand of Noxus offers straightforward yet incredibly effective gameplay that will make your opponents bleed.
What Makes Darius Special
Darius excels as a mid-range striker who controls space through sheer intimidation (yes, look at those pecs) and reach. His massive axe isn't just for show; it delivers punishing blows that extend far beyond what opponents expect from most fighters.
The core of Darius' power lies in his Wounding system. Specific attacks apply a wound debuff that forces opponents to take significant chip damage even when blocking successfully. This mechanic transforms defensive play against Darius into a losing battle, as you'll steadily drain their health bar regardless of their blocking prowess.
2XKO Darius
tip
Focus on applying wound status early in rounds. Once active, even your basic attacks become threatening through blocks.
Darius Combos and Special Moves
Core Special Attacks
Apprehend (S1) serves as your primary tool for controlling opponents. This pull command grabs enemies and drags them into close range, completely negating defensive options like Push Block. The beauty of Apprehend lies in its follow-up potential:
Darius Apprehend
- Skullcrack (L): Quick overhead that must be blocked standing
- Sunder (M): Applies wound status for ongoing pressure
- Hand of Noxus (H): Command grab that repositions opponents
Decimate (S2) unleashes a devastating axe swing with exceptional range. The follow-up Lacerate (S2) not only extends your combo but applies wound status and deals bonus damage to already wounded opponents.
Darius Moveset
Devastating Super Moves
Darius Special Attacks
Noxian Revolution (Down Down + S1) costs 1 bar and strikes immediately in front of Darius, even hitting knocked-down opponents. Perfect for punishing unsafe moves or extending combos.
Noxian Might (Down Down + S2) unleashes a screen-spanning slash that applies wound status. This 1-bar super covers nearly the entire stage, making it exceptional for catching retreating opponents.
Noxian Guillotine (Down Down + S1 + S2) represents Darius' ultimate execution tool. This 2-bar super provides full invulnerability during startup and delivers massive damage through a cinematic sequence.
How to Play Darius Effectively
Neutral Game Strategy
Darius thrives when controlling mid-range space. Use Decimate and Apprehend to threaten opponents at maximum axe range. Your goal is fishing for openings while maintaining pressure through the constant threat of being pulled into close-range mixups.
Cut Down (Forward + M) serves as your overhead option for breaking crouch-blocking opponents, while Hamstring (Down-Forward + M) provides a long-range low sweep that grants hard knockdown on hit.
Darius Movelist
warning
Darius lacks air mobility options. Be cautious about jumping unless you have specific purpose, as you're vulnerable during aerial movement.
Pressure and Mixup Game
Once you land Apprehend, opponents face difficult decisions. The pull eliminates their defensive options, forcing them to guess between:
- Blocking the overhead Skullcrack
- Jumping to avoid the Hand of Noxus command grab
- Taking the wound-applying Sunder for ongoing chip damage
Savage Tackle (H while running) adds another layer with its armor property and knockdown potential. This move becomes even more dangerous when used as an assist, providing wall bounce properties.
Tag Team Synergy
Darius excels in tag situations through his powerful assists:
Savage Tackle Assist (Forward + Tag) brings Darius in with armor, eating the first hit while delivering a wall bounce counter-attack.
Apprehend Assist (Back + Tag) pulls opponents toward your point character, creating unexpected combo opportunities and mixup situations.
Advanced Darius Techniques
Wounding Optimization
The wound status transforms Darius from dangerous to devastating. Priority targets for wound application include:
- Sunder follow-up from Apprehend
- Lacerate after connecting Decimate
- Noxian Might super for full-screen wound application
important
Wounded opponents take significant chip damage from all your attacks, even basic normals. Maintain aggressive pressure once wound status is active.
Defensive Options
Grievous Wheel (Down-Forward + S2) serves as your primary reversal tool. This armored move provides one hit of protection while delivering a low-hitting counter-attack. You can cancel this move into supers for additional safety and damage.
The armor property makes Grievous Wheel excellent for interrupting opponent pressure, especially against characters relying on single-hit setups.
Combo Extensions
Advanced players can maximize damage through proper combo routing:
- Apprehend → Sunder → Dash forward → M → H → Grievous Wheel
- Coward's Bane → M → H → Noxian Revolution
- Corner: Decimate → Lacerate → Dash → L → M → Noxian Might
2XKO Darius and Yasuo
Recommended Fuse Combinations
When running Darius in 2XKO, a few fuse choices stand out as particularly nasty. Freestyle pairs perfectly with his pull mechanics. land Apprehend into Skullcrack, then tag out and your partner gets to run free offense while the opponent’s defensive options are already blown. Double Assist is another scary option since Darius’s wall-bouncing capabilities make double pulls or chained wall bounces a nightmare to escape from, locking players down in extended pressure sequences.
Even Double DHC has huge value, letting you turn risky moments into opportunities; if you whiff something like Grievous Wheel, you can cancel into Noxian Might and DHC into your partner’s super to stay safe and keep up the pressure instead of eating a punish.
As for teammates, players often lean toward Ekko for his movement and zoning tools that complement Darius’ brute force, or Ahri for her strong assist utility and space control. Both of them help cover Darius’ slower neutral while setting him up to land those devastating hits that make these fuse options shine.
tip
Avoid Fury fuse unless you specifically need the damage boost. Darius already hits hard enough, and other fuses provide more tactical advantages.
Countering Darius
Defending Against Apprehend Pressure
Smart opponents will attempt to jump over Apprehend setups or use Retreating Guard to escape range. Mix up your timing and consider using Coward's Bane to catch jumping opponents.
Managing Meter Usage
Darius' supers provide excellent utility beyond raw damage. Noxian Might controls space and applies wound, while Noxian Revolution offers side-switching potential for corner carry.
Make 'em Bleed
Darius is one of the best champs for beginners to learn 2XKO with. His kit is simple enough to pick up quickly, but it also teaches the core skills you’ll need long-term, such as space control, pressure, and smart tagging. On top of that, his sheer damage and wound mechanics let him bully opponents the moment he gets in range, forcing them to respect every swing of his axe. Whether you’re just starting out or grinding your way up, Darius gives you the perfect mix of beginner-friendly tools and that classic Noxian bully (insert League of Legends Flashbacks) presence that makes every fight feel like your opponent’s already on the back foot.