Darius vs Irelia

Darius
vs
50.9%

over 1122 games

Irelia

Skill matchup

Heavy AD damageSplit pushSustained DPSHigh burst

Build vs Irelia

Build adapted to this matchup

Recommended items for Darius: Youmuu's Ghostblade, Dead Man's Plate, Death's Dance, Plated Steelcaps, Sterak's Gage, Stridebreaker, Bramble Vest, Force of Nature.

Starting items

Doran's Blade
Health Potion

Core build

Youmuu's Ghostblade
1
Dead Man's Plate
2
Death's Dance
3

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Sterak's Gage
5

Summoner spells

FlashHaste61%
FlashDot28%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Sterak's Gage
Stridebreaker
Bramble Vest
Force of Nature
Trinity Force
Spear of Shojin
Thornmail
Randuin's Omen
Black Cleaver
Executioner's Calling
Frozen Heart
Jak'Sho, The Protean
Serrated Dirk
Spirit Visage
Guardian Angel
Kaenic Rookern
Tiamat
Quicksilver Sash
Immortal Shieldbow
The Collector
Lord Dominik's Regards
Chempunk Chainsword
Mortal Reminder
Sundered Sky
Mercurial Scimitar
Overlord's Bloodmail
Maw of Malmortius
65.2% WR115 games
PrecisionPrecision
ConquerorConqueror
TriumphTriumph
Legend: AlacrityLegend: Alacrity
Last StandLast Stand
SorcerySorcery
Axiom ArcanistAxiom Arcanist
CelerityCelerity
Attack SpeedAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Irelia's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Ionian Fervor (P)

When Irelia strikes enemies with spells she gains stacking bonus Attack Speed. At maximum stacks she also gains bonus damage on hit.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
310s20s16s–
68s20s16s2m05
96s18s16s2m05
116s16s16s1m45
166s12s13s1m25
186s12s10s1m25

Playing as Darius

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Hit with the edge of your axe

    Aim the outer edge of Decimate (Q): only the blade heals you and applies Hemorrhage (passive). The handle, in the center, deals less damage.

  2. All-in at five stacks

    Go all-in when your target has five Hemorrhage (passive) stacks: you gain a massive AD bonus, and Noxian Guillotine (R) hits harder with each stack.

  3. Save Apprehend for runners

    Save Apprehend (E) to pull back an enemy who retreats, not to start a trade: it's your only pull, on a 26 to 16 second cooldown.

  4. Execute to recast your R

    Cast Noxian Guillotine (R) on the lowest-health target: its true damage ignores armor, and if it kills, you can recast it right away.

Playing against Irelia

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Stay away from low-health minions

    Don't stand near your low-health minions: Bladesurge (Q) resets when it kills, so she chains dashes from minion to minion until she reaches you.

  2. Dodge the line of her blades

    As soon as the first blade of Flawless Duet (E) lands, change direction: the stun only hits enemies caught between the two blades.

  3. Trade before her passive stacks

    Take your trades when Ionian Fervor (passive) isn't stacked: she builds stacks with her abilities, and at max stacks her autos deal more damage.

  4. Wait out her Defiant Dance

    Save your burst for after Defiant Dance (W): while charging, she takes much less damage, but she can't do anything else.

  5. Dodge her blade ult

    Dodge Vanguard's Edge (R): its blades make you Unsteady, which resets Bladesurge (Q) on you, and the cage they form damages and slows anyone who crosses it.

Patch 16.21.1