Gangplank vs Irelia
Skill matchup
Build vs Irelia
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Gangplank: Essence Reaver, The Collector, Infinity Edge, Plated Steelcaps, Immortal Shieldbow, Lord Dominik's Regards, Mortal Reminder, Bramble Vest.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Irelia's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
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
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 10s | 20s | 16s | – |
| 6 | 8s | 20s | 16s | 2m05 |
| 9 | 6s | 18s | 16s | 2m05 |
| 11 | 6s | 16s | 16s | 1m45 |
| 16 | 6s | 12s | 13s | 1m25 |
| 18 | 6s | 12s | 10s | 1m25 |
Playing as Gangplank
Tips to maximize your impact
- Chain your kegs
Build a chain with Powder Keg (E): detonate the keg farthest from your opponent, and each keg whose area touches the previous one explodes too, all the way to them.
- Last-hit with Parrrley
Last-hit minions and pop kegs with Parrrley (Q): a kill with the shot gives bonus gold, and so does a kill from a keg it sets off.
- Save your W for CC
Save Remove Scurvy (W) for a key CC rather than for healing: it cleanses all CC on you, on a 22 to 14 second cooldown.
- Bombard other fights
Cast Cannon Barrage (R) anywhere on the map to help a fight or cover an objective: each wave of cannonballs slows and damages in the area.
Playing against Irelia
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Other Gangplank matchups
Patch 16.21.1