Gnar vs Irelia
Skill matchup
Build vs Irelia
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Gnar: Trinity Force, Black Cleaver, Sterak's Gage, Plated Steelcaps, Bramble Vest, Thornmail, Randuin's Omen, Wit's End.
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 Gnar
Tips to maximize your impact
- Poke and catch your boomerang
As Mini Gnar, poke and kite with Boomerang Throw (Q): it slows, and catching it on the way back lowers its cooldown.
- Three hits on the same target
As Mini Gnar, land three hits on the same target: Hyper (W) then adds damage based on their max health and gives you move speed.
- Engage at almost full Rage
Engage when your Rage Gene (passive) bar is almost full: your next ability turns you into Mega Gnar, tankier and with new spells.
- Send them into a wall
Cast GNAR! (R) to send enemies into a wall: those who hit it are stunned and take more damage, the others are only knocked back.
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 Gnar matchups
Patch 16.21.1