Irelia vs Vex
You are stronger early. Look to snowball before your opponent scales.
Build vs Vex
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Irelia: Blade of The Ruined King, Hullbreaker, Wit's End, Mercury's Treads, Death's Dance, Kraken Slayer, Guardian Angel, Endless Hunger.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Vex's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Vex periodically becomes empowered, causing her next basic Ability to fear enemies and interrupt dashes. Whenever a nearby enemy dashes, Vex applies a mark that can be consumed for bonus damage that also reduces the cooldown of her empowered state.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 8s | 16s | 12s | – |
| 6 | 6s | 16s | 12s | 2m20 |
| 9 | 4s | 15s | 12s | 2m20 |
| 11 | 4s | 14s | 12s | 2m |
| 16 | 4s | 12s | 12s | 1m40 |
| 18 | 4s | 12s | 12s | 1m40 |
Playing as Irelia
Tips to maximize your impact
- Mark your target before you dash
Mark your targets with Flawless Duet (E) or Vanguard's Edge (R) before Bladesurge (Q): if the target is Unsteady or dies to it, its cooldown resets.
- Stack your passive before trading
Before a trade, hit minions with Bladesurge (Q) to stack Ionian Fervor (passive): each stack gives attack speed, and at max stacks your autos hit harder.
- Catch your target between blades
Place the two blades of Flawless Duet (E) on either side of your target: only enemies caught between them are stunned.
- Tank burst with Defiant Dance
Use Defiant Dance (W) to absorb a burst: you take less damage while charging, and the longer you hold it, the harder the release hits.
Playing against Vex
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Dodge her mist early
Get out of the line of Mistral Bolt (Q) early: after a short delay, the mist narrows but speeds up.
- No dashes near her
If you have a dash, avoid using it near her: it marks you with Gloom, and if Doom 'n Gloom (passive) is ready, her next spell interrupts it and fears you.
- Trade after her fear
Start a trade right after she fears someone: her next spell empowered by Doom 'n Gloom (passive) then takes a while to come back.
- Dodge her Shadow
Get out of the path of Shadow Surge (R): Vex can only dash to the first champion hit by Shadow.
Other Irelia matchups
Patch 16.21.1