LeBlanc vs Irelia
Skill matchup
You are stronger early. Look to snowball before your opponent scales.
Build vs Irelia
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for LeBlanc: Luden's Echo, Shadowflame, Zhonya's Hourglass, Sorcerer's Shoes, Stormsurge, Dark Seal, Rabadon's Deathcap, Mejai's Soulstealer.
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 LeBlanc
Tips to maximize your impact
- Pop your sigil with a spell
After Sigil of Malice (Q), hit the target with another ability: the sigil only detonates on a spell, not on an auto.
- Distortion in, then come back
Take your trades with Distortion (W): within 4 seconds, recast it to return to where you started.
- Keep your target chained
After Ethereal Chains (E), keep the target chained for 1.5 seconds: they're then rooted and take extra damage, giving you time to land your burst.
- Look for isolated targets
In the mid game, look for isolated targets rather than head-on teamfights: your burst focuses one target, and Distortion (W) then takes you back out.
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 LeBlanc matchups
Patch 16.21.1