Pantheon vs Irelia
Skill matchup
Build vs Irelia
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Pantheon: Serrated Dirk, Bastionbreaker, Voltaic Cyclosword, Plated Steelcaps, Eclipse, Black Cleaver, Death's Dance, Sundered Sky.
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 Pantheon
Tips to maximize your impact
- Start with Shield Vault
Start your trades with Shield Vault (W): you leap onto your target and stun them, so Comet Spear (Q) can't miss.
- Thrust or throw
Tap Comet Spear (Q) for a short thrust that refunds part of the cooldown, or hold it to throw your spear farther.
- Raise your Aegis against burst
Raise Aegis Assault (E) against enemy burst: you ignore damage from that direction, except from towers.
- Roam with Grand Starfall
Roam with Grand Starfall (R): you leap from long range onto the chosen area, and the spell instantly readies Mortal Will (passive).
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 Pantheon matchups
Patch 16.21.1