Poppy vs Irelia
Favorable matchup
Build vs Irelia
The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup
Recommended items for Poppy: Tear of the Goddess, Sundered Sky, Fimbulwinter, Plated Steelcaps, Thornmail, Sunfire Aegis, Bramble Vest, Iceborn Gauntlet.
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 Poppy
Tips to maximize your impact
- Pin your target against a wall
Position so that Heroic Charge (E) slams your target into a wall: they're then stunned and take bonus damage.
- Keep them in your zone
Keep your target in the Hammer Shock (Q) zone: the zone slows them, then explodes and deals the same damage a second time.
- Pick up your buckler
After a trade, pick up the Iron Ambassador (passive) buckler that bounced off your target: it gives you a temporary shield.
- Stop their dashes
Cast Steadfast Presence (W) when an enemy is about to dash onto you or your carry: the field stops dashes around you, and the stopped enemy is slowed and grounded.
- Send a diver far away
Charge Keeper's Verdict (R) to send away a diver or isolate their carry: the target is knocked back toward their Nexus, farther the longer you charge.
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 Poppy matchups
Patch 16.21.1