Vex vs Irelia
Skill matchup
Build vs Irelia
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Vex: Luden's Echo, Shadowflame, Zhonya's Hourglass, Sorcerer's Shoes, Stormsurge, Dark Seal, Rabadon's Deathcap, Blackfire Torch.
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 Vex
Tips to maximize your impact
- Save your empowered spell for a dash
When Doom 'n Gloom (passive) is ready, save Personal Space (W) for the enemy who jumps on you: the shockwave fears them and interrupts their dash, and you gain a shield.
- Make every dash cost them
When an enemy dashes near you, Doom 'n Gloom (passive) marks them: hit them with Mistral Bolt (Q) for bonus damage, and your empowerment comes back sooner.
- Ult in, then Personal Space
After the Shadow Surge (R) dash, follow up with Personal Space (W): the shield protects you on arrival, and the shockwave fears if Doom 'n Gloom (passive) is ready.
- Chain your ults
If the champion marked by Shadow Surge (R) dies shortly after being hit by it, its cooldown is reset for a moment: recast it right away at another target.
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.
Patch 16.21.1