Yorick vs Irelia
Hard matchup
Build vs Irelia
The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup
Recommended items for Yorick: Trinity Force, Spear of Shojin, Serylda's Grudge, Plated Steelcaps, Bramble Vest, Black Cleaver, Thornmail, 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 Yorick
Tips to maximize your impact
- Prepare your graves
Hit a champion or last-hit a minion with Last Rites (Q) to dig a grave: with three graves nearby, recast the spell to raise Mist Walkers from them.
- Mark your target with your Mist
Hit your target with Mourning Mist (E): your nearby graves keep raising Mist Walkers, the target loses armor, and your units rush toward them.
- Wall in your target
Trap your target in Dark Procession (W): the wall blocks enemies but not your allies, and your Mist Walkers hit them in the meantime.
- Split push with your Maiden
After 10 seconds, recast Eulogy of the Isles (R) to send the Maiden of the Mist to push the nearest lane, but you lose a big part of your power.
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 Yorick matchups
Patch 16.21.1