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How do I play against sustain in top lane as Irelia?

Obscene Elbows·6/8/2017, 1:54:52 PM·1 votes·725 views

Hi, I have recently been trying to get better in other roles and have been playing a bit of Irelia top. My issue right now is laning against any champions with sustain seems to end up being a stalemate. Take Kled for example, I can knock him off Skarl easily enough but have nothing left to finish him off with as he runs away, then he gets back on Skarl and I'm back to square one. Or Ekko who, if ever i am about to kill him, just ults and plays passively until his ult is back up and just q farms. How can i punish/counter this? It seems every game seems to just be a stalemate of 'who can be out of lane for the least amount of time' until I make a mistake and fall behind.

Also let me know if you have any suggestions for a different champ. I like Irelia for her q farming/escape and sustain but a single death seems to be really hard to come back from (not sure if that's just because I'm a noob though :P)

11 Comments

Erockandroll6/8/2017, 2:40:08 PM2 votes

You're doing pretty well as it is. Even if your unable to burst them down, they aren't turning it around and out dueling you it seems.

My best recommendation is Jungle intervention. That's probably the best way to resolve a stalemate.

PermabannedGaren6/8/2017, 2:19:54 PM1 votes

An Irelia lane that's a stalemate is a win because Irelia has one of if not the strongest one item power spikes in the game. Just get your Triforce and vaporize the enemy carries.

Scary Door6/8/2017, 2:32:14 PM1 votes

Burst > Sustain > Poke.

Irelia has plenty of burst if you rush Triforce (or Triforce + BoRK). You will be able to blow up nearly anyone with that powerspike top lane. That being said, Kled is a pretty decent counter to Irelia. Irelia wins most trades and then it's just a matter of hitting level 6, using your ult... easy win.

DeathBurst6/8/2017, 3:01:41 PM1 votes

It seems every game seems to just be a stalemate of 'who can be out of lane for the least amount of time' until I make a mistake and fall behind.

Well, don't try to force things, don't try to "punish" them. Just accept this situation, stay focused, and wait for THEM to make a mistake and fall behind.

ChaddyFantome6/8/2017, 4:22:06 PM1 votes

As Irelia, you don't even need to beat them really. You have sustain of your own and are in a better position to punish them if they mistep and scale much harder than most champs.

Farm up and wait for midgame or a jungle gank and u are gucci. Once you get Triforce you have the potential to all-in as well.