IRELIA

THE BLADE DANCER

Classical splash art of Irelia - league of legends

Icon of Irelia - league of legends

Irelia in game PNG - league of legends

Informations about the champion Irelia:

Title: The Blade Dancer

Real Name: Irelia Xan

Pronouns: She/Her

Release Date: November 16, 2010

Primary: Fighter

Secondary: Assassin

Region of Irelia is: Ionia.

LORE OF IRELIA

Even as a small child, Xan Irelia was fascinated by the grace and beauty of human movement. Under her grandmother’s tutelage, she learned the traditional silk dances of her province—though she was dubious of their supposedly mystical connection to the Spirit of Ionia, Irelia’s love for the dances was real. Seeking to master the art, she eventually left home to study with some of Ionia’s most respected performers at the Placidium of Navori.

Irelia’s people were peaceful and sought harmony with their neighbors, but rumors of foreign invaders sighted off the coast unsettled many at the Placidium. Irelia returned to her village to find it already occupied, with steel-helmed soldiers from distant Noxus shoving unarmed civilians through the streets with the butts of their spears. The Noxian Admiral Duqal had seized the Xan home to quarter his fleet officers.

Irelia’s brothers and her father Lito had evidently protested; her entire family now lay in unmarked graves, in the gardens.

Ravaged by grief, the young girl saw Duqal’s men hauling valuables from the house. Among the loot was a large metal crest, depicting the Xan family emblem. Irelia raced to it, wrenching it from Noxian hands. The admiral himself hurled her to the ground, and had his warriors shatter the crest with a heavy iron maul, before ordering them to dig a fresh grave for this upstart child.

As they surrounded her, Irelia averted her eyes, looking to the pieces of the Xan crest scattered on the ground. From deep within her soul, she felt a strange rhythm begin to beat. The shards of metal began to twitch, to twist, moving seemingly on their own, and Irelia felt the serene joy of the ancient dances once more...

With a sweep of her arm, she sent the pieces flying like ragged blades, cutting clean through two of the Noxians. As Duqal and his officers reeled in shock, Irelia snatched up the shards of her crest, and fled the village.

In the quiet forests beyond, Irelia mourned her family, and thought back to her grandmother’s teachings. She realized that the techniques she had learned were more than mere dances—they were a powerful expression of something far greater.

The Noxian occupation soon began to test the fragile peace of the First Lands. It was said that even the religious leader Karma had been forced to strike back at the invaders with deadly magic, though her followers had now withdrawn to the Lasting Altar and would not condone any further violence. Across Navori, dissenting voices began to band together. A resistance was forming, one that would not rest until Ionia was free once more. Irelia joined their ranks, performing her cherished dances for them in the woodland camps, to preserve some vestige of their vanishing culture.

She was barely fourteen years old when she found herself back at the Placidium. Her band of resistance fighters joined the militia who had sworn to guard the monasteries and wild, sacred gardens.

But Noxus knew only too well what this place represented. A particularly cunning general named Jericho Swain captured the Placidium and took its defenders hostage, hoping to lure the inevitable reinforcements into a trap.

It was in this moment that Irelia rose to meet her destiny. Freed from her bonds, she unleashed the full potential of her ancient blade dance, lashing out with graceful zeal. A dozen of Swain’s veterans fell, sowing chaos in their ranks as the other captives joined her, before she struck down the general himself—the sight of this rebellious girl hefting his severed arm over her head would be the turning point of the war.

This victory, the Great Stand at Navori, ensured that everyone in Ionia knew the name of Xan Irelia, and looked to her for leadership. Reluctantly, she led the growing resistance for almost three years of grueling battle before her triumph at Dalu Bay. There, she finally cornered the defeated Admiral Duqal, and exacted the vengeance she had sought for so long.

Though the war has long since ended, Ionia has been permanently changed by it. The First Lands are now divided, with rival factions fighting each other almost as bitterly as they did the Noxians. Many continue to look to Irelia for answers but, while others might welcome such power, Irelia remains uneasy with it.

At heart, she still yearns only to dance alone.

IRELIA VOICE - League of Legends

FUN FACTS ABOUT IRELIA

1. Revised Backstory:

- Irelia's original lore depicted her as a skilled dancer and defender of Ionia, wielding floating blades with her telekinetic abilities. However, her lore was updated in 2018 to tie her story more closely to the Noxian invasion of Ionia. Now, she is a former Ionian soldier seeking revenge against the Noxians who destroyed her homeland.

2. Inspirations from Real Martial Arts:

- Irelia's unique fighting style draws inspiration from various real-life martial arts, including Wushu and Kalaripayattu. Her graceful movements and fluid blade techniques reflect these influences, making her one of the most visually distinctive champions in League of Legends.

3. Voice Actor Connection:

- Irelia is voiced by Cristina Valenzuela, also known as Cristina Vee, who is a popular voice actress in the gaming and anime industry. Valenzuela has lent her voice to numerous characters across various media, and her performance brings Irelia's determination and strength to life in-game.

4. Revived Blades Mechanic:

- Irelia's passive ability, "Ionian Fervor," grants her increased attack speed and deals bonus damage based on her missing health. However, what makes this ability unique is its interaction with her ultimate, "Vanguard's Edge." If Irelia casts Vanguard's Edge and eliminates a target with the ultimate, the blades will reset and allow her to recast the ability without delay, giving her significant potential for multiple engages in teamfights.

5. Visual and Gameplay Update:

- In 2018, Irelia received a significant visual and gameplay update aimed at modernizing her appearance and enhancing her gameplay mechanics. The update introduced a new look for Irelia, complete with updated animations, voice lines, and ability effects, while also refining her gameplay to make her more dynamic and skill-expressive.

ABILITIES OF IRELIA

Passive - IONIAN FERVOR

When Irelia strikes enemies with spells she gains stacking bonus Attack Speed. At maximum stacks she also gains bonus damage on hit.

Q - BLADESURGE

Irelia dashes forward to strike her target, healing herself. If the target is Marked or dies to Bladesurge, its cooldown refreshes.

W - DEFIANT DANCE

Irelia charges a strike that deals more damage as she charges. She takes reduced physical damage during the charge.

E - FLAWLESS DUET

Irelia sends out two blades which converge on each other. Enemies caught in between are damaged, stunned and Marked.

R - VANGUARD'S EDGE

Irelia fires a massive number of blades that explode outward upon hitting an enemy champion. Enemies hit by the blades are damaged and Marked. Afterwards the blades form a wall that will damage and slow enemies that walk through it.

IRELIA ABILITIES COMBOS

Irelia R - league of legends

1. Basic Trading Combo:

- Start with "Bladesurge" (Q) to dash to a low-health minion near the enemy champion.

- Follow up with an auto-attack to reset Bladesurge's cooldown.

- Use "Flawless Duet" (E) to stun the enemy champion by hitting them with both blades.

- Continue to auto-attack and use abilities to maximize damage while the enemy is stunned.

2. All-In Combo:

- Engage with "Bladesurge" (Q) to dash to the enemy champion.

- Cast "Vanguard's Edge" (R) to send out multiple blades in a line, damaging and marking enemy champions hit.

- Use "Flawless Duet" (E) to stun the marked enemy champion(s).

- Follow up with "Defiant Dance" (W) to mitigate incoming damage and gain additional damage reduction.

- Continue to auto-attack and use "Bladesurge" (Q) to dash to marked enemy champions and secure kills.

3. Tower Dive Combo:

- Use "Bladesurge" (Q) to dash to a low-health minion near the enemy champion under their tower.

- Cast "Vanguard's Edge" (R) to damage and mark the enemy champion(s) while diving.

- Activate "Defiant Dance" (W) to mitigate tower damage and gain additional damage reduction.

- Use "Flawless Duet" (E) to stun the enemy champion(s) under their tower.

- Continue to auto-attack and use abilities to secure kills and escape safely.

4. Escaping Combo:

- Use "Bladesurge" (Q) to dash to a low-health minion or enemy minion outside of the enemy's range.

- If being chased, cast "Vanguard's Edge" (R) to slow down pursuers and create distance.

- Use "Defiant Dance" (W) to mitigate incoming damage while retreating.

- Use "Flawless Duet" (E) to stun pursuing enemies if they get too close.

- Continue to use "Bladesurge" (Q) to dash to safe locations or over walls to escape.

5. Teamfight Combo:

- Position yourself to hit multiple enemy champions with "Vanguard's Edge" (R) to mark and damage them.

- Use "Flawless Duet" (E) to stun multiple marked enemy champions, disrupting their positioning.

- Activate "Defiant Dance" (W) to mitigate incoming damage while dealing damage to nearby enemies.

- Use "Bladesurge" (Q) to dash to low-health or marked enemy champions to secure kills and reset the cooldown.

BUILD OF IRELIA

source: www.leagueofgraphs.com

RUNE OF IRELIA

TIPS ON HOW TO PLAY WITH GWEN

1. Master Blade Management:

- Irelia's passive, "Ionian Fervor," grants her bonus attack speed and on-hit magic damage against enemies with higher health percentages. To maximize its effectiveness, focus on last-hitting minions to keep the passive stacks up. Additionally, learn to manage your "Bladesurge" (Q) resets efficiently by using it on low-health minions to reposition and engage on enemies.

2. Maximize Stun Opportunities with "Flawless Duet" (E):

- "Flawless Duet" (E) is Irelia's key crowd control ability, allowing her to stun enemies hit by both blades. Practice aiming and timing your E to land the stun reliably, especially in skirmishes and teamfights. Look for opportunities to catch multiple enemies with your stun to set up successful engages or disengage from unfavorable situations.

3. Utilize "Defiant Dance" (W) for Damage Reduction:

- "Defiant Dance" (W) not only deals damage based on the number of enemy champions nearby but also grants Irelia significant damage reduction when fully charged. Use this ability to mitigate incoming burst damage from opponents, especially in duels or teamfights. Time your W activation carefully to absorb crucial enemy abilities and turn the tide of fights in your favor.

4. Practice Conquering the "Blade Surge" (Q) Resets:

- Mastering the resets on Irelia's "Bladesurge" (Q) is essential for maximizing her mobility and damage output. Practice using Q on low-health minions or marked champions to reset its cooldown and quickly reposition in fights. Learn to chain Q resets effectively to engage, reposition, or escape from dangerous situations during skirmishes and teamfights.

5. Understand the Power Spikes and Build Path:

-Irelia's power spikes often coincide with item completions and level advancements. Understand when Irelia becomes strongest, such as after completing Trinity Force or Blade of the Ruined King, and look to capitalize on these spikes by engaging in fights or split-pushing aggressively. Adjust your build path based on the game's progression and the enemy team composition to optimize your effectiveness in different scenarios.

TIPS FOR COUNTERING GWEN

1. Respect Her Power Spikes:

- Irelia becomes significantly stronger at certain levels and item breakpoints, such as when she completes Trinity Force. Be cautious when engaging her during these power spikes, and avoid fighting her head-on if she has a gold or level advantage.

2. Manage Minion Waves:

- Irelia relies on dashing to low-health minions with her "Bladesurge" (Q) to reset its cooldown and engage on opponents. Manipulate minion waves to deny her opportunities to engage or disengage. Freeze the wave near your tower to make her vulnerable to ganks, or push it under her tower to force her to farm under pressure.

3. Punish Her Cooldowns:

- Irelia's abilities, particularly her "Bladesurge" (Q) and "Defiant Dance" (W), have relatively long cooldowns early in the game. Look for opportunities to trade with her when these abilities are on cooldown, as she'll have fewer options to retaliate or mitigate damage.

4. Avoid Fighting Near Minions or Low-Health Targets:

- Irelia's "Equilibrium Strike" (E) deals significant damage and stuns targets when her health is higher than theirs. Avoid fighting her when your health is low or when there are low-health minions nearby, as she can easily land a stun and turn the tide of the fight in her favor.

5. Coordinate with Your Team:

- Irelia excels in skirmishes and small-scale fights due to her mobility and dueling potential. Coordinate with your team to focus her down in teamfights or collapse on her when she overextends in the side lanes. Crowd control effects and burst damage can make it difficult for her to execute her combos effectively.

6. Build Defensive Items:

- Consider building defensive items that mitigate physical damage and crowd control effects, such as Ninja Tabi, Seeker's Armguard, or Sterak's Gage. These items can increase your survivability against Irelia's burst damage and allow you to withstand her engages more effectively.

7. Pick Champions with Crowd Control:

- Champions with reliable crowd control abilities can disrupt Irelia's combos and make it harder for her to stick to her targets. Consider picking champions like Malzahar, Lissandra, or Renekton, who can lock her down and prevent her from freely dashing around in fights.