Poppy

Poppy

Master Tier Champion Guide

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Identity

Poppy is a highly disruptive tank whose identity revolves around controlling the battlefield and neutralizing mobile threats. Her standout ability, Steadfast Presence (W), creates a zone that completely shuts down enemy dashes, making her a premier counter to champions like Irelia and Akali. She excels at peeling for her carries and turning fights with her versatile ultimate, Keeper's Verdict (R), which can either disengage enemies or set up kills. Poppy is perfect for players who enjoy being an unkillable, annoying frontline presence that dictates the flow of teamfights.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths

  • High Early Game Power: She is decently strong early game, particularly with her Hammer Shock (Q) and Iron Ambassador (Passive) poke combined with Grasp of the Undying.

  • Exceptional Disruption/CC: Poppy is extremely effective at disrupting enemies and is highly annoying to deal with.

  • Strong Mid Game Spike: She spikes hard in the mid game once her Hammer Shock (Q) is maxed at Level 9.

Weaknesses

  • Vulnerable Early Game Mana Pool: Her all-in ability, Heroic Charge (E), takes A LOT of mana early on.

  • Weaker Early Combat (Historically): Poppy is much weaker early now than she used to be, although she still evens out at Level 5.

  • Restricted Engagement Style: She should focus on front-to-back teamfighting and peeling her carry, and should not be looking to flank very often.

Laning Phase

Poppy’s laning phase is all about safe farming, resource management, and utilizing short, punishing trades with her passive and Q.

All-In Caution

  • Only look to all-in with Heroic Charge (E) when the enemy is low or missteps by a wall. Because E takes a lot of mana early, misusing it leaves you vulnerable.

Farming and Back Timings

  • Poppy evens out at Level 5. At this point, yourPoppy QQ + 1 auto attack will be able to kill caster minions.

  • On your first back, make sure you at least get Tear of the Goddess. You should try to get enough gold to also purchase Ruby Crystal + Cloth Armor or Null-Magic Mantle and Boots or Tunneler (if building Sundered Sky).

Trading and Poking

  • Your basic trade pattern is built around proccing Grasp of the Undying.

  • Grasp Setup: You want to keep Grasp of the Undying ready by keeping minion aggro or autoing minions before your passive cooldown (Iron Ambassador) comes up. If you need to stall for more time, you can use yourPoppy QQ (Hammer Shock) on the wave to extend Grasp uptime.

  • Trade Execution: The basic trade pattern is to poke at max Q range (which procs Scorch, keeping Grasp of the Undying active), and then throw your passive at them.

  • Short Trades Only: Focus on taking short trades early and poking opponents at max Q range.

Macro and Teamfights

Poppy’s strength ramps up significantly in the mid game, turning her into a primary map objective skirmisher and a reliable late-game peeler.

Late Game Teamfights

  • Late game is all about grouping and finding picks.

  • Front to Back Peeling: In teamfights, you generally want to front to back and peel your carry. Stay beside your carry until the enemies use all their engage abilities.

  • Finding Picks: Any stun into a wall with Heroic Charge (E) allows you to lock the target up with Keeper's Verdict (R) + Steadfast Presence (W). The subsequent slow from Q (Hammer Shock) allows your team to follow up.

  • Engagement: While you shouldn't be looking to flank very often, you can sometimes engage if you find a great Flash E stun on the enemy carry.

Mid Game Focus

  • Once plates fall and Q is maxed (Level 9), your influence expands.

  • Skirmishing: Look to start fights with your jungler. Make sure to contest grubs or the enemy red/blue buff. Poppy is extremely strong at disrupting the map during these skirmishes.

  • Objective Control: Actively group for every dragon. It is almost always better to Teleport back to lane from dragon than to hold TP for the fight, as the team needs you to clear space and be a threat.

Key Combos

Basic Trade/Poke Pattern (Utilizing Grasp)

QQ
+
Auto

Poke at max Q range and then throw your passive at them.

Pick/Lockdown Combo (Securing a Kill)

EE
+
RR
+
WW
+
QQ

Stun into a wall, knockback with R, deny escape with W, and slow with Q.

Sheen Item Maximization (e.g., with Iceborn Gauntlet)

QQ
+
Auto

Use Q or W while your passive auto is in the air so the Sheen item will proc.

Tips & Tricks

Abilities

EE

  • When using Heroic Charge (E) as a gap closer (not near a wall), make sure to click elsewhere. If you don't click away, Poppy will try to auto the E target, potentially preventing you from hitting your passive (Iron Ambassador) on a different target.

RR

  • You can use recall to cancel Poppy'sPoppy RR charge up and reset the cooldown.

  • Use W (Steadfast Presence) into a short charge R (Keeper's Verdict) to hide the initial animation of the R charge up, which prevents the enemy from being able to react.

Item Synergies

Low Economy Tank

Tank Poppy is very low econ and is quite effective at just two items; the third item is often considered a luxury. This means you should feel comfortable giving farm to your carries. If you fall behind, you will always be useful.

Core Items

Common recommended items include Sundered Sky, Armored Advance, Fimbulwinter, Dead Man's Plate, Spirit Visage, and Randuin's Omen.