Hey!

In this build I will talk about Irelia.
I play Irelia as an offtank, on solo top.
You can also jungle with Irelia, but I'm not going to talk about that.
Irelia can be really tanky, and still do massive damage.
Her Hiten Style deals true damage, and with that you can kill champions with much armor or magic resist. You also do not need much damage items to do damage.

I hope you enjoy reading this build and playing Irelia.

The Ionians have developed some of the most breathtaking and deadly martial arts on all of Runeterra - just one manifestation of their pursuit of enlightenment. The most remarkable blade style to emerge, however, was the unusual byproduct of foreign intervention. Master Lito was a swordsman whose teachings were sought by ruling classes from nearly every city-state. His art was a highly-guarded secret, but it was said that swords would breathe in his grasp. He withered unexpectedly from a mysterious disease which baffled the brightest of Runeterran physicians. When he died, he left behind Zelos and Irelia, his son and daughter, and a truly unique weapon. Zelos became a sergeant in the Ionian military and left to seek assistance from Demacia immediately prior to Noxus' invasion of Ionia. Irelia, charged with the protection of their home until Zelos returned, was alone when the Noxian forces struck.

"The sword flourishes, as though painting with blood."

- Taken from a Noxian Field Report

The Ionians fought admirably, but soon Ionian blood stained the land beneath the prints of foreign boots. At the Great Stand of the Placidium, Ionians prepared for surrender, but were inspired to maintain their resistance when the young Irelia lifted her father's enormous blade and pledged to hold until her brother returned. In the chaos of the ensuing fight, Irelia was cursed with dark Noxian Necromancy. As her life ebbed, Soraka, the Starchild, made a final attempt to anchor her fading soul. Unwilling to relinquish her home, Irelia rose at the brink of death, and her father's sword lifted in the air alongside her. Irelia rushed back to the fore, unfazed by the blade's sudden animation. The weapon danced around her effortlessly, cutting down Noxians as they gaped in horror. The decimated invaders were forced to retreat from the Placidium. Irelia was appointed Ionia's Captain of the Guard, and when the defense of her homeland moved to the Fields of Justice, so did she.

Marks: Greater mark of Desolation
I think these marks are the best for Irelia.
Your enemy's will have armor, and with these runes you will do more damage, maybe even true damage if your enemy has not much armor.
- with your mastery's and runes you will have 27 armor penetration.
-- You can take Greater Mark of Attack Damage if you don't have or don't want Desolation.
With Strenght runes you can last hitting will be easier. Also, it will be more usefull early game, but less usefull lategame.

Seals: Greater Seal of Armor
With more armor you can take more damage from your enemy.
It will make you more tanky, nothing more I can say.

Glyphs: Greater Glyph of Magic Resist
More magic resist so you can take more damage from AP enemy's and minions.

Quintessence: Greater Quintessence of Movement Speed
I like more movement speed for chasing down enemy's or escape.
You'll be running super fast when you got your Trinity force and Force of Nature.

STARTING ITEMS: Cloth Armor + 5 Health Potion.
Get this when you are going to have a hard lane.
If you think it's going to be easy, get Boots and 3 Health Potion.

FIRST BACK: Boots and Wriggle's Lantern.
On this moment you'll be doing massive damage.
You also got lots of lifesteal, with your W and Wriggle's Lantern.

NEXT ITEMS: Mercury's Treads/ Ninja Tabi.
Get Mercury's Treads when the enemy's have much cc and AP, Ninja Tabi when they have 3 auto attack champions.

Phage will give you some HP and AD, and will build into a Frozen Mallet in the end.

When you got your Wit's End, you are very strong.
Your Hiten Style and Wit's End can kill almost everyone.

After your Wit's End you should start building your Frozen Mallet.
When you finish your Frozen Mallet you are very strong.
You have much MR, Armor and health.
You'll also do very much damage.

Then go for Atma's Impaler.
You get more armor, crit chance and attack damage.

After this you can do two different things.
If you need armor, get Thornmail or Randuin's Omen
If you need Mr, get Banshee's Veil or Force of Nature
If you need more damage, get Trinity Force


Frozen Mallet + ATMA'S IMPLALER VS Trinity Force

In the comments i saw a lot of people discussing this.
So here we go!

STATS:
Frozen Mallet + Atma's Impaler
700 health
45 armor
18 crit chance
34 AD(+ 2% of the health you have)
Movement speed slow by every auto attack

Trinity Force
30 AP
30 AD
30 AS
15 Crit chance
250 Health
250 Mana
12 Movement speed
25% chance to slow movement speed
If you use an abilty, your next normal attack deals 150% damage.

First of all, with Trinity Force you get more stats.
Frozen Mallet + Atma's Impaler gives more tanky stats.(armor, health)
I would say, when your team needs a tank, get Frozen Mallet + Atma's Impaler.
When your team needs more damage, get Trinity Force
When you go Frozen Mallet + Atma's Impaler, you should get a Wit's End after,
this way you also get attack speed and magic resist!

Flash
Flash is great for possitioning yourself in teamfights, escaping, getting a kill, baiting and a lot of other things.
I think this is a must. Very useful.

Teleport
Also very useful, get to your lane quickly dieing or shopping, or going bot for a gank or dragon fight.

Ignite
Good for securing early kills, or to stop a Dr. Mundo from healing.(Or other healing champions)

Exhaust
If you are playing against a Vayne or another ad carry on solo top, this is very good.
Also good vs a Riven or Udyr.

This is the end of my build.
I hope you all enjoyed it, and learned something.
Please give me some advice on how to inprove my build, and if you downvote, please tell me why!

Cya