Poppy Build Guide by Lilpwninprincess

Introduction

While other young yordle girls played skip-step and braided wreathes out of posies, Poppy spent her youth earning calluses and grease stains in her father's armor shop. Blomgrun, her father, was Bandle City's finest smith. The only thing he loved as much as his work was his young daughter, Poppy - named for the sprightly sounds of the sparks that leapt from his ever-burning forge. He swelled with pride the day she was first able to lift his trusty hammer, Whomper. Poppy immediately took to his art, demonstrating a natural gift for smithing, which Blomgrun honed with devoted instruction.

One day, a Demacian general named Florin Berell commissioned Blomgrun to craft a helm, glorious beyond comparison. Blomgrun toiled away on this project, determined to present Florin with his finest work. He let Poppy set the center jewel, entrusting her with the most important piece. When the pair finished, they departed for Demacia to deliver it in person. Word of the general's order, however, was leaked to the Noxian High Command, and two Noxian assassins were dispatched to intercept the delivery. Blomgrun was able to occupy the assassins long enough for Poppy to escape with the prized helm. She watched helplessly from the brush as her father was slain. Instead of fleeing home, she carried the helm the rest of the way to Demacia alone. She refused payment for it, saying that no amount would compensate for her father's life. Instead, she offered it as a gift, honoring her father's final intentions. Florin saw the grim determination behind the tears in her eyes, and requested that the leadership of Bandle City appoint Poppy as the yordle ambassador to Demacia. Soon after, seeking to crush Noxus with her father's hammer, Poppy volunteered for the League of Legends.

"Poppy may be small, but Whomper - or her will - is not."
[Source - http://leagueoflegends.wikia.com]




Welcome to my Poppy guide. Poppy isn't really a popular champion I've noticed. But, I use to play her all the time. I have over a good 100 wins as Poppy. And I figured since I really enjoy this champion I should make a guide for her. I do play her as more of a hybrid not so much pure AP or AD focused (though you can play her more AP or AD focused). Please, don't down-vote my guide without reading and trying it. And if you down-vote please, tell me why or what you don't like. Any suggestions/feedback are welcomed. Enjoy.

Build 2, is specifically an AD Jungle build. If interested in jungling as Poppy take that route. Though it isn't the focus of the actual guide.

Please, excuse the none matching graphics. Currently fiddling around to see which style I'd like to use for the guide update. :) Thanks.

Credits to jhoijhoi for the template, which you can find here.

Pros / Cons

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Pros + Can Stun + Great Turret Diver + Gap Closer + Extremely annoying Ultimate + Very fast champion + Someone what difficult to kill + Really fun to play + Really strong late game

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Cons - Melee Champion, no ranged attacks - Has trouble farming - CC can easily be the death of her - Isn't the best looking champion - Annoying voice - Weak early game

Masteries

21/9/0 Is the basic tree setup I found useful with Poppy. Mainly taking all the damage/armor penetration talents so, you're able to do good damage. And then it's a toss-up to if you'd prefer to go into the defense tree or utility tree.

Runes

• Greater Quintessence of Health: Nice choice for early game. Making you less squishy in early game is great.
• Greater Quintessence of Movement Speed: A already fast Poppy with some of these babies equals a super-fast Poppy.
• Greater Quintessence of Attack Damage: If you want a advantage with damage go ahead and pick 3 of these up.
• Greater Quintessence of Magic Penetration: Magic Penetration will help increase your damage throughout the game.
• greater quintessence of Desolation: Armor Penetration is an alternative to Magic Penetration runes. Helpful just not as much.
• Greater Quintessence of Armor: Armor Quint's are helpful for laning as well as dealing with AD champions.

• Greater Mark of Magic Penetration: Magic Penetration helps a ton since Poppy's moves scale with magic.
• Greater Mark of Desolation: If you don't have magic penetration runes you can take these as an alternative.
• Greater Mark of Armor: Armor is the only alternative I would suggest to Arm. Pen.
• Greater Mark of Hybrid Penetration: Gives you both magic penetration and armor penetration.

• Greater Seal of Armor: Armor allows you to last longer when fighting other AD/bruiser champions.
• Greater Seal of Attack Speed: Attack speed is nice for Poppy, though I wouldn't recommend it.
• Greater Seal of Vitality: Health per level is a classic favorite of mine. And I love it on Poppy. But, armor will allow her to lane better.

• Greater Glyph of Magic Resist: Magic Resist can be your best friend if you're facing a AP heavy team.
• Greater Glyph of Attack Speed: Attack speed is an alternative but, Magic Resist or CDR is way more important for runes in my opinion.
• Greater Glyph of Cooldown Reduction: Cool-down Reduction is amazing on Poppy, so you can spam your moves and Ultimate.
• Greater Glyph of Armor: Armor glyphs are another alternative allowing you to help withstand AD champions.

Summoner Spells

Flash: I find that if I don't take Flash I feel myself missing it. It always comes in handy to get a kill or escape.

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Ignite: Help's me destroy champions who heal, also great for securing kills. As well as killing those champions with really low hp running away.

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Ghost: If you don't want Flash, or would prefer to have another chasing/escaping method take Ghost.

Exhaust: Great for securing kills and slowing champions trying to escape.

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Teleport: Really not a personal favorite for Poppy but, if you find yourself back-dooring, needing to get into a team-fight faster, or saving a turret take this.

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Heal: Great for saving your life, as well as your teammates.

Skills

Valiant Fighter: Any damage dealt to Poppy that exceeds 10% of her current health is reduced by 50%. This does not reduce damage from structures.

• Valiant Fighters damage reduction occurs after armor and magic resistance's reduction.
• Valiant Fighter does not affect True damage.
• This scales better the lower your health, allowing Poppy to be a great choice for top.

Devastating Blow (Q): Poppy enhances her next auto attack so that it deals bonus magic damage and an additional 8% of the target's max health as magic damage. The magic damage based on 8% of the target's max health cannot exceed a threshold.

• Your main damage dealing move as Poppy.

Paragon of Demacia (W):
~ Passive; Upon being hit or attacking an enemy, Poppy's armor and damage are increased for 5 seconds. This effect can stack 10 times.
~ Active; Poppy gains max stacks of Paragon of Demacia and her movement speed is increased for 5 seconds.

• Very useful when laning against strong physical champions.

Heroic Charge (E): Poppy charges at an enemy and carries them further. The initial impact deals a small amount of magic damage, and if they collide with terrain, her target will take a high amount of magic damage and be stunned for 1.5 seconds.

• Allows you to CC enemy champions when using near a wall.
• Allows you to escape ganks when positioned correctly.
• Can go through certain walls, so be careful.

Diplomatic Immunity (R): Poppy focuses intensely on a single enemy champion, dealing increased damage to them, and becoming immune to any damage, disruptions and abilities from any enemies, other than her target, including tower damage. Damage increase applies to summoner spells and items used by Poppy.

• Useful for doing a ton of damage and stopping incoming damage.
• Helpful for tower diving and escaping ganks.

Items

• Cloth Armor + Health Potions: Armor will help out early game and can build into Madred's Razors early on.
• Boots of Speed + Health Potions: Allows you to escape ganks early on, as well as help gank. Allows you to build into your choice of tier 2 boots more quickly.
• Regrowth Pendant: The health regeneration is very useful if you are going to have an easy lane. It also allows you to grab Philosopher’s Stone early.
• Sheen: Amazing item for Poppy. Increase early game damage by a ton. Will also, build into a core item later on.
• Phage: Gives you more health, and damage. As well as allowing you to slow enemy targets.
• Hextech Revolver: Helps you stay in lanes, and will build into one of your core items later on.

• Trinity Force: Is a *must* for Poppy. It is probably the most important item for you to get for her. Every stat boosts Poppy. This item gives you everything you want even mana. Its passive ability is outstanding for Poppy. Chance to slow enemy targets is great.
• Hextech Gunblade: Gives you spell vamp, ad/ap. Plus, it's active slows the target, is absolutely amazing. Even though this has been nerfed I still find it useful.

• Shurelya's Reverie: Gives you CDR, Health Regeneration and it's active is amazing for chasing/escaping.
• Guardian Angel: This item is great for survivability. Plus, it revives you which for some may just happen to save that 'Legendary Poppy' from losing her spree.
• Infinity Edge: 25% critical strike chance, heck yes! The damage from this item is amazing as well. Plus, the passive is great.

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• Rylai's Crystal Scepter: If you need the extra HP, and want a nice slow take this item over Infinity Edge. It gives you some AP and is cheaper then Infinity Edge.

• Phantom Dancer: Movement speed alongside attack speed is amazing for Poppy. Chasing down enemies is what you do so, extra movement speed is defiantly a plus.
• The Bloodthirster: Life-steal helps you survive longer without having to go back. This is a alternative if you don't like Hextech Gunblade.
• Banshee's Veil: Great counter to nukes, plus blocking one harmful spell may mean blocking Annies stun, or Morganas snare.
• Rabadon's Deathcap: If your wanting to build more AP for more burst this is a great item to grab.
• Warmog's Armor: If you want to help eat some of the damage during team-fights go ahead and pick this up.
• Lich Bane: Alternative to Trinity Force, more AP/burst focused item.
• Quicksilver Sash: Good item to help you get out of sticky situations.
• Deathfire Grasp: Very nice stats, and helps Poppy be more bursty. Works very well with her ultimate.
• Void Staff: Even going for more of an AD build or hybrid this item is very helpful. Since Poppys spells are magic.
• Guinsoo's Rageblade: Helps for back-dooring.

• Ionian Boots of Lucidity: Cool-down reduction boots are amazing for Poppy. If you don't have CDR runes, take these.
• Mercury's Treads: Gives you magic resistance, and tenacity.
• Berserker's Greaves: Attack speed boots for Poppy are great.
• Sorcerer's Shoes: Increases your magic penetration and damage.

I didn't mention stacking item's like Sword of the Occult or Mejai's Soulstealer. If you're doing really well, go for it. I wouldn't recommend them though because, you can easily be shut down.

Gameplay

I went through some of my match history and put together a video of Poppy snagging kills and assists. As well as helping team mates out and some team fights. Just a short example of my game play with her.




Poppy is a weak early game champion. It's better to play safely. Focusing on last hitting. Going for kills with Poppy early on (before level 6) can be a dangerous thing. Depending on who your laning partner is, or if you have a jungler who they haven't warded for yet you can get kills early game. Along side with who the champion is and if they player is good with them. Getting a champion stunned to a wall early game most of the time can mean 1st blood.

Laning

It depends on which side you're on and if you have a jungler or not.

No jungler: Blue or Purple. As Poppy you usually wouldn't take mid because, the range in mid will eat you alive. Take top if you're on team blue! You're at a advantage here early game if you can reach the second patch of bushes first. When enemy champions come walking out, bam there's the wall! If you're on purple team go bot. Same as top but, you also get the chance if your being out pushed that you can still shove them against the wall closer to your turret.

Try to lane with someone who has a stun, taunt, or some sort of CC. I prefer laning with a tank who can taunt. Any champion with a stun is perfect though. If you're with someone with a taunt make sure they initiate first and you time your knock back so they hit terrain right as the taunt ends. Takes practice but, once you get it down it's amazing how well it works.

Yes jungler: Poppy is a very nice solo top champion. Her passive allows for her to have a easy time top. If your soloing top take the alternative route for masteries as she will need them to survive.





Recommended laning partners:

• Shen: He is probably my favorite person to lane with as Poppy. Because of his taunt and ultimate. Easy to pick up first blood with a good Shen. Once your level 6, these 2 can tower dive all game long.
• Alistar: He does a ton of damage, great at soaking up damage, heals, and has a nice knock up/knock back.
• Rammus: He's super-fast, tanky and his taunt is extremely annoying. Enemies will have trouble escaping you already, but with Rammus at your side as well. It's extremely hard escaping this duo.
• Amumu: He has a nice gap closer, stun and his ultimate will secure kills for you easily.
• Malphite: He soaks up damage easily, and has a nice slow that will help you get kills.
• Maokai: He's got a very nice harass, also a nice dash/root.
• Swain: He's tanky at level 6. He's got a very nice root if he lands it.
• Nautilus: Very tanky, has a nice gap closer, and knock up. Plus, he can slow.
• Blitzcrank: He has a nice grab but, you will end up relying on it if you lane with him.
• Soraka: She has a double heal, gives you mana to spam spells, and can silence enemies. She will support you well but, you will have to do most of the work to get the kills.
• Janna: She can knock back and heal at level 6. She also can shield you, slow and knock enemies up if they stand in her tornadoes.
• Sona: She can heal you, slow enemies/speed you up and do a little bit of damage. Once she's level 6 her ultimate if used correctly should get you kills.
• Renekton: He has a very nice stun, tanky and he easily takes out squishy.
• Tryndamere: He can slow, and his ultimate drives people crazy. Once your both 6, you should have no trouble at all getting kills.

Creep Score is extremely important for Poppy. She struggles at clearing minion waves early game, so last hitting is very important. Here's a short video on some tips to last hitting minions, and last hitting them at towers.

Zoning

Simply put, zoning is the denial of the opposing enemy champion minion kills. Continually denying the enemy champion experience and/or gold by positioning yourself in such a way to where the enemy team champions are too afraid to approach. Not allowing them to be able to farm creeps, or hide in the brush. It's a method of controlling your lane and part of the map.


Bottom lane: Teemo and Caitlyn vs. Miss Fortune and Sona.
Teemo positions himself in the second set of bushes. Sona sees him go in their. Teemo's passive allows him to 'disappear' in the bushes by stealthing. While Caitlyn stays out of the brush farming creeps around the middle zone of the lane.
Because, Sona and Miss Fortune can't visibly see Teemo in the brush. They stay near their tower, tower hugging. All the while Caitlyn farms gold while Teemo stays near earning experience while keeping the enemy champions at bay.

To help new comer's to League of Legends here's a great video on zoning.

Jungling

Jungling Poppy is possible and viable. Though, solo top is a better option. But, if you wish to jungle her I will go over the jungling route just not really in depth. Poppy is decent for counter jungling and great for ganking if the enemy over extends and makes a mistake.

Poppy will start off at Wolves + Blue or Blue + Double Golems. Around level 2-3 your can try to gank or counter jungle if you feel confident. Counter jungling can be difficult so proceed with caution when doing so. Poppy is amazing for 1v1'ing other junglers. Since their is countless terrain to use to your advantage; if you use Heroic Charge correctly you can do massive damage and stun the target giving you the advantage.

While jungling as Poppy keep your jungle clear, be careful of counter jungle, and gank often. Poppy is good for scaring people into wasting their Flash or Ghost to try to escape you. Poppy is a underplayed champion, and because, of that people fear her along with the insane damage she brings to fights.


Ganking with Poppy has one key goal. Wait till the enemy champion is out of position so, you can stun them into terrain an secure the kill.

Start at Wolves , then move onto Ancient Golem . If your confident you can try to gank or counter jungle at this point. If not; proceed to Wraiths, and Lizard Elder . At this point you should attempt to gank. Figuring out the rest of the path is simple; just remember to keep getting your buffs and ganking as much as possible.

Tip: Once you have obtained Wriggle's Lantern, Mercury's Treads, and Sheen you can offer blue golem to your Ability Power Carry.
Tip: Poppy is a great counter jungler that invades easily. Keep this in mind. Feel free to steal buffs often, Wraiths and Wolves . Golems are more dangerous to steal but, if your confident go for it. Make sure to watch for Sight Wards and Vision Wards.
Tip: Warding your own jungle will help prevent enemy jungler from stealing your buffs.
Tip: Communication is KEY. If someone has warded a bush or the river you need to know! Ask for your teammates to call out or ask frequently if top has been warded / river / bottom.

Buffs

Warding

• Red - Late game wards. Usually not used. (These sometimes come in handy but, not always useful. Up to the summoner.)
• Blue - Personal Bot/Top Wards.
• Pink - Guard Baron/Dragon.
• Green - Personal Mid Wards.
• Black - Used to counter jungle or keep and eye on jungler. As well as keep an eye on enemy red/blue buff.
• Orange - Junglers personal Wards as well as keeping an eye on blue/red buff.

Tips

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Tips & Tricks Let tank start team fight. If no tank you can start team fights. Using your ultimate in sticky situations can sometimes save you. Don't be afraid to wait to enter the team fight. Allow them to start focusing other teammates while you come rushing and cleaning up the kills. Try to take out there carry if possible. In team-fights you can use your knock back to screw up there positioning. Poppy can be shut down easily if you're not careful, so pick your fights wisely.

Updates

• 3/17/2012 - Released. / Edited Mastery banner (Forgot a 'E').
• 3/18/2012 - Fixed a few spelling errors. Probably still have a ton more. / Spell Checked. / Added a little more detail to items.
• 3/23/2012 - Updated Masteries. / Updated Items. / Added more information to items, and laning. / Added space bars.
• 3/25/2012 - Added alternative masteries. / Changed core items. / Add more information to laning along with videos.
• 3/28/2012 - Added alternative choices to defensive tree.
• 3/31/2012 - Fixed Images that broke.

• 4/1/2012 - Added warding section to laning.
• 4/3/2012 - Removed a few items that aren't that useful. / Cleared up boot section. / Rearranged Poppys Skill Section so it's more readable and clean. / Added a nice alternative to Infinity Edge.
• 4/4/2012 - Changed boots up a little more. / Added a little more information to some items. / Fixed a coding error.
• 4/7/2012 - Added early-game-play video along with short explanation. / Edited coding error. / Added scores of other players. / Moved warding into it's own section.
• 4/9/2012 - Added Achievement section.
• 4/12/2012 - Cleaned up Laning Chapter. / Added new sections. / Added banners, and jungling section is now in-progress. / Added second build for jungling Poppy.

• 8/11/2012 - Added Jungle information.
• 8/13/2012 - Slight Graphic's update. {Still in progress}

Soon to come:

• Moving laning partners into it's own section. Hoping to maybe get some nice video clips together of each laning partner. Add a few more champions to this section.
• Make a section dedicated to champion's who counter Poppy and make her a sad Poppy.
• Get more advice, and hopefully work on getting this to be the best Poppy guide it can be.
• Add mid-game-play video and explanation.
• Add late-game-play video and explanation.

Achievements

Closing

Used my guide got a good score? Feel free to leave screen shots and I'll post them here. Hope you enjoyed my guide. Please, feel free to leave feed back.