Hey! I'm an OTP Poppy, currently 2M pts, I've reached GrandMaster this S13 Split 1 using only Poppy.
I always wanted to create my own Guide, so here it is.

At first, a simple explanation who is Poppy and how she works:

Poppy is a tank/fighter that has a lot of abilities that gives utility to her team, she has a good 1v1 and gets stronger on Teamfights due to her CC, and specially her ultimate.
She is kind of a "situational" champ due to her most iconic ability, her W, that stops dashes, she is really good against most dashing champs, anyways, mastering her makes it able to play it against all matchups.

I'll try to make this easy and fast.

When and what items should you build?

The Mythic should be the first item to be built if possible, after that, will depend on how you're going on the game.

Commonly your second item should be a tank one, but if you are stomping lane, killing enemies easily and helping teammates, your 2°/3° item should be a DMG item so you don't lose your advantage.
A 3° DMG item might be too greedy, unless you're REALLY fed don't recommend it, after that, just build the necessary tank item for the game.

If you're just losing lane, finish your mythic and then go full tank, don't build any DMG item unless you get some advantage back.

Boots build them between first and third item finished, will depend how important the boots are for that game.


In short, full tank ONLY if you're behind, if you are strong, build at least 1 DMG item to not lose advantage.
Sunderer doesn't count as the "extra DMG item" I'm talking about

On lane, is better not to be so agressive until reaching LVL 3, after that, you can start getting agressive (even better if you have some epic items like Bami, Sheen, Bramble Vest, etc.), using your Q to dmg enemies when they try to farm, hitting them with your passive or doing simple E + Q combo when they get close to a wall.

Remember, using your E exposes getting close to the enemy and receive dmg if you can't escape, so be sure that when you use it, the enemy will lose MORE than what you're going to lose.

Poppy is a early-mid champion, she gets stronger when she gets some items and LVL, priorize farming more than hitting enemies, you can't get behind on gold/XP or you'll end up depending on your team instead of your team depending on you.
Doesn't matter if you don't kill on lane, you won't be able to always kill, just try to not get killed.

AGAINST MELEE:
Against melee enemies, try to use your Q when they try to farm and trade when you have your shield, use your E when you know enemy will lose more HP than u will (because using this ability makes you vulnerable , and W to dodge abilities or stop dashes.

AGAINST RANGED:
Against ranged, your passive is essencial, use it to farm minions and then trade when you have your shield up, or use it to hit enemy if you have Grasp of the Undying ready.
Try to make E + Q combo and escape with W when you can.

[IMPORTANT]

Poppy is a SHORT TRADE fighter (until getting some items) and depends on her abilities, don't waste your mana using abilities all the time and if you don't have your CDs ready, WAIT and DON'T fight.

On early game, will depend on how the laning phase is going, if you're winning it, you can push waves to roam and gank midlaner or help jungler do Rift Herald if you have the opportunity.
You can also go and ward enemy JG and get vision of it, if you know the enemy JG is in botlane, try and steal some of his camps (remember, do this if YOUR wave is under enemy turret).

If you're losing lane, play safe, try to farm and not lose XP/gold, don't try to kill enemy laner if you're behind, wait for ganks if possible or just wait to Mid Game where Poppy gets really strong.

At this time of the game, Poppy should have some items and can roam freely, that's her powerspike.
Push lanes to secure objetives like Dragon/Herald/Baron and fight close to your teammates.


If enemy starts a teamfight, you can use your R2 on any enemy champion to unbalance the fight in advantaje for you team. If you have R on CD, use your abilities to try and stop the carry from the enemy team to deal DMG or stun someone than can be easily kiled if your team helps.

If you start the teamfight, you can try to stun some important enemy, like ADC or fed enemy, to have advantage to win the teamfight.
You can also just Ult anyone right before the teamifight starts, so that gives you advantage until it comes back.

On LATE GAME, when everyone is close to LVL 18 and almost full build, Poppy becomes pretty useless by her own, at this time, you'll have to work as a support for your team, unbalancing teamfight with your R or blocking enemies getting close to your carry.

Poppy is useful while she has advantage, so if you have advantage on early/midgame, try to win fast and not get to really late game.