Thanks for checking out my build. I am currently gold (and climbing!). I got to adc to get out of 1300 elo, but after that, I managed to carry my team while playing top also. I like to play Irelia as an assassin, but what makes Irelia my favourite assassin is how her abilities and my build were practically made for eachother. The way I build her is a high-tenacity, tanky-as-sh*t assassin. The way I build her makes her with pretty much 4000 hp, 50& tenacity and with 3 sources of damage. Physical, true and magical damage. I do this by obtaining Wit's End, and/or Sunfire Cape, Zephyr(to increase Hiten Style DPS) and attack speed for auto-attacks. You can read more about it in my item build description.

Lane v.s. AD

I like to rush a Sunfire against before it is fairly cheap, so you can obtain it before the lane phase is over. So as you duel with your AD opponent, you will deal physical, true and magical damage, meaning he can only build health to counter you. Also, sunfire gives you tankyness in health and armou, also it gives you an extra source of damage. I find this item CRUCIAL for Irelia. RUSH IT RIGHT AWAY!!!

I like to build a Zephyr next for tenacity and increased DPS in her true damage and physical auto attacks.

Next is Ninja Tabi to reduce 10% damage. (I don't like Mercury Treads + Zephyr combo)

4th is a Wit's End, for magic resist, increased magic damage and increased DPS in her true damage.

5th is a Frozen Mallet for tankyness, a small amount of damage, and a lock down potential.

And finally last, depending whether your team needs more damage or tankyness, you should build Warmog's Armour if tankyness is in demand, or a Trinity Force if your team needs more damage.

[RECAP]
1. Sunfire Cape
2. Zephyr
3. Ninja Tabi
4. Wit's End
5. Frozen Mallet
6. Warmog's Armour /or/ Trinity Force

-EXPLANATION:
I build this because this leaves Irelia impossible to CC, and impossible to rip down. This also gives all 3 sources of damage. Moderate physical damage, moderate true damage, and moderate magic damage, making it's only counter health. Irelia is my favourite champion and I think this her one of her optimal build for my style. I play her as an assassin. So yeah.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lane v.s. AP

I like to get a Warmog's Armour first because you can obtain it before lane phase is over, and this allows you to survive the initial burst of all AP's. Giving you the sustain to duel against them. Also if they poke you, the passive will heal you right back.

I like to get Zephyr next because you get tenacity against the AP casters and it significantly increases your DPS. Giving you the edge in duels.

Next can be either a Ninja tabi (If lane phase is over) or a Wit's End (If it is still lane phase)

After if the Trinity Force for the high assassination potential and the stats are perfect for Irelia.

And lastly, is the Guardian's Angel. I get this because you are already a huge threat and this will help you dramatically in team fights.

[RECAP]
1. Warmog's Armour
2. Zephyr
3/4. Ninja Tabi /or/ Wit's End
5. Trinity Force
6. Guardians Angel

-EXPLANATION:
I build this because this leaves Irelia impossible to CC, and impossible to rip down. This also gives all 3 sources of damage. Moderate physical damage, moderate true damage, and moderate magic damage, making it's only counter health. Irelia is my favourite champion and I think this her one of her optimal build for my style. I play her as an assassin. So yeah.

I made this build late at nightt, so it is not complete, but it has the essentials and most (if not all) of the details. I will update this over time, but for now, this is how it will look. Thanks for looking at my build. See ya! :)