From runes to items, gameplay tips amd more, we've put together a guide to help you master playing Poppy in the toplane in League of Legends.
Be mindful that there are several ways to build and play a champion, and you'll need to be adaptable as the game and the enemy team progress.
That said, this guide is a good starting point to helping you get to grips with the champion and making an impact in your games.
Runes
Core Items
Build
Iceborne Gauntlet turns tank players like Poppy into damage-dealing behemoths.
Winter's Approach adds bonus health according to your total mana, and stacks mana until it transforms into the powerful Fimbulwinter.
Other good items include Thornmail, and Force of Nature.
Starting Item & Boots
Skill Order
While your choices may differ according to how the game progresses, the typical Poppy skill priority is:
R > Q > E > W
Summoner Spells
These are the summoner spells most typically taken by Poppy in this role. Naturally, this may change depending on match-ups.
Gameplay
Don't expect to take Poppy into the toplane and shred through opponents. Her job is more to harass the enemy toplaner, and freeze or push the lane as much as possible.
- Level 1 - Take Q - Hammer Shock, to help clear minions more quickly.
- Level 2 - Take E - Heroic Charge, for gap-closing and stun potential.
- First Back - Start building towards your Iceborne Gauntlet with a Bami's Cinder, which will help with wave clear.
Tips & Tricks
- Use Poppy's Iron Ambassador to launch an auto attack from range, and pick it up afterwards for a shield.
- An Iron Ambassador auto-attack takes advantage of the Iceborne Gauntlet passive.
- Use Heroic Charge on a minion to close a gap, if the enemy champion is too far away. You can use this to escape too.
- Keeper's Verdict launches enemies further the longer it is charged, and always in the direction of their base.
- Keeper's Verdict is also very useful in keeping the enemy away from neutral objectives such as Baron Nashor.
- Steadfast Presence does not cancel teleports or shifts, such as that of Ezreal or Flash.
- You can cancel your ultimate by allowing it to fill completely, not releasing the R key.
