10 Best Champions To Counter Poppy In League of Legends

Poppy is a durable and disruptive tank in League of Legends, known for her strong crowd control, defensive capabilities, and ability to deny enemy engages. With Steadfast Presence (W) blocking dashes, Heroic Charge (E) stunning enemies against terrain, and Keeper’s Verdict (R) knocking opponents away, she excels at controlling fights and protecting her team. However, Poppy has weaknesses that the right champions can exploit, such as her reliance on terrain for stuns, struggles against ranged poke, and vulnerability to sustained damage or true damage dealers. Whether you’re looking for champions who can outmaneuver her, outtrade her in lane, or bypass her defenses, there are plenty of ways to counter Poppy. In this article, we’ll explore the 10 best champions to counter Poppy and limit her impact in the game.

#10: Jayce

Jayce is a strong counter to Poppy due to his ranged poke, burst damage, and ability to disengage her engages. Poppy relies on getting close to her target to land Heroic Charge (E) and Hammer Shock (Q), but Jayce’s Shock Blast (Q) in Cannon Form allows him to poke her down from a safe distance, making it difficult for her to trade effectively. Additionally, Thundering Blow (E) in Hammer Form knocks Poppy back, disrupting her engages and preventing her from landing key abilities. The biggest counter to Poppy is Jayce’s ability to constantly switch between ranged and melee attacks, keeping her at a distance and preventing her from effectively utilizing her crowd control. Since Poppy struggles against champions who can poke her down and avoid her close-range abilities, Jayce forces her into a difficult matchup where she has limited impact in lane.

#9: K’Sante

K’Sante is a strong counter to Poppy due to his durability, crowd control, and ability to outtrade her in extended fights. Poppy relies on her Heroic Charge (E) and Steadfast Presence (W) to control engagements, but K’Sante’s Path Maker (W) allows him to become unstoppable, negating her crowd control and preventing her from locking him down. Additionally, Ntofo Strikes (Q) grants him consistent knock-ups, disrupting Poppy’s positioning and forcing her into unfavorable trades. The biggest counter to Poppy is All Out (R), which allows K’Sante to isolate her, deal bonus damage, and negate some of his durability weaknesses, making it difficult for her to withstand extended fights. Since Poppy struggles against champions who can match her tankiness, disrupt her engages, and sustain through fights, K’Sante forces her into a matchup where she has limited ability to control trades and maintain lane dominance.

#8: Jax

Jax is a strong counter to Poppy due to his scaling power, mobility, and ability to outtrade her in extended fights. Poppy relies on her Heroic Charge (E) and Steadfast Presence (W) to control engagements, but Jax’s Counter Strike (E) allows him to dodge her auto attacks and block much of her damage while stunning her in return. Additionally, Jax’s Leap Strike (Q) gives him mobility to reposition, helping him avoid getting pinned against terrain. The biggest counter to Poppy is Jax’s Grandmaster’s Might (R), which enhances his durability and allows him to win duels as the game progresses. Since Poppy struggles against champions who scale well, can block her attacks, and punish her in extended trades, Jax forces her into a matchup where she has difficulty securing early-game leads and falls off later in the game.

#7: Irelia

Irelia is a strong counter to Poppy due to her mobility, sustained damage, and ability to outtrade her in extended fights. Poppy relies on Steadfast Presence (W) to block dashes and control engagements, but Irelia’s Bladesurge (Q) resets on minion kills, allowing her to reposition and play around Poppy’s abilities effectively. Additionally, Defiant Dance (W) provides damage reduction, helping her survive Poppy’s burst trades, while Flawless Duet (E) stuns Poppy, disrupting her crowd control attempts. The biggest counter to Poppy is Irelia’s Vanguard’s Edge (R), which slows and marks enemies, making it easier for her to stick to Poppy and win extended fights. Since Poppy struggles against champions who can sustain through her burst and bypass her ability to block dashes, Irelia forces her into a matchup where she has difficulty controlling trades and surviving all-ins.

#6: Malphite

Malphite is a strong counter to Poppy due to his armor scaling, poke, and ability to match her tankiness. Poppy relies on her Heroic Charge (E) and Steadfast Presence (W) to control engagements, but Malphite’s Thunderclap (W) allows him to trade effectively while stacking armor, making him extremely difficult for Poppy to damage. Additionally, Seismic Shard (Q) provides poke and slows Poppy, making it harder for her to engage or escape trades. The biggest counter to Poppy is Unstoppable Force (R), which provides an unstoppable engage that Poppy cannot interrupt with her Steadfast Presence (W), allowing Malphite to dictate fights. Since Poppy struggles against champions who can out-tank her, poke her down, and initiate without relying on dashes, Malphite forces her into a matchup where she has difficulty dealing meaningful damage or controlling engagements.

#5: Nasus

Nasus is a strong counter to Poppy due to his scaling power, sustain, and ability to shrug off her crowd control. Poppy relies on early-game aggression and crowd control to win trades, but Nasus’s Soul Eater (Passive) provides lifesteal, allowing him to sustain through her poke. Additionally, Siphoning Strike (Q) scales infinitely, meaning that even if Poppy controls the early game, Nasus will eventually outscale her in duels and team fights. The biggest counter to Poppy is Wither (W), which significantly slows her attack speed and movement speed, making it difficult for her to engage, escape, or deal consistent damage. Since Poppy struggles against champions who scale harder, sustain through trades, and overpower her in the late game, Nasus forces her into a matchup where she has to be aggressive early but eventually falls behind in power.

#4: Fiora

Fiora is a strong counter to Poppy due to her mobility, true damage, and ability to negate crowd control. Poppy relies on her Heroic Charge (E) and Steadfast Presence (W) to control fights, but Fiora’s Riposte (W) can completely block and stun Poppy if timed correctly, preventing her from locking Fiora down. Additionally, Duelist’s Dance (Passive) allows Fiora to deal percentage max health true damage, making it easy for her to shred through Poppy’s tankiness in extended fights. The biggest counter to Poppy is Grand Challenge (R), which marks Poppy’s vitals and provides healing upon execution, ensuring Fiora outlasts her in fights. Since Poppy struggles against champions who can negate her crowd control, deal sustained damage, and bypass her resistances, Fiora forces her into a matchup where she has difficulty winning trades or securing kills.

#3: Pantheon

Pantheon is a strong counter to Poppy due to his early-game dominance, burst damage, and ability to bypass her tankiness. Poppy relies on extended fights and crowd control, but Pantheon’s Comet Spear (Q) allows him to poke her down and force short trades, making it difficult for her to sustain through the laning phase. Additionally, Aegis Assault (E) blocks incoming damage from the front, allowing Pantheon to mitigate Poppy’s Hammer Shock (Q) and reduce her overall damage output. The biggest counter to Poppy is Grand Starfall (R), which lets Pantheon apply global pressure, forcing Poppy to stay in lane while he impacts other parts of the map. Since Poppy struggles against champions who can control trades, deal high burst damage, and roam effectively, Pantheon forces her into a matchup where she has difficulty dictating the pace of the game.

#2: Darius

Darius is a strong counter to Poppy due to his high sustain, true damage, and ability to dominate extended trades. Poppy relies on short trades and crowd control to control the lane, but Darius’s Decimate (Q) allows him to heal back damage while dealing significant poke in return. Additionally, Crippling Strike (W) slows Poppy, making it difficult for her to disengage or reposition after an attempted trade. The biggest counter to Poppy is Noxian Guillotine (R), which deals massive true damage and executes her before she can tank through extended fights. Since Poppy struggles against champions who can sustain through her burst, force extended duels, and deal true damage, Darius forces her into a matchup where she has difficulty escaping and surviving trades.

#1: Kayle

Kayle is the best counter to Poppy due to her ranged attacks, scaling power, and ability to completely negate Poppy’s engage. Poppy thrives in close-range fights with her crowd control and burst damage, but Kayle’s Divine Ascent (Passive) allows her to stay at a safe distance as the game progresses, making it nearly impossible for Poppy to engage effectively. Additionally, Radiant Blast (Q) reduces Poppy’s armor and magic resist, making her more vulnerable to Kayle’s sustained damage. The biggest counter to Poppy is Divine Judgment (R), which grants Kayle or an ally invulnerability, preventing Poppy from executing key targets with Hammer Shock (Q) or Keeper’s Verdict (R). Since Poppy struggles against champions who can outscale her, deal consistent ranged damage, and avoid her crowd control, Kayle forces her into a matchup where she has little control over fights and struggles to remain relevant in the late game.

Conclusion

Poppy may be a strong tank with powerful crowd control and anti-dash mechanics, but the right champions can counter her and limit her effectiveness. Ranged champions like Kayle and Jayce can poke her down before she can engage, while true damage duelists like Fiora and Darius can shred through her tankiness in extended fights. Fighters like Jax and Irelia can outmaneuver her Steadfast Presence (W) and win trades with sustained damage, while sustain-heavy champions like Nasus can outscale her and become unkillable. Additionally, Pantheon’s early-game burst and roaming potential can make it difficult for Poppy to control the lane. By picking champions that can poke, sustain, or bypass her crowd control, you can force Poppy into a difficult matchup where she struggles to secure kills and maintain lane dominance.