12 Best Heroes To Counter Popol and Kupa In Mobile Legends

Popol and Kupa can be a nightmare to deal with in Mobile Legends, especially with their relentless poke, strong crowd control, and trap-based zoning. Kupa acts as both a damage dealer and frontliner, making it hard to punish Popol directly without dealing with his furry companion first. However, like all heroes, they have clear weaknesses—particularly when Kupa is down or when Popol is isolated. In this article, we’ll go over the 12 best heroes to counter Popol and Kupa, focusing on those who can burst them down, bypass their zoning, or neutralize Kupa’s presence to shut their momentum down.

#12: Minsitthar

Minsitthar is a strong counter to Popol and Kupa thanks to his ultimate, King’s Calling, which disables all movement skills within its area. This traps Popol in place and makes it harder for him to kite or reposition. More importantly, it completely nullifies Flicker or Sprint, removing his only escape tools. With Minsitthar’s spear pull and strong frontline presence, he can disrupt Popol’s setup, block Kupa’s pressure, and force Popol into unfavorable close-range fights.

#11: Valir

Valir is an excellent counter to Popol and Kupa due to his constant poke, strong zoning, and reliable crowd control. His Burst Fireball and Searing Torrent can keep Kupa at bay, forcing him to retreat before he gets in too deep. If Popol tries to engage, Valir can knock him back and burn him down with sustained magic damage. His Vengeance Flame passive also gives him protection from crowd control, allowing him to deal with Popol’s traps and slows without losing mobility.

#10: Harley

Harley is a strong counter to Popol and Kupa because of his high burst damage and mobility. With his Poker Trick and Deadly Magic combo, Harley can quickly burst down Popol before Kupa or traps can react. Since Popol lacks strong escape tools, Harley can easily dive in, deal lethal damage, and blink out safely using Space Escape. His ability to target Popol directly and ignore Kupa makes him especially dangerous in 1v1 or pick-off scenarios.

#9: Baxia

Baxia is a great counter to Popol and Kupa thanks to his durability, mobility, and built-in anti-healing. His passive, Baxia Mark, reduces the healing Popol gains from lifesteal, making it harder for him to sustain during fights. Baxia can also roll into fights with Shield Unity, quickly closing the gap and disrupting Popol’s positioning. Once in range, Baxia can soak up Kupa’s damage and pressure Popol directly, forcing him into defensive play. His tankiness and AoE skills make him a solid frontline counter that can break through their setup.

#8: Chou

Chou is a strong pick against Popol and Kupa due to his mobility, crowd control, and ability to isolate targets. With Jeet Kune Do and Shunpo, Chou can dodge traps and close the distance quickly. His ultimate, The Way of Dragon, allows him to single out Popol and kick him away from Kupa or into his own team for an easy kill. Chou’s burst and ability to ignore frontline pressure make him a perfect assassin-style counter who can disrupt Popol’s setup and take him out before he has a chance to respond.

#7: Selena

Selena is a strong counter to Popol and Kupa thanks to her long-range pick potential and burst damage. Her Abyssal Arrow can stun Popol from a distance, giving her an easy window to dive in with Garrote and Soul Eater for a quick elimination. She can also use Abyssal Traps to provide vision and control key areas of the map—limiting Popol’s ability to safely place his own traps. With her high mobility and lethal combo, Selena can burst Popol down before Kupa has time to react or protect him.

#6: Lancelot

Lancelot is a strong counter to Popol and Kupa thanks to his high burst damage, quick dashes, and ability to ignore frontliners like Kupa. His Puncture and Thorned Rose combo allows him to dive in, deal massive damage, and escape before Popol can react or retaliate. Lancelot can also weave through traps with ease and target Popol directly, bypassing Kupa’s pressure. In the hands of a skilled player, Lancelot can delete Popol in seconds and reset for more kills with Phantom Execution.

#5: Gusion

Gusion is a top-tier assassin counter to Popol and Kupa due to his explosive burst and mobility. With Sword Spike and Shadowblade Slaughter, Gusion can instantly gap-close and burst down Popol before Kupa or his traps can protect him. Popol’s lack of escape makes him an easy target once Gusion locks in. His fast in-and-out combo style makes it hard for Popol to land traps or mount a defense, allowing Gusion to eliminate him quickly and move on to the next target.

#4: Franco

Franco is a hard counter to Popol and Kupa thanks to his ability to isolate and suppress targets. With Iron Hook, Franco can pull Popol out of position and away from Kupa, making him extremely vulnerable. Once hooked, Bloody Hunt can lock Popol down long enough for allies to burst him before he can escape or summon Kupa back. Franco also thrives in punishing static playstyles, and his hook pressure forces Popol to play cautiously and limits his trap setups.

#3: Kagura

Kagura is a great counter to Popol and Kupa due to her mobility, burst potential, and ability to safely poke from range. With Seimei Umbrella Open and Rasho Umbrella Flee, she can dodge traps, harass from a distance, and reposition easily. Her full combo, especially with Yin Yang Overturn, can burst Popol down before Kupa can react or protect him. Kagura’s umbrella mechanics also allow her to play around Popol’s zoning and punish him whenever he overextends or mispositions.

#2: Clint

Clint is a powerful marksman counter to Popol and Kupa, thanks to his high burst from range and superior poke. With Quick Draw and Grenade Bombardment, Clint can out-trade Popol in lane and harass him without putting himself in danger. His Trapping Recoil also gives him a reliable escape option if Kupa dives or Popol sets traps nearby. Clint’s damage spikes hard in the mid to late game, allowing him to burst down Popol before he has time to summon Kupa or respond.

#1: Helcurt

Helcurt is the ultimate counter to Popol and Kupa thanks to his silence, burst damage, and ability to shut down skill-based heroes. His Deadly Stinger combined with Dark Night Falls allows him to quickly dive Popol, silence him, and burst him down before Kupa or traps can be used. The darkness from his ultimate also disables Popol’s vision and reaction time, making it even harder for him to position or defend himself. With the element of surprise and fast execution, Helcurt can eliminate Popol before a fight even starts.

Conclusion

Popol and Kupa can be a real challenge to deal with thanks to their strong poke, traps, and constant pressure—but they’re far from unbeatable. With the right counter picks, you can shut them down by bursting Popol before Kupa can react, silencing their setup, or forcing them out of position. Whether it’s assassins like Helcurt and Gusion, displacers like Franco and Chou, or mages like Kagura and Valir, each hero on this list brings tools that directly exploit Popol and Kupa’s biggest weaknesses. Choose smart, play aggressive, and you’ll make sure this duo never gets comfortable on the battlefield.