MacroMind matchup data: real ranked games, not opinions
Varus vs Irelia
How often does Varus beat Irelia in Top?
Varus into Irelia in Top: 46% observed win rate across 545 ranked games.
Global ranked sample: games from every region and every rank pooled together, not one server's stats. Data runs through patch 26.12; curves updated 2026-08-07.
By 15 minutes the median game has Varus behind by 1,087 gold.
Varus at 15:00
- Gold: -1,087
- CS: -24
- XP: -902
Typical gap to Irelia, from 542 games that reached 15:00.
Does Varus counter Irelia?
The count says no. Irelia holds 54% of 545 ranked Top games here. The lane is still winnable. Varus wins it back from the spots below, so learn which ones swing it before you lock in Varus against Irelia, and play for those first.
Beating Irelia: the Varus game plan
A gold lead at 10:00 puts Varus at 65% across 210 games. Flip the lead and Varus falls to 34% across 334.
| The spot | Win rate | Games |
|---|---|---|
| Ahead in gold at 10:00 | 65% | 210 |
| Behind in gold at 10:00 | 34% | 334 |
| First blood | 59% | 207 |
| +kills at 10:00 | 62% | 210 |
| +CS at 10:00 | 69% | 147 |
| 0 deaths at 10:00 | 62% | 42 |
Someone usually dies here around 3:15 in the median game, and level 6 lands near 5:52. Until your spike is online, respect the all-in.
Varus's Top build, with receipts
Into Irelia specifically, Varus finishes Dusk and Dawn first most often: 49.6% over 135 games of this matchup.
The most-finished Varus core is Dusk and Dawn, Nashor's Tooth, Riftmaker: 56.0% across 1,103 games when all three got done. All matchups, patches 26.1-26.12.
Most games start Doran's Blade + Health Potion; the first finished item is usually Dusk and Dawn (5,050 games).
Skill plan: Varus players max W first and take W at level 1.