Irelia/Azir (Ireliazir) LoR Deck Guide: Dominate With Blades!

Hey guys! Ready to slice and dice your way to victory in Legends of Runeterra? Then you've come to the right place. Today, we're diving deep into one of the most explosive and iconic decks in LoR history: Irelia/Azir, affectionately known as Ireliazir. This deck is all about overwhelming your opponent with a relentless barrage of attacks, using Irelia's Dancing Blades and Azir's Sand Soldiers to create a board state that's simply impossible to handle. Whether you're a seasoned LoR veteran or a newcomer looking for a powerful and engaging deck to climb the ranks, this guide has got you covered. We'll break down the deck's core strategy, key cards, mulligan tips, matchups, and everything else you need to pilot Ireliazir to success. So, grab your blades, sharpen your wits, and let's get started!

What Makes Irelia/Azir So Strong?

So, what's the secret sauce that makes Irelia/Azir such a powerhouse in the Legends of Runeterra meta? It's all about the synergy between Irelia and Azir, two champions who perfectly complement each other's strengths. Irelia brings the aggressive tempo and blade-dancing mayhem, while Azir provides the board presence and relentless pressure. The combination of these champions allows the deck to generate a ton of cheap attackers, overwhelming the opponent with a constant stream of units. This forces the opponent to make unfavorable trades or waste valuable removal spells on disposable units, paving the way for Irelia and Azir to close out the game.

Furthermore, Ireliazir excels at punishing slow or greedy decks. The deck's ability to generate multiple attacks per turn allows it to quickly burn down the opponent's Nexus before they can stabilize. This makes it a nightmare matchup for control decks that rely on stalling the game and out-valuing their opponents. On the other hand, Ireliazir can also hold its own against aggressive decks, thanks to its ability to generate blockers and disrupt the opponent's attack patterns. The deck's versatility and adaptability are what make it such a consistent and reliable choice in the ever-changing world of Legends of Runeterra. Basically, with Irelia/Azir, you're not just playing a deck; you're conducting a symphony of steel and sand, a whirlwind of blades and bodies that leaves your opponents bewildered and broken.

Key Cards and Strategy

Okay, let's break down the key cards that make the Irelia/Azir deck tick. Understanding how these cards work together is crucial to mastering the deck's strategy and maximizing your chances of victory. So pay close attention, and let's dive in!

Champions:

• Irelia: The star of the show! Irelia's ability to summon Dancing Blades with each attack is what makes this deck so explosive. Leveling her up allows her to summon even more blades, creating an unstoppable wave of attackers. She is essential for triggering blade dances and generating early-game pressure. Her level-up condition is attacking with 12+ units, which can be achieved quickly with the help of Azir and other key cards in the deck.
• Azir: The Emperor of Shurima provides the board presence needed to support Irelia's attacks. His Sand Soldiers are cheap, disposable units that can be used to trigger blade dances, protect your valuable units, or apply additional pressure to the opponent's Nexus. Azir's level-up condition is summoning 13+ units, which synergizes perfectly with the deck's strategy of generating a swarm of attackers.

Key Units:

• Emperor's Dais: This landmark is a powerhouse in the Ireliazir deck. It summons a Sand Soldier at the start of each round, providing a consistent source of attackers and helping you level up Azir quickly. Emperor's Dais also buffs your Sand Soldiers, making them more threatening and harder to remove.
• Inspiring Marshal: Inspiring Marshal buffs your board, including Sand Soldiers, which is an amazing and impactful card in the deck. This card is very important for achieving victory, and getting that extra damage through. Try to keep this card safe, because it will likely be targeted by your opponent.
• Greenglade Duo: A solid early-game unit that gains attack power as you summon more units. Greenglade Duo can quickly become a significant threat if left unchecked, forcing the opponent to deal with it or risk taking a lot of damage.
• Sparring Student: This elusive unit gets +2/+0 for each ally summoned, providing a good and fast way to get damage on the board. This unit can sometimes be tricky to utilize, but can be a great card for early and mid game.
• Blossoming Blade: Blossoming Blade is a great card to generate flow. It allows you to draw another flow card from your deck, while also having a solid attack and defense on the board. This card can often be essential for finding that last champion to seal the deal.

Key Spells:

• Lead and Follow: This spell is what makes Ireliazir so explosive. It allows you to attack twice in a single turn, doubling the number of Dancing Blades summoned by Irelia and applying immense pressure to the opponent. Using Lead and Follow at the right time can often be game-winning.
• Bladesurge: Another vital spell for triggering blade dances and generating attacks. Bladesurge summons two Dancing Blades, providing additional attackers and pushing more damage to the opponent's Nexus.
• Rite of Calling: An important card draw spell, allowing you to discard one to draw two. This ensures the flow keeps going and provides you with a variety of options to deal with your opponent.
• Defiant Dance: This spell is a versatile tool that can be used to protect your valuable units or remove enemy blockers. Defiant Dance can save your Irelia or Azir from removal, or it can clear the way for your attackers to get through.

Mulligan Guide

Alright, let's talk about the mulligan strategy for Irelia/Azir. Knowing what cards to keep in your opening hand is crucial for setting up your early game and establishing board control. Here's a general guideline to follow:

Always Keep:

• Irelia: She's the heart and soul of the deck, so always keep her in your opening hand if you see her.
• Emperor's Dais: This landmark is essential for generating a steady stream of Sand Soldiers and leveling up Azir. Keeping it in your opening hand ensures that you get off to a strong start.
• Greenglade Duo: A solid early-game unit that can quickly snowball out of control. Keep it against aggressive decks to establish early board presence.

Situational Keeps:

• Azir: Keep him if you already have Irelia or Emperor's Dais in your opening hand. Azir is a powerful threat, but he's more effective when you have other units to support him.
• Lead and Follow: Keep it against slow or greedy decks where you want to apply early pressure. Lead and Follow can be a game-winning card if used at the right time.
• Bladesurge: Keep it against decks that rely on chump blockers to defend. Bladesurge provides additional attackers and can help you push through damage.

Cards to Throw Back:

• Defiant Dance: This spell is more useful in the mid-game when you need to protect your valuable units or remove enemy blockers. Throw it back in the early game to look for more proactive plays.
• Rite of Calling: This spell is a good way to refill your hand, but it's not essential in the early game. Throw it back to look for more immediate threats.

Gameplay Tips and Tricks

Alright, let's move on to some gameplay tips and tricks that can help you pilot Irelia/Azir like a pro. Mastering these nuances can make a big difference in your win rate.

• Blade Dance Sequencing: Pay close attention to the order in which you play your cards and initiate your attacks. You want to maximize the number of Dancing Blades summoned by Irelia while also protecting your valuable units. For example, if you have both Irelia and Azir on the board, you might want to attack with Azir's Sand Soldiers first to generate additional attackers before using Lead and Follow.
• Flow Management: The flow mechanic in Ionia can be tricky to manage. You want to make sure that you're always playing two cards in a turn to trigger flow, but you also don't want to waste valuable resources. Plan your turns carefully and think ahead to ensure that you're making the most of your flow procs.
• Baiting Removal: Don't be afraid to play disposable units to bait out your opponent's removal spells. This can protect your Irelia and Azir from being targeted, allowing them to survive and generate more value.
• Nexus Health Management: Ireliazir is an aggressive deck, but it's important to be mindful of your Nexus health. Don't overextend into unfavorable trades if it means putting yourself at risk of being burned down. Sometimes, it's better to play defensively and wait for the right opportunity to strike.
• Predicting Your Opponent's Moves: Pay attention to your opponent's deck and play style. Try to anticipate their moves and play around their removal spells and combat tricks. This will give you a significant edge in the long run.

Matchups and Meta Analysis

Okay, let's talk about some common matchups and how to approach them. Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of different decks is crucial for adapting your strategy and maximizing your chances of success.

• Aggro Decks (e.g., Draven/Jinx Discard Aggro): These matchups can be tricky, but Ireliazir has the tools to hold its own. Focus on establishing early board presence with Greenglade Duo and Sand Soldiers. Use Defiant Dance to protect your valuable units from removal and stabilize the board. Don't be afraid to make unfavorable trades if it means surviving the early game. Once you reach the mid-game, Irelia's blade dances can quickly turn the tide in your favor.
• Midrange Decks (e.g., Lucian/Azir): These matchups are generally favorable for Ireliazir. You have more explosive potential and can often overwhelm your opponent with a relentless barrage of attacks. Focus on leveling up Irelia and Azir as quickly as possible. Use Lead and Follow to push through damage and close out the game.
• Control Decks (e.g., Feel The Rush): These matchups can be challenging, but Ireliazir has the tools to punish slow or greedy decks. Apply early pressure with Greenglade Duo and Sand Soldiers. Use Lead and Follow to burn down the opponent's Nexus before they can stabilize. Be mindful of their removal spells and try to bait them out with disposable units.

Conclusion: Become a Blade Dancing Master!

So there you have it, folks! A comprehensive guide to mastering the Irelia/Azir deck in Legends of Runeterra. This deck is a blast to play and incredibly rewarding when you pilot it correctly. Remember to practice your blade dance sequencing, manage your flow carefully, and adapt your strategy to the different matchups you'll encounter on the ladder. With a little bit of practice and dedication, you'll be slicing and dicing your way to victory in no time! Now go out there and show the world the power of Irelia and Azir! Good luck, have fun, and may your blades always dance true!