Popol & Kupa Guide

Popol and Kupa: A Comprehensive Guide

Okay, here's a comprehensive MLBB guide for Popol and Kupa, based on research of effective builds and strategies.

Hero: Popol and Kupa

Primary Role: Marksman

Secondary Role (Situational): Roamer/Support (Requires Adjustment and specific builds)

Overview:

Popol and Kupa are a unique marksman due to their reliance on their pet, Kupa. Effective gameplay revolves around positioning Kupa strategically, managing Kupa's HP, and using Popol's abilities in conjunction with Kupa's attacks. This guide will focus on builds suitable for the Gold Lane (Marksman) role, and then offer insights on adapting the hero for the Roaming role.

I. Gold Lane (Marksman) Build Guides

Focus: Damage, Sustain, and Utility

Build Philosophy: Gold Lane builds prioritize high damage output, consistent damage through attack speed or critical chance, and survivability to withstand enemy ganks. Popol and Kupa benefit from items that enhance their overall damage and improve Kupa's survival.

Important Considerations:

• Boots: Swift Boots (Attack Speed) are generally the go-to choice for Popol and Kupa to maximize their damage output. However, Tough Boots (Magic Resist + Tenacity) are viable if you're consistently facing heavy magic damage and CC.
• Core Items: These items are almost always essential for a strong Gold Lane build.
• Item Adaptability: Be ready to adjust your build based on the enemy composition. This means buying counter items when necessary and potentially swapping out less essential items for defensive ones.

A. Build 1: Critical Damage Burst

• Emblem: Marksman
  • Tier 1: Swift
  • Tier 2: Weapon Master
  • Tier 3: Weakness Finder
• Item Build:
  1. Swift Boots: Attack Speed
  2. Berserker's Fury: Critical Chance, Critical Damage
  3. Scarlet Phantom: Attack Speed, Critical Chance
  4. Windtalker: Attack Speed, Movement Speed, Critical Chance
  5. Blade of Despair: High Physical Attack (increases damage significantly to low HP targets)
  6. Immortality: Resurrection, extra survivability

Explanation: This build maximizes burst damage with high critical chance and damage. Scarlet Phantom provides attack speed to trigger more critical hits. Endless Battle provides true damage and additional sustain with lifesteal. Blade of Despair amplifies damage. Immortality offers a safety net.

B. Build 2: Consistent Damage with Lifesteal

• Emblem: Marksman
  • Tier 1: Swift
  • Tier 2: Weapon Master
  • Tier 3: Weakness Finder
• Item Build:
  1. Swift Boots: Attack Speed
  2. Demon Hunter Sword: Attack Speed, Lifesteal (damage based on target's current HP)
  3. Golden Staff: Attack Speed, converts Crit Chance to Attack Speed, enhances Demon Hunter Sword passive
  4. Windtalker: Attack Speed, Movement Speed, Crit Chance
  5. Corrosion Scythe: Attack Speed, Movement Speed, Slow effect
  6. Immortality: Resurrection, extra survivability

Explanation: This build focuses on consistent damage output with high attack speed and Demon Hunter Sword's passive, effective against tanky heroes. Golden Staff is key to maximize Demon Hunter Sword's potential. Windtalker provides additional burst damage. Corrosion Scythe provides slow for crowd control.

II. Counter Items and Adaptations

• Against High Physical Damage (e.g., Assassin like Lancelot, Fighter like Paquito):
  • Swap Immortality for Antique Cuirass: Reduces physical damage taken from attackers.
• Against High Magic Damage (e.g., Mage like Eudora, Pharsa):
  • Swap Immortality for Athena's Shield: Provides a magic damage absorption shield.
• Against Healing/Regen (e.g., Uranus, Estes):
  • Sea Halberd: Reduces HP Regen. Build this early if you're struggling against heavy healing. Consider swapping Windtalker for it.
• Against Crowd Control (CC):
  • Consider Tough Boots early instead of Swift Boots.
  • Purify Battle Spell: Can be used to cleanse CC if you react quickly.

III. Roamer/Support Build Guide (Situational)

Important Note: This is a very unconventional role for Popol and Kupa, and it's only viable if your team composition severely lacks crowd control or vision. It requires strong game sense and communication. This is a build for advanced players who want to experiment and understand the limitations.

Build Philosophy: Focuses on crowd control, providing vision, and supporting allies. You'll be relying on Kupa's crowd control and Popol's bush traps.

• Emblem: Support
  • Tier 1: Agility
  • Tier 2: Recovery
  • Tier 3: Focusing Mark
• Item Build:
  1. Courage Mask: Encourages allies and provides exp & gold assistance.
  2. Tough Boots: Magic Resist, Tenacity
  3. Dominance Ice: Mana, Armor, Cooldown Reduction, Reduces Movement Speed and HP Regen of nearby enemies
  4. Athena's Shield: Magic Damage Absorption
  5. Immortality: Resurrection
  6. Oracle: HP, Magical Defense and Healing Effect

Explanation: Courage Mask provides movement speed and economic support. Tough Boots helps you survive CC. Dominance Ice provides utility and defense. Athena's Shield helps against burst magic damage. Immortality is a general safety net. Fleeting Time maximizes skill usage.

IV. Gameplay Tips

• Kupa's Positioning: This is crucial. Use Kupa to scout bushes, zone enemies, and protect yourself. Position Kupa aggressively to harass the enemy laner, but be mindful of their HP.
• Skill Usage:
  • Bite 'Em, Kupa!: Use this to stun enemies or interrupt their skills.
  • Kupa, Help!: Use this to recall Kupa to you in dangerous situations or to reposition him aggressively. The shield is also important for survivability.
  • Popol's Surprise: Use the traps strategically in bushes or to create choke points.
• Kiting: Maintain distance and use your superior range to kite enemies.
• Teamfights: Prioritize staying alive and dealing consistent damage from the backline. Use Kupa to protect your carries.
• Map Awareness: As with all marksmen, constantly check the map for potential ganks and rotate when necessary.

V. Hero Counters

• Strong Burst Assassins (e.g., Lancelot, Gusion): They can quickly burst down Popol and Kupa before you can react.
• Heroes with strong crowd control (e.g., Khufra, Atlas): They can lock down Kupa and/or Popol, making you vulnerable.
• Heroes with high mobility (e.g., Fanny, Ling): Difficult to catch. They can easily dive into your backline.
• Heroes with high range and burst (e.g. Yve, Pharsa): They can snipe you down and force you to play defensively.

General Notes:

• Practice is key to mastering Popol and Kupa. Experiment with different builds and playstyles to find what works best for you.
• Always adapt your build based on the specific match you're in.
• Communicate with your team to coordinate ganks and objectives.
• Prioritize farming in the early game to acquire your core items as quickly as possible.