Mel vs Poppy Counter Pick

The 129-game sample on patch 16.13.1 is small, but 38.0% is a wide enough margin that the direction is not in question — Mel is losing this support matchup.

Heroic Charge is the ability that does it. Poppy dashes to her target and pushes it back; if terrain is behind, the target is stunned. Against a 630-health mage with 21 base armor and 330 move speed, one wall is the entire fight. Hammer Shock adds a slowing zone that explodes after a delay, and Keeper’s Verdict removes Mel from the area completely.

• Damage type — Poppy deals physical damage into Mel’s 21 armor, her weakest defensive stat; Mel’s magic damage meets 32 base magic resistance.
• Durability — 2,480 health and 120 armor at level eighteen against 2,313 and 109.4.
• Tempo — 345 move speed against 330, so Poppy chooses when the gap closes.

Rebuttal is Mel’s one structural counter, preventing damage and reflecting projectiles, including the Iron Ambassador buckler on its way back. Solar Snare’s root can also stop Heroic Charge before it starts, and Golden Eclipse reaches Poppy wherever she runs, since it strikes every enemy carrying Overwhelm regardless of distance. The 550 attack range still counts as well: Poppy owns no ranged threat and has to spend a dash to open anything. Difficulty ratings of 6 and 5 leave neither pilot an execution excuse.