- Le Poilu build rewards patience: he is weak early and a late-game hypercarry
- Rage mechanic: build max rage to transform into a powerful werewolf form
- Core items: attack speed quest item first, then life steal and damage
- Ability combos: use the gap closer (W) and wall-stun roar (E) to lock down targets
- Best playstyle: farm safely, survive the laning phase, then dominate teamfights
Le Poilu Overview: The Late-Game Hypercarry
Le Poilu is a melee fighter hero in March of Giants, Amazon's closed-alpha MOBA, whose kit revolves around a rage transformation mechanic. He plays like a classic scaling bruiser: miserable in the early laning phase, but one of the strongest champions on the map once his items come online. His ult lets him transform on demand into a beast form with major damage reduction and speed, making him extremely hard to kill in the late game.
Video Highlights:
- Full gameplay showcase of Le Poilu's rage and werewolf transformation
- Early-game laning struggles against ranged and melee matchups
- Item progression from attack speed into life steal and burst damage
- Late-game teamfight cleanup with wall-stun combos
Video Highlights:
- Le Poilu feels weak early but scales into a late-game hypercarry
- Max rage transforms him into a werewolf form with damage reduction
- Recommended core: attack speed quest item, life steal, weapon system damage items
- His E roar knocks enemies back and stuns them against walls
- Quick cast is strongly recommended for smoother ability usage
The first 10 minutes are Le Poilu's weakest phase. Do not force trades, avoid overextending, and focus on last-hitting minions to stack your attack speed item.
Le Poilu Kit Breakdown
Le Poilu's kit is straightforward but rewards smart usage. Understanding each ability is key to his build decisions.
| Ability | Type | Effect | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q | Damage | Small cone damage, low cooldown | ★★★☆☆ |
| W | Gap Closer | Jumps onto target enemy, clunky without quick cast | ★★★★☆ |
| E | Roar | Knocks enemies back, stuns on wall impact | ★★★★★ |
| Ult | Transformation | On-demand werewolf form, huge power spike, ~180s cooldown | ★★★★★ |
Le Poilu feels clunky on default cast settings, especially the W gap closer. Switch to quick cast immediately to make his combo flow smoothly.
Step-by-Step Build Path
First Item: Attack Speed Quest (1,000 Gold)
Start with the stacking attack speed item. Every last hit grants bonus attack speed, so prioritize farming over fighting in the early lanes.
Life Steal (1,500 Gold)
Your second major purchase should be life steal. Le Poilu lacks natural HP regen, and life steal lets you sustain through jungle camps and extended fights.
Boots for Rotation
Pick up boots to rotate and gank other lanes. Watch for pushed enemy lanes to find easy gank angles with your W gap closer.
Weapon System Expert
This is one of the highest raw damage items in the game. Buy it as your core damage spike once you have sustain online.
Execution and Situational Items
Execution lets you instantly kill enemies below a low HP threshold. Against shield-heavy teams, grab Shield Breaker instead.
| Item | Cost | Purpose | Buy Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attack Speed Quest | 1,000 | Stacking attack speed from last hits | First |
| Life Steal | 1,500 | Sustain, jungle clearing | Second |
| Boots | Low | Rotation and gank speed | Third |
| Weapon System Expert | High | Highest raw damage item | Fourth |
| Execution | High | Executes low-HP enemies, bonus range on marked targets | Fifth |
| Shield Breaker | Mid | Counters shielded enemy teams | Situational |
Put cooldown reduction on your damage talent. Recovery Speed reduces stun duration (similar to tenacity), which is valuable against CC-heavy lineups.
Laning Strategy and Power Spikes
Le Poilu's game plan is split into three distinct phases. Knowing when to fight and when to farm is what separates good Le Poilu players from great ones.
Early Game: Survive
- Weakest phase of the match
- Focus on last hits and stacking
- Avoid extended trades
- Back once you hit 1,000 gold
Mid Game: Scale
- Complete life steal for sustain
- Take jungle camps between waves
- Gank pushed lanes with W engage
- Build bunkers defensively if pressured
Late Game: Dominate
- Full build hypercarry mode
- Ult transforms you into near-unkillable beast form
- Wall-stun carries with E, then cleave the fight
- Push objectives while transformed
Even at full build, enemy towers deal heavy damage. Never dive without your transformation active, and remember your cleave autos can accidentally hit heroes and draw tower aggro.
Advanced Tips and Macro Decisions
Le Poilu Match Goals:
- Reach 1,000 gold without dying before 5 minutes
- Complete attack speed quest stacks by mid game
- Finish life steal before contesting jungle camps
- Save your ult for teamfights, not random skirmishes
- Buy Shield Breaker when 3+ enemies have shields
Beyond items, Le Poilu benefits from smart macro play:
- Resource spending: Supplies can build bunkers, siege units, or a field shop (70 supplies). For Le Poilu, bunkers and offensive units generally offer more value than the field shop since you will recall often for HP and mana anyway.
- Giant and boss objectives: The boss grants a quick revive, extra soldiers, and attack power. Always rotate to help your team secure it.
- Lane pressure: If your lane opponent turtles under tower with bunkers, do not force it. Roam mid instead and use your numbers advantage elsewhere.
Your rage builds through combat and transforms you into the werewolf automatically at max rage, similar to a rage bar mechanic. Fight near max rage to guarantee the transformation happens during the engagement, not after it ends.
FAQ
Q: Is Le Poilu good in the early game?
No. Le Poilu is notably weak during the laning phase and early skirmishes. His power comes from item scaling, so play patiently, farm safely, and avoid forced trades until you have your first two items.
Q: What does Le Poilu's ultimate do?
His ult transforms him on demand into his beast form, where he is significantly stronger with damage reduction and bonus movement speed. The cooldown is long (around 180 seconds), so use it for major fights rather than small skirmishes.
Q: What is the best first item for a Le Poilu build?
The attack speed quest item at 1,000 gold is the standard first purchase. It stacks attack speed with every last hit, accelerating your farming and setting up your mid-game power spike.
Q: How does Le Poilu's E ability work?
His E is a roar that knocks enemies back. If an enemy is knocked into a wall, they are stunned. Use it near terrain to lock down carries, then follow with your W gap closer to finish them.