Mobile legend’s one of the most unique Marksman is Popol and Kupa. They were released back on April 21th, 2020. Popol is the small boy and Kupa is his pet wolf. They are the best partners in the game. He can give a vision of enemies and have some CC skills. In this Mobile Legends guide, we will take a look at the best emblem, spell, build, including tips and tricks to dominate every game with the duo of Popol and Kupa.
We have previously discussed how to master playing with other Mobile Legends heroes like Miya, Ling, Wanwan, Pharsa, Carmilla, Silvanna, Hayabusa, Atlas, Luo Yi, Yu Zhong, Aurora, Khaleed, Freya, Khufra, X.Borg, Lesley, Tigreal, Hylos, Valir, Cecilion, Lylia, Uranus, Barats, Odette, Angela, Vale, Rafaela, Hanzo, Esmeralda, Brody, Lapu-Lapu, Nana, Benedetta, Hilda, Mathilda, Selena, Jawhead, Chou, Paquito, Thamuz, Lunox, Yi Sun-Shin, Yve, Gatotkaca, Karrie, Ruby, Beatrix, Gloo, Argus, Baxia, Granger, Phoveus, Hanabi, Alpha, Harley, Karina, Eudora, Natan, Dyrroth, Balmond, Aulus, Guinevere, Sun, Belerick, Floryn, Aamon, Valentina, Kagura, Saber, Leomord, Bruno Akai, Bane, Edith, Martis, Alucard, Gusion, Chang’e, Yin, Clint, Alice, Grock, and Kadita. So make sure to check these hero guides as well. For now, let’s focus on Popol and Kupa.
Skill Analysis
Unlike any other Marksman, Popol and Kupa have four active skills and a passive skill. As a Marksman only Popol has four active skills. Unique skills help Popol to play very safely in the early game and don’t need a tank to support him always. Popol can do it alone. In this Mobile Legends guide, we will also talk about skills to use in different scenarios as well skill combos to be able to play Popol and Kupa to their utmost potential.
Passive – We are Friends (Buff)
Popol always fights side by side with his best partner, Kupa. Popol will take care of Kupa if it has not taken any damage in 5 seconds, restoring 10% of its Max HP every second. When Kupa is down, Popol’s Bite ’em, Kupa! and Kupa, Help! will not be able available to cast, instead, it will be replaced by a skill that will let Popol pray for 3 seconds to summon Kupa back to the battlefield.
The praying skill has a cooldown of 45 seconds. After 3 consecutive attacks by Kupa on an enemy, Popol’s next Basic Attack will deal (+220% Total Physical Attack) Physical Damage. Kupa has 2500 (1200% Total Physical ATK) Max HP and inherits 100% of Popol’s other attributes and equipment effects.
Skill 1 – Bite ’em, Kupa! (Damage CC, Target-locked)
CD – 6.5
Popol throws a spear at a target for 100/130/160/190 (+100% Total Physical Attack) Physical Damage and orders Kupa to bite them, each bite deals 120/150/180/210 (+75% Total Physical Attack) Physical Damage and following up with attacks for 3 seconds.
Buffed Skill 1 (Alpha Wolf) – Bite ’em, Kupa!
Popol throws a spear at a target for 100/130/160/190 (+100% Total Physical Attack) Physical Damage and orders Kupa to strikes ferociously, stunning the target for 1 second with 3 rapid bites, each bite deals 120/150/180/210 (+75% Total Physical Attack) Physical Damage and following up with attacks for 3 seconds.
Skill 2 – Kupa, Help! (CC, AoE)
CD – 6.5
Popol calls Kupa immediately to his location, gaining a shield equal to 240/270/300/330 (+200% Extra Physical Attack) HP, dealing 240/285/330(+50% Total Physical Attack) Physical Damage to the nearby enemies and slowing them by 60% for 0.5 seconds. Kupa will assist Popol in attacking nearby enemies for 3 seconds.
Buffed Skill 2 (Alpha Wolf) – Kupa, Help!
Popol calls Kupa immediately to his location, gaining a shield equal to 240/270/300/330 (+160% Extra Physical Attack) HP, dealing 300/337.5/375/412.5 (+62.5% Total Physical Attack) Physical Damage, knocks up nearby enemies for 0.2 seconds, and slowing them by 60% for 0.5 seconds. Kupa will assist Popol in attacking nearby enemies for 3 seconds.
Skill 3 – Popol’s Surprise (Summon CC, Stored)
CD – 1.5
Popol sets a trap at a designated location, which will detonate when an enemy hero steps on the trap, dealing 70/80/90/100 (20% Magic Power) Physical Damage, immobilizing them for 1 second, and creating a frost zone for 4 seconds that will slowing enemies by 20% in the area.
Popol can store up to 3 traps at a time and gains 1 charge per 22/20/18/16 seconds. He can only put 3 traps in the battlefield that lasts for 60 seconds and if there are more than 3 traps set in the map, 1 trap will removed.
Ultimate – We Are Angry! (Buff)
CD – 38/35/32
Popol and Kupa both become enraged for 12 seconds and gains the following: 30%/50%/70% Attack Speed and 15% Movement Speed. Kupa enters Alpha Wolf Form, restoring it’s full HP, increasing its Max HP by 1500/2500/3500, Physical Attack by 50, and enhancing Bite ’em, Kupa! and Kupa, Help!.
Skill-up method for Popol and Kupa
At early game unlock his first skill first, then third skill to set traps and get vision following up second skill and upgrade Ultimate whenever available.
Best Emblem set and Spells for Popol and Kupa in Mobile Legends
Emblem Setup
Custom Assassin Emblem is the best option for Popol and Kupa. Maximizing Movement Speed and Physical Pen with the Killing Spree talent for recovering hp and movement speed after getting a kill in teamfight.
Battle Spells
Players have been playing him as a Support or Roamer for a long time. Developers adjusted few times to make him play as a normal Marksman and this guide is focused on playing him as a Sidelaner or Gold laner. Popol lacks blink skill which makes him easy to gank. So it’s better to use flicker as his primary spell. Aegis is also useful for some situation.
Best Builds for Popol and Kupa in Mobile Legends
One can try many builds on Popol and Kupa. All which one needs to do is to just follow the enemy’s pick and then decide the role on the battlefield. We have set out the following template to try out with Popol and Kupa on the battlefield.
- Swift Boots: Popol and Kuopa needs attack speed items to deal damage. Its passive gives extra 15% attack speed or warrior boots in early game if facing physical damage dealer fighter or marksman.
- Windtalker: It is one of the core item for Popol and Kupa. Attack speed is very important for him. It give 40% attack speed and also crit chances, with this item he will be able to deal good damage in early game.
- Beserker’s Fury: Popol and Kupa deals high critical damage. This item is one of the core item for Popol and Kupa because it increases crit chances .This helps to burst down enemies with basic attacks.
- Scarlet Phantom: It gives attack speed with critical chances. So it is also a great item for him. Coming this with previous built items, can deal insane amount of damage form a safe distance.
- Blade of Despair: To increase his damage even more BOD is a great item, it has highest physical attack but if enemies are tankier Demon Hunter Sword can melt down high HP enemies or to take down enemies with high armor or physical defense Malefic Roar is the best item. It gives physical penetration and attack.
- The Final Item: This depends on the enemy line up or game situation. If enemy has high physical burst damage. You can build Wind of Nature. It is a great item to save yourself, its passive make immune to all physical attacks for few seconds and give lifesteal along with attack speed. But if enemy has high magic damage heroes then build Athena Shield to avoid getting busted. You can also buy Immortality which can give you a change to escape.
Mobile Legends Popol and Kupa Gameplay Tips
Although many players play him as a Tank or a Roamer, this guide is more focused on playing him as a Gold laner. As a gold laner, you must go to the gold lane. However, a player must need a good understanding of the map to bring the best out of any hero. According to their gameplay, we can break it down into three phases. Our Mobile Legends Popol and Kupa guide include the perfect game plan for the early, mid, and late game.
Early Game
Popol, or the player, is the leader and should always be in full command of Kupa (hence guide refers to Popol more) and in track of his position. The gameplay is managing two different heroes at the same time. Popol is a backline similar to a mage/marksman in terms of safe positioning, while Kupa is the initiator.
Popol can harass his lane opponent with his long range advantage, he can deal damage from a safe distance without taking any damage, but it is very important to keep kupa safe and not let him die easily, call back Kupa when he is taking more damage . Try to his turrets, when no enemies nearby, use trap around the bushes to get vision. Getting turret shield will give lots of extra gold.
Mid Game
Popol and Kupa can deal good amount of damage in the mid game, with one or two core items like Windtalker and Beserker’s Fury. Plan traps in the side lane or mid to get vision around the area, with this vision it is safe to push lane and very good for not getting ganked by three or four enemies.
Join teamfights with you tank and fighter in front and deal damage form distance. Enemies can take down Kupa easily, so it is very important to not make a bad imitate and getting Kupa killed, because Popol cannot do anything without Kupa. Wait for your tank or fighter to initiate and then use your ultimate to tank down enemies.
Late Game
Popol and Kupa is a great marksman to fight 1v1 in the late game. But if the enemies are good, they won’t fight alone and Without Kupa, Popol is the weakest hero and will potentially lose any 1vs1 fight. Once Kupa is dead, Popol has to stand still while summoning him and this can be interrupted by any damage, including minions and global skills.
His traps can give lots of vision in late game, which is very helpful for the whole team. Plant traps around the mid lane and lord area to get vision. Popol is still a marksman in terms of durability, which means he can easily die from attacks that bypass Kupa or spells that can target him directly.
So, maintain good positioning during the teamfights, Popol and Kupa can take lord very fast, use this advantage whenever there’s an opportunity. Every hero has some strength and weakness. Here are some Meta heroes who are picked very often, some of them very strong against Popol and Kupa and some of them are weak against him.
| Heroes that counter Popol and Kupa | Heroes Popol and Kupa can counter |
| Carmilla | Kimmy |
| Bruno | Wanwan |
| Kaja | Esmeralda |
| Franco | Silvana |
| Benedetta | Zhask |
| Gusion | Hanabi |
| Ling | |
| Saber |
Final Thoughts
Despite being a Marksman, Popol is constantly played as a Tank/Support or Roamer due to his incredible utility, from the very early of his release. Developers made some adjustments to play him as a normal Marksman but still many players playing Popol as a Support or Roamer.
An excellent pick for rank games, Popol and Kupa is definitely a good pick for the current meta. These tips will surely help you to guide easy wins with Popol and Kupa in Mobile Legends. You can also refer to our latest tier list to know more about the revamped meta heroes in this current season.
That’s all for today’s Mobile Legends Popol and Kupa Guide. Do you prefer to use Popol and Kupa in any other way? Let us know in the comment section below!
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