User blog comment:Alonlah/Poppys viability in the current meta and her status in the PBE./@comment-6867526-20130817160500/@comment-15244341-20130818013758

My experience as Poppy in Dominions suggests that yes, Doran+Sheen is scary as hell for so little gold (for Dominion). My experience as Poppy in Summoner's Rift suggests that taking less damage feels good but at some point you are just that; hard to deal a coup de grace to. Since, you know, still no way to answer each and every engage because mana costs are way too harsh. Also, Sheen is a 1200 gold item, which is a bit more in SR as a weak early game champion on an agressive lane. Top is a lane in which Riven and Darius live, and they love themselves some nice level 2 all ins followed by a level 3 gank from a high CC jungler. Maybe I'm just bad with Poppy or I have no luck in games with match ups. But she does feel a bit on the weak side early on and she is quite a desireable target for a gank. When I jungle, ganking the lane Poppy is is one of my top priorities, since she has a mediocre disengage tool (her speed up on Paragon) and can't deal any CC if you position yourself. Or if she does deal that CC, she suicides unless she can kill you. That is, I feel, one her weaknesses. E is great when you can go ham on that carry or mage because ult is up, you got some tank item... But that's it. If you are not hideously fed or ulting, good luck surviving your own E's or giving it a use.

Still, this has made kind of want to play her. I'll give her a spin with Doran's Shield, see if I get lucky and pick some kills and then snowball out of control. Or I'll duo with a friend jungling.