2011-07-11, 03:44 PM
(This post was last modified: 2011-07-11, 05:13 PM by WillDaSnail.)
Alright since Leona will be unlocked either today or within the range of few days...I'm going to pretty much offer my insight on what I would do with her, item-wise and ability wise.
Abilities: How I intend to level her abilities and use it
As I said earlier in my Leona posts a few pages back, she has an Amumu-type initiation skillshot ability and a Rammus-type defensive ability, minus the "Thornmail effect". How I would build her is like this:
1 Q > 1 W > 1 Q > 1 E > 1 W > 1 R
Leave her E at level 1, because that'll be enough for any teamfight initation needs (similar to Amumu's Bandage Toss, where most Amumu players will only get level 1 BT and level that ability at the very end). After level 6, depending on yours (and your team's needs), distribute points between your Q and W whichever is needed. Though in my opinion, I would try to max her W up first ASAP after level 6 because it'll give her a lot of survivability during teamfights and ganks. And deal some nice AoE damage too (which will prolong her shield effect for another 3 seconds if the AoE burst hits any enemies).
Initating a teamfight:
Line up your E, and try to aim it where you will bring yourself to a squishy champion at the very end of your skillshot. Initiate, then quickly pop your W (shield), then quickly follow it up with your stun (Q). At this moment, you should be heavily focused. Now use your R and drop it where there is a lot of enemy champs clustered correctly. If used right, this will stun a few enemy champs and slow the others, depending on where they are when the ultimate is casted
As I said earlier in my Leona posts a few pages back, she has an Amumu-type initiation skillshot ability and a Rammus-type defensive ability, minus the "Thornmail effect". How I would build her is like this:
1 Q > 1 W > 1 Q > 1 E > 1 W > 1 R
Leave her E at level 1, because that'll be enough for any teamfight initation needs (similar to Amumu's Bandage Toss, where most Amumu players will only get level 1 BT and level that ability at the very end). After level 6, depending on yours (and your team's needs), distribute points between your Q and W whichever is needed. Though in my opinion, I would try to max her W up first ASAP after level 6 because it'll give her a lot of survivability during teamfights and ganks. And deal some nice AoE damage too (which will prolong her shield effect for another 3 seconds if the AoE burst hits any enemies).
Initating a teamfight:
Line up your E, and try to aim it where you will bring yourself to a squishy champion at the very end of your skillshot. Initiate, then quickly pop your W (shield), then quickly follow it up with your stun (Q). At this moment, you should be heavily focused. Now use your R and drop it where there is a lot of enemy champs clustered correctly. If used right, this will stun a few enemy champs and slow the others, depending on where they are when the ultimate is casted
Items
These are the list of items I would definitely use on Leona. The items I'm listing are almost strictly tank items, with certain exceptions
- Frozen Mallet
While she is not a DPSer or anything like that, she is considered a melee tank champion. Therefore, any of her attacks - with Frozen Mallet equipped - will slow targeted enemies down. Great for chasing stragglers after a teamfight. Also, the +700 HP it gives will definitely give her some survivability.
- Randuins Omen
Self-explanatory; this items is almost a MUST for tanky champs. Once you use your E and initiate a teamfight, you can pop its active effect and give your team a slight advantage at the beginning. Its passive will pretty much debuff AD/AD DPS a bit. Also, the armor it provides is sufficient enough to counter any AD/AD DPS champs. The HP it provides will also contribute to her survivability too.
- Thornmail
Again, self-explanatory. Just get this if you need to hard-counter enemy AD DPS champions - or just AD-based champs - anytime.
- Mercury Treads
I don't need to explain much about why you need to get this on Leona because she's a tank and needs to soak up lots of CC.......
- Banshee Veil
This is a MUST get on Leona. Since you're the tank and is the first one to initiate teamfights, its best for the enemies to blow a couple of critical debuffs they have on you instead of your teammates. You'll at least block one of the debuffs, and that'll help a bit with your survivability. The HP/MP it provides will help greatly with survivability.
- Force of Nature (FoN)
No matter when you build this, you'll heal a lot due to its unique passive effect because you have a lot of HP. Plus since it gives a lot of MR, this item - along with BV and Merc Treads - is great for countering mages/caster champs through magic damage mitigation.
(+1425 HP, +375 MP, +175 armor, +151 MR)
Other items I would consider:
-Quicksilver Sash (QSS)
Still an underrated item in a lot of games despite the fact it has a 90 second - not a 120 second - cooldown. In case the enemy team has tons of CC, pick this up. From personal experience, its a great way to get out of a situation where you are being debuffed very heavily.
- Guardian Angel (GA)
In case things get very hairy where your survivability is crucial to your team, pick this up.
- Frozen Heart
If AD DPS champs become a huge issue, get this item and get in their faces so their damage output is substantially reduced.
- Frozen Mallet
While she is not a DPSer or anything like that, she is considered a melee tank champion. Therefore, any of her attacks - with Frozen Mallet equipped - will slow targeted enemies down. Great for chasing stragglers after a teamfight. Also, the +700 HP it gives will definitely give her some survivability.
- Randuins Omen
Self-explanatory; this items is almost a MUST for tanky champs. Once you use your E and initiate a teamfight, you can pop its active effect and give your team a slight advantage at the beginning. Its passive will pretty much debuff AD/AD DPS a bit. Also, the armor it provides is sufficient enough to counter any AD/AD DPS champs. The HP it provides will also contribute to her survivability too.
- Thornmail
Again, self-explanatory. Just get this if you need to hard-counter enemy AD DPS champions - or just AD-based champs - anytime.
- Mercury Treads
I don't need to explain much about why you need to get this on Leona because she's a tank and needs to soak up lots of CC.......
- Banshee Veil
This is a MUST get on Leona. Since you're the tank and is the first one to initiate teamfights, its best for the enemies to blow a couple of critical debuffs they have on you instead of your teammates. You'll at least block one of the debuffs, and that'll help a bit with your survivability. The HP/MP it provides will help greatly with survivability.
- Force of Nature (FoN)
No matter when you build this, you'll heal a lot due to its unique passive effect because you have a lot of HP. Plus since it gives a lot of MR, this item - along with BV and Merc Treads - is great for countering mages/caster champs through magic damage mitigation.
(+1425 HP, +375 MP, +175 armor, +151 MR)
Other items I would consider:
-Quicksilver Sash (QSS)
Still an underrated item in a lot of games despite the fact it has a 90 second - not a 120 second - cooldown. In case the enemy team has tons of CC, pick this up. From personal experience, its a great way to get out of a situation where you are being debuffed very heavily.
- Guardian Angel (GA)
In case things get very hairy where your survivability is crucial to your team, pick this up.
- Frozen Heart
If AD DPS champs become a huge issue, get this item and get in their faces so their damage output is substantially reduced.