Leona vs Neeko
Skill matchup
Build vs Neeko
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Leona: Locket of the Iron Solari, Knight's Vow, Bandlepipes, Plated Steelcaps, Celestial Opposition, Solstice Sleigh, Thornmail, Bloodsong.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Neeko's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Neeko can look like an ally champion or as other units on the map. Receiving immobilizing crowd control, casting damaging spells, damaging enemy towers as a non-champion, or your disguise taking damage equal to its healthbar breaks the disguise.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 9s | 16s | 12s | – |
| 6 | 8s | 16s | 12s | 2m |
| 9 | 7s | 15s | 12s | 2m |
| 11 | 7s | 14s | 12s | 1m45 |
| 16 | 7s | 12s | 11s | 1m30 |
| 18 | 7s | 12s | 10s | 1m30 |
Playing as Leona
Tips to maximize your impact
- Engage at level 2
Look for an engage at level 2: with Zenith Blade (E) then Shield of Daybreak (Q), you root then stun your target.
- Only engage if your carry follows
Only engage if your carry can follow: Sunlight (passive) marks your targets for 1.5 seconds, and only your allies trigger it for extra damage.
- Activate Eclipse before engaging
Activate Eclipse (W) right before engaging: you gain armor, magic resist and damage reduction, extended if the explosion hits an enemy.
- R on a stunned target
Engage with Zenith Blade (E) and Shield of Daybreak (Q), then cast Solar Flare (R) on the stunned target: they can't leave the center, which stuns.
Playing against Neeko
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Don't line up with your minions
Don't stand lined up behind your minions: Tangle-Barbs (E) passes through them, empowers itself on contact, and roots every enemy in its path.
- Leave her area at the first sign
Leave her area as soon as she prepares Pop Blossom (R): the leap comes after a short preparation, hidden if she's disguised.
- Engage after her Pop Blossom
If you can engage, do it once Pop Blossom (R) is used: it's her only area stun, on a 120 to 90 second cooldown.
- Spot her disguises
Be wary of an enemy acting strangely: with Inherent Glamour (passive), Neeko can look like one of her allies or another unit.
Other Leona matchups
Patch 16.21.1