Leona vs Xerath

Leona
vs
53.1%

over 414 games

Xerath

Skill matchup

Heavy pokeHeavy AP damageHeavy CCHigh burst

Build vs Xerath

Build adapted to this matchup

Recommended items for Leona: Locket of the Iron Solari, Knight's Vow, Bandlepipes, Mercury's Treads, Celestial Opposition, Solstice Sleigh, Thornmail, Bramble Vest.

Starting items

Health Potion
x2

Core build

Locket of the Iron Solari
1
Knight's Vow
2
Bandlepipes
3

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Celestial Opposition
5

Summoner spells

FlashDot70%
ExhaustFlash17%

Other options

Celestial Opposition
Solstice Sleigh
Thornmail
Bramble Vest
Bloodsong
Protoplasm Harness
Kaenic Rookern
Zeke's Convergence
Frozen Heart
Randuin's Omen
Heartsteel
Abyssal Mask
Force of Nature
Mikael's Blessing
Jak'Sho, The Protean
Hollow Radiance
Imperial Mandate
Dead Man's Plate
Sunfire Aegis
75.0% WR28 games
ResolveResolve
AftershockAftershock
Font of LifeFont of Life
Second WindSecond Wind
OvergrowthOvergrowth
PrecisionPrecision
Legend: HasteLegend: Haste
TriumphTriumph
Ability HasteHealth ScalingHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Xerath's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Mana Surge (P)

Xerath's basic attacks periodically restore Mana. Whenever Xerath kills a unit, this cooldown is reduced.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
39s14s13s–
67s14s13s2m10
95s13s13s2m10
115s12s13s1m55
165s10s12s1m40
185s10s11s1m40

Playing as Leona

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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 Xerath

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Stay behind your minions

    Keep minions between you and Xerath: Shocking Orb (E) stuns the first enemy hit, for longer the farther it has traveled.

  2. Change direction

    Don't stand still, and change direction often: Arcanopulse (Q) hits a target moving forward or backward in a straight line much more easily.

  3. Engage while he charges

    If you can engage, go in while he charges Arcanopulse (Q): he slows down by up to 50%, and he has no dash to escape.

  4. Interrupt his Rite of the Arcane

    If you have CC and can reach him during Rite of the Arcane (R), use it: he channels the ult, and interrupting it stops his shots.

Patch 16.21.1