Swain vs Leona

Swain
vs
Not enough games
Leona
Heavy CCStrong engageHeavy AP damageVery tanky

Build vs Leona

The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup

Recommended items for Swain: Blackfire Torch, Rylai's Crystal Scepter, Zhonya's Hourglass, Plated Steelcaps, Liandry's Torment, Spirit Visage, Morellonomicon, Frozen Heart.

Starting items

Doran's Ring
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Blackfire Torch
1
Rylai's Crystal Scepter
2
Zhonya's Hourglass
3

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Liandry's Torment
5

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Liandry's Torment
Spirit Visage
Morellonomicon
Frozen Heart
Randuin's Omen

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Leona's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Sunlight (P)

Damaging spells afflict enemies with Sunlight for 1.5 seconds. When allied Champions deal damage to those targets, they consume the Sunlight to deal additional magic damage.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
35s14s12s–
65s14s12s1m30
95s13s12s1m30
115s12s12s1m15
165s10s9s1m
185s10s6s1m

Playing as Swain

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Aim Nevermove past your target

    Cast Nevermove (E) past your target: it only roots on the way back, as it returns to you. Then recast it to pull rooted champions to you.

  2. Poke through the wave

    Poke with Death's Hand (Q) even behind minions: its bolts pierce enemies, and its cooldown drops from 7 to 3 seconds.

  3. Collect Soul Fragments

    Hit champions with Vision of Empire (W) and pull them with Nevermove (E): each Ravenous Flock (passive) Soul Fragment heals you and raises your max health.

  4. Stay close during your ult

    During Demonic Ascension (R), stay close to enemy champions: the drain extends your form, and a takedown refills your Demonic Energy.

  5. Support distant fights with your eye

    Cast Vision of Empire (W) on a fight breaking out elsewhere: its range is 5500 to 7500, and a busy or rooted enemy struggles to dodge the hit 1.5 seconds later.

Playing against Leona

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Respect her level 2

    Back off if she reaches level 2 before you: Zenith Blade (E) then Shield of Daybreak (Q) root you, then stun you.

  2. Trade after her E

    Trade right after Zenith Blade (E): it's her only dash to engage, and it has a 12 to 6 second cooldown.

  3. Don't line up with an ally

    Don't stand in line with an ally when facing her: Zenith Blade (E) damages every enemy in its path and roots the last champion hit.

  4. Save your answer for her engage

    If you have a knockback or a cleanse, save it for her engage: her whole combo relies on Zenith Blade (E) followed by a stun.

  5. Get out of the center of her R

    When Solar Flare (R) lands, get out of the center: it stuns, while the edge only slows.

Patch 16.21.1