Vel'Koz vs Leona

Vel'Koz
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 Vel'Koz: Luden's Echo, Shadowflame, Zhonya's Hourglass, Sorcerer's Shoes, Rabadon's Deathcap, Horizon Focus, Banshee's Veil, Stormsurge.

Starting items

Doran's Ring
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Luden's Echo
1
Shadowflame
2
Zhonya's Hourglass
3

Standard

Sorcerer's Shoes
4Magic pen
Rabadon's Deathcap
5

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Rabadon's Deathcap
Horizon Focus
Banshee's Veil
Stormsurge
Void Staff

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 Vel'Koz

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Three spells for the burst

    Hit the same target with three spells: at three stacks, Organic Deconstruction (passive) bursts and deals true damage to them.

  2. Poke and farm with your rift

    Stay back and poke with Void Rift (W): its two charges let you kill minions while stacking your passive on your opponent.

  3. Split your plasma to hit at an angle

    Recast Plasma Fission (Q) to split it: the two bolts fly off at 90 degrees, which lets you hit a target hiding behind their minions.

  4. Start your ray after a knock-up

    Cast Life Form Disintegration Ray (R) after the Tectonic Disruption (E) knock-up: your target can't escape, and the ray deals true damage to targets of Organic Deconstruction (passive).

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