Xerath vs Leona

Xerath
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 Xerath: Luden's Echo, Shadowflame, Rabadon's Deathcap, Sorcerer's Shoes, Void Staff, Zhonya's Hourglass, Stormsurge.

Starting items

Doran's Ring
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Luden's Echo
1
Shadowflame
2
Rabadon's Deathcap
3

Standard

Sorcerer's Shoes
4Magic pen
Void Staff
5

Summoner spells

FlashTeleport100%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Void Staff
Zhonya's Hourglass
Stormsurge
SorcerySorcery
Arcane CometArcane Comet
Manaflow BandManaflow Band
TranscendenceTranscendence
ScorchScorch
PrecisionPrecision
Presence of MindPresence of Mind
Coup de GraceCoup de Grace
Adaptive ForceAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

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 Xerath

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Charge Arcanopulse to poke from range

    Charge Arcanopulse (Q) to poke from long range: its range grows with the charge, but you slow down by up to 50% in the meantime.

  2. Slow before your Arcanopulse

    Slow your target with Eye of Destruction (W) before Arcanopulse (Q): the center of the zone slows the most, and a slowed target dodges poorly.

  3. Stun, then center your Eye

    Land Shocking Orb (E), then center Eye of Destruction (W) on the target: stunned, they can't dodge it, and the center slows the most.

  4. Finish from long range with your ult

    Cast Rite of the Arcane (R) to finish a fleeing target or support a distant fight: your shots reach 5000 range, with bonus damage per champion hit.

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