Does anyone ever build damage items on Leona?

Linna Excel·Aug 11, 2015·1 votes·2,357 views

I've been looking at Leona's stats and despite having AP scaling, it seems like people never build anything that does damage on her. Not even something like or , both of which give her offense and defense. She also has a good base AD, but people also don't build anything to take advantage of that. I've read a few guides from people who have gotten to diamond and when going mid/jungle they'll build damage, but I never see Leona picked for those roles unless I'm taking her jungle (prefer sej/shyv though).

24 Comments

buster kitonAug 11, 20151 votes

Her skills don't use ap too well and she has 0 ad scalings. Sure you can play her as jungler/mid, but it's not optimal on her and there are many better picks for those roles.

Linna ExcelAug 11, 20151 votes

she has 0 ad scalings

That's something that frustrates me about leona. She has no AD scaling but her base is halfway decent. Part of me wishes riot would make her a hybrid champ. She actually has the same base AD as Yi and a slightly better AS than him at level 18.

buster kitonAug 12, 20151 votes

The high base ad is more there to identify her as a burst-support early game, since her base damages are actually really high when you have an ally to pop your passive.

TikailAug 11, 20151 votes

She's normally a full tank so rarely will you see pure damage items on her. It's not unusual to see item 3001 , item 3100 , item 3025 , item 3078 , or item 3157 on though. They all provide useful stats for her especially Abyssal, Iceborn, and Zhonyas.

Her strength though isn't how hard she can hit but how hard she can engage so these items are typically mid/late game items to augment her damage.

53436278DEL1Aug 11, 20151 votes

dont use her mid.... just go top or support

7ha7guy777Aug 11, 20151 votes

I saw a full ap leona in ARAM once. It was scary.

SerevasAug 11, 20151 votes

She's not built ap because her ap scalings are pretty pitiful aside from her ultimate.

Either 30% or 40% for each ability.

Additionally she becomes a super tank when her W is active, so between that and the massive amount of CC she packs in, she's just more effective as a support.

Linna ExcelAug 11, 20151 votes

True, but her W and E are AoE. I think her Q should be buffed for scaling though.

Only Play DariusAug 11, 20151 votes

The most is a item 3057 . Other than that, she CANNOT itemize damage. But she is a phenomenal tank.

Linna ExcelAug 11, 20151 votes

What kind of tank? If she's a hard initiator then yes, more toughness is better. If you are playing her as a linebacker/peeler then don't you want more damage to kill whoever is on your carry faster?

Only Play DariusAug 12, 20151 votes

You CAN'T build damage on her. The scalings aren't there and she doesn't really have a way to stick to her opponent once her combo is done.

Linna ExcelAug 12, 20151 votes

Pure tank doesn't help as much when trying to peel.

Only Play DariusAug 12, 20151 votes

She isn't the best for peeling enemies off her carries (for that you want Braum Janna Lulu etc). She is best for hard-initiating and locking down prime targets with her ult, and her passive adds surprising damage when her team follows up on her plays.

Icestar1186Aug 11, 20151 votes

Toplane AD bruiser Leona is frightening. She can go toe-to-toe with Irelia or Darius.

Linna ExcelAug 12, 20151 votes

How do you normally see a AD Bruiser Leona built?

Icestar1186Aug 12, 20152 votes

It's pretty rare, but usually triforce and/or BORK, then full tank.

Titanium70Aug 12, 20151 votes

Top Lane (AD) leona is pretty scarry if used right, i´ve seen a lot of enemys crying salty tears when playing her. :P I´ve also been hard carried by AP-Mid-Leona once. :D That was stupid, but fun2watch. xD

BTW: In FeralFlare Time i played her in Jungle, that was funny as hell.. kinda sad it got removed. x'D

Linna ExcelAug 12, 20151 votes

How do you build and use a top lane leona? I haven't seen it yet.

Titanium70Aug 12, 20152 votes

item 3074 as Core than i look what the team needs or how to destory my opponent completely. Basicly everything is possible: item 3153 item 3078 item 3025 item 3156 If that is done you go Tank. Some advice: Use 9-21(CDR+AD) + Hybrid Pen Marks! You´re dealing tons of magic DMG and definatly max W first, use Q always as AA-reset and dont build more than 2 DMG Items, you just wont need it. ^^ (With the new Juggernaut Items I´m sure Leona will get something else to build DMP look great, but i never used it, so I cant tell anything about this topic)

VicvictorwAug 12, 20151 votes

AD Leona's legit, but the major reason you don't see it is that she just can't do damage as well as she can just be a meat shield.

She cannot trigger her own passive, which is why you don't see her solo laning or jungling often.

Linna ExcelAug 12, 20151 votes

True, but her passive probably helps her ganks out.

IcyPepperAug 12, 20151 votes

In the right hands, her ganks are probably the best.

Which is actually one of the reasons she's often played as support, since the support should be roaming at some point instead of babysitting the adc all game. She locks down the opponent, the jungler/laner kills the unsuspecting mid/top laner.

MarthianAug 12, 20151 votes

And Jungle Leona shouldn't ever be a thing like Alistar jungle because of how absurdly good their ganks would be. (sadly, I've seen both and they are no fun to play against.)

agbudarAug 12, 20151 votes

item 3078 only item ever i build purely for the damage boost.

honestly if you are looking for agressive build just get item 3742 item 3068 and you are set the new dead man's is a perfect item for any tanky/off tank champ that is looking for a bit of extra damage.