The Radiant AP Leona! [6.16]

Starting Items

• Normal start
• Sustain start / safe farming
• Aggressive start

Core Items

• you should have these almost every game
• good alternative to void staff against squishies.

Situational Items

• can all be useful. see explanations below

Start

Either against most matchups, if you want to farm passively or need to withstand lots of poke, for a hyper-aggressive early game.

First Back

Aim for 1300g so you can get a , which build into .
Otherwise, a second or is fine as well.

Core Items

Since I like to go for the total burst, this is what my build often looks like:



But oftentimes, I replace the or with a or so have some defense.


Best boots in terms of raw damage. Replace with if you absolutely need cooldown reduction.


One of your most important core items. Your burst will increase substantially.


Tons of damage. Oh wait, wrong item...


A little defense can always help in a critical situation.


This item's sweet point is 60 MRes which almost every melee champion can reach easily. Since ranged champions don't have a MRes growth stat, is a better alternative against them.

Situational Items


If you opt for the (slightly) tanky path, this is your first item. COmbine it with other AP/Def items like , .


The ultimate disrespect. If you're way ahead, go and stack it.


This can add to your combo. Strong when you have a lot of AP. Can replace boots in the super late when you're fully built.

/
Similar items. Both good for mana regen and cooldown reduction. Not really necessary, but there are stronger damage items out there.

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Both can heal your for 15% of your damage dealt (5% for areal damage). Very situational and better with tanky build; otherwise you won't have tankiness/time to heal back the damage taken.

• 

  Akali

  Medium
• 

  Annie

  Medium
• 

  Azir

  Hard
• 

  Brand

  Hard
• 

  Fizz

  Medium
• 

  Heimerdinger

  Hard
• 

  Karthus

  Easy
• 

  Kassadin

  Medium
• 

  Katarina

  Medium
• 

  LeBlanc

  Medium
• 

  Lux

  Hard
• 

  Viktor

  Hard
• 

  Zed

  Hard

VS

Akali

Medium

Difficulty: 4/10 - 7/10

It all depends on who has more burst. She has more mobilty, but you have more CC on your side. Always have in your inventory and whenever you fight and she uses her , place the ward on top of it.

VS

Annie

Medium

Difficulty: 5/10 - 8/10

The little fire kid has really high burst and a long stun. Avoid it and you win the fight. She has no real skillshot to juke, but if you're fast enough, you can flash her and go all-in yourself.

VS

Azir

Hard

Difficulty: 7/10 - 9/10

He will poke the living hell out of you. Try to unload a full combo on him before ending the trade. When he you, you can not use to reengage, the wall will push you back.
Careful when pushing, he might you into his turret.

VS

Brand

Hard

Dificulty: 8/10 - 10/10

Like yourself, he has a stun, but his lasts for 2 seconds at all ranks. His burst is one of the highest among mages right now

VS

Fizz

Medium

Difficulty: 6/10 - 8/10

He can easily all your skillshots with his , so only engage when he just used it.
His burst is really high, but so is yours. Chain CC & him and you have a chance to kill him. If you snowball, he becomes very squishy compared to you.

VS

Heimerdinger

Hard

Difficulty: 9/11

Okay, I'll stop making jokes which involve killing turrets. Honestly though, this little fukker will make lane hell for you.
You can't farm and you'll regret if you every dare going in for a trade.

VS

Karthus

Easy

Difficulty: 3/10 - 5/10

Farming is annoying, but not overly dangerous. Your all-in is way stronger than his. Your help mitigating damage from his . Kill whenever you feel like it.

VS

Kassadin

Medium

Difficulty: 5/10 - 7/10

After 6, his mobility is really high as long as he has mana. His passive allows him to take 15% less magic damage (not penetrable). If you manage to land a combo, you might be able to kill him, but usually only bring him to 20-30% HP, since he will probably build a .
His shortly silences, but since you don't have channeled abilities, don't mind it.

VS

Katarina

Medium

Difficulty: 5/10 - 7/10

This has the potential to be an easy matchup, but her no-mana poke can easily drive out out of lane.
Post-6, save your to interrupt her , then you'll easily win the fight.
Important: chain your CC, don't use it all at once.

VS

LeBlanc

Medium

Difficulty: 6/10 - 8/10

Try to her when she uses on you. That way you can retaliate. Always activate when she unloads her combo to reduce the damage taken. Only ever her if you previously stunned her with , otherwise she will just dash out.

VS

Lux

Hard

Difficulty: 7/10 - 10/10

Long-range burst mages are dangerous for you, her high range lets her play really safe. Try to always dodge her , otherwise you will probably die post-6, if you're below 60% HP.
Only engage after she misses , then you can potentially burst her down.

VS

Viktor

Hard

Diffficulty: 9/10 - 10/10

He has good CC, a shield and high burst - similar to you. But since he is ranged, he can unload his combo more easily. Avoid at all cost! Try to dodge his , since it's his main damage source.

VS

Zed

Hard

Difficulty: 5/10 - 10/10

This matchup strongly depends on the 's skill level. Every time he ults you, immediately ult yourself and activate . This way, you can turn around the fight into your favor. If he wants to disengage, aim your at his 's shadow.

Champion	Difficulty	Notes
Akali		Author Notes
Difficulty: 4/10 - 7/10 It all depends on who has more burst. She has more mobilty, but you have more CC on your side. Always have in your inventory and whenever you fight and she uses her , place the ward on top of it.
Annie		Author Notes
Difficulty: 5/10 - 8/10 The little fire kid has really high burst and a long stun. Avoid it and you win the fight. She has no real skillshot to juke, but if you're fast enough, you can flash her and go all-in yourself.
Azir		Author Notes
Difficulty: 7/10 - 9/10 He will poke the living hell out of you. Try to unload a full combo on him before ending the trade. When he you, you can not use to reengage, the wall will push you back. Careful when pushing, he might you into his turret.
Brand		Author Notes
Dificulty: 8/10 - 10/10 Like yourself, he has a stun, but his lasts for 2 seconds at all ranks. His burst is one of the highest among mages right now
Fizz		Author Notes
Difficulty: 6/10 - 8/10 He can easily all your skillshots with his , so only engage when he just used it. His burst is really high, but so is yours. Chain CC & him and you have a chance to kill him. If you snowball, he becomes very squishy compared to you.
Heimerdinger		Author Notes
Difficulty: 9/11 Okay, I'll stop making jokes which involve killing turrets. Honestly though, this little fukker will make lane hell for you. You can't farm and you'll regret if you every dare going in for a trade.
Karthus		Author Notes
Difficulty: 3/10 - 5/10 Farming is annoying, but not overly dangerous. Your all-in is way stronger than his. Your help mitigating damage from his . Kill whenever you feel like it.
Kassadin		Author Notes
Difficulty: 5/10 - 7/10 After 6, his mobility is really high as long as he has mana. His passive allows him to take 15% less magic damage (not penetrable). If you manage to land a combo, you might be able to kill him, but usually only bring him to 20-30% HP, since he will probably build a . His shortly silences, but since you don't have channeled abilities, don't mind it.
Katarina		Author Notes
Difficulty: 5/10 - 7/10 This has the potential to be an easy matchup, but her no-mana poke can easily drive out out of lane. Post-6, save your to interrupt her , then you'll easily win the fight. Important: chain your CC, don't use it all at once.
LeBlanc		Author Notes
Difficulty: 6/10 - 8/10 Try to her when she uses on you. That way you can retaliate. Always activate when she unloads her combo to reduce the damage taken. Only ever her if you previously stunned her with , otherwise she will just dash out.
Lux		Author Notes
Difficulty: 7/10 - 10/10 Long-range burst mages are dangerous for you, her high range lets her play really safe. Try to always dodge her , otherwise you will probably die post-6, if you're below 60% HP. Only engage after she misses , then you can potentially burst her down.
Viktor		Author Notes
Diffficulty: 9/10 - 10/10 He has good CC, a shield and high burst - similar to you. But since he is ranged, he can unload his combo more easily. Avoid at all cost! Try to dodge his , since it's his main damage source.
Zed		Author Notes
Difficulty: 5/10 - 10/10 This matchup strongly depends on the 's skill level. Every time he ults you, immediately ult yourself and activate . This way, you can turn around the fight into your favor. If he wants to disengage, aim your at his 's shadow.