League Classic matchup
Leona vs Sona
The lane, from both sides
Leona’s side
- Strong against Sonafrom the Engage Tank build (Support)
Leona's chain CC runs over sustain supports like Sona, who has no shield to turn off the engage.
Sona’s side
- Weak against Leonafrom the Enchanter Support build (Support)
Leona's chain CC runs straight over her: locked down at 450 base health, Sona is dead before auras and
Aria of PerseveranceAria of PerseveranceWPersistent Aura: Sona grants nearby allied champions bonus armor and bonus magic resistance. Active: Sona heals herself and the most wounded nearby allied champion. come into play.
The lane in detail
LeonaSonaLeona-favored once Zenith Blade is up
Sona's answer to being caught is a 170 second cooldown.
Sona's three basic abilities all cost 65 mana at rank 1 and all come back in 7 seconds. None of them interrupts a walk-up, and 
Power ChordPower ChordPassiveInnate: After casting 3 abilities, Sona's next basic attack deals 36–240 bonus magic damage and causes her target to deal 30% reduced damage for 3 seconds. Casting a basic ability grant an aura around Sona for 2 seconds after the ability's effect ends. needs three casts before her attack does anything about it.
Who has the lane, level by level
13–89–18- 1Sona: Two bolts at 825 against a melee
- 2Even: Zenith Blade lands, the stun does not
- 3–8Leona: The full chain: root, stun, detonate
- 9–18Leona: Eclipse at 260 and Solar Flare at 1200
- 2Zenith BladeLevel 2: Zenith Blade carries Leona past its last champion target, then roots them
- 3Shield of DaybreakLevel 3: 1.25 seconds of stun, and rank 1 until level 14
- 6Solar FlareLevel 6: 90 seconds at rank 1, and an 80% slow for 1.5
- 6CrescendoLevel 6: 170 seconds between casts, 100 mana, a 1.5 second stun
- 9Hymn of ValorLevel 9: Rank 5: 260 per bolt, still a 7 second cooldown
- 9EclipseLevel 9: Rank 5: 70 bonus resistances and a 260 detonation
The numbers, head to head
LeonaSonaThe stun each side owns
Leona's rides a basic attack; Sona's costs her ultimate.
Level 3 rotation, mana spent
195 of 400These are level 3 base pools. Repeated casts can also charge Power ChordPower ChordPassiveInnate: After casting 3 abilities, Sona's next basic attack deals 36–240 bonus magic damage and causes her target to deal 30% reduced damage for 3 seconds. Casting a basic ability grant an aura around Sona for 2 seconds after the ability's effect ends..
Opening cooldown at rank 1
Hymn of ValorHymn of ValorQPersistent Aura: Sona grants nearby allied champions bonus attack damage and ability power. Active: Sona sends out bolts of sound to the two nearest visible enemies, prioritizing champions. Each bolt deals magic damage. can be used again while 
Zenith BladeZenith BladeEActive: Leona projects her sword in the target direction that deals magic damage to enemies hit. After reaching its maximum range, if the sword hit an enemy champion during its flight, Leona dashes to 225 units beyond the location of the last champion struck and roots them for 0.5 seconds. Leona is unable to move or attack while Zenith Blade is in flight. She can cast any of her abilities during the dash. is still recovering.
Both mains at level 9
The same number, except 
EclipseEclipseWActive: Leona raises her guard for 3 seconds, gaining bonus armor and bonus magic resistance. Her shield detonates after the duration, dealing magic damage to nearby enemies. If this hits an enemy, Leona's guard is extended for an additional 3 seconds. needs Leona standing inside 450.
How often the ultimate returns
After simultaneous casts, 
Solar FlareSolar FlareRActive: Leona calls down a solar flare that strikes upon the target location after 0.625 seconds, granting sight of the area before impact and for another 3 seconds afterwards. Enemies hit are dealt magic damage and slowed by 80% for 1.5 seconds, and are also stunned for the same duration if they are struck by the epicenter. recovers 80 seconds ahead of 
CrescendoCrescendoRActive: Sona strikes an irresistible chord in the target direction that deals magic damage to enemy champions hit and stuns them for 1.5 seconds, forcing them to dance for the duration..
Reach, from above
Leona
Sona
Rings are ranges in game units, both radars on one scale. Abilities wear their icon, the basic attack wears the champion’s own face; the dashed ring wearing the opponent’s face is their longest reach.
The item race
Leona
825gPassive gold helps Leona reach her core while leaving last hits for her carry; 200 health supports the engage.
1000gSona attacks from 550 and moves at 330. Out of combat these put Leona 105 above her own 335.
2225gUse its 5 second shield for Sona's committed burst; its 60 second cooldown cannot answer every Hymn.
2150gThe aura protects nearby allies from Sona's magic damage. Her basic attacks still deal physical damage.
Sona
800gVision lets Sona spot a Zenith Blade angle before committing herself to a poke attempt.
1000g15% cooldown reduction under three spells that already return every 7 seconds.
- 2225g
Health and the active shield help absorb the engage; activate the shield before Leona prevents casting.
2500g18 mana per 5 seconds under three 65 mana casts, and a stun stripped off the carry every 180.
Play it as Leona
- 1Open on EclipseEclipseWActive: Leona raises her guard for 3 seconds, gaining bonus armor and bonus magic resistance. Her shield detonates after the duration, dealing magic damage to nearby enemies. If this hits an enemy, Leona's guard is extended for an additional 3 seconds.: 60 mana and 14 seconds at every rank, and 30 armor and magic resist while she pokes.
- 2Point Zenith BladeZenith BladeEActive: Leona projects her sword in the target direction that deals magic damage to enemies hit. After reaching its maximum range, if the sword hit an enemy champion during its flight, Leona dashes to 225 units beyond the location of the last champion struck and roots them for 0.5 seconds. Leona is unable to move or attack while Zenith Blade is in flight. She can cast any of her abilities during the dash. at Sona herself; the dash ends 225 units past her, behind the 825 she was safe inside.
- 3Count her casts. Three in a row arm Power ChordPower ChordPassiveInnate: After casting 3 abilities, Sona's next basic attack deals 36–240 bonus magic damage and causes her target to deal 30% reduced damage for 3 seconds. Casting a basic ability grant an aura around Sona for 2 seconds after the ability's effect ends., and the next attack cuts your damage 30% for 3 seconds.
Play it as Sona
- 1Save
Song of CeleritySong of CelerityEPersistent Aura: Sona grants nearby allies bonus movement speed. Active: Sona grants nearby allies bonus movement speed for 1.5 seconds. for the walk-up; 6% for 1.5 seconds is the only movement the kit hands out on demand. - 2Poke from 825 and step back. Only Zenith BladeZenith BladeEActive: Leona projects her sword in the target direction that deals magic damage to enemies hit. After reaching its maximum range, if the sword hit an enemy champion during its flight, Leona dashes to 225 units beyond the location of the last champion struck and roots them for 0.5 seconds. Leona is unable to move or attack while Zenith Blade is in flight. She can cast any of her abilities during the dash. and Solar FlareSolar FlareRActive: Leona calls down a solar flare that strikes upon the target location after 0.625 seconds, granting sight of the area before impact and for another 3 seconds afterwards. Enemies hit are dealt magic damage and slowed by 80% for 1.5 seconds, and are also stunned for the same duration if they are struck by the epicenter. reach further than Hymn of ValorHymn of ValorQPersistent Aura: Sona grants nearby allied champions bonus attack damage and ability power. Active: Sona sends out bolts of sound to the two nearest visible enemies, prioritizing champions. Each bolt deals magic damage..
- 3Spend CrescendoCrescendoRActive: Sona strikes an irresistible chord in the target direction that deals magic damage to enemy champions hit and stuns them for 1.5 seconds, forcing them to dance for the duration. on the engage. At 170 seconds it is not a button to hold for a better fight.
The catch
Before level 6, Sona has no hard crowd control to interrupt Leona's approach. CrescendoCrescendoRActive: Sona strikes an irresistible chord in the target direction that deals magic damage to enemy champions hit and stuns them for 1.5 seconds, forcing them to dance for the duration. changes that. Its 1.5 second stun can stop the follow-up, but a missed cast leaves a 170 second wait at rank 1. Leona gets another Solar FlareSolar FlareRActive: Leona calls down a solar flare that strikes upon the target location after 0.625 seconds, granting sight of the area before impact and for another 3 seconds afterwards. Enemies hit are dealt magic damage and slowed by 80% for 1.5 seconds, and are also stunned for the same duration if they are struck by the epicenter. much sooner.
The kits at a glance
Leona
Full abilities- Sunlight
- Shield of Daybreak
- Eclipse
- Zenith Blade
- Solar Flare
Sona
Full abilities- Power Chord
- Hymn of Valor
- Aria of Perseverance
- Song of Celerity
- Crescendo
Base stats, side by side
| Stat | Leona | Sona |
|---|---|---|
| Health | 517 (+87) | 450 (+70) |
| HP regen | 1.97 (+0.17) | 1.01 (+0.11) |
| Mana | 275 (+40) | 310 (+45) |
| Attack damage | 58 (+3) | 50 (+3) |
| Armor | 25.1 (+3.1) | 15.3 (+3.3) |
| Magic resist | 31.25 (+1.25) | 30 |
| Attack speed | 0.625 (+2.9) | 0.644 (+2.3) |
| Move speed | 335 | 330 |
| Attack range | 125 | 550 |
Level-1 values with per-level growth in parentheses, read from the Classic client and re-checked against it on every update.
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