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Lore
On the upper slopes of Mount Targon, the warriors of Rakkor live and breathe only for war. However, Targon's peak is reserved for a special group of Rakkor who answer to a "higher" calling. Members of this group, called the Solari, retire their mantles of war, choosing instead to devote their lives to reverence of the sun. According to legend, the Solari were formed by a warrior who could call the raw might of the sun down upon his enemies in combat. He claimed Mount Targon's summit, the point on Valoran closest to the sun, for his solar devotion, a tradition which generations of Solari have preserved to this day. Though they maintain their reverence, no other warrior possessed the gifts of the founder – until Leona.
Leona’s parents were traditional Rakkor, both bred for the heat of battle. To them, Leona was a problem child. She was capable of fighting as fiercely as any other – including her childhood friend, 
Pantheon – but she did not share their zeal for killing. She believed that the true worth of a soldier lay in her ability to defend and protect. When it came time for her Rite of Kor, a ceremony in which two Rakkor teens battle to the death for the right to bear a relic-weapon, Leona refused to fight. For this, the Rakkor leaders ordered her execution, but when they tried to strike the fatal blow, sunlight burst forth, bathing Mount Targon in light. As it faded, Leona stood unharmed and her executioners lay unconscious around her. The Solari immediately claimed Leona, demanding that her sentence be repealed. She donned the golden armor of the Solari and they bestowed upon her the sword and shield passed down from the ancient sun-warrior of legend. The Solari helped Leona focus her abilities, and when she was ready she left to join the League of Legends.
| “ | “The sun's rays reach all of Runeterra, so too must the image of its champion.” |
| — Leona | |
 |
Quotes
- Upon selection
- Attacking
- Movement
- Taunt
- Joke
Leona plants her sword and shield beside her and massages her hands.
- Laugh
Co-op vs. AI Responses
Match start
- "Day breaks upon the battlefield!"
Player team victory
- "GG!"
Player team defeat
- "Alas, the sun sets once again."
Special
- "You'll pay for your heresy, Diana!"
League Judgement
Candidate: Leona
Date:: 1 July, 21 CLE
- OBSERVATION
Leona’s movements are smooth, calculated. Her walk, though elegant, is not the trained gait of nobility. Her steps are meant for war.
Although her armor and form lend her an air of sophistication, it's evident that she has never seen a place like the Institute of War. She runs a finger along the smooth etchings in the marble doors of the Reflection Chamber, and starts when they glide open. Overcoming reluctance, she steps into the tendrils of darkness reaching to embrace her.
- REFLECTION
Reflexively, Leona channeled energy into her shield, willing the sun's light to emanate from it. Though she was sure of her technique, she remained swathed in darkness. No child of the Rakkor fears the shadows, but Leona felt uncharacteristically vulnerable deprived of the sun's rays. Had she become so reliant on its presence already? The memory of her awakening still felt fresh, even though the sun had since completed nearly half its cycle.
A stiff wind called up familiar goose bumps on her skin, and she was there again, on the snowy slopes of Mount Targon, the day of realization. Targon's wintery breeze carried with it the pungent stench of blood, as lives of "unworthy" teens were claimed by the Rite of Kor. It was a grisly ceremony, though for Targon's limited food supply, a necessary one. Until the solstice of their 16th year, every Rakkor child was trained and taught in preparation for their momentous battle.
Leona knew every boy and girl who had fallen that day. She tried to ignore the crippling concern that their deaths may have been her fault. She had, more than once, stood between them and the more aggressive children. She delighted in thwarting bullies. Had she been selfish? Her instructors insisted that every battle missed was a lesson lost, that she was doing more harm than good. But Leona couldn’t sit idly by while her friends suffered.
Now they were dead. Maybe the instructors were right.
She searched the eyes of watching parents, wondering how they could allow their children to be slaughtered. She later realized that the Kor was as much a test for those observing as it was for the participants. It was a ritual about understanding and accepting the Rakkor way of life. To succeed was to earn your place amongst the tribe, to be trusted to wield the terrifying relic-weapons of your ancestors, to be prepared for the sacrifices that would be expected of you. To fail was to enrich Rakkor soil with your body and blood. Even in death, you would serve the tribe.
It was her turn now.
All around the pit, warriors beat their shields, screaming and cheering against the roar of the wind. The cold bit to the bone. Leona was given a small buckler and a short sword. Her opponent, Molik, was armed with a spear and shield.
Molik was a poor fighter, all things considered. He was slow and he hadn't mastered his footing. A well-timed sweep never failed to topple him. He was one of the boys Leona defended before, and now she would be his executioner. His parents stood out amongst the crowd, faces grim. They knew the failures of their son. Leona's own parents watched with anticipation. Today their concerns about her would be put to rest. Her reluctance to conform would either be pushed aside or taken to the grave. Compassion had no place with the Rakkor.
Leona didn't want to die.
She looked at Molik. His gaze was steel. In any other place or time, he would be wearing a goofy smile and confiding in Leona his passion for woodworking. His skill with a carving knife was enviable, though it didn't translate at all to the sword. Now, he was a warrior of the Rakkor – emotionless and unmerciful.
With a cry from the leader, the combat commenced. Molik bellowed and lunged forward, spear aimed for her heart. She deflected the blow with the buckler and kicked him hard in the shins. Molik yelped and fell forward, managing to roll to a crouch. He swept the spear around, hoping to catch Leona off balance, but she was far too fast for him.
She raised one leg and stomped hard, splintering the end of the spear beneath her bare foot. Molik reared up, swinging the shield in a broad arc. His movements were slow, predictable. Leona dove into the blow, ducking beneath his shield. Inside his defenses, she struck him in the ribs with the flat of her blade. He doubled over, clutching his side with his shield arm. She leveled her sword in his face.
His defeat, though expected, was disappointing. She caught his father's gaze and all she could see was shame. Molik himself looked ready to cry. He knew this would be his final day, but he'd hoped to die with more dignity. He’d hoped his parents would cheer at his final fight.
Leona couldn't stand it.
She hurled her sword and buckler to the ground and faced Jagen, the Kor leader.
"Finish it," he said, frowning.
She locked eyes with him. "No."
The crowd fell silent. She could make out her mother's horrified gasp. So much for her parents' day. At least the shame of her actions would far overshadow Molik's poor performance. Jagen nodded to Pantheon, who stood at his side spattered in blood from his own Kor. He was beside her in a single leap. He leaned close.
"You need to do this, Leona." This would be her only warning.
She didn't break eye contact with Jagen. "I won't."
Jagen stepped down into the pit. "There is only one punishment for crimes against the tribe." He waved a hand and spearmen surrounded Leona. "As you well know."
Leona exhaled. She tried in vain to decide what she would like her last thought to be. Instead she just let her head loll back, the sun filling her view. She swore she could feel its warmth cutting through Targon's icy winds.
Then her world became blinding light.
She opened her eyes, expecting to see Jagen and the others sprawled across the ground as they had been that day. She expected to see the Rakkor gaping at her, their faces a mix of awe and terror. Terror was something she’d never seen on the faces of her elders before that day.
Instead, Jagen stood in front of her. This wasn't how the memory was supposed to go. He clutched the base of a spear in his right hand. She followed it to her stomach, where the tip disappeared into a growing red pool.
Leona suddenly couldn't breathe.
"This was how it was meant to go, Leona." Jagen's voice lost its menace. Now it was oddly soothing, almost reassuring.
She sputtered. Blood was pouring from her wound, her vision blurred.
"Is this what you are without the sun?" He pressed against the spear.
Until that moment, shock alone comprised her awareness. Now excruciating pain shot through her system. It was exactly what she needed.
Her eyes came to sharp focus. In the years since her awakening, she had always regretted forcing the sun to come to her aid. She was Leona, the Radiant Dawn, and she was the sun's avatar on Runeterra. It was her place to serve the sun, not vice versa.
With a swift chop of her right hand, she snapped the shaft of the spear. Jagen's eyes widened. Her fingers tightened into a fist and she backhanded him hard across the temple. He stumbled.
"I am never without the sun." She caught him squarely in the chest with a front kick, sending him to the ground. Then she was over him, letting her blood drip on his face.
To her surprise, he laughed.
"Why do you want to join the League, Leona?"
She froze. He managed to take her completely by surprise.
"Come now, why do you want to join the League?" His tone was jovial, triumphant.
She took a long breath. "I am chosen of the sun. The League should feel privileged-"
"I do believe that you’ve convinced yourself of that." He smiled. "But there’s more to it."
Leona hesitated. Truth lurked behind his words.
"You want to make it up to them," he said. "The Rakkor children you failed to protect."
Leona bit her tongue.
"How does it feel, exposing your mind?"
Jagen knew he wouldn't get a response. He vanished and she was in the Institute again, although she hardly noticed. She stood slumped for what felt like hours. Her shield hung weakly at her side. A faint light suddenly glowed from it.
It hit her: perhaps the reason she had been spared was to do exactly as he said. She truly wanted to. Her shoulders rose, and the sun burned brightly from her shield. The League of Legends would indeed have the champion of the sun.Development
Leona was designed by Volty.
Champion Sneak Peek
Leona comic
Announcement made in the sneak peak by Average Gatsby on June 27, 2011:[1]
Since we launched League of Legends, there’s been quite a bit of clamor about equal rights amongst tanks. Well, at Riot Games, we like to think of ourselves as a progressive company, and today we’re here to show our commitment to equal opportunity tanking.
Allow me to introduce Leona, the Radiant Dawn. In addition to being a defender of all that is good and light, Leona is a strong, independent woman ready to throw down and tank with the best of them.
Mechanics Preview
Announcement made by Morello on 28 June 2011:[2]
Greetings Summoners!
We wanted to give you a glimmer of insight into the mechanics of our newest champion, Leona, the Radiant Dawn.
Leona is a bit special because she’s our answer to a pretty popular fan request; a female tank! I think a good place to start is to answer “what exactly does ‘tank’ mean to us at Riot?”
Starts and initiates teamfights (usually via CC). Soaks up damage. May peel dangerous attackers off other vulnerable team mates. Presents itself as an attractive target by causing long-term “threat” as the fight continues. Leona does this by providing a low-cooldown, low-duration, single-target stun with a skillshot gap-closer to start. After she closes the gap to the enemy, she’ll be performing regular single-target stuns that really disrupt the fight or peel off a target from an ally once a fight has begun. Additionally, she has a defensive stance that allows her to soak up punishment pretty effectively and also discharges a wave of sunlight outward that causes significant damage. This mechanic acts as a sort of “soft taunt” that causes her to have some threat when she’s about to unleash a big chunk of damage, and makes her an attractive target.
Finally, her passive, Sunlight, causes all of Leona’s spells to debuff the target, causing the next attack from an ally to do additional damage. This really encourages Leona to mark high-priority targets and let her set up opportunities for her teammates. Her power increases with the length of the fight, a common tank trait (like 
Singed's 
Poison Trail or 
Amumu's 
Despair, for example).
We’re excited to be able to deliver something we’re really proud of to meet our players’ requests and expectations. Keep letting us know what you want – we do take your feedback seriously.
Iron Solari Leona Promo
Iron Solari Leona Wants You!
Announced by NeeksNaman:[3]
Summoners!
Along with the Locket of the Iron Solari, we have an exciting new skin for all of you staunch followers of the Summoner’s Code. We are pleased to bring you the statuesque Iron Solari Leona. Featuring sleek, avian themed arms and armor, Iron Solari Leona stands as a paragon dedicated to upholding the tenets of good sportsmanship and a positive attitude.
Patch History
V4.5:
- Stats
- Base health regeneration reduced to 7 from 9.
Eclipse
- Bonus resistances reduced to 20 / 30 / 40 / 50 / 60 from 25 / 35 / 45 / 55 / 65.
- Eclipse
- Bonus armor changed to 25 / 35 / 45 / 55 / 65 (+20% bonus armor) from 30 / 40 / 50 / 60 / 70.
- Bonus magic resist changed to 25 / 35 / 45 / 55 / 65 (+20% bonus MR) from 30 / 40 / 50 / 60 / 70.
- Solar Flare
- Mana cost reduced to 100 from 100 / 150 / 200.
- Shield of Daybreak
- Fixed: Cooldown now matches its tooltip (11/10/9/8/7 seconds).
- Stats
- Magic resist per level increased to 1.25 from 0.
- Sunlight
- Now has a new particle.
- Fixed a bug where it could occasionally cause double kills against targets like Kog'Maw ( Icathian Surprise).
- Zenith Blade
- Hitbox increased slightly to match the animation.
- Sunlight
- Fixed a bug where it combined with the Dominion center sigil could cause an immediate double kill against Karthus and the Omen of Death target.
- Fixed a bug where it combined with the Dominion center sigil could cause an immediate double kill against
- Recommended items updated to include Ionian Boots of Lucidity and Trinity Force.
- Shield of Daybreak
- Cooldown reduced to 11/10/9/8/7 seconds from 12/11/10/9/8.
- Eclipse
- Fixed a bug where it would break enemy spell shields on activation.
- Zenith Blade
- Mana cost reduced to 60 at all ranks from 60/65/70/75/80.
- Leona will now attempt to attack the target if she uses Zenith Blade to jump to a target.
- Particle adjusted to more accurately reflect the area of effect. The actual area of effect remains unchanged.
- Solar Flare
- Cooldown reduced to 90/75/60 seconds from 105/90/75.
V1.0.0.121: Added. (Original Stats)
- Sunlight (Innate)
- Leona's abilities mark the target with sunlight. Allied champions that damage marked targets deal additional damage and consume the mark.
- Shield of Daybreak (Q)
- Leona charges her shield with the power of the sun causing her next melee attack to deal additional damage and briefly stun the target.
- Eclipse (W)
- Leona raises her shield granting her additional Armor and Magic Resistance for 3 seconds. When the effect ends she deals area of effect damage and increases the duration of the defensive bonuses by 3 seconds if she damages an enemy.
- Zenith Blade (E)
- Leona throws a blade of sunlight that deals damage to all enemies in a line. Leona teleports to the last enemy champion hit by this attack.
- Solar Flare (Ultimate)
- After a brief delay, Leona calls down a beam of solar energy dealing damage and slowing enemies. Enemies in the center of the beam are stunned instead of slowed.
References
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