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Lore
Sona has no memories of her true parents. As an infant, she was found abandoned on the doorstep of an Ionian adoption house, nestled atop an ancient instrument in an exquisite case of unknown origins. She was an unusually well-behaved child, always quiet and content. Her caretakers were sure she would find a home quickly, but it soon became apparent that what they mistook for uncommon geniality was actually an inability to speak or to produce any sound whatsoever. Sona remained at the adoption house until her teens, watching in hopeless silence as prospective adopters passed her by. During this time, the caretakers sold her unusual instrument to anxious collectors, hoping to build her a trust. For a myriad of bizarre and unexpected reasons, however, it would be returned, or simply appear again outside the house.
When a wealthy Demacian woman named Lestara Buvelle learned of the instrument, she immediately embarked to Ionia. When the caretakers showcased the instrument for her, she rose wordlessly and explored the house, stopping outside Sona’s room. Without hesitation, Lestara adopted her and left a generous donation for the instrument. With Lestara’s guidance, Sona discovered a deep connection with the instrument which Lestara called an "etwahl". In her hands, it played tones which stilled or quivered the hearts of those around her. Within months, she was headlining with the mysterious etwahl for sold-out audiences. She played as though plucking heartstrings, effortlessly manipulating the emotions of her listeners - all without a single written note. In secret, she discovered a potent and deadly use for her etwahl, using its vibrations to slice objects from a distance. She honed this discipline in private, mastering her gift. When she felt prepared, she went to the only place which could offer her a fitting recital: the League of Legends.
| “ | "Her melody moves the soul, her silence sunders the body." |
—  Jericho Swain, after attending her concert
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Quotes
Because Sona cannot speak, these responses are understood to be magical telepathy with her summoner. This is seen in the fact that her external interactions (taunt, joke) are musical cues rather than words, meaning that, as stated, only her summoner can hear her words.
- Upon selection
- Attacking
- Movement
Co-op vs. AI Responses
Match start
- "... :)"
Player team victory
- "GG!"
Player team defeat
- "... :("
League Judgement
Candidate: Sona
Date: 21 September, 20 CLE
- OBSERVATION
Sona glides forward on harmonious winds, her elegant robe billowing softly behind her as she enters the Great Hall. Her hair fans out on an invisible breeze, swaths of aqua dissolving into golden strands at the ends of her long ponytails. She could easily be a fair maiden of magic anywhere on Runeterra, if not for the strange instrument floating before her, appearing to simultaneously protect and guide her.
The building creaks ever so slightly, the foundations resettling themselves on the bonds of strong magic. She angles her ear towards the sound, holding still for a moment after the sound has long since faded. One can tell that the sound still resonates in her head, being analyzed for tonality, intent, and above all, danger. She doesn’t even bother to glance at her surroundings; the building’s own internal symphony tells her all that she needs to know about this place.
With the faintest movement, she expertly plucks a single string on her instrument and the double doors in front of her blast open. She enters without hesitation.
- REFLECTION
The darkness unfurled around her, as deep as the endless chasm of silence that afflicted her. She felt no fear so long as the etwahl was in her grasp. Her arms curled lovingly around the instrument, her fingers expertly trailing along the hammered brass and taut strings. Pressing it against her cheek, she closed her eyes and waited. It was at times like this that she could feel the instrument alive in her arms, taking slow and measured breaths as it guarded its master. She treasured these moments, when she could be alone in the world with her beloved instrument, wrapped in its protective cocoon.
Suddenly, the etwahl stiffened. She caressed the smooth curve of metal questioningly. Before she could cull an answer, a husky voice rang out.
“Sona!”
Sona’s eyes flew open at the only sound she loved more than music itself. She found herself at the doorstep of a Demacian estate, staring into the open doorway with the same wonder on her face as on the day she was brought to her new home. Lestara Buvelle stood before her, adorned in a handsome velvet robe. Dripping in jewels and her usual heavy perfume, Lestara moved forward, her round face bright with happiness. “My darling, look at you! You are a grown woman now, and you have made much of yourself.”
Lestara embraced Sona and leaned back to appraise her.
“Truly, you have made me proud. My heart sings when I look upon you. Come in and sit with me awhile.”
Lestara turned to walk down the long hallway, her footsteps clicking a staccato rhythm on the tile floor. Sona’s heart swelled with happiness, and she reached for her instrument’s reassuring steel.
Her hands clutched nothing but air.
Sona turned, looking for the etwahl. Had she mindlessly placed it aside just now?
Suddenly, a chord rang out, piercingly askew. Sona spun around to see the etwahl drifting swiftly down the hallway. Sona called the instrument back to her, but for the first time, it paid no heed. The single note played over and over as it drew closer to Lestara’s back.
It was out for blood.
Sona flew frantically into the hallway, but she was too far away to reach Lestara in time. Her only chance was to scream a warning. She strained her throat, but no sound would come forth, just as it never had in her entire life.
The etwahl’s strings strummed a terrible noise that would forever be embedded in her memory. A vibration trembled through the air, and a rush of razor-thin air scythes tore through Lestara’s body.
Sona reached Lestara’s side in time to catch her as the body fell to the ground in a pool of blood. Tears streamed down Sona’s face as she tried to scream, but no sound would come out.
The hallway dissolved into blackness, leaving Sona crumpled around Lestara’s body, with the etwahl lying innocently at her side. Lestara’s eyes rolled open, and she asked weakly, “Why do you want to join the League?”
Sona’s mind reeled, unable to comprehend what was happening. Suddenly, she felt the tingle of arcane magic in her throat, an overwhelming sensation that brought tears to her eyes. The breath passing in and out of her body tickled inside her, trying to draw sounds out with every exhale. Sona stared incredulously at Lestara, who nodded at her and bade her to speak.
Opening her mouth, she began to speak for the first time in her life. Her breath caught in her throat, short of uttering her first sound, when a booming voice from the recesses of her dim memory resounded in her mind.
This instrument will be the key to unlocking the world. It will speak for you more truly than a voice ever could. Nothing else – not us, them, or any magic in this world will ever own you again.
Almost of its own accord, her hand flung outwards and slammed down on the ethwahl next to her. Dissonance erupted, deafeningly loud, drowning out any sounds that might have spilled forth from her lips. As the tones faded away, so did the foreign tingling in her throat. The enchantment was gone, never to return.
Lestara’s voice grew loud, booming into the ether. “Why do you want to join the League, Sona?”
The ethwahl’s strings shivered and began to play on its own, but Sona pressed down with her palm to silence the instrument. It resisted for a tense moment and fell quiet. Slowly, her fingers began to trickle across the strings. Hesitantly at first, testing her instrument’s yield, she played a defiant progression in response to her question.
“How does it feel, exposing your mind?”
Her fingers danced across the strings, urging forth a melody of loneliness and isolation. It was the song of those who had lived their lives hidden in plain sight, always passed over despite trying desperately to be noticed. It began pensively, mournfully sad, and gradually grew to a crashing, raging crescendo. The last notes echoed with a tone of quiet acceptance, but above all, catharsis.
A smile raked across Lestara’s face. “Welcome to the League, Maven of the Strings.”
Lestara disappeared, and the darkness fell away to reveal Sona floating in front of ornate double doors. She knew they led to the League of Legends.
Development
- Sona was designed by Ezreal and reworked by Shurelia.
Champion Sneak Peek
Sona concept
Announcement made in the sneak peak by ByronicHero:
If you happen to be one of those people who is a sucker for musical types, you’ll be pleased to find out that we’ve got a musician waiting in the wings. Whether you’re longing for a melodious ballad or headed off to a headbanger’s ball, it’s likely that your heart will flutter as soon as you lay eyes on this little lady. Meet Sona, the Maven of the Strings. She’ll definitely tug at the old heart strings.[1]
Arcade Sona and Riot Graves Head to PAX
Announcement made by NeeksNaman:[2]
With PAX Prime around the corner, it seemed like the right time to celebrate the gamer in all of us. Arcade Sona offers an old-school gaming perspective on support with her arcade control panel (complete with joysticks), chiptune sound effects, and a colorful rainbow spectrum model. With her new arcade-inspired spell effects, including an ultimate that will make your enemies dance-dance, Arcade Sona will get you in the game.
Patch history
V4.2:
Song of Celerity
- Fixed a bug where the tooltip improperly showed a +4% per 100 AP scaling for both effects.
- Fixed a bug where the haste was only using 1% of Sona's AP instead of 2%.
- Fixed a bug where the slow was only using 2% of Sona's AP instead of 4%.
- Hymn of Valor
- Ability power ratio reduced to 50% from 70%.
- Power Chord: Staccato damage now scales with (+20% AP).
- Aria of Perseverance
- Base heal reduced to 40 / 55 / 70 / 85 / 100 from 40 / 60 / 80 / 100 / 120.
- Power Chord: Diminuendo damage reduction now scales with (+2% per 100 AP).
- Song of Celerity
- Activated movement speed bonus changed to 4 / 6 / 8 / 10 / 12% (+2% per 100 AP) from 6 / 8 / 10 / 12 / 14%.
- Power Chord: Tempo slow now scales with (+4% per 100 AP).
- Crescendo
- Ability power ratio reduced to 50% from 80%.
V3.8:
- Stats
- Base health increased to 450 from 410.
- Base armor increased to 11.3 from 9.3.
- Power Chord
- Base Power Chord damage changed to 13/20/27/35/43/52/62/72/82/92/102/112/122/132/147/162/177/192 from 8 + (10 x level).
- Aria of Perseverance
- Fixed a bug where Aria of Perseverance's Power Chord: Diminuendo was not decreasing damage dealt.
- Lowered the duration of Aria of Perseverance's Power Chord: Diminuendo to 3 seconds from 4.
- Bonus armor and magic resistance to self and healed ally reduced to 6/7/8/9/10 from 8/11/14/17/20.
- Bonus armor and magic resistance aura changed to 6/7/8/9/10 from 3/6/9/12/15.
- Power Chord
- Is no longer consumed when attacking wards.
- Stats
- Base health reduced to 410 from 450.
- Base armor reduced to 9 from 11.
- Tooltips have been updated.
- General
- Basic attack and Power Chord missile speeds increased to 2000 from 1500.
- Aura persistence duration reduced to 1 second after deactivation from 2.
- Global cooldown reduced to 0.5 seconds from 2.
- Basic attack and
- Power Chord
- Now resets your attack timer so you can use it immediately.
- Crescendo
- Now deals all its damage instantly, rather than over time.
- Opponents can no longer use Cleanse or Quicksilver Sash to remove the damage portion of the spell.
- Hymn of Valor
- Mana cost reduced at earlier ranks to 45/50/55/60/65 from 65 at all ranks.
- Champion prioritization range slightly increased to better match her attack range.
- Power Chord
- Damage increased to 8 + (10 × level) from 10 × level.
- Power Chord
- Damage adjusted to 10 × level from 14 + (9 × level).
- Hymn of Valor
- Passive attack damage and ability power aura reduced to 4/8/12/16/20 from 8/11/14/17/20.
- Aria of Perseverance
- Passive armor and magic resist aura reduced to 3/6/9/12/15 from 7/9/11/13/15.
- Song of Celerity
- Passive movement speed aura reduced to 4/8/12/16/20 from 8/11/14/17/20.
- Power Chord
- Fixed a bug where it did not trigger while taunted or silenced.
- Template:Csi model scale normalized to better match her other skins.
- No longer automatically acquires attack targets when idle while Power Chord is active.
- Aria of Perseverance
- Mana cost adjusted to 60/65/70/75/80 from 65 at all ranks.
- Passive aura reduced to 7/9/11/13/15 armor and magic resist from 8/11/14/17/20.
- Aria of Perseverance
- Heal amount changed to 40/60/80/100/120 from 25/50/75/100/125.
- Reduced the lockout time while casting Sona's songs to make them more responsive.
- Aria of Perseverance
- Base heal reduced to 25/50/75/100/125 from 35/70/105/140/175.
- Ability power ratio reduced to 0.25 from 0.35.
- Now grants her passive aura bonus to her heal target and herself again as an extra bonus for 3 seconds.
- Fixed a bug where Hymn of Valor and Aria of Perseverance caused her to deal 20% reduced damage.
- Fixed some minor tooltip errors.
- Fixed a bug where shields and Ignite could sometimes cause her spell sounds to get cut off early.
- Sona will no longer automatically acquire attack targets when Power Chord is charged.
- Power Chord
- Diminuendo duration increased to 4 seconds from 3.
- Tempo slow amount increased to 40% from 35%.
- Hymn of Valor
- Attack damage and ability power aura increased to 8/11/14/17/20 from 6/8/10/12/14.
- General
- Mana cost of all stances reduced to 65 from 75.
- Power Chord
- Fixed a bug where Diminuendo was reducing true damage.
- Power Chord
- Now deals 14 + (9 × level) from 24 + (12 × level) bonus magic damage.
- Now has a bonus effect that depends on Sona's last song played.
- Hymn of Valor
- Base damage reduced to 50/100/150/200/250 from 60/110/160/210/260.
- Ability power ratio increased to 0.7 from 0.5.
- Mana cost changed to 75 from 65/70/75/80/85.
- Power Chord - Staccato: Deals double power chord damage.
- Aria of Perseverance
- Base heal increased to 35/70/105/140/175 from 30/55/80/105/130.
- Ability power ratio reduced to 0.35 from 0.5.
- Mana cost changed to 75 from 65/70/75/80/85.
- Power Chord - Diminuendo: Debuffs the target to deal 20% less damage for 3 seconds.
- Song of Celerity
- Mana cost changed to 75 from 65/70/75/80/85.
- Power Chord - Tempo: Slows the target by 25% for 2 seconds.
- Crescendo
- Cooldown decreased to 140/120/100 seconds from 170/150/130.
- Ability power ratio increased to 0.8 from 0.7.
- Hymn of Valor
- Base damage reduced to 60/110/160/210/260 from 70/120/170/220/270.
- Ability power ratio reduced to 0.5 from 0.6.
- Aria of Perseverance
- Healing reduced to 30/55/80/105/130 from 40/65/90/115/140.
- Song of Celerity
- Active movespeed reduced to 6/8/10/12/14% from 8/10/12/14/16%.
- General
- All aura durations after deactivating reduced to 2 seconds from 3.
- All aura buff durations for allies that leave her aura range reduced to 0.25 seconds from 1.
- Hymn of Valor
- Attack damage and ability power aura reduced to 6/8/10/12/14 from 8/11/14/17/20.
- Mana cost increased to 65/70/75/80/85 from 55/60/65/70/75.
- Song of Celerity
- Active movement speed boost reduced to 8/10/12/14/16 from 8/11/14/17/20.
- Mana cost increased to 65/70/75/80/85 from 55/60/65/70/75.
- Aria of Perseverance
- Mana cost increased to 65/70/75/80/85 from 55/60/65/70/75.
- Crescendo
- Range reduced to 1000 from 1100.
- Crescendo
- Cooldown increased to 170/150/130 seconds from 160/140/120.
- Fixed a bug where Song of Celerity was granting more movespeed than intended.
V1.0.0.101: Added.
- Power Chord (Innate)
- After casting 3 spells, Sona's next attack deals bonus magic damage. Additionally, Sona's Auras persist for 3 seconds after deactivating and set off a 2 second global cooldown.
- Hymn of Valor (Q)
- Sona plays the Hymn of Valor, granting nearby allied champions bonus Damage and Ability Power. Additionally, casting this ability sends out bolts of sound, dealing magic damage to the nearest two enemy champions or monsters.
- Aria of Perseverance (W)
- Sona plays the Aria of Perseverance, granting nearby allied champions bonus Armor and Magic Resist. Additionally, casting this ability sends out healing melodies, healing Sona and a nearby wounded ally.
- Song of Celerity (E)
- Sona plays the Song of Celerity, granting nearby allied champions bonus Movement Speed. Additionally, casting this ability energizes nearby allies with a burst of speed.
- Crescendo (Ultimate)
- Sona plays her ultimate chord, forcing enemy champions to dance, taking magic damage over time.
References
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