Support Matchup

Zilean vs Leona

Patch: 15.23 (25.23)
League: Platinum+
Zilean

Zilean

the Chronokeeper
Support
Zilean Support Overall Win Rate
51.61%

Matchup Win Rate

51.2%
Zilean vs Leona Wins
48.8%
Leona vs Zilean Wins
Leona

Leona

the Radiant Dawn
Support
Leona Support Overall Win Rate
51.29%

Zilean vs Leona - Support Matchup Guide Patch 15.23 (25.23)

Zilean Support vs Leona Support - Who is stronger?

Zilean Support has a slight edge over Leona (51.2% win rate) based on 560 games. The matchup slightly favors Zilean.

View detailed statistics below: items, runes, and counter builds for Zilean Support vs Leona Support in patch 15.23 (25.23), including win rates and pick rates. With proper study, this can improve your chances of victory up to 70%+ in this matchup.

Statistical Matchup Analysis

With 2.3% popularity, Zilean constantly encounters meta-dominant Leona (7.2%, 7th place out of 52 Support champions). Understanding how to play against this popular champion becomes essential for consistent Zilean performance in the current patch. Optimize for consistency: Grasp of the Undying paired with Font of Life (57.5% win rate, 8.3% popularity) provides the stats you need, while the item sequence Shurelya's Battlesong > Redemption > Frozen Heart with Ionian Boots of Lucidity delivers 70%+ win rate against Leona.

Lane wins, vision lags: While winning the matchup (51.20%), Zilean trails in vision control (0.81 vs 0.84 wards/min). Better map coverage could unlock even greater team advantages. Quality over quantity: Zilean wins through smart play rather than raw damage - despite lower DPS (365 vs 387/min), the 51.2% win rate shows superior utility, positioning, and team fight impact. Statistical dominance: Zilean leads in both matchup win rate (51.2%) and KDA (3.30 vs 2.50) - complete superiority across all metrics.

Zilean vs Leona - Support Stats Comparison

Zilean Support
Zilean Support
Versus
Leona Support
Leona Support
A+TierS
51.2%Matchup Winrate48.8%
51.61%Role Winrate51.29%
#9Winrate Rank#12
2.3%Pickrate7.2%
3.3Average KDA2.5
298Gold per Minute298
0.81Wards per Minute0.84
365Damage per Minute387

How to Beat Leona as Zilean (Support)

While statistically Zilean is slightly stronger than Leona as support, neither champion has an overwhelming advantage in this matchup. The winner is determined by player skill and understanding the intricacies of the confrontation. Studying this guide will improve your chances of success.

The magic damage that Zilean deals remains relevant in the late game. Look for opportunities to initiate or counter-initiate. Leona has mixed damage, be careful as it may be harder to defend if the opponent gets ahead or plays aggressively.

Consider the excellent vision control demonstrated by Leona, ranking 37th (versus 42nd for Zilean) in ward placement among supports. This means the opponent provides better map vision for their team. Meanwhile, their lower KDA (2.5 versus 3.3) suggests they are less effective in team fights.

Key aspects of the Zilean Support versus Leona Support matchup

Despite the statistical advantage in the matchup, overconfidence can be the main mistake. It is important for the Zilean player to maintain constant pressure on Leona, not allowing the opponent to safely scale up, and actively use the advantage gained to help their team.

Zilean vs Leona: Support Summoner Spells

Most Popular

Flash
Flash Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Heal
Heal Restores Health and grants Move Speed to you and target allied champion.
55.2% Win Rate37.2% Pick Rate

Highest Win Rate

Exhaust
Exhaust Slows target enemy champion and reduces their damage dealt.
Flash
Flash Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
57.9% Win Rate31.8% Pick Rate

Zilean vs Leona: Support Runes

Most Frequent Runes

Primary Path
Sorcery
Summon Aery
Summon Aery Damaging enemy champions with basic attacks or abilities sends Aery to them, dealing 10 - 50 based on level (+0.05 AP) (+0.1 bonus AD).

Empowering or protecting allies with abilities sends Aery to them, shielding them for 30 - 100 based on level (+0.05 AP) (+0.1 bonus AD).

Aery cannot be sent out again until she returns to you.

Summon Aery

Damaging enemy champions with basic attacks or abilities sends Aery to them, dealing 10 -…

Manaflow Band
Manaflow Band Hitting an enemy champion with an ability permanently increases your maximum mana by 25, up to 250 mana.

After reaching 250 bonus mana, restore 1% of your missing mana every 5 seconds.

Cooldown: 15 seconds

Manaflow Band

Hitting an enemy champion with an ability permanently increases your maximum ma…

Transcendence
Transcendence Gain bonuses upon reaching the following levels:
Level 5: +5 Ability Haste
Level 8: +5 Ability Haste
Level 11: On Champion takedown, reduce the remaining cooldown of basic abilities by 20%.

Transcendence

Gain bonuses upon reaching the following levels:Level 5: +5 Ability Haste Level…

Waterwalking
Waterwalking Gain 10 Move Speed and 13 - 30 Adaptive Force (based on level) when in the river.

May you be as swift as the rushing river and agile as a startled Rift Scuttler.

Waterwalking

Gain 10 Move Speed and 13 - 30 Adaptive Force (based on level) when in the rive…

Secondary Path
Domination
Cheap Shot
Cheap Shot Damaging champions with impaired movement or actions deals 10 - 45 bonus true damage (based on level).

Cooldown: 4s
Activates on damage occurring after the impairment.

Cheap Shot

Damaging champions with impaired movement or actions deals 10 - 45 bonus true d…

Relentless Hunter
Relentless Hunter Gain 8 Move Speed out of combat per Bounty Hunter stack. Bounty Hunter stacks are earned the first time you get a takedown on each enemy champion.

Relentless Hunter

Gain 8 Move Speed out of combat per Bounty Hunter stack. Bounty Hunter stacks a…

Adaptive
Scaling Cooldown Reduction
Scaling Cooldown Reduction +8 Ability Haste

Scaling Cooldown Reduction

+8 Ability Haste

Adaptive Force
Adaptive Force Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Adaptive Force

Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Scaling Health
Scaling Health Increases health from 10 to 180 HP across levels 1-18

Scaling Health

Increases health from 10 to 180 HP across levels 1-18

54.3% Win Rate56.9% Pick Rate

Best Win Rate Runes

Primary Path
Resolve
Grasp of the Undying
Grasp of the Undying Every 4s in combat, your next basic attack on a champion will:
  • Deal bonus magic damage equal to 3.5% of your max health
  • Heal you for 1.3% of your max health
  • Permanently increase your health by 5
    Ranged Champions: Damage, healing, and permanent health gained are 60% effective.
  • Grasp of the Undying

    Every 4s in combat, your next basic attack on a champion will:Deal bonus magic damage equ…

    Font of Life
    Font of Life Impairing the movement of an enemy champion restores @BaseHeal@ Health to you and the lowest health nearby allied champion.

    70% effect for Ranged Users.

    Cooldown: 20s

    Font of Life

    Impairing the movement of an enemy champion restores @BaseHeal@ Health to you a…

    Second Wind
    Second Wind After taking damage from an enemy champion, heal for 4% of your missing health +3 over 10s.

    Second Wind

    After taking damage from an enemy champion, heal for 4% of your missing health …

    Overgrowth
    Overgrowth Absorb life essence from monsters or enemy minions that die near you, permanently gaining 3 maximum health for every 8.

    When you've absorbed 120 monsters or enemy minions, gain an additional 3.5% maximum health.

    Overgrowth

    Absorb life essence from monsters or enemy minions that die near you, permanent…

    Secondary Path
    Sorcery
    Manaflow Band
    Manaflow Band Hitting an enemy champion with an ability permanently increases your maximum mana by 25, up to 250 mana.

    After reaching 250 bonus mana, restore 1% of your missing mana every 5 seconds.

    Cooldown: 15 seconds

    Manaflow Band

    Hitting an enemy champion with an ability permanently increases your maximum ma…

    Transcendence
    Transcendence Gain bonuses upon reaching the following levels:
    Level 5: +5 Ability Haste
    Level 8: +5 Ability Haste
    Level 11: On Champion takedown, reduce the remaining cooldown of basic abilities by 20%.

    Transcendence

    Gain bonuses upon reaching the following levels:Level 5: +5 Ability Haste Level…

    Adaptive
    Scaling Cooldown Reduction
    Scaling Cooldown Reduction +8 Ability Haste

    Scaling Cooldown Reduction

    +8 Ability Haste

    Scaling Health
    Scaling Health Increases health from 10 to 180 HP across levels 1-18

    Scaling Health

    Increases health from 10 to 180 HP across levels 1-18

    +65 Health
    +65 Health +65 Health

    +65 Health

    +65 Health

    57.5% Win Rate8.3% Pick Rate

    Zilean vs Leona: Support Item Builds

    Most Popular Build

    Starting Items
    Stealth Ward
    Stealth Ward (0 gold) Active (210 - 120s, max 2 charges)
    Places an Invisible Stealth Ward that grants vision for 90-120 seconds.
    World Atlas
    World Atlas (400 gold)
    Health Potion
    Health Potion (50 gold) Consume
    Restores 120 Health over 15 seconds.
    52.0% Win Rate89.8% Pick Rate
    Popular Boots
    Ionian Boots of Lucidity
    Ionian Boots of Lucidity (900 gold) 10 Ability Haste
    45 Move Speed

    Ionian Insight
    Gain 10 Summoner Spell Haste.
    54.4% Win Rate77.2% Pick Rate
    Symbiotic Soles
    Symbiotic Soles (900 gold) 40 Move Speed
    Voidborn
    Gain Empowered Recall.
    Symbiosis
    After traveling 150000 units of distance, transform into Synchronized Souls.
    36.2% Win Rate5.7% Pick Rate
    Boots of Swiftness
    Boots of Swiftness (1000 gold) 60 Move Speed
    Fleetfooted
    Reduce the effectiveness of Slows by 25%.
    69.6% Win Rate3.8% Pick Rate
    Core Build
    Bandleglass Mirror
    Bandleglass Mirror (900 gold) 20 Ability Power
    100% Base Mana Regen
    10 Ability Haste

    ->
    Shurelya's Battlesong
    Shurelya's Battlesong (2200 gold) 50 Ability Power
    15 Ability Haste
    4% Move Speed
    125% Base Mana Regen

    Inspiring Speech
    Grant nearby allies 30% Move Speed for 4 seconds.
    Imperial Mandate
    Imperial Mandate (2250 gold) 60 Ability Power
    20 Ability Haste
    125% Base Mana Regen

    Coordinated Fire (0s) per target
    Slowing or Immobilizing an enemy champion marks them for 5 seconds. Ally champion damage detonates the mark, dealing magic damage equal to 10% of current health.
    Redemption
    Redemption (2300 gold) 200 Health
    15 Ability Haste
    100% Base Mana Regen
    10% Heal and Shield Power

    Intervention
    Restore 200 - 400 Health to allied champions and deal 10% max Health true damage to enemy champions after 2.5 seconds.
    25.2% Win Rate5.1% Pick Rate
    Final Build
    Locket of the Iron Solari
    Locket of the Iron Solari (2200 gold) 200 Health
    25 Armor
    25 Magic Resist
    10 Ability Haste

    Devotion
    Grant nearby allies a 200 - 360 Shield that decays over 2.5 seconds.
    0.0% Win Rate33.4% Pick Rate

    Best Win Rate Build

    Starting Items
    Oracle Lens
    Oracle Lens (0 gold) Active (160 - 100s, max 2 charges)
    Reveals enemy Stealth Wards and traps around you for 6 seconds.
    World Atlas
    World Atlas (400 gold)
    Health Potion
    Health Potion (50 gold) Consume
    Restores 120 Health over 15 seconds.
    66.5% Win Rate3.9% Pick Rate
    Highest Winrate Boots
    Boots of Swiftness
    Boots of Swiftness (1000 gold) 60 Move Speed
    Fleetfooted
    Reduce the effectiveness of Slows by 25%.
    69.6% Win Rate3.8% Pick Rate
    Ionian Boots of Lucidity
    Ionian Boots of Lucidity (900 gold) 10 Ability Haste
    45 Move Speed

    Ionian Insight
    Gain 10 Summoner Spell Haste.
    54.4% Win Rate77.2% Pick Rate
    Sorcerer's Shoes
    Sorcerer's Shoes (1100 gold) 12 Magic Penetration
    45 Move Speed

    49.9% Win Rate3.5% Pick Rate
    Core Build
    Bandleglass Mirror
    Bandleglass Mirror (900 gold) 20 Ability Power
    100% Base Mana Regen
    10 Ability Haste

    ->
    Shurelya's Battlesong
    Shurelya's Battlesong (2200 gold) 50 Ability Power
    15 Ability Haste
    4% Move Speed
    125% Base Mana Regen

    Inspiring Speech
    Grant nearby allies 30% Move Speed for 4 seconds.
    Redemption
    Redemption (2300 gold) 200 Health
    15 Ability Haste
    100% Base Mana Regen
    10% Heal and Shield Power

    Intervention
    Restore 200 - 400 Health to allied champions and deal 10% max Health true damage to enemy champions after 2.5 seconds.
    Frozen Heart
    Frozen Heart (2500 gold) 75 Armor
    400 Mana
    20 Ability Haste

    Winter's Caress
    Reduce the Attack Speed of nearby champions by 20%.
    100.0% Win Rate2.6% Pick Rate
    Final Build
    Morellonomicon
    Morellonomicon (2950 gold) 75 Ability Power
    350 Health
    15 Ability Haste

    Grievous Wounds
    Dealing magic damage to champions applies 40% Wounds for 3 seconds.
    0.0% Win Rate33.4% Pick Rate
    Other Items
    Morellonomicon
    Morellonomicon (2950 gold) 75 Ability Power
    350 Health
    15 Ability Haste

    Grievous Wounds
    Dealing magic damage to champions applies 40% Wounds for 3 seconds.
    0.0% Win Rate33.4% Pick Rate
    Cryptbloom
    Cryptbloom (2850 gold) 60 Ability Power
    30% Magic Penetration
    15 Ability Haste

    Life from Death
    When a champion that you damaged within 3 seconds dies, a nova spreads from their corpse that heals.
    0.0% Win Rate32.9% Pick Rate

    Zilean vs Leona: Support Skill (abilities) Orders

    Most Frequent Skill Order

    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10
    11
    12
    13
    14
    15
    16
    17
    18
    Q
    Q
    Time Bomb Tosses a bomb to target area that sticks to units that come near it (prioritizes Champions). It detonates after 3 seconds, dealing area of effect damage. If a Time Bomb is detonated early by another Time Bomb, it also stuns enemies.
    Q
    Q
    Q
    Q
    Q
    W
    W
    Rewind Zilean can prepare himself for future confrontations, reducing the cooldowns of his other basic abilities.
    W
    W
    W
    W
    W
    E
    E
    Time Warp Zilean bends time around any unit, decreasing an enemy's Move Speed or increasing an ally's Move Speed for a short time.
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    R
    R
    Chronoshift Zilean places a protective time rune on an allied champion, teleporting the champion back in time if they take lethal damage.
    R
    R
    R
    Max Order: Q > E > W
    52.5% Win Rate40.5% Pick Rate

    Highest Win % Skill Order

    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10
    11
    12
    13
    14
    15
    16
    17
    18
    R
    Q
    Time Bomb Tosses a bomb to target area that sticks to units that come near it (prioritizes Champions). It detonates after 3 seconds, dealing area of effect damage. If a Time Bomb is detonated early by another Time Bomb, it also stuns enemies.
    Q
    Q
    Q
    Q
    Q
    R
    W
    Rewind Zilean can prepare himself for future confrontations, reducing the cooldowns of his other basic abilities.
    W
    W
    W
    W
    W
    R
    E
    Time Warp Zilean bends time around any unit, decreasing an enemy's Move Speed or increasing an ally's Move Speed for a short time.
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    R
    R
    Chronoshift Zilean places a protective time rune on an allied champion, teleporting the champion back in time if they take lethal damage.
    R
    R
    R
    Max Order: Q > E > W
    90.0% Win Rate0.9% Pick Rate

    Zilean tips:

    • You can combine the use of Time Bomb and Rewind to place two Time Bombs on a target quickly. Placing the second bomb will detonate the first and stun all nearby enemies.
    • Time Warp is an effective way to enable allies to finish off enemies, or escape from a losing battle.
    • Chronoshift is a powerful deterrent to attacking your carries, but casting Chronoshift too early in a fight can cause the enemy to switch targets too soon, making it less effective.

    Playing Against Leona

    • When Leona activates Eclipse, you have three seconds to get away from her before she deals damage.
    • Only foes in the center of Solar Flare get stunned, so you can often avoid this if you're quick.