Leomord

Understanding Leomord's inherent advantages and disadvantages is key to mastering his gameplay. His kit offers unique opportunities for aggressive play but also presents specific vulnerabilities that must be managed.

• High Durability: With a durability score of 70, Leomord can withstand significant damage, allowing him to engage in extended fights and survive burst attempts from enemies. This makes him a resilient frontline fighter capable of soaking up pressure for his team.
• Exceptional Finishing Potential: Leomord's passive, The Oath Keeper, is a game-changer for securing kills. It guarantees critical strikes against enemies below 50% Max HP, dealing 200% damage. This makes him incredibly effective at executing weakened targets and ensuring kills are not stolen.
• Strong Mobility and Area Damage in Mounted State: When mounted on Barbiel, Leomord gains increased movement speed, physical and magic defense, and his basic attacks become area-of-effect. This allows him to chase down enemies, reposition effectively, and deal damage to multiple targets simultaneously, making him a formidable presence in teamfights.
• Moderate Difficulty: Leomord has a difficulty score of 60, indicating that he requires good timing and positioning. Activating his ultimate and managing his skills in both human and mounted forms can be challenging, and misplays can leave him vulnerable or unable to capitalize on his power spikes.
• Reliance on Ultimate: A significant portion of Leomord's power, mobility, and area damage comes from his mounted state. Without his ultimate, Phantom Steed, he is considerably less impactful in teamfights and has reduced chase potential, making him more reliant on its cooldown.
• Vulnerable during Skill 1 Channeling: His Momentum skill requires channeling, during which he can be interrupted by enemy crowd control. While it provides a shield, being locked into the animation can make him an easy target for focused damage if not timed correctly, especially against enemies with strong disable abilities.

Leomord's skills define his aggressive, mounted playstyle, offering both burst damage and sustained output. Mastering the nuances of each ability is crucial for effective gameplay.

• The Oath Keeper (Passive): This passive is crucial for Leomord's execution power. It guarantees critical strikes against enemies below 50% Max HP, dealing 200% damage. Additionally, every 1% Crit Chance gained is converted into 1 Physical Attack. This means Leomord doesn't need to build critical chance items; instead, he benefits immensely from pure physical attack, which synergizes with his guaranteed crits on low-health targets. This passive makes him a deadly finisher, as he can quickly dispatch weakened foes with his basic attacks.
• Momentum (Skill 1): In his human form, Leomord gains a shield (150 flat + 50% Total Physical Attack) and channels, slowing enemies. Upon release, he thrusts his sword, dealing up to 500 flat + 180% Total Physical Attack (Physical Damage) to enemies and slowing them. The damage scales with channel time. This skill is his primary damage source in human form and provides crucial survivability with its shield. You should use it to poke enemies, clear minion waves, or as a defensive tool with its shield. The high 180% Total Physical Attack scaling means this skill becomes incredibly potent as Leomord accumulates physical attack items, making it a late-game powerhouse for both damage and sustain.
• Decimation Assault (Skill 2): Leomord charges in a designated direction, dealing 300 flat + 50% Total Physical Attack (Physical Damage) to enemies and slowing them. This skill serves as his primary mobility tool in human form, allowing him to engage or disengage quickly. Its relatively low 50% Total Physical Attack scaling means its damage is less significant than Momentum, but it's vital for positioning and setting up plays. The tip highlights that this skill and its mounted counterpart do not share cooldowns, enabling a double dash when activating his ultimate, which is key for rapid engagements and surprising enemies.
• Phantom Steed (Ultimate): This is Leomord's signature ability and his most powerful skill. He summons Barbiel, who knocks back and deals 350 flat + 100% Total Physical Attack (Physical Damage) to enemies in its path. If Leomord connects with Barbiel, he enters the Mounted State, gaining 30% Movement Speed (decaying) and a permanent 60 Movement Speed and 30 Physical & Magic Defense. In this state, his skills are replaced, and his basic attacks become AOE and can be used while moving. The 100% Total Physical Attack scaling on the initial Barbiel charge means it can deal respectable damage, but the true power lies in the transformation. This ultimate is used to initiate fights, chase down targets, or escape, transforming Leomord into a highly mobile, durable, and damaging threat that can dominate teamfights.

Leomord's recommended build focuses on maximizing his physical attack, spell vamp for sustain, and providing crucial survivability to allow him to thrive in extended engagements.

• Warrior Boots: These boots provide essential movement speed and physical defense. Their Unique Passive - Valor grants 4 extra Physical Defense for 3s when taking Physical Damage, stacking up to 20. This makes Leomord more durable in the early game against physical damage dealers, allowing him to sustain better in lane and during skirmishes, especially when trading blows.
• Bloodlust Axe: This item is crucial for Leomord's sustainability. It provides Spell Vamp, which allows him to recover HP when dealing damage with his skills. Given that Leomord's Momentum and Decimation Assault are frequently used for damage and wave clear, the Spell Vamp from Bloodlust Axe significantly enhances his ability to stay on the map and continue fighting without needing to recall, improving his farming and skirmishing potential.
• War Axe: A core damage item for Leomord, War Axe provides physical attack and cooldown reduction. Its Unique Passive - Fighting Spirit grants 12 extra Physical Attack and 2% extra Spell Vamp per second for 4s, stacking up to 6 times. At full stacks, it deals 10% extra True Damage according to Base Damage. This item greatly increases Leomord's sustained damage output in extended fights, making him a formidable duelist and teamfighter, especially with his AOE basic attacks in mounted form.
• Endless Battle: This item synergizes perfectly with Leomord's kit, especially his mounted state. Its Unique Passive - Divine Justice makes his next Basic Attack after casting a skill deal 60% Physical Attack as extra True Damage (with a 1.5s cooldown). Since Leomord's mounted basic attacks are AOE and he frequently uses skills, this passive allows him to weave in powerful true damage procs, significantly boosting his burst and sustained damage against multiple targets.
• Blade of Despair: As a late-game power spike, Blade of Despair provides a massive amount of physical attack. Its Unique Passive - Despair increases Physical Attack by 25% for 2s when dealing damage to non-Minion enemies below 50% HP. This passive perfectly complements Leomord's own passive, The Oath Keeper, which guarantees critical strikes on low-health targets. Together, these two effects make Leomord an unparalleled finisher, capable of quickly eliminating weakened enemies.
• Immortality: This defensive item provides a second chance in crucial teamfights. Its Unique Passive - Immortal revives Leomord 2.5s after death, gaining 16% Max HP and a 220-1200 shield (scales with level) that lasts 3s (with a 210s cooldown). This allows him to re-engage or escape after being focused down, providing invaluable survivability and potentially turning the tide of a late-game engagement, making him even harder to take down.

Leomord's playstyle revolves around aggressive engagements and capitalizing on his unique mounted form. Here are some tips to maximize his effectiveness on the battlefield.

• Early Game Lane Dominance: In the early game, use Momentum (Skill 1) to clear minion waves efficiently and poke enemies. The shield from Momentum can help you win trades and sustain in lane. Remember that the damage scales with channel time, so try to fully charge it when safe, but release it early if you need to guarantee a hit or react to an enemy's movement. This skill is your primary tool for controlling the lane.
• Aggressive Engagements with Ultimate: Leomord's ultimate, Phantom Steed, is your primary initiation and power spike. Use Decimation Assault (Skill 2) to get into position, then activate Phantom Steed. The tip for Skill 2 mentions that its human and mounted versions don't share cooldowns, allowing for a double dash. This means you can use Decimation Assault, then activate your ultimate, and once mounted, use the new mounted Skill 2 for a second dash, enabling rapid and deep engagements into enemy lines to catch them off guard.
• Capitalize on Low HP Targets: Your passive, The Oath Keeper, is incredibly powerful for finishing off enemies. Once an enemy is below 50% Max HP, prioritize them with basic attacks, especially in your mounted state where your attacks are AOE and can be used while moving. Combine this with the bonus damage from Blade of Despair's passive for maximum execution power, ensuring no enemy escapes your grasp.
• Sustain with Spell Vamp: With items like Bloodlust Axe and War Axe, Leomord gains significant Spell Vamp. Continuously use your skills, especially Momentum and your mounted abilities, to heal yourself during prolonged fights. This allows you to stay in the fray longer and absorb more damage, leveraging your high durability (70) to outlast opponents.
• Positioning in Teamfights: While mounted, Leomord is highly mobile and durable. Use this to your advantage to flank enemies or dive into the backline, targeting squishy damage dealers. However, be mindful of crowd control. As noted by the difficulty score of 60, Leomord requires careful positioning to avoid being locked down, even with his high durability. Don't rush into the entire enemy team without a clear plan or without your team's support.

Understanding which heroes Leomord synergizes with and which ones pose a threat is crucial for effective team composition and in-game decision-making.

• Best Teammate: Minotaur: Minotaur is an excellent ally for Leomord. The tip states that "Heroes with crowd-control work best with him as they could help create more room for Leomord to deal damage." Minotaur's area-of-effect crowd control, such as his ultimate, can group enemies or stun them, creating perfect opportunities for Leomord to unleash his AOE basic attacks and skills in his mounted state, maximizing his damage output and ensuring his abilities hit multiple targets. This synergy allows Leomord to freely engage and deal sustained damage.
• Strong Against: Lesley: Leomord is effective against heroes like Lesley. The tip indicates that "Mounted Leomord could deal handsome damage with his combo of spells. Combine the combo with passive effects and basic attacks afterwards, and he could put high pressure to vulnerable classes." Lesley, being a Marksman, is typically squishy and lacks strong escape tools against a determined diver. Leomord's high mobility in his mounted form allows him to quickly close the gap, and his guaranteed critical strikes on low-health targets, combined with his burst damage, make him a significant threat to vulnerable damage dealers like Lesley.
• Countered By: Kaja: Kaja poses a significant threat to Leomord. The tip warns that "Mounted Leomord is highly mobile, but he would still be controlled to death if he rushes into the crowds of enemies willy nilly." Kaja's ultimate, Divine Judgment, can suppress and pull Leomord, effectively neutralizing his high mobility and mounted state advantage. This makes Leomord vulnerable to focused damage from Kaja's team, highlighting the importance of careful engagement and positioning when facing such strong crowd control.

Imagine a scenario where you are in the side lane, and an enemy hero is pushing your turret. You want to engage and secure a kill. First, use Decimation Assault (Skill 2) to dash towards the enemy, dealing 300 flat + 50% Total Physical Attack (Physical Damage) and slowing them. Immediately after, activate Phantom Steed (Ultimate) to summon Barbiel. As Barbiel rushes towards you, it will knock back and deal 350 flat + 100% Total Physical Attack (Physical Damage) to the enemy if they are in its path. Ensure you connect with Barbiel to enter your powerful Mounted State. Once mounted, you gain significant movement speed and defense. Use your new mounted Skill 2 to dash again, closing any remaining distance or repositioning for optimal attacks. Now, unleash a flurry of basic attacks, which are now AOE and can be used while moving. If the enemy's health drops below 50%, your passive, The Oath Keeper, will guarantee critical strikes, dealing 200% damage, allowing you to quickly finish them off. If they try to escape, continue to chase with your mounted mobility and use your mounted skills to secure the kill.

To truly master Leomord, focus on these key decisions and actions:

• 1. Initiate fights decisively with Phantom Steed, leveraging the double dash potential from Decimation Assault to quickly close gaps and transform into your powerful mounted state, catching enemies off guard.
• 2. Prioritize low-health enemies with basic attacks, as your passive, The Oath Keeper, guarantees critical strikes, and Blade of Despair's passive further amplifies your damage against weakened foes, ensuring swift eliminations.
• 3. Sustain through prolonged engagements by continuously using your skills to trigger Spell Vamp from Bloodlust Axe and War Axe, allowing you to recover health and remain a persistent threat on the battlefield.
• 4. Utilize Momentum's shield and damage for effective wave clear and poke in human form, but be ready to interrupt its channeling if an immediate threat arises, adapting to the flow of combat.