The way I enjoy playing Leona is as "Goose" meaning your the navigator and wingman of your Maverick. Waiting until level 3 to really start a good damage/effect harass is something I recommend. Also look at my item selection, picking up the pstone before boots is something I try to have by level 3 with some quick farming. Using your tele summoner spell is great a quick return and early on you can afford to burn it.

I'm not a high rated player or LoL guru, but as a saw a low amount of highly rated Leona builds I put up the one I've been using quick effectively.

I like the Flash Teleport combo.

Feel free to change is up, I found Flash to be fun if you can activate Eclipse, Flash, Zblade, SoDB to either finish off an opponent or close some ground. Plus Flash is useful on just about every champion.

Using a 0/21/9 -- having these tank masteries will really gel with your runes and abilities. Seeing how you want to be in a enemy champions face disrupting you are susceptible to damage.

Mark - Flat Magic Pen x9
Seal - Flat Armor x9
Glyph - MR per/level x9
Quint. - Flat health or MR user preference

The reason I choose these runes was for early survivability, although Leona is great for initiating and creating a gank or team fight, she lacks the ability to survive early ganks that slow or stun without summoner skills.

You can choose Zblade or SoDB first either one is functional, I just like waiting till level 3 to really start harassing so it is of no concern to me which you use first. Zblade can be great for a last min slow for an early kill.

Maxing W Q E and Ult when available.

Zblade least important, SoDB is nice but Eclipse does the most damage and improves survival whe you initiate.

Items in this order will give you lane stability and a decent amount of health to survive.

1.Health Regen. Pot if need be but shouldn't a taken unless afraid of early death.
2.Pstone before boots. I like to return to get it asap (using tele to return to lane) try to have it by level 3/4.
3.Reg. boots standard
3.Heart of Gold 'nough said.
4.Merc treads. almost like everygame, 5v5 they're bound to have stun/cc so as the tank get them. Also Ninja slippers are good vs heavy ad and can be substituted.
5.This is where I like to buy Negatron and Chain vest in the same trip usually. Leaving a space for a ward or two for the team.
6.From here i either get FoN, Omen, and Banshees or Shurelyas. I really like getting FoN, Omen, and Shurelya's. Personally Banshees is ok but I've been getting up to 70% Magic/Physical damage reduced while Eclipse is active so the CDR, aoe speed buff come in handy.

Pick a good laning partner, pref. ranged. As you hit level 3 you can see her true strength start to emerge with your teammates when you can put together a good combination of a single target. Leona can help pick up kills for your carries early, leading to much success in the game to come. Just one man's take on this pretty lady tank, get it a try feedback is always encouraged and glhf.

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 Rakkoran 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 Rakkorans, 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 Rakkoran teens battle to the death for the right to bear a relic-weapon, Leona refused to fight. For this, the Rakkoran 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

Updated 7/25/11