LeBlanc is one of the most elusive and deceptive champions in League of Legends. As a high-mobility assassin, she thrives on quick bursts of damage, tricky outplays, and unexpected engagements. Whether you are looking to dominate the mid lane, set up ambushes, or outmaneuver opponents in team fights, understanding her mechanics is essential. Master the deceptive mage with this League of Legends LeBlanc guide covering her abilities, best builds, runes, matchups, and strategies.

LeBlanc’s Abilities and How They Work

Mirror Image (Passive)

When LeBlanc’s health drops below 40%, she spawns a clone that lasts for 8 seconds. The clone automatically moves away from the source of damage and can perform basic attacks but deals no damage. This ability can create confusion in fights and is particularly useful for dodging skill shots and misleading enemies.

Sigil of Malice (Q)

LeBlanc launches an orb at a target, dealing magic damage and marking them for 3.5 seconds. If she lands another damaging ability on the marked target, the mark is consumed, dealing additional magic damage. This mechanic makes weaving in auto-attacks and combos crucial to maximizing burst potential.

Distortion (W)

LeBlanc dashes to a location, dealing magic damage to nearby enemies. She leaves a return pad at her initial position, which she can reactivate within 4 seconds to blink back. This ability is her primary mobility tool, allowing her to engage, reposition, or escape tricky situations.

Ethereal Chains (E)

LeBlanc throws a chain in a target direction, dealing magic damage to the first enemy hit and tethering them. If the tether remains unbroken for 1.5 seconds, the target is rooted and takes additional magic damage. Ethereal Chains is vital for crowd control, setting up kills, and disrupting enemy movements.

Mimic (R)

LeBlanc copies her most recently used ability, dealing enhanced damage. The copied ability applies the same effects as the original but with increased potency. This ultimate makes her incredibly unpredictable, allowing for devastating double bursts or deceptive feints in combat.

Best Build for LeBlanc in Mid Lane

Core Items

LeBlanc benefits most from items that amplify her burst damage and mobility.

• Luden’s Companion – Boosts her magic damage and provides bonus movement speed after ability hits.
• Sorcerer’s Shoes – Grants additional magic penetration for increased burst potential.
• Shadowflame – Enhances her damage against shielded targets and squishy enemies.
• Rabadon’s Deathcap – Maximizes her ability power for explosive damage.
• Void Staff – Helps cut through magic resist-heavy opponents.
• Banshee’s Veil – Provides a spell shield, making her harder to lock down.

Alternative Builds

If looking for a more aggressive approach, Malignance and Stormsurge can offer high burst potential. Zhonya’s Hourglass can be a defensive option against teams with heavy crowd control.

Best Runes for LeBlanc

Primary Tree – Domination

• Electrocute – Enhances burst damage by triggering on quick combos.
• Sudden Impact – Grants bonus magic penetration after dashing or blinking.
• Grisly Mementos – Increases effectiveness in skirmishes.
• Relentless Hunter – Improves roaming potential.

Secondary Tree – Sorcery

• Gathering Storm – Increases late-game power scaling.
• Transcendence – Grants bonus ability haste for more frequent spellcasting.

How to Play LeBlanc

Early Game Strategy

LeBlanc is an early-game menace, capable of bullying most laners with her quick combos. A typical poke pattern involves Sigil of Malice (Q) → Distortion (W) → Auto-Attack to proc Electrocute. Refrain from instantly dashing back unless necessary, as lingering in fights can bait opponents into misplays.

Mid-Game Roaming

With high mobility, LeBlanc excels at roaming. Once lane pressure is secured, rotate to side lanes or invade the jungle to pick off unsuspecting enemies. Use Distortion (W) → Ethereal Chains (E) to lock down targets and secure kills.

Late-Game Teamfighting

As an assassin, LeBlanc should avoid direct team fights unless she can flank or pick off isolated targets. Look for opportunities to poke with Sigil of Malice (Q), wait for cooldowns, and re-engage with Mimic (R) for a second burst. If the enemy has heavy crowd control, purchasing Zhonya’s Hourglass can help survive aggressive counterplays.

Best and Worst Matchups for LeBlanc

Best Matchups

LeBlanc thrives against immobile champions and squishy mages. She has an advantage against:

• Azir – His stationary playstyle makes him vulnerable to quick bursts.
• Ekko – Can be outmaneuvered before he reaches his power spikes.
• Naafiri – Struggles against ranged harass and burst damage.

Worst Matchups

Certain champions counter LeBlanc by nullifying her burst or punishing her all-ins. Avoid picking her against:

• Veigar – His cage prevents her from safely repositioning.
• Malzahar – His passive shields him from poke and his ultimate suppresses her escape.
• Vladimir – Can sustain through her burst and outscale her in extended fights.

Tips for Mastering LeBlanc

Positioning and Map Awareness

LeBlanc is most effective when played as a high-mobility opportunist. Always keep an eye on enemy cooldowns before diving in. Positioning in the fog of war can make it difficult for enemies to predict her movements.

Combo Execution

Mastering her ability combos is essential. Some of the most effective sequences include:

• Q → W → Auto – Standard burst trade in lane.
• W → R → Q → Auto → E – High-damage all-in combo.
• E → W → R (Mimic: Chains) – Long-range crowd control setup.

Baiting and Mind Games

One of LeBlanc’s strongest assets is deception. Her Mirror Image (Passive) can trick opponents into wasting abilities. Using Distortion (W) aggressively, but delaying the return, can also bait enemies into bad engagements.

Final Thoughts

LeBlanc is a mechanically demanding champion, but her potential for outplays makes her one of the most rewarding picks in League of Legends. By understanding her abilities, itemization, matchups, and strategies, players can harness her deceptive power to control the pace of the game. Whether dashing through the mid lane or assassinating enemies from the shadows, LeBlanc remains a formidable force in the right hands.