Leech explained: how it heals and which champions apply it best

Leech is a debuff that lets anyone hitting an affected enemy recover HP. Any attacker heals for 18% of the damage they inflict, so your whole team gets sustain without relying only on a dedicated healer.

How it works

The healing scales with damage, so harder hitters recover more. That makes it especially good against bosses, where your champions keep attacking the same target. Damage triggered by Warmaster and Giant Slayer also counts towards the healing.

You can also get Leech from the Harvest Despair Mastery, which gives a 60% chance to place it whenever a champion places Stun, Sleep, Fear, True Fear or Freeze.

Where it is useful

Leech helps almost anywhere, from waves to bosses. It shines in longer fights such as the Demon Lord, Hydra and Chimera. It is also handy early on against the Demon Lord, where it can help teams move away from Lifesteal gear and open up more flexible builds.

Champions to know

This is not a full list, but it shows the range on offer.

• Michelangelo: AoE Leech with Decrease ATK, plus Taunt, Decrease DEF, Stun and debuff spreading.
• Kro'khad: AoE Leech with Weaken, strong in Hydra.
• Vogoth: Leech through his passive when attacked, plus Provoke and Decrease ATK.
• Vallaryn: AoE Leech with Weaken and Heal Reduction.
• Ma'shalled: AoE Leech with True Fear, Increase SPD and Increase C.DMG.
• Minaya: AoE Leech with Heal Reduction, team healing, Block Debuffs and Shields.
• Nekmo Thaar: AoE Leech with Decrease SPD, plus Increase SPD and Turn Meter boosts.
• Deacon Armstrong: Leech on his A1, AoE Decrease DEF and Turn Meter manipulation.
• Wythir: Leech on her AoE A1 alongside Continuous Heals.
• Mina: AoE Leech in Base Form with Decrease ATK and buff removal.
• Belz: AoE Leech with Block Buffs, which also turns his single-target A2 into an AoE.

Building them

Accuracy and Speed matter unless the skill says the debuff cannot be resisted. As a guideline, aim for around 25 more ACC than the target's RES, and check the stage requirements for specific content. Increase ACC and Decrease RES can help in harder content.

For gear, Perception, Pinpoint or Feral give Accuracy. Relentless, Impulse, Reflex or Merciless help with cycling skills. Once Accuracy is met, build for the champion's wider role: Savage, Merciless or Lethal for damage, or Mercurial, Protection or Stoneskin for support.

Tips

• Place Leech before attacking if a champion gains extra effects against Leeched targets.
• Extend it with debuff extension in long single-target fights such as the Demon Lord.
• Build damage dealers to hit hard, since stronger hits heal more.
• Treat it as a layer on top of direct heals, Continuous Heals and Shields, not a replacement.