Locket of the Iron Solari

What is Locket of the Iron Solari? 🛡️

Locket of the Iron Solari is the teamwide emergency shield item for tanks and supports — a legendary defensive item whose DEVOTION active fires simultaneously on every allied champion within 850 units, applying a level-scaling shield that absorbs incoming damage for 2.5 seconds. In a single button press, the entire team gains a shield layer before a fight-defining ability lands.

The DEVOTION active is fundamentally a reactive protection tool: it does not deal damage, apply CC, or extend range — it creates a window of approximately 2.5 seconds where the entire team has an additional damage buffer against burst, zone control, or assassination sequences. Tanks and front-line supports who stand between their carries and the enemy are the ideal holders because they can trigger DEVOTION before initiating or immediately after the enemy team commits to an engage.

At 2,200 Gold, Locket of the Iron Solari is one of the most cost-efficient defensive items in the game for the DEVOTION’s teamwide value. Individual stats (+25 armor, +25 MR, +200 HP, +10 AH) are modest, but the active’s ability to shield 4 allies simultaneously in one cast makes the effective HP-per-gold calculation multiply with team size. Building from Kindlegem, Cloth Armor, and Null-Magic Mantle, it is accessible as a first or second item for tank supports. Sell price: 1,540 Gold. ID: 3190.

📊 Base Statistics

🔨 Recipe & Components

Locket of the Iron Solari builds from Kindlegem + Cloth Armor + Null-Magic Mantle with a 700g combine:

🛡️ DEVOTION Active — Complete Mechanics Reference

How DEVOTION Works

DEVOTION is activated manually (it is an active ability, not a passive). When activated, it auto-targets all allied champions within 850 units — no aiming required. Every ally in range (including the caster) simultaneously receives the level-scaling shield. The shield begins decaying immediately over 2.5 seconds from application, providing a decaying damage buffer.

The no cast time mechanic is a critical advantage in reactive situations: DEVOTION can be activated while the holder is mid-cast of another ability. A tank support can use Flash + CC ability and activate DEVOTION simultaneously without interrupting either action. The no-cast-time also means DEVOTION can be activated even when hard-locked by channels or mid-animation ability casts — though CC that prevents item use (stuns, suppression) still blocks activation.

DEVOTION does not break stealth — champions using stealthed champions near the support (Twitch, Evelynn, Rengar pre-leap) can receive the shield without being revealed. This is relevant in specific dive compositions where a stealthed assassin re-entering stealth after an engage receives the Locket shield without compromising the stealth status.

DEVOTION — Full Mechanics Table

DEVOTION Timing — When to Activate

The 2.5-second decay window defines the optimal timing: DEVOTION should be activated just before the critical damage arrives, not far in advance. A shield activated 3 seconds before the enemy team engages has already fully decayed by the time the damage lands. The no-cast-time mechanic enables reactive last-frame activation — pressing DEVOTION at the moment an enemy ability lands is the ideal pattern for blocking the highest proportion of burst damage.

Specific timing scenarios where DEVOTION is most valuable:

• Against Karthus R: Karthus Requiem (R) has a 3-second cast delay before dealing damage globally. DEVOTION can be activated mid-flight of the R cast, protecting all in-range allies for the full shield value against the incoming global damage
• Before Orianna Shockwave: initiating supports who see the ball positioned can pre-activate DEVOTION before the R cast, providing the shield window that begins absorbing Shockwave damage while it resolves
• Before assassin dive: Leona catching vision of an enemy assassin (Zed, Talon) targeting the ADC can pre-activate DEVOTION one second before the dash, ensuring the carry has the shield when the burst combo arrives
• Before Baron/Dragon teamfight: engaging on objectives, activate DEVOTION immediately before Flash + CC to shield all nearby allies for the opening burst of the teamfight before the enemy can respond

🗺️ Map-Specific Differences

🎯 When to Build Locket of the Iron Solari

Locket of the Iron Solari is most effective when the team needs a teamwide burst protection layer against a specific high-damage threat — particularly AoE ultimates, global abilities, or assassination sequences targeting the ADC or another low-HP carry.

✅ Build Locket When:

• Enemy team has a global or AoE ultimate: Karthus R (global magic), Orianna R (AoE pull + burst), Amumu R (AoE), Sejuani R (AoE stun) — DEVOTION provides a 2.5-second shield window that absorbs the initial burst before follow-up damage arrives
• Playing engage support or tank: Leona, Nautilus, Alistar, Braum, Thresh — champions who dive into the enemy team and need their backline to survive the counter-engage; DEVOTION fires before diving or immediately after the enemy commits, shielding the carries
• Enemy has a strong burst assassin: Zed, Talon, Rengar, Evelynn — a 360-shield buffer absorbs a meaningful portion of the first combo rotation; against a 600-damage Zed combo, the Locket shield reduces that to an effective 240-damage before any other mitigation
• Team is grouped (teamfight composition): DEVOTION’s 850-unit range requires all allies within range to receive shields; compositions that teamfight together in compact formations maximize the number of shields applied per activation

❌ Do NOT Build Locket When:

• Playing enchanter support with proactive heal/shield kit: Soraka, Nami, Janna, Lulu — enchanters deal sustained shielding and healing through their abilities; DEVOTION’s 90-second CD provides one emergency moment while the enchanter’s kit provides constant throughput. Ardent Censer, Moonstone Renewer, or Staff of Flowing Water amplify the enchanter’s own kit more effectively
• Enemy deals primarily sustained damage: the 2.5-second decay means Locket absorbs burst, not sustained DPS over multiple seconds. Against a composition dealing damage slowly through DoT or persistent attacks, the 360 shield decays before the relevant damage lands. Armor items (Thornmail, Sunfire Aegis) or MR items (Force of Nature) provide better sustained mitigation value against sustained damage patterns
• Team is consistently playing spread: if teammates are not within 850 units when DEVOTION is activated (e.g., split-push compositions, duo-lane fight patterns), the active benefits fewer allies; in those scenarios the item’s value reduces proportionally to how many allies are in range

👥 Best Champions for Locket of the Iron Solari

✅ Tank Supports — Core Users

• Leona — Zenith Blade (E) + Solar Flare (R) engage support. DEVOTION activates in the pre-engage animation before Leona flashes or E-dives — the entire team is shielded before the fight starts. Eclipse (W) armor and MR combined with Locket’s stats create strong sustain on Leona’s tank profile. The no-cast-time means Leona can use DEVOTION simultaneously with R’s stun animation.
• Nautilus — Dredge Line (Q) hook + Depth Charge (R) chain ultimate. Nautilus’ engage pattern: Q hook onto target, activating DEVOTION during the hook travel shieids all 5 allies before the CC chain resolves. Staggering Shield (P) personal shield + Locket teamwide shield layers make Nautilus’ personal survivability and team protection very high from a single item investment.
• Alistar — Pulverize (Q) + Headbutt (W) combo engage. DEVOTION during Headbutt animation before Pulverize launches fires shields to all in-range allies. Alistar’s Unbreakable Will (R) personal damage reduction combined with Locket’s stats makes him nearly unkillable while protecting the team simultaneously. Alistar naturally itemizes through HP and armor/MR — Locket slots naturally as first item.
• Braum — Unbreakable (E) personal block + Winter’s Bite (Q) + Glacial Fissure (R). DEVOTION shields the team during Braum’s engage sequence; Unbreakable physically blocks projectiles while the DEVOTION shield absorbs non-projectile burst damage on the protected carry. The combination of both forms of protection makes Braum + Locket the strongest single-carry protection profile in the support pool.
• Thresh — Death Sentence (Q) hook engage. Thresh’s passive (Damnation) soul stacking + Locket’s armor and MR stack well for a scaling tank support profile. Dark Passage (W) lantern provides an escape tool while DEVOTION provides the teamwide shield separately — Thresh offers both forms of protection with different cooldown windows.

Off-Role Tank Picks

• Malphite (support): Unstoppable Force (R) AoE engage ultimate. Malphite support runs Locket to maximize teamwide shield value before and during R engage. The combination of R’s knockup duration and the DEVOTION shield window means the enemy team cannot immediately counter-engage during the lockdown.
• Amumu (support/tank): Curse of the Sad Mummy (R) AoE immobilize. DEVOTION before or during R provides the team a shield buffer while the enemy team is CC’d and unable to deal damage — the shield value is largely unused in the CC window but absorbs damage when the CC expires and the fight continues.

❌ Less Optimal

• Enchanter supports (Soraka, Janna, Nami, Lulu): the enchanter’s kit provides continuous protection through heals and shields; DEVOTION’s 90-second CD is the emergency layer while the kit sustains constantly. Enchanters benefit more from items that amplify their healing/shielding (Moonstone Renewer, Ardent Censer) than from one-off reactive shields.
• Pure damage supports (Brand, Zyra, Xerath): the armor and MR stats are partially wasted on glass cannon supports who don’t expect to be in melee range; DEVOTION’s teamwide benefit remains but the stat package provides lower individual value. Shadowflame or Luden’s Tempest provide better individual damage throughput for those patterns.

⚙️ Recommended Build Paths

Leona / Nautilus — First Item Engage Tank

1. Locket of the Iron Solari — First full item (2,200g) — DEVOTION active live from 10-13 minutes; Kindlegem component from first back; armor + MR + HP all provide early tankiness; 90s CD begins cycling immediately
2. Sunfire Aegis — Second item — IMMOLATE persistent AoE damage aura; HP + armor; BAMI’s Cinder component provides early harassment in melee range
3. Warmog’s Armor — Third item — WARMOG’S HEART regeneration when out of combat; massive HP scaling enables larger shield values if the enemy also has Locket (75% penalty targets based on their level, not item level)
4. Thornmail — Fourth item — GRIEVOUS WOUNDS on being hit + SPIKESHELL reflected damage; armor + HP; hard counter to healing-heavy enemy compositions
5. Force of Nature — Fifth item — ABSORB stacking MR per magic damage hit; PERSISTENCE bonus MR after rapid magic hit stacks; complementary MR to Locket’s base MR

Braum — Carry Protection Support

6. Kindlegem — First back (~800g) — HP + AH; toward Locket completion; Braum needs early HP to survive dives in lane
7. Locket of the Iron Solari — First full item — DEVOTION live; combined with Unbreakable (E) physical projectile block, Braum offers both projectile immunity and flat shield absorption on the protected carry
8. Zeke’s Convergence — Second item — IGNITE: empowers linked ally champion with slowing bonus damage on the support’s CC; Braum’s frequent CC (Q slow, R knockup) activates IGNITE for the ADC repeatedly
9. Knight’s Vow — Third item — KNIGHT’S VOW: redirect 12% of damage from a linked ally to the support; pairs with DEVOTION shield and Unbreakable to triple-layer protect the ADC
10. Redemption — Fourth item — INTERVENTION active: heal allied champions globally in target area after delay; DEVOTION + INTERVENTION provides two separate shield/heal active layers with different CDs

🔄 Similar Items — Teamwide Utility Support Family

❌ Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

• Activating DEVOTION too early before the fight starts: DEVOTION’s 2.5-second decay begins immediately. Activating it 5 seconds before the enemy engage means the shield has fully decayed before the damage lands. The no-cast-time mechanic enables activation at the last moment — practice activating DEVOTION within 1-2 seconds of the threatening ability landing, not in the pre-engage positioning phase
• Not accounting for the 75% penalty against recently Devotion-affected allies: if the enemy support also runs Locket and fires DEVOTION first, activating your own Locket immediately after provides only 25% of the shield value to affected allies. In mirror Locket matchups, wait 20 seconds after the enemy activation for full value, or identify which allies the enemy Locket missed (they receive full shield value) and assess whether those unaffected allies are the higher-value targets anyway
• Building Locket on enchanter supports and expecting equal value: enchanter supports (Soraka, Lulu) heal and shield through ability casts at far shorter cooldowns than Locket’s 90 seconds. DEVOTION is the one emergency pop, while the kit provides constant throughput. Building Moonstone Renewer or Ardent Censer first amplifies the kit’s natural healing/shielding output far more than Locket’s 90-second reactive shield adds
• Standing outside 850 units of allies when activating: DEVOTION is auto-targeted to all allies within 850 units. If the tank support dives deep into the enemy team and activates DEVOTION from 1,000+ units away from the ADC, the ADC doesn’t receive the shield. Stay within 850 units of the allies who most need the shield (the ADC, the fed carry) before activating, rather than diving first and activating afterward from outside range
• Forgetting that DEVOTION affects untargetable allies: a Kayle R target who is untargetable, or a Zhonya’s STASIS user, still receives the Locket shield. Activating DEVOTION while an ally is in Zhonya’s STASIS provides them a shield that will absorb the first damage they take when exiting STASIS — a proactive use that is commonly missed

✅ Best Practices

• Buy Kindlegem at first back (~800g): MOMENTUM-equivalent AH + HP immediately; most cost-efficient component in the Locket recipe; enables earlier Locket completion on the second back
• Activate DEVOTION reactively, not proactively: 2.5-second decay means the shield is a burst-protection window; fire within 1-2 seconds of the threatening ability to maximize absorption; pre-firing 5 seconds early wastes most of the shield value
• In mirror Locket matchups: track enemy Locket CD and hold yours: after the enemy DEVOTION fires, 20 seconds of penalty window means your DEVOTION provides reduced value to their affected allies; wait 20 seconds or fire immediately after the enemy CD is up to avoid diminished returns
• Use the no-cast-time mechanic for simultaneous actions: Flash + DEVOTION activation simultaneously; engage ability + DEVOTION; R + DEVOTION — the no-cast-time means DEVOTION never costs an action window and should be treated as a button that is pressed in addition to whatever the support is already doing, not instead of it
• In Arena: build as first item on any tanky champion: Arena Locket’s 600-1,200 shield, 5-second duration, and 45-second CD with no 75% penalty makes it dramatically more powerful than on SR; the item is a high-value Arena pickup that significantly extends fight duration for both the holder and their duo partner

FAQ

Q: Can DEVOTION be activated while stunned or suppressed?

A: A: No — hard CC (stuns, suppressions, silences that prevent item use) blocks DEVOTION activation. The ‘no cast time’ advantage applies to using DEVOTION while already mid-casting another ability (e.g., during a channel or animation), but hard CC that prevents item use entirely still locks out DEVOTION. Soft CC (slows, roots without silence) does not prevent item activation, so DEVOTION can be used while rooted or slowed.

Q: Does the 75% penalty apply if I’m the only Locket user?

A: A: No — the 75% penalty only applies if the target was affected by another Devotion in the last 20 seconds. If only one player on your team has Locket and no enemy has Locket, there is no 75% penalty regardless of how recently you activated DEVOTION. The penalty exclusively concerns cases where multiple DEVOTION activations target the same ally within a 20-second window.

Q: What is the effective range — does DEVOTION affect the entire team or only nearby allies?

A: A: DEVOTION affects all allied champions within 850 units of the Locket holder at the moment of activation. The 850-unit range is roughly 1.5 times the standard auto-attack range of a melee champion. In a compact teamfight where all 5 allies are grouped within 850 units, all 5 receive shields. In a split-push formation where an ally is farming on the opposite side of the map, they are outside range and receive no shield.

Q: Does Locket’s DEVOTION shield work on the caster as well?

A: A: Yes — the Locket holder is included in the DEVOTION auto-target. The caster receives the same 200–360 level-scaling shield as all other allies within 850 units. This is relevant for tank supports who dive into the frontline — they receive personal shielding simultaneously with the team shield.

Q: How does DEVOTION interact with Zhonya’s Hourglass STASIS?

A: A: DEVOTION affects untargetable allies, which includes champions in Zhonya’s STASIS. Activating DEVOTION while an ally is in STASIS gives them a decaying 2.5-second shield that begins its countdown during the STASIS duration. If the STASIS ends within 2 seconds, meaningful shield value remains to absorb the first damage taken on exit. If STASIS lasts 2.5 seconds, the shield will have fully decayed by exit. Time DEVOTION to fire close to the end of STASIS for maximum remaining shield value.

Q: Is Locket of the Iron Solari worth building in high ELO?

A: Yes — Locket remains one of the highest-impact support items at all levels of play for engage/tank supports. The teamwide shielding efficiency per gold spent (2,200 Gold shielding up to 5 allies for 360 each at level 18 = 1,800 total shield potential) has no equivalent in the item shop at that cost. The 90-second CD is the limitation — managing the CD around specific fight timings (Dragon, Baron, specific teamfight windows) is the high-ELO skill expression. Zeke’s Convergence and Knight’s Vow are frequent companions to Locket in optimized engage support builds at high ELO for the reasons covered in the build paths section.