Hey SAB, I haven't used Leona seriously in XIII yet.
Sounds like she can still hang based on your comments here 
If you're able to, would you be able to find/point out any/which changes were not mentioned in the change log? I'm really interested to see what else they have done with her. (I realize that some of what you mention may already be doing this but getting a bit confused since I didn't use her much :P )
She can combo a deep hop A , D, or jump D into A X-calibur, not sure if she could do this in arcade of not? It's nice to see possible with the reduced hitstun on jump attacks, and gives her a meterless air combo, which she hasn't always had.
I have a feeling that the nerfs she got had to do with them thinking they needed to balance for her instant overhead to v-slasher being crackingly strong. In good hands it's almost unstoppable. This paired with the extra flexibility in V slasher angles...
Yeah... Leona has the kinda strengths that fit this game now, but her airplay normals and crouching attack range are still better than many, at the same time. I still wish she had her air throw back, she'd utterly control the air in a BIG way, then.
Anyone agree with that thought? (not saying it was completely warranted considering everyone else's buffs, but figure this is the reason)
I DO think she's a much better Leona than she's ever been, personally, she just feels more well-rounded overall. EX moves give her options she never had before, Which makes things like Baltic Launcher and Earring Bakudan able to fit into combos and uses that are very unusual.
I stil view home console version as making everyone more meter dependent. Leona way for this, is that her best damage comes from her DMs, and her abilitity to lengthen damage off counterhits and pressure strings with her much-quicker EX moves.
I do wish they gave her more utility to Slash Saber DM, I don't believe her fully disappearing from screen during it counts as invincibility (It's awkward to start with), and if it does, it takes some time to start, which keeps it from being a great reversal. I haven't personally seen a difference in button pressed for it yet either, and I think that's kinda a waste. If the weak one has instant invincibility + a quicker hit, and the strong one were to travel far, but only have, at most, late invincibility, I think the move would see more use.
Ahh well, Max cancelling with her is crazy satisfying, especially since you can cancel EX V slasher before the V even explodes, lol. Easy standing low weak kick confirms into Slashers, crouching weak kick, double hit Ds and Cs, a nice quick far C for potential HD or just general distanced punishing (It's forward momentum for punishes makes it feel more like Vice's 2K2UM Far C than Vice's own current one...), added on to being one of the few characters with a full-screen special move approach that seems to actually leave her mostly safe (D grand Saber, not even sure if she can be command throw punished out of it...), and she still can hang with the best of them! Just with such tricky execution for those HD combos... but EX moves let you cheat there, lol.
Who are two good Characters too put with her?
Anyone, lol. I normally put Leona 2nd or 3rd, and I generally like a first who'll be able to give her a meter or 2 for V-slashers threat. Her pokes can make her survive in 1st place well, though, and her awkward playstyle can make it easy for you to control the match with her, and take down their battery characters in short order.
Like Sharnt said, it all depends on how you want to use her... but meter makes her scarier.
