I meant to address these comments earlier, but I just kept forgetting. Recently I updated this guide a bit. The meta in season 3 is constantly changing. Although Karma hasn't changed much, a lot of other characters have. The overall preference as far as item builds has shifted as well, and my opinions on Karma have changed a tad. I have been playing Karma consistently since Season 2 (I occasionally play other characters like Viktor, supports, etc. but Karma is my main role). I have literally played Karma in every role, from duo bot "apc," to jungle, top, support and mid. My most played lane is mid, but I've experimented with support quite a bit.



You are certainly entitled to your opinion. Allow me to elaborate on mine a bit, though.

I notice in your signature that you indicate Karma as a support champion. While she can certainly function as a support champion, I believe she has several issues in this role.

1.) She needs ap (and thus items) to do strong amounts of damage. She is heavily reliant on scaling, which just doesn't jive well with a support role.

2.) She therefore lacks something that most supports have: the ability to be potent without item optimization.

3.) Without the ability to do much damage, and considering that her support options are limited to a speed buff, a slow, a heal and a shield, she comes across as a "sustain" or passive support. The problem is that her heals and shields rely on scaling whereas other supports don't have as big a problem in this category. Soraka's heals, by contrast, are just naturally strong AND give an armor steroid. Moreover, considering that Karma needs to consume a mantra charge to use a heal, Soraka's heals are a lot less punishing to use in lane. Karma's shield is pretty good, but there are other supports that have shields that work about as effectively in the early game. While Karma's soul shield has the potential to be one of the best shields/aoe damage dealers, that potential is unlocked only with item optimization. In addition, heavy use of shields, heals and spirit bond will drain her mana very fast, and she doesn't have a naturally deep mana pool or some kind of mana sustain option (ala nunu or taric passive).

4.) She doesn't have hard cc which even other supports with heals like Soraka, Nami and Sona have.

5.) Her auto-attack range is terrible (one of the worst in the game for a ranged champ; look it up yourself) and even a support should have the ability to trade auto-attacks in lane.

6.) Using her as a support neglects her full potential as a potent ap carry and creep MURDERER (she slaughters creep waves about as fast as somebody like Mordekaiser with some ap built in). Sure you can build ap to do so later on, but then you'll just be behind and not taking advantage of her full potential.

As a mid laner, there are certainly many other item options to consider outside of the build I've suggested. If this was what you meant by her having "much more potential than what I mentioned," I apologize for the long diatribe against Karma support. I do highly urge people to change up their item build (aside from an early doran's, cdr boosting items and rabadon's, which are core on karma) based on what the enemy team looks like.

I will be updating this guide a bit based on some observations I've made on Karma in the last month or so. I've been having mostly successful games with her of late.

I tend to disagree with you. This is pretty much what I have been running and I have played a few hundred matches with karma myself. There are ALWAYS situational choice to be made as you play, but, this is a well thought out and very effective build. Also, in the future, if you are going to critique a guide, please leave reason you disagree.

P.S. Keep up the good work. I love the flavor you added to this excellent guide.

I have been playing Karma 100+ games myself, and i can honestly say, she has much more potential than what you are showing here with this set up. I'm sorry, this is my opinion.