Soraka Build Guide by ApcolypticMufin

Introduction

This guide is my own build for a support Soraka. The aim of this build is to increase your own AP, max your Cooldown Reduction, and (if the title didn't give it away) give utility to your team through auras and AoE active effects. To play Soraka to her fullest extent, you'll need to know when to harass while laning, who to focus your healing on during fights and, of course, when to use your ultimate for it's greatest potential. I'm not trying to make myself out to be the world's greatest Soraka player, but hopefully you'll still manage to learn a few things while reading!

As this is my first guide here at MOBAfire, I'd like to encourage anybody to shoot me a comment down below to help me improve both this guide, and any future guides I create. I'm always looking improve my own gameplay, and interaction with other players is a great way to do just that! Now onto the guide!

Soraka and Other Supports

Soraka can be an excellent support in the right situation, but not all. When choosing a support, you want to consider both your own team composition, as well as the enemy's. Take into account who you'll be laning both against, and with, and whether or not you'll be countered by an opponent's choice, or if your own kit will benefit your team much. However, when you do get into a position where Soraka can shine, oh boy does she shine! In this section I'll be going over the pro's and cons of different supports, and how they stack up against Soraka.

Pros Can quickly heal for massive amounts Has a global heal Counters Karthus Has an often underestimated passive

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Cons Silence is her only CC Often focused in fights Long cooldowns semi-low AP ratios

Pros Is the queen of CC Has a great AD buff/shield Counter anyone without a gap-closer Can reset a teamfight

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Cons Has no real healing Main CC can be hard to land Low durability

Janna is the go to support for more CC. She can reset teamfights, and keep people chasing her or her teammates for a long while. However, when it comes to laning, (where you'll be seeing her the most as a support) you'll have much more durability than her since she can't heal. Her shield can be very useful, but it requires predicting when her lane partner is going to take damage, whereas you can just repair any damage done after the fact. As long you play carefully when her shield is on, you should be able to out-lane her.

Pros Good harass through her passive Constantly buffing teammates Great ultimate if timed properly

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Cons Underpowered early-game heals Can be shut down through a silence VERY squishy

Sona is often considered an "OP" support, but early game, it's actually pretty easy to out-lane her. She has decent sustained heals, but constantly silencing her will pretty much shut her down. Landing your Infuse on their Sona is all you need to do to win skirmishes in lane.

Pros Is decently tanky Has a ranged stun Makes teammates very resilient

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Cons Is easily outhealed Needs to endanger himself to be really useful

Taric can be quite the resilient support. He gives himself and allies armor that can make early game skirmishes somewhat of a challenge, however once he blows his stun, he can't do much to help besides heal. Just hitting him up with Infuse will keep him from doing much, especially if he's already gotten up close for his Shatter.

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Soraka doesn't have as much CC as any of the above supports, but her heals are amazing. She can directly counter Karthus through her ultimate, (getting an assist from the across the map never hurt either) and can shut down most AP's through her Infuse. Overall, don't pick her if you need more CC, but if you could use survivability, or the enemy took Karthus, then Soraka is a great choice.

Runes

I take Force marks for some late game AP. I would take AP per level from Glyphs instead of Marks, but I find putting power behind my early game healing more important. You can consider taking Greater Mark of Ability Power if you feel Greater Glyph of Ability Power isn't enough for your early game healing, or want to switch for Greater Glyph of Scaling Ability Power.

You're going to want some early game survivability. This can come from health or armor Seals. I take armor Seals since I'm supporting bottom lane, and will almost always take at least a couple hits from their AD, but Greater Seal of Health is also a viable option. If you don't think you need more survivability, then Greater Seal of Replenishment can be a good choice. It all depends on what you think you'll need/want.

You want flat AP. It's as simple as that. Your late game heals are going to be great on their own, and don't need much AP behind them. Early game however, they'll suck too much to not get flat AP. If you take Greater Mark of Ability Power however, then Greater Glyph of Replenishment can also be beneficial.

Again, you want flat AP. These are especially necessary if you didn't take Greater Glyph of Ability Power. If you don't feel that you need more flat AP though, consider Greater Quintessence of Health for some more survivability.

Masteries

I use these masteries because they work well with my playstyle and build. I make sure to take 3 points in both Expanded Mind and Meditation for the Mana regen. The items in this build can be a bit spendy, so Greed and Wealth are perfect. Two points in Awareness and one in Sage are essential for a support who doesn't want to take their partner's CS. Intelligence is incredibly useful for it's 6% CDR, and Mastermind for more CV's!

Summoner's Resolve is great when I'm taking Heal, but I normally take a point in Resistance instead. 3 points in Hardiness will benefit your early game sustain. Putting 3 points into Resistance instead of Hardiness can prove more beneficial though, if you know you'll be laning against an AP. And Taking 2 points in Durability and 3 in Vigor will give even more survivability.

Skills

• Consecration An often underestimated passive. It will provide some decent MR early game. Especially useful if you're laning against an AP.
• Starcall Your main source of enemy debuffing in fights. With max CDR, you'll be able to cast it every 1.5 seconds. Spam it well, young Padawan.
• Astral Blessing Your main heal. Try to heal whoever is getting focued, obviously, but also consider using it just after your tank initiates. That armor buff will help!
• Infuse Your source of mana early game, and how you'll shut down the enemy AP in fights.
• Wish The best heal in the game. Period. Assists from across the map? Direct counter to Requiem? Team saver in fights? Yes please!
  
  

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  Skill Order

  Ability Sequence
  1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18

  
  This skill order lets you quickly build momentum on Astral Blessing, while still getting power behind Infuse. Starcall isn't really necessary until late game, so I don't focus on it at all early game, except for a single point at level 3.

Summoner Spells

Items

Warding

Gameplay and Tips

• Sit in the bush and Infuse your lane partner when they need mana.
• Try not to over-use Astral Blessing, lest you run out of mana.
• Don't farm, and don't push the lane with Starcall.
• Using a Starcall/ Infuse combo for harassment can work wonders.
• Don't waste CV.
• Always look out for other lanes with CV
• Always be ready to use Wish for a cross-map save/assist.
• Never Face-check. That's why you have CV.
• Take bullets for teammates. Don't let them eat a Caitlyn ult.
• Make the carry with the lowest health your healing priority in fights.
• Infuse enemy channeled ults. Like Crowstorm or Nether Grasp.

Summary

In summary, support Soraka can be played in more than one way, but I prefer playing with a ton of auras and max CDR. Having auras that directly increase stats, and being able to heal as often as possible are, I think, useful on any support. This has been my Soraka Guide. I am completely open to criticism, so shoot me a comment if you think I could improve the guide! Thanks for reading!

Credit for the Ward Placement Picture goes to Halipupu!