Sorry you don't agree with this. The idea is to never be in danger of getting jumped on by Xin/Akali/Kat/whoever by sticking to your partner or team and standing far enough in the back that you can run up and heal and stand back again. I guess you'd be taking Ghost or Flash? It's essentially a waste. If someone catches up to you that has a dash ability, you're dead anyway so there's no point in trying to escape. Additionally, them focusing you slows them from getting to the carries and rest of the team. I'm not saying go ahead and be a martyr every time someone is being chased in the jungle, but if it happens, so be it.

I say to get thornmail without some way to back it up if you're getting constantly focused by MORE THAN ONE auto-attacker. A tryn and yi or xin screams for a necessary thornmail at some point end game. I do plan on healing all the damage taken, or at least trying.

Let me know if there are any other things you'd like for me to justify.

If the game went that long then sure I'd go ahead and get a deathcap. Most games tend to end early because the enemy team gets frustrated at me keeping everyone alive. Plus once it gets to be mid-end game I find that I no longer need items really so I'm roaming around between lanes with people.

Just turned it on, but it only lasts for the first 20 votes anyway.

When I was going about figuring a solid build for Soraka I did get a Philo stone for the regen it gave. However I really like getting Tear first to quickly start stacking up that mana pool. I'll go back and try the philo again, but I'm pretty sure it does nothing more than slow down my Codex.

I actually do not have flat CDR blues (a full set of them costs 7380 IP, NO WAY) but I can see how it would be nice early game... If you already have the flat CDR blues, end game you'd get up to around 37% CDR rather than 39.97%.

The thing about Soraka is that she is one of the best support champs out there, as a support she needs a way to get gold other than farming since she practically won't farm in most cases. It is sooo important for her to get GP5 items as they boost her base stats and also give extra gold to be able to buy other items. Lategame you don't really want to go AP, since by then your AP will be so low compared to anyone else, the best way to go is to go for auras that help your team out (aegis, etc). Also CDR runes are a plus.

Also CV is needed for map control and Soraka is quite slow so she needs an escape spell too. This build may work in normals or custom games though. But I wouldn't suggest it for ranked.

Heal Fortify on Soraka?
No offense, but you'll get torn to pieces by people like Xin, Akali etc, as you won't be able to run from them. They'll dive all day.

I also don't like the way you suggested Thornmail without any health items to back it up, though I suppose you're planning to heal?

I don't agree with this build particularly much. Sorry.

Worked pretty well for me, 26 assists and we won.

No deathcap is the way to go on AP soraka.

Guide looks pretty good, I would definitely recommend getting a philosopher's stone, however. The regeneration is all around excellent and the gold isn't bad either, especially on someone like Soraka who doesn't get much gold.

Also, I would get the flat CDR blues over the per level ones, because you'll have CDR from your items late-game, and won't have them early-game, so the CDR is of more benefit then, especially because you have infuse and this allows you to spam your abilities whenever, anyways.

Pro tip: Turn on Comment to Vote, and you won't get troll votes.