The thing is, if you build Straight AP, or close to it, you are being a support. Heal for mucho making tank into uber-tank if you so desire, silence their, most likely squishy, caster and deal enough damage to force them out of the fight for a little while. You just running in with starcall ablaze is good too. It removes all banshee's veils you hit. YOU ARE BEING SUPPORTIVE!

Ok, fair enough, she won't be carrying.
It just seems to me that she'd be more valuable by focusing on her utility and increasing the impact of a dedicated carry than by being the carry herself.
You obviously don't think so. Help me understand, why is she better as a carry than a support?
It just seems to me that she'd be more valuable by focusing on her utility and increasing the impact of a dedicated carry than by being the carry herself.
You obviously don't think so. Help me understand, why is she better as a carry than a support?
I can explain it but, I can't. I'm not good with words unless I'm being verbal. I'll try to simplify it for my sake.
Building straight AP, with defensive stats on those AP items means she can Starcall and heal for very strong amounts. If you want to buy Will of the Ancients, you can. Also, all casters build tanky just because of the items then get. Rod of Ages, Zhoyna's Hourglass, Abyssal Scepter, ect. Getting Abyssal Scepter is a "support" item because it gives your entire team 20 Mag Pen. Will of the Ancients should be only if you have 1-2 other dominant sources of magic damage.
Building straight AP, with defensive stats on those AP items means she can Starcall and heal for very strong amounts. If you want to buy Will of the Ancients, you can. Also, all casters build tanky just because of the items then get. Rod of Ages, Zhoyna's Hourglass, Abyssal Scepter, ect. Getting Abyssal Scepter is a "support" item because it gives your entire team 20 Mag Pen. Will of the Ancients should be only if you have 1-2 other dominant sources of magic damage.

So she'll do the same ammount of damage/heal either way. This build would get Soraka and the AP carry pushing harder, sooner.
Plus, there are lot of champions with better AP ratios on their abilities, and more deadly effects. Wouldn't it be better to have a Malzahar stacking that AP with Soraka making him hit harder and last longer?
Plus, there are lot of champions with better AP ratios on their abilities, and more deadly effects. Wouldn't it be better to have a Malzahar stacking that AP with Soraka making him hit harder and last longer?
Honestly, I think Cartographer has a good point.
Soraka WOULD be a great AP carry support. Sure, she can be built straight AP and carry herself to an extent, but others are much better for the job of AP carry imo.
I want to try this, but I'm thinking sticking her in duo bot with an AP carry. It would be a squishy lane, but with the right partner and Soraka's heals, armor buffs, mana return/silence and long-range MR-dropping harass, building her a support with some nice auro items sounds like it could completely rock a lane.
Orianna/Soraka duo bot lane anyone? (I haven't really played Orianna but from what I hear that lane chemistry sounds pretty faceroll to me.)
Soraka WOULD be a great AP carry support. Sure, she can be built straight AP and carry herself to an extent, but others are much better for the job of AP carry imo.
I want to try this, but I'm thinking sticking her in duo bot with an AP carry. It would be a squishy lane, but with the right partner and Soraka's heals, armor buffs, mana return/silence and long-range MR-dropping harass, building her a support with some nice auro items sounds like it could completely rock a lane.
Orianna/Soraka duo bot lane anyone? (I haven't really played Orianna but from what I hear that lane chemistry sounds pretty faceroll to me.)
My name is Havok.
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And yes, your mother loves me.
Check out my Katarina guide!
+rep me because I am awesome.

Thanks to jhoijhoi!
I understand that she's played as an AP carry and successfully so. But I'm asking what you think of the play style i've proposed. I'm not claiming this is THE way to play Soraka, I just think it might be better (and I could be wrong). Just tell me what you think of it and why.
@Havok, I was thinking having Soraka solo top and the AP carry solo mid work better b/c of gold/experience. But if they do faceroll the lane they'd make up for it.
@Havok, I was thinking having Soraka solo top and the AP carry solo mid work better b/c of gold/experience. But if they do faceroll the lane they'd make up for it.
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Her abilities seem tailored to protect/enhance/sustain AP carries:
Starcall - reduces MR (more damage done by the carry)
Astral Blessing - heal + a lot of armor (good defense against AD attackers)
Infuse - Silence or mana (to sustain, or protect against incoming abilities)
Wish - health for everyone! (more survivability/sustain)
The core items would be aura items: Soul Shroud (mana regen + cooldown reduction) and Will of the Ancients (AP + spell vamp). This would make both the carry and Soraka last longer and hit harder.
The gameplay would start with soraka in one of the side lanes (Preferrably solo top) with the carry solo mid. Once the teamfight phase begins, Soraka's job is then to stay forward of but still near to the carry, starcalling enemies and healing/sustaining/taking hits for the carry (and dying if the carry will be saved).
Of course, this only works if you have a decent AP carry on your team.
So, What do you think?