Soraka Build Guide by truskawki

Introduction

Hi everyone, today I want to show you the unusual way of playing Soraka.

Do you remember Soraka before V1.0.0.124? Before August 24, 2011? Ultimate healer, late in game giving about 500 HP every 6 seconds (with 40% CDR).
But how did Soraka change? AP ratio of heal is reduced but base heal is increased. Also, cooldown is doubled. Now your Astral Blessing gives almost the same amount of HP, but with much longer CD. However, offensive spells of Soraka has been improved. That means, it's time to start playing offensive with Soraka!

Before we start, I beg you:

DON'T COMMENT OR VOTE BEFORE READING THE FULL GUIDE!!!

Thank you ;)

Oh, and one more thing. It's really unusual way of building, you might not like it. But I hope your vote won't be based on whether you like it or not, but how it works. Mostly I win with this Soraka!

What are Active items? How to use them?

Having an Active item is like having additional skill. Just free one with long CD.
Having 4 or even 5 Actives is like having 8 or 9 skills! It's crazy fun and effective, with them you can win solo fights in most cases. However, it's somehow tricky to use. That's why I give you some tips to use new skills in comfortable and easy way.
Nobody clicks skill's icon on the screen right? :D You use Q, W, E and R keys. You should also use keyboard to activate your Actives.
You have 6 places for your items. They have corresponding keys:
1 2 3
4 5 6
You should re-arrange your items in backpack to choose the best key for each one. Just drag and drop it on the bot-left part of screen (not in the shop). Don't place Active on 6 since this key is less comfortable than other numbers. It's good slot to place you boots in.
I recommend you to hold:
- little finger on Q and using Active 1 with it,
- ring finger on W and using Active 2,
- middle finger on E and using Active 3,
- index finger on R and using Active 4 and 5,
- thumb activates summoner spells (D and F keys) since it's enough for one finger to use 2 or 3 keys.
Last one tip: always place the same Active in the same slot. E.g. I always place Shurelya's Reverie in slot 2 so I remember it's there.

More about Actives - later ;)

Abbreviation of gameplay

Early-game

You buy some gold items and get ready to upgrade them to Actives. You take mid lane to farm quickly or you act more like a supporter/debuffer.

Mid-game

You buy your first 2 Actives and become more agressive. You may start to gank a little. Later you also purchase the 3rd Active.

Late-game

You get the last 2 Actives and are on your full power, winning fights, greatly healing you and your allies and being really dangerous to most enemies.

Runes

Greater Mark of Magic Penetration
The only primary mark for mages, often picked. Increases your damage output. Great rune.

Greater Seal of Replenishment
The best Seals are mana regen. My Seals gives you flat mana regen bonus. You may ask: why not mana regen/lv? Here's the answer: leveling runes are good in mid- and late-game. You may have mana problems only in early-game.

Greater Glyph of Scaling Ability Power and Greater Quintessence of Ability Power
Gives you some AP. Very useful.

Don't take CDR runes! You get 30% CDR from items and 9% from masteries, it's almost 40% (limit). Later you get additional 5% from Randuin's Omen to get the full 40%.

Masteries

9-0-21. Typical masteries for mages. Remember to improve your spells if possible. I think nothing needs an explanation. Maybe Greed . It gives you some gold but not much. The only alternative is Utility Mastery but it's not so useful, you're not a jungler. You can also get Expanded Mind but who needs additional mana having free mana from Infuse?

Items

Starting item

In early-game you'll be farming with Starcall. Some more AP will be nice.
I don't get potions , because I have HP and mana from skills .

Early-game

There are 4 items giving gold. Kage's Lucky Pick Philosopher's Stone . Avarice Blade is not useful (you're not DPS, you don't need crits). The rest of objects are useful and they build into Actives. You may discuss Heart of Gold. Well, you're not a tank but some HP will increase your survivability. It also builds into Active survi item. And the last thing - the earlier you get it, the more gold it'll give to you.

Simultaneously with gold items you should get boots. Don't take Ionian Boots of Lucidity! You'll have 39 or 40% CDR anyway. I recommend Sorcerer's Shoes. They increases your damage output.

Don't instantly get Actives - they don't give you gold. However, get ready to buy them. Purchase Fiendish Codex and Kindlegem to have full recipes.

Don't buy anything until you have 1150 G. Time for first Actives.

Mid-game

Get Shurelya's Reverie and Deathfire Grasp. Then get Zhonya's Hourglass. Usually I start with AP part but if you take much physical damage, start with armor part.

Late-game

Finish your build with Hextech Gunblade and Randuin's Omen. Not much to discuss here.

Usage of Actives

Offensive items

Deathfire Grasp is good fight opener since it deals a percentage of enemy's current health. Before it you can use Q ( Starcall) once to apply some magic resistance reduction.
Hextech Gunblade deals flat damage and slows the enemy. It's useful when he tries to escape, but not only solution in that case ;)

Remember that Active abilities are free. Use Offensive Actives as often as you can!

I recommend to assign Offensive Actives to slots 3 and 4.

Speed modifiers

Shurelya's Reverie makes you and your allies run fast for a little amount of time. With this you can run from teamfight with allies or chase enemies with low HP. Also use Shurelya's Reverie when you're travelling long distance through the map. If an ally is nearby, get close to him before activating this and you'll both get the boost.
Randuin's Omen is opposite to Shurelya's Reverie: it slows surrounding enemies. Use it when you want to escape or an enemy tries to run away.

I recommend to assign Speed Modifiers to slots 1 and 2.

Zhonya's Hourglass

It makes you invulnerable for 2 seconds, but unable to take any actions. Use it when the situation is bad, e.g. enemy cast a strong spell and you want to wait until it wears off. Or maybe you're 1 or 2 seconds away from casting Wish or Astral Blessing that would save your life now? Just go into Statis from Zhonya's Hourglass.

I recommend to assign Zhonya's Hourglass to slot 5.

Skill Sequence and Usage

Starcall
Your main skill. Debuffs enemies and makes you great pusher. A few Starcalls will make the whole minion wave dead.

Astral Blessing
It's just an addition. Heal mainly you and allied champion (the one who has lower health). You can also heal minions if you have much mana and you and allies have full HP.

Infuse
Your main source of mana. Upgrade it quickly so you can spam Q ( Starcall) all the time. Also cast your Infuse as often as you can because it's free.
Remember that this skill gives the same amount of mana to your target and to Soraka, but you don't get double mana on self-cast (after update), so if non-manaless champion is nearby cast Infuse of him and you'll get the mana.
Due to Infuse, try to lane with non-manaless champion. The best partner for you is mana-hungry champion like Karthus, Anivia, Orianna.
You can also cast Infuse on the enemy to deal damage and silence him. Use enemy-cast:
-only on champions (sometimes on minions when you don't need mana and there's no enemy champion nearby),
-primarily on mages (due to silence),
-only if an enemy came near to you OR you don't need mana.

Wish
Heals all allied champions. It's important to learn how not to spam this - it's your ulti after all. Use it:
-to rescue yourself or an ally you can see nearby,
-in teamfights when most allies lose some HP,
-just when you think it's needed.
It's possible to watch allies' HP bars to the left and cast Wish is one of them is almost empty. Don't do it! You don't know if your ally really needs this, maybe he's falling back to recall and has no problems. Of course, if you see him in the fight on the map you can cast it, in that case it may rescue him.
Remember that every kill within 10 seconds after casting Wish will award you with an assist. You may use it to your advantage, but don't cast Wish if it's not useful.

Summoner Spells

Must-have

Most people get this. It's this powerful that Riot considered deleting this, do you need better recommendation? :D

Good ones

Lifesaver and helper in solo fights.
Some people like this.
Gives great mobility.
Extra damage.

Bad ones

You have your Shurelya's Reverie Speed Modifiers Actives.
You're healer , you don't need this.
Long cooldown makes it useless.
You're not a jungler.
Only for tanks.
You have your own mana .
Nobody takes this, it's useless.
You're not a supporter but offensive Soraka ;)

Summary

Runes

Greater Seal of Replenishment

Items

+ Kage's Lucky Pick Philosopher's Stone +

Shurelya's Reverie

Skills

Main skill to spam.
Main source of mana, tool to hit champions in solo fights.
Just a small addition.
Don't spam with your ulti!

Actives

Speed modifiers (pushing, chasing):
Shurelya's Reverie
Offensive Actives (use as often as you can!):

Statis (in bad situation or waiting up to 2 secs for CD):


I hope you enjoyed reading about this unusual way of playing Soraka. It's very fun and effective.

If you decide to vote -1, please tell me what's wrong in your opinion.

Good luck on Fields of Justice ;)