RitoRuinedRaka, I get the idea behind AP builds with Rabadon's hat and tanky build with Warmogs, but dislike playing like that because I feel that it leaves Soraka too weak during mid game phase. And there's always a chance that you won't be able to finish your items before a match ends because such builds cost way too much. Even with Banner and Bandit mastery, it seems unlikely to get the gold for those items unless you got some kills or your team is super ahead in terms of objectives and kills.

Regarding latest changes to Q and W.
I'd say they made Soraka more vulnerable to all-ins at all times, doesn't matter if it's early or late in a match since Q doesn't restore Soraka's health instantly.
Now, the W nerf, I find it interesting, even though it does feel a lot weaker in early game, in late game W combined with lv5 Q's Rejuvenation potentially restores much more health.

In my opinion, Soraka unlocks her full potential in the late game and keeping that in mind the recent changes are more like a buff for her. But maybe Riot made her a bit too vulnerable. For me, it's hard to tell if she's become weaker or just harder to play. Future will tell.

P.S.
The changes made me a bit sad, I liked minion deny mechanic so much, but and Riot took it away from me.

I've been building eye of the Osiris, Ionian boots, ardent censer, dead mans, death cap and warmogs. in that order. replace dead mans with spirit if there is AP in the game. I usually don't build death cap but with the w nerf I don't really have a choice.

There are many changes to Soraka in patch 6.5, the guide will be fully updated in a week or so.

Thanks for this guide. I was following builds that were full AP build and I was forever low on health. This build works a lot better for me.

Hello, dmrangerpk. Thank you very much!

I have mentioned them in the guide. I was using Greater Seal of Scaling Health Regeneration for quite awhile (1 or 2 months) for a number of reasons (you have listed them in your comment). In the end, I decided that flat runes are more universal. Now I use them all the time, but maybe I'll do some swaps in the future to remind myself how good the alternative runes are.

Actually I do, that's something a lot of Soraka players are missing. And I don't really understand why. Thing is, Soraka's one of few champions that able to deny cs. I often spam Astral Infusion to heal and deny allied minions or control minion waves if my AD carry is bad at it. This way my enemy either loses some farm or forced to play aggressively (wich leads to easier ganks from our jungler). Hope I explain my thoughts well enough.

Also, I don't really find myself using many HP potions early in the game with so much regeneration. So that I take Refillable Potion for the future Corrupting Potion upgrade.

Haha, oh yeah, it is fun. But in competitive play I find more Ability Power for heal burst more reliable. What I want to say, it may work and it may work well, but this item isn't for me. Tried, didn't like. With so much health regeneration you just go out of mana super fast and lack of AP makes me feel weak.

P.S.
Lately I was testing snowball build with Dark Seal, so that I plan to share some insight on the matter in the near future. It seems interesting enough, especially if you manage to dominate your lane opponent.

Hi, Great guide!
as a fellow (platinum) soraka player i have a minor suggestion to your runes:
run scaling hp/5 seals instead of flat seals, while keeping the flat hp/5 quints.
reasons to run scaling hp/5 seals:
1 - they are half the price, makeing this a easy pickup for casual players
2 - at lvl 18 they are about 4 times as good 0.56 vs 1.98
3 - flat seals: 5.04 hp/5 vs scaling seals: 18hp/5 (at lvl 18)
4 - they outscale flat hp/5 seals at lvl 6
5 - running a mix of flat quints and scaling seals gives you: 11.1 hp/5 at lvl 1 and 37.1 hp/5 at lvl 18

considering you dont generally spam heal in lane pre lvl 6 and you can start with 3 upgraded potions, there really is no reason to opt for the flat hp/5 seals considering the scaling seals outscale these at lvl 6

aside from this small detail this is the best soraka guide ive seen in a long time. keep up the good work!

small cheesy sidenote to anyone playing soraka, if you ever find yourself in the lategame with 2 item slots left, try getting banner of command and warmogs, at lvl 18 these 2 items (along with eye of oasis or sightstone) wil put soraka past 3k hp enabling her to constantly spam her heal on an upgraded minion (or anyone else for that matter) for nonminion reliant tower push!

Hello, NightsBane! Thank you!


It mostly depends on team matchup. Generally there are five items I may want to rush: Banner of Command, Zeke's Harbinger, Morellonomicon, Spirit Visage, Frozen Heart. By the time you complete your core set ( Corrupting Potion, Eye of the Oasis and boots) someone in the enemy team gets some kills.
If the fed enemy is ranged mage, you rush Banner of Command, if it's someone like Fizz or Ekko, you way want to rush Spirit Visage so that they can't one-shot you.
If the fed enemy is AD assassin or even bruiser, you may want to rush Frozen Heart or Zeke's Harbinger.
If it's someone like Darius or Aatrox I usually check their engage potential and if it isn't great I rush Morellonomicon. Although I may change my mind if I know that our mage gets one anyways.
So that you should decide yourself which items you rush after the core set. If you have doubts and they got at least one AP caster, just get the banner. IMO, it's is one of the best items for Soraka.


Aw. I don't like it either, I liked it so much in Season 5, but cheap 4 wards and healing potential are much more important than the ability to give you and your teammates the speed boost. Maybe if the boost was stronger or lasted longer... I don't know, it's just isn't good enough to justify the deal. I'm kinda sad myself. Maybe Riot'll change something. We'll see.

If you want a cheap item set, then I can tell you, that the core set is very cheap, the rest of the build depends on which path you choose. Regarding Banner of Command, in comparison to Locket of the Iron Solari it costs more, yes, but in my opinion it gives more to Soraka. The only really expensive item there is Rylai's Crystal Scepter, but it's for super late game and it's kinda optional.

I don't like building HP either, but usually find myself too squishy for the late game.
Sure, I'll take a look once I have the time to spare.

Wow Algid Tune, what an excellent guide. You have so much information its really great to get such a thorough guide from someone who knows the champion so well. I think your matchups section is really a-cut-above, there is so much useful info for helping me improve as Soraka. I have a few questions about your build. first, I cant tell what item you want me to race after I have built the eye of the oasis. I dont like how the eye means I cant use the talisman active, but I really like how it gives me an extra slot. Second, your build is really expensive and mostly I dont get enough time to finish it properly. Also, when I play against a heavy AP team i really encourage my teammates to buy spirit visage, but ive only bought it for myself a couple of times. I was a bit disappointed. When my teammates buy it, its really awesome. I made a guide cos i dont like building HP on soraka. I'd love if you took a look.

really great guide Algid Tune, really impressive. Goodluck in your future matches xD

I've added some build examples, they are under a spoiler in 'Special Threats' chapter. That might be more helpful.

Thank you for your reply, Algid Tune!
But not even soraka can win with trolls and AFK. It's a shame that the games I lost where because trolls and AFKs. But other than that, perfect. Thank you for the build.

Hello, fransisalba2! Thank you!

Against full AD team comp there are 5 great items for Soraka: Ninja Tabi, Zeke's Harbinger, Zhonya's Hourglass, Frozen Heart and Thornmail.

• If your team is behind in terms of gold and objectives, buy Ninja Tabi and Frozen Heart first, these are relatively cheap items.
• If your AD carry can use some crit chance, buy Zeke's Harbinger.
• If your opponent has auto-attack based champions (e.g. Master Yi or Tryndamere), get Thornmail.
• If there is a high burst AD assassin (e.g. Zed or Talon) in the enemy team and you are doing OK in terms of gold, buy Zhonya's Hourglass. If you aren't doing OK, then grab other items first, then Zhonya. You need it for the late game anyways.

Hope I've managed to help you, if you have any additional questions, do ask.