Overcoming Zilean's Mana Trouble

[quote=Mrs Warboys]So I just got Zilean since I heard he's strong and he's a shed load of fun. I like to play him as a support. I'm finding myself completely crippled for mana for most of the game, unless I get a Chalice of Harmony. This is even when running a 9/0/21 build and using Clarity seals. I've tried spamming Doran's Rings, seems to do ok but I hate wasting cash on stuff I'll eventually sell. Tried Tear of the Goddess but you can't spam until late game, so it takes too long to build imo. Rod of Ages usually takes me too long to build too, and as a support that's probably a good thing. Is Chalice the only option or am I missing something? So many times I head back to lane after shopping, take part in a gank and then have to go back home because I'm completely out of mana again.[/quote]

[quote=GoliathGTX][[Philosopher's Stone]]? Not sure if [[Fiendish Codex]] is helpful or not.[/quote]

[quote=NicknameMy][[Zilean]] depends onto blue buff. Get flat mana regen for earlygame and the 2. blue buff. Then get any blue buff. You need it.[/quote]

[quote=eternalShuckle]problem with chalice? it is the best mana regen item for its cost in the game. I get it on almost any champ that uses a lot of mana, and I spam as much as I want. It would be my first item on zilean. Then you go for 40 CDR and AP and win.[/quote]

[quote=samgoeslol]just build mp5/lvl (since the break even is rly early on that1) and go mid dont support since against good players you will push the lane with bombs and steal cs aka not good supporting greez sam[/quote]

[quote=Xenasis][quote=Mrs Warboys] So I just got Zilean since I heard he's strong and he's a shed load of fun. I like to play him as a support. I'm finding myself completely crippled for mana for most of the game, unless I get a Chalice of Harmony. This is even when running a 9/0/21 build and using Clarity seals. I've tried spamming Doran's Rings, seems to do ok but I hate wasting cash on stuff I'll eventually sell. Tried Tear of the Goddess but you can't spam until late game, so it takes too long to build imo. Rod of Ages usually takes me too long to build too, and as a support that's probably a good thing. Is Chalice the only option or am I missing something? So many times I head back to lane after shopping, take part in a gank and then have to go back home because I'm completely out of mana again. [/quote] For one, Zilean isn't a support. He's an AP carry meant to be played mid. As Elementz said, you need two of three things to be a support, sustain, shields, and CC - he has one. For your mana problems though - get blue buff, as said before, he's REALLY reliant on it. Other than that you can get your Catalyst to build into a Rod of Ages or something. If you're still struggling, try Flash/Teleport rather than Flash/Ignite.[/quote]