What Soraka Brings to the competitive table

Introduction

Soraka’s original purpose as a champion was to be a support, a purpose she still serves. However, over time players began to play her in more aggressive roles like top and mid and she’s even been played a few times in the LCS and Challenger Series. Hai from Cloud9 and Bischu from Cloud9 Tempest both utilized them in competitive play (maybe there’s something they know that we don’t) for her seemingly overpowered Starcall (Q) base damage that increases with each consecutive hit. But it’s not all about spamming Q and building 6 Deathcaps, there’s more strategy to Soraka than meets the eye, let’s take a look at what Soraka brings to the competitive table.

In lane, Soraka does a superb job of keeping her waves in check. Starcall quickly breaks down waves of minions and allows Soraka to push her opponent to the tower, forcing them to farm under duress. If they’re pushing at you, you can utilize her Q to neutralize their aggression, and avoid missing farm under turret. As good as her pushing potential is, it can her downfall. If a Soraka player is Q-happy and constantly pushing their opponent back, her lack of mobility will likely cost her a death is she’s ganked. When it comes to the power of her wave clear, it’s incredibly important to exercise balance and observation as to where the jungler is.

When Soraka skirmishes with a lane opponent, landing a few Starcalls into an E can punch a big hole in your opponent’s health. On top of dealing targeted magic damage, Infuse silences the target. Both in lane and in team fights Soraka will have no trouble finding uses for this ability, especially in situations where one ability or flash can make all the difference. If you and your jungler are within inches of securing a kill in lane, using Infuse helps stop them from flashing away or using an ability to shield/dash away. Later game in team fights, Infuse can do the same thing but initiate a fight, negating a caught opponent’s ability to escape before your team can pounce on them.

Soraka’s W, Astral Blessing, helps her quite a lot in lane, but as much as it helps her in lane, it helps each one of her teammates throughout the mid and late game. Many times teams have had the upper hand, taken some poke and suddenly been initiated on and lost a fight. With Soraka, a couple Astral Blessings and Infuses (depending on the severity of poke) the team would be immediately have the advantage again, and the opposing team would have a couple abilities on cooldown. This is especially prevalent while taking Dragon or Baron. Those neutral objectives can be detrimental to the team taking them, but can feel more secure about it with a Soraka. Another trick that can be utilized by a Soraka player is silencing the enemy jungler when he or she attempts to steal Dragon or Baron. Even if your jungler smites early out of panic, they can’t so your team will likely secure it and immediately turn to obliterate the lone jungler.

Soraka’s ultimate, Wish, makes her incredibly useful in team fights. One instant your team could be on the back foot, low on health, and the next Wish is activated and your team is patched up and your opponents are likely a couple abilities and ultimates down. Once Soraka turns level 6, an early game tower dive becomes a real possibility, as the healed health can cover that last turret hit that usually kills a diving ally.

When it comes to items, many players might think (including myself) that more AP is great for Soraka’s Q and E, and it can be, but professional players have thought differently. For the most part, a Chalice is the first item rushed, assuming your lane opponent is AP. Then depending on the situation (as all builds should) they either finished their Athene’s or began to build items like Rylai’s through the Giant’s Belt. After getting the AP and Health, pro players might pick up either a Randuin’s or a Spirit Visage depending on what sort of damage the rest of the opposing team is putting out. The Rylai’s helps keep Soraka’s prey within grasp with the slow and the Randiun’s passive and active help do the same, more Q’s equals more Magic Resist shredding and more damage. By building on the tankier side, Soraka becomes an armor plated ambulance that can stop for aid or step on the gas and hit enemies.

When it comes to competitive play, Soraka brings a lot to the table in terms of utility, but very little mobility. She can sustain her team to no end, she can shred through a team’s Magic Resist as her Q is unavoidable AOE (assuming a champion doesn’t go untargetable), and she can silence an enemy in those crucial moments.

Robert Wery