Zyra Support Thoughts?

Troy242621·Nov 15, 2015·1 votes·787 views

Viable or not? Considering purchasing her for when I don't get jungle.

Literally know nothing about her, so knowing her standard skill rotation would be nice, too.

14 Comments

MF is my WaifuNov 15, 20152 votes

{quoted}

Literally know nothing about her

So why do you want to buy her? Plant boobs?

Troy242621Nov 15, 20153 votes

{quoted}

So why do you want to buy her? Plant boobs?

.... ..... I don't tell you how to live your life.

No, but the reason I became curious is because she, at least on paper, seems to be a support that retains the ability to contribute meaningfully early, mid and end game through both damage and CC output.

Toss in her synergy with AoE comps and you can color me interested.

KougaNov 20, 20152 votes

Definitely viable. Like anyone she requires understanding her kit, strengths, and weaknesses. I'll admit first off that I have not played her since the Preseason changes (and generally have not had much time in the preseason) but here's what I remember:

She does well with zoning & controlling the lane. Her plants are an easy way to gain vision of a bush without having to endanger yourself if you don't have a ward. She can also deter engages or ganks if you hold onto her Grasping Vines, as a fairly long-range snare is a good way to stop a fight. Remember that while your plants do decent damage, they aren't your primary source of damage; that is, you want to use both the abilities and plants together. Don't just Seed & Q to create a plant if it isn't going to do anything or hit anyone. Instead, use your Q to hit your targets, and if you happen to have a seed ready you can drop it on your enemy just before it goes off (there is a brief period where it won't get "squished" by an enemy so you can drop it and immediately turn it into a plant) and then you get the damage from the ability and the extra poke from the plant. Setting up an "ambush" is sometimes possible but often too easy to spot in the laning phase.

Mid-Late game, once you can combo Rylais & Lissandrys she does contribute a good amount of damage through her abilities since her plants will proc both item's effects.

However, with all that said, Zyra does much better with longer, drawn out battles where she can poke and wear down with her plants or set up zones, rather than short bursts and trade. Problem is that right now the meta and items heavily favor faster, harder, and earlier engages so overall she is not favored by the current meta.

Deep Terror NamiNov 15, 20151 votes

She's kind of like Sona, having super strong harass but is incredibly squishy. She's probably the most vulnerable support there is. Zyra is definitely viable but you have to avoid danger more than usual imo.

Troy242621Nov 15, 20151 votes

[{quoted}](name=Deep Terror Nami,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=LUpTiW3G,comment-id=0000,timestamp=2015-11-15T02:58:28.620+0000)

She's kind of like Sona, having super strong harass but is incredibly squishy. She's probably the most vulnerable support there is. Zyra is definitely viable but you have to avoid danger more than usual imo.

So, don't pick into Thresh/Leona, but if you position properly, she can control the lane well?

Deep Terror NamiNov 15, 20151 votes

If you play against them properly you don't have to worry about things like Thresh/Leona/Blitz. Zyra can control the bushes pretty easily with her plants, and can block hooks with her plants and root Leona in the middle of Zenith Blade. The biggest danger is probably getting cocky because you deal so much damage, and getting caught by ganks.

Troy242621Nov 15, 20151 votes

[{quoted}](name=Deep Terror Nami,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=LUpTiW3G,comment-id=000000000000,timestamp=2015-11-15T03:09:33.609+0000)

If you play against them properly you don't have to worry about things like Thresh/Leona/Blitz. Zyra can control the bushes pretty easily with her plants, and can block hooks with her plants and root Leona in the middle of Zenith Blade. The biggest danger is probably getting cocky because you deal so much damage, and getting caught by ganks.

If she exerts such tremendous pressure, why do I never see her, out of curiosity?

And if she's comparable with Sona, what does Zyra do better? Cresendo seems faster than Stranglethorns, and Sona has sustain and a pretty pathetic but still existent MS boost?

Deep Terror NamiNov 15, 20151 votes

If you play passive against a kill lane it doesn't matter how strong they are. If they try to force it they will always over-extend and be easy to gank. It's just not as good against people that know how to deal with it. If you're in low elo, though, a kill lane is extremely strong because people just don't know how to back off and relinquish the lane.

Troy242621Nov 15, 20151 votes

[{quoted}](name=Deep Terror Nami,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=LUpTiW3G,comment-id=00000000000000000000,timestamp=2015-11-15T03:15:59.580+0000)

If you play passive against a kill lane it doesn't matter how strong they are. If they try to force it they will always over-extend and be easy to gank. It's just not as good against people that know how to deal with it. If you're in low elo, though, a kill lane is extremely strong because people just don't know how to back off and relinquish the lane.

So in playing her, I'm putting myself at an immediate disadvantage? Shame, because I'm really not a big fan of the tanky supports. I know they're extremely good, but I just don't enjoy playing them,...

Deep Terror NamiNov 15, 20151 votes

I'd suggest just picking her up and playing. Whether you can be effective with her or not is up to you.

DJ Di0Nov 15, 20151 votes

I love Zyra, but you have to be /really/ careful about your positioning, even more than Sona because you don't have a shield or heal.

Played right, however, she can deal a lot of damage without building it. (Technically)

If you do decide to buy her, I suggest going item 2301 item 3020 item 3116 item 3151 item 3285 and if you somehow get to lategame finish it off with item 3157

MilfHuntUnitXJ9Nov 15, 20151 votes

it's fucking cancer, so yeah, play it if you want

manbearswineNov 15, 20151 votes

It depends on what you are looking for,zyra as a champion is as strong as her opponents let her be,when played poorly against she can punish incompetence very well,when played properly against,there is very little she can do(hence her competitive presence(or more accurately,lack there of it)),she has some skillcap meaning it will take you some games before you get the hang of her.

The question is basically: do you want a champion who is completely reliant on stupidity to work,will do well against bad players but will leave you without options against good ones?

*Most players will answer no to this,hence her popularity,but if that floats your goat,go for it.

CasriNov 20, 20151 votes

Honestly if you're looking for a heavy AP support right now, just go with or Velkoz .

They are safer than Zyra; both being way faster (340 move-speed to Zyra's 325) and a bit tankier with more reliable CC (fast stun/displacement > slow root). Zyra is only superior to these in terms of her full AoE combo lockdown and her extended trades with plants in lane.

If you insist on playing Zyra, just avoid picking her into Blitzcrank Leona , they are huge threats due to your squishiness and the situation doesn't improve as the game progresses. Thresh is actually a good matchup for Zyra - you can easily block his hooks reactively by spawning E plants, and your all-in/extended trades are waaay better than his.

Your build should always include these items: item 2301 item 3020 item 3151 item 3116 These are all situational/preference: item 3135 item 3157 item 3060 item 3050 item 3165 item 3089