Zealous Zyra

Hello friends, summoners and Rioters who will see this to consider improvements in-game.

Today on this nice day I bring to your attention a champion who is in need of a buff because she has been long forgotten. It's Aatrox's wife, Sheatrox!

Only joking.

As you can tell by the title of this thread I'm here to talk about Zyra, the underrated prodigal plant daughter with plants as her friends. What's not to like? Her lore is pretty cool, her abilities are awesome concepts and she's fun to play. But there's only one problem.

Her abilities are too weak as in they don't do much damage.

I get that some people may be fine with her abilities not doing much damage as she is generally a support champion. Her plants do a lot of damage to minions but then again you don't necessarily want to steal CS from your ADC as Zyra support. But if you're playing Zyra mid it's understandable.

Heimerdinger is an annoying champion to play against. Many would agree that his H-28G Evolution Turret is very annoying and some could argue overpowered. But that's just what Zyra needs for her Thorn Spitters and Vine Lashers. Sure they do a lot of damage to minions and monsters but they need to do a little more in my opinion for Zyra to help her support even more.

Moving on to Zyra's abilities and my opinions of them.

P - Garden of Thorns Seeds spawn around Zyra periodically, becoming faster with level and lasting 45 seconds. If an enemy Champion steps on a seed, it dies.

Zyra can cast spells near seeds to grow plants. Extra plants striking the same target deal reduced damage.

Just like Illaoi, Zyra has spawnables that their passives take care of (for the most part). While useful, maybe it would be better if you could a) choose where the seeds go or b) plants striking the same target do the same amount of damage rather reduced.

Q - Deadly Spines Cost: 60 Mana Range: 800 Thick vines spread through the ground and explode into spines, dealing magic damage to enemies within the area. If cast near a seed, Deadly Spines grows a Thorn Spitter plant, which fires at enemies from afar. Thick vines spread through the ground and explode into spines, dealing 60/95/130/165/200 (+60% Ability Power) magic damage to enemies within the area. Garden of Thorns: If Deadly Spines is cast near a seed, a Thorn Spitter grows, dealing 0 (+15% Ability Power) magic damage. A Thorn Spitter has 750 range and lasts 0 seconds.

This is a great ability. It's a nice minion finisher and it's great for spawning plants. Though my only niche is that the plants themselves last for such a short time compared to Heimerdinger's Turrets, which don't have a time limit rather build limit and they have to be destroyed instead of on a time duration.

W - Rampant Growth Cost: 1 Seed Range: 850 Zyra plants a seed, lasting up to 60 seconds. Deadly Spines and Grasping Roots cast near seeds will turn them into plants who fight for Zyra. Additionally, Rampant Growth passively grants her plants improved maximum Health. Plants a seed, lasting 60 seconds. If an enemy Champion steps on a seed, it dies. Seeds spawned by Rampant Growth grant vision in a small area, and if stepped on they grant vision of the enemy champion for 2 seconds. Zyra stores a seed every {{ ammorechargetime }} seconds (Max: 8 seeds planted). Passive: Zyra's plants gain 10/20/30/40/50% extra maximum Health.

Zyra's W is great. Letting her choose where two of her plants can go. It's very generous if anything. But only storing 2 at a time isn't much at all, and since the plants do very little damage (especially reduced if targeting the same target) it can be frustrating to help your ADC when you can only choose two plant placements and the others generate in spots that aren't that practical.

E - Grasping Roots Cost: 70/75/80/85/90 Mana Range: 1100 Zyra sends forth vines through the ground to ensnare her target, dealing damage and rooting enemies they come across. If cast near a seed, Grasping Roots grows a Vine Lasher, whose short range attacks reduce enemy Movement Speed. Sends forward vines dealing 60/95/130/165/200 (+50% Ability Power) magic damage and rooting enemies for 0.75/1/1.25/1.5/1.75 second(s). Garden of Thorns: If Grasping Roots passes near a seed, a Vine Lasher grows dealing 0 (+15% Ability Power) magic damage and slowing enemies by 30% for 2 seconds. A Vine Lasher has 400 range and lasts 0 seconds.

Zyra's E, the root of her abilities (pun intended) is fun to use. The root lasts for 1.75 seconds at max level and is nice to not chase enemies and finish them off. Though to be fair, it should last for longer, because enemies can still attack while rooted making them still useful on the opposing team, but that's just me.

R - Stranglethorns Cost: 100/120/140 Mana Range: 700 Zyra summons a twisted thicket at her target location, dealing damage to enemies as it expands and knocking them airborne as it contracts. Summons the fury of nature, growing a twisted thicket at target location which deals 180/265/350 (+70% Ability Power) magic damage to all enemies in the area as it expands. After 2 seconds, the vines snap upward knocking enemies into the air for 1 second. Garden of Thorns: Plants within the thicket are enraged, attacking in a flurry for 150% total damage.

My only problem is it takes too long for the thicket to snap upward knocking enemies in the air for only one second. Nautilus' Riptide can knock enemies in the air for a maximum of 2 seconds at max level. Malphite's Unstoppable Force knocks enemies in the air for 1.5. So why only 1 at all levels for Zyra? Beats me.

TLDR: Zyra's plants should last like Heimerdinger's turrets, do more damage, E root longer and R knock up longer once upgraded.

Thanks for your time!