Sona Kit suggestion

So, first off don't get me wrong. I'm incredibly happy with Sona, she's one of my all time favorite champions to play, but her kit creates a problem for balancing. I'm not saying it's impossible to balance, but I am saying that there is some merit to those that feel she is unfair to play against, or sometimes with. This is just a suggestion and what I thought would make her a "healthier" champion

First off, who is Sona? She's an Aura Mage support. But as an Aura mage, why is the best thing to max her auto-hit Q damage? Is it because damage is so important, or that her other abilities are a little lackluster? So to help balance against easy damage and help her other attributes shine I present this proposed kit rework. Additionally as an Aura mage, all her abilities should have an Active mehanic and a Passive mechanic, but I personally think that the Active does not have to be automatic, and would help with balancing her out to give more counterplay while also making sure the Aura's were not useless.

Firstly: Passive, After 3 spells Sona's next basic attack applies bonus magic damage and is empowered with a different effect that depends on her last spell cast. Simple enough, and one of the most interesting mechanics of Sona, however most of the time you'll be using it with Q for that bonus damage instead of any other ability.

Currently Q Hymn of Valor : Active: Deals 40/80/120/160/200 (+0.5AP) magic damage to the nearest two enemies (prioritizes Champions). Sona gains an aura that grants allies 20/30/40/50/60 (+0.2AP) additional magic damage on their next attack for 5 seconds. Sona's aura lasts 3 seconds and is extended by 0.5 seconds for each ally she aids. Power Chord - Staccato: Deals 40% bonus power chord damage.

This is the most problematic ability, to both balance and lane with. Either it is extremely useful, perhaps a little too much so, or its extremely weak. So instead I propose:

**Active: **Deals 50/90/150/175/250(+0.65*AP) magic damage in selected skillshot circle, I'm thinking a little smaller than Nami Q size here. However, every rank put into this would grant an additional circle adjacent to the first, cast style being similiar to Malzahar Q. This would increase counterplay by giving enemies the chance to dodge the ability besides "staying away" and reward Sona for hitting it, additionally this would give her a slight boost overall, as a larger aoe would provide the chance to hurt more enemies than single target burst or two person pathetic poke.

Aura Effect: Sona gains an aura that grants allies 7/10/15/20/25 (+0.3*AP) additional magic damage on their next three attack for 5 seconds. Sona's aura lasts 5 seconds and is extended by 0.5 seconds for each ally she aids. Allies have to stay within the Aura to continue from it's benefits. Simple enough, lower the initial burst damage but increase the overall damage and promote the "Aura" effect.

Power Chord - Staccato: Hit target takes 1.5/3/4.5/6/7.5% (+1% per 100AP*)% bonus damage for 1/1.5/2/2.5/3 Seconds. This removes the instant burst effect and unavoidable poke of her earlier kit and instead grants a great boost to helping take down a specific target or out trading. While it would be sad to not q-auto someone for 50% health, I feel that this would provide a healthier and easier to balance effect. Plus it would remain useful whether you went full ap or not.

Currently: Aria of Perseverance Heals Sona and the most wounded nearby allied Champion for 30/50/70/90/110 (+0.2AP). This heal increases by 0.5% per 1% missing Health on the target. Sona gains an aura that grants allies a 35/55/75/95/115 (+0.2AP) shield for 1.5 seconds. Sona's aura lasts for 3 seconds and is extended by 0.5 seconds for each ally she aids. Power Chord - Diminuendo: Reduces an enemy's total damage output by 20% (+2% per 100AP%) for 3 seconds. This ability has gone through some crisis, not as much as E but still a bit. Initially (at least when i began) a two person projectile heal + bonus armor and mr aura. Then the bonus aura got removed and then it got swapped with a shield. Which many argue having a shield and a heal in the same ability are counter intuitive as you need to take damage to heal but shields are to prevent damage. So instead I propose this.

Proposed: Aria of Perseverance Active: :Provides a Hemisphere Shield that blocks 100/145/175/200/250(+0.3* AP) damage for 1/1.5/2/2.5/3 seconds from outside enemy Projectiles. This effect does not apply to Projectiles from within the hemisphere, enemies and allies can enter and exit shield unimpeded. (Cooldown most likely slightly up)

Aura: Sona gains an aura that heals Allies within for 1/1.25/1.5/1.75/2 (+1% per 200 AP) of Missing Hp per second. This Aura lasts for 2 seconds and is extended by 0.5 for each ally within.

This would give Sona a unique shield ability that would give more security in staying inside her Aura and boost the usefulness of her W, giving a slightly larger reason to level it aside from other abilities. Plus solidify her identity as an Aura support.

Power Chord - Diminuendo: Reduces an enemy's total damage output by 20% (+2% per 100AP%) for 2/2.5/3/3.5/4/4 seconds. Not much of a change here besides a bit of a scaling duration.

Currently Song of Celerity **Active: **Grants Sona 13/14/15/16/17% (+7.5% per 100AP%) Movement Speed that decays over time and creates an aura of Celerity around her that lasts 3 seconds. Tagging an ally with the zone grants the ally 10/11/12/13/14% (+3.5% per 100AP%) Movement Speed for 1.5 seconds, and Sona increases the duration of her aura and her own Movement Speed buff by 0.5 seconds. Power Chord - Tempo: Slows an enemy by 40% (+0.04*AP%) for 2 seconds. This is by far Sona's weakest ability and is one that has been asked for a change mainly by those that play With Sona, vs against. So instead I suggest a bit of tweaking.

Proposed: Song of Celerity Active: Sona hit's a low beat which echoes in a Cone, something like Shyvana's dragon form E maybe. This slows all enemies hit for 5/10/15/20/25% (+2.5% per 100ap). Additionally this afflicts all enemies hit with a low beat mark. (This will synergize with power chord later) Aura: Grants Sona 5/10/15/20/25% (+7.5% per 100AP) Movement speed that decays over 5 seconds and creates an Aura of Celerity that gives allies within the zone 5/8/11/14/17%(+3.5% per 100AP) Movement speed that decays over 5 seconds. Power Chord - Tempo: Slows an enemy by 30% (+0.04*AP%) for 1/1.25/1.5/1.75/2 seconds. Additionally if an enemy has a Low Beat mark, Tempo will disorient and root them for 1/1.25/1.5/1.75/2 seconds.

These changes would give Sona a bit more utility and some safe(er) CC plus an actual reason to level E.

Currently Crescendo Active: Strikes an irresistible chord, stunning enemy Champions and forcing them to dance for 1.5 seconds and take 150/250/350 (+0.5*AP) magic damage. Passive: Each rank of Crescendo grants Sona increased power in her auras. Song of Celerity also gains increased power in Sona's self buff. +10/20/40 magic damage for Hymn of Valor+10/20/40 shield power for Aria of Perseverance +2/4/6% Movement Speed for Song of Celerity This is at the moment one of the defining parts of her kit, however it has always felt out of place for an aura mage to have an instant skillshot stun.

Proposed: Crescendo Active: Strikes an irresistible chord, stunning enemy Champions and forcing them to dance for 1/1.25/1.5 seconds and take 100/150/200 (+0.5*AP) magic damage. (Overall nerf to compensate for added aura, it's an awkward part of her kit but its largely defining, however the bonuses to other abilities make no sense and not having an Aura effect is odd) Aura: Sona creates an aura that gives Allies 10/20/30% Spellvamp and Lifesteal for 2 seconds, each ally that enters the aura increases the duration by 0.5 seconds.

Overall: Q becomes an skillshot + Aura instead of Auto-lock + Tag, powerchord now increases damage to target instead of dealing bonus damage. W becomes mobile shield + Aura heal instead of two person heal + shield tag. E gets skillshot slow + slightly better scaling, powerchord now either slows or roots. R does less damage but provides aura.

Looking back over the proposed kit I think that a lot of tweaking with numbers would be needed but overall it would give Sona a better identity as the Aura mage of League, better counterplay in lane and give a much better reason to level different abilities and use different powerchords than her current kit. I in no way say that this is needed or is the best change ever, I am simply giving out an idea to solidify Sona's identity and increase her build variation/ level options. I also claim no rights to the above, I consent for anyone to take or change the above proposed changes at their will.

Thank you for your consideration/ view and please, have a nice rest of your day.