@Morello , what is your opinion on the champion you have designed and her current state?

I know old Zyra was rediculous. She was balanced last time in patch 3.13. But, the game developed. We have now new items, new champions etc. More and more reason made her a weaker pick. She had a 76% pick/banrate in season 3 worlds, had a great impact on the tournament and got the SKT T1 Skin. After worlds, she was barely picked.

We know her issues. She is too vulnerable and immobile to be played as a midlanemage (she is a very good duelist however!) and she is just easily all-ined by any kind of gapclosers. Grasping Roots is a very strong spell, which can theoretically root an entire team. But, most of the champions got gapclosers, knock ups to simply jump on her and delete her before she can do anything. Zyra cant protect herself from Rek´sai, Vi, Jarvan, probably 90% of all junglers (btw.: Hi Stalker´s Blade). Her a snare is a slow skillshot compared with others. But, the major problem is, that the spell which can protect her, roots herself as well for a noticable amount of time (cast animation) -> She makes herself even more immobile trying to escape with one of the slowest snare projectiles ingame.

Additionally to the lacks of protecting herself, she has a 325 base movementspeed. Other Champions have more movementspeed or a reliable escape/way to increase movementspeed/mobility. Most times even both:

Ahri: 330 MS (+ Q + 3 dashes) Annie: 335 Azir: 335 MS ( + E) Cassiopeia: 335 (+ Q) LeBlanc: 335 (+ W + R) Lissandra: 325 (+ E) Morgana: 335 Orianna: 325 (+ W) Syndra: 330 (Can abort gapclosers) Xerath: 340 Viktor: 335

Actually, Zyra can win some of these 1v1 matchups (vs Ahri for example, Viktor, Lissandra (!), LeBlanc dependent on the lane pre-6). But, the fact, that she is the 2nd squishiest champion in the game after Anivia (who has a great passive to come up for this) in addition to her low movementspeed make her not worth it to pick, even with good scaling and her strong teamfights.

What íf Riot would add a little movementspeedbuff for Zyra, when her Vinelasher attacks an enemy champion. Her Grasping Roots do not benefit from additional cooldown if you max it. It stays at 12 seconds, so it couldnt be abused much in lane. I don´t believe that would be a huge buff on her as a support (it doesnt affect her laning very much unless you build early CDR, -> decision between Mpen rush and Cdr rush). Rushing Haunting guise with Sorc boots would give her still more effectiv in being a lane bully, than a Morellonomicon with Boots of Speed. A kind of benefit, when she uses EW on an enemy would be nice, because (as mentioned above) she has to root herself to protect herself. It would be a small buff on her support. But, a great buff on her as a midlanemage.

Why does she have only 700 range on her ulti, which forces her to be in range of her enemys, when she is so immobile?

A death passive makes sence in my opionion due to her kit (forced to stay in the fight) and lore. However, to be honest it is a very underwhelming passive. She was released to be THE plantmage. But, she only summons 2 different types of plants and is able to spit thorns once after her death. Something like 4 different abilities post death (which probably deal less damage than the live) would make it a weaker individual passive, but a stronger passive overall. I have the feeling this champ has so much potential and Riot would have probably done few things differently if she was released these days.

Alistar, Annie, Blitzcrank, Braum, Fiddlesticks, Galio, Janna, Karma, Leblanc, Leona, Lulu, Maokai, Morgana, Nami, Thresh, Sejuani, Sona, Soraka, Syndra, Veigar, Vel'Koz, Zilean were played this season competitevly so far as supports(!)

Im pretty sure Zyra would see proffesional play even as a midlaner with a bit more survivability, especially in the current meta. But, the fact that she hasn´t been picked this season in proffesional play, while Fiddle, Galio, Maokai, LeBlanc, Veigar or Sejuani (as supports) did so, shows that she got probably just too weak.

Scarra explained in his stream, that other champions can do the same, but easier and more effective. "Her kit is good against dive comps. But, dive comps can simply dive and kill you."

I haven´t seen a long time a Rioter talking about the current state of Zyra, except Phreak talking about her movementspeed once. I´d appreciate to read once Riot´s thoughts and future plans with Zyra.

The Seasons 3 and 4 were reversed. Her spring, her fall.