Uhm... Now that Nami gets Buffs... Is there any legitimate reason to pick Sona anymore?

SaltyToplaneGoat·Aug 12, 2015·15 votes·2,223 views

Just asking, because everything Sona does, Nami does it better while not even relying on the AoE much. You want to heal? Done. Poke? It's in the same spell. Teamfight changing ultimate? Sure, Sona's is instant, but nami has the bigger AoE, the knockup is followed by a slow and you have hard CC on your Q to follow it up with. You want to buff basic attacks? Use your E. You want to slow someone with a basic attack? Use E on yourself.

Until now Sona had that unique little thing with her speed aura, but that is taken over by the Nami passive now. Not that I'm not happy about these buffs as I like playing Nami, but like this it makes Sona kind of... well, outclassed. The only thing that somehow keeps her viable is the synergy her W has with - and that's kinda all...

The problem is we cannot buff Sona either because of how her kit currently works, so what to do?

48 Comments

Deep Terror NamiAug 12, 201518 votes

Sona's harass is way stronger, and her abilities become more efficient the more allies are near so she's great for teamfights; Nami's skill lies in more consistent and reliable peeling through her Q and larger Ult.

They do not fill the same exact niche.

SaltyToplaneGoatAug 12, 20152 votes

And that is what makes Sona's abilities so underwhelming, as they are balanced about having potential 4 allies around you. The problem is that weak buffs/shields are not really helping. Sona might empower (potential) 5 basic attacks with magical damage, Nami puts a 3 attack buff one one target that really needs it right now and adds a slow to it. Sona heals one in a teamfight, Nami potential two and with some AP even deals some massive damage on the bounce.

Well, in lane the only difference is that you cannot dodge Sona's poke, but apart from some damage it's nothing special... now let's compare to what happens if a nami lands a bubble in lane...

Sure, nami is better at peeling/cc , but also better at healing, and equally good at empowering basic attacks, and now also at speeding allies up - something that was supposed to be Sona's thing.

A Wild AP SonaAug 13, 20151 votes

[deleted]

AMYS GRAVEAug 13, 20152 votes

Power Chord - Staccato: Power Chord deals 40% bonus damage.

Sona's passive is a thing.

Penguin EclipseAug 13, 20154 votes

[{quoted}](name=Valkyrie Witch,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=rbtBVKJU,comment-id=0000,timestamp=2015-08-12T23:51:02.582+0000)

Sona's harass is way stronger, and her abilities become more efficient the more allies are near so she's great for teamfights; Nami's skill lies in more consistent and reliable peeling through her Q and larger Ult.

They do not fill the same exact niche.

Don't waste your time. Sona mains are like rabid dogs. There is no reasoning with them.

KrigjerAug 13, 20152 votes

Don't waste your time. Sona mains are like rabid dogs. There is no reasoning with them.

I'm a Sona/Nami main and I agree with him.

Sona has her own role to fill, and she does it perfectly. ( I also don't think she needs buffs OR a rework).

A Wild AP SonaAug 13, 20151 votes

[{quoted}](name=Valkyrie Witch,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=rbtBVKJU,comment-id=0000,timestamp=2015-08-12T23:51:02.582+0000)

Sona's harass is way stronger, and her abilities become more efficient the more allies are near so she's great for teamfights; Nami's skill lies in more consistent and reliable peeling through her Q and larger Ult.

They do not fill the same exact niche.

Sona Magic Damage: 40 / 80 / 120 / 160 / 200 (+ 50% AP)

Nami Magic Damage: 75 / 130 / 185 / 240 / 295 (+ 50% AP) Magic Damage: 70 / 110 / 150 / 190 / 230 (+ 50% AP) 「 Bonus Magic Damage Per Hit: 25 / 40 / 55 / 70 / 85 (+ 20% AP) 」「 Total Bonus Magic Damage: 75 / 120 / 165 / 210 / 255 (+ 60% AP) 」

40 is higher than 3 different damage abilities when all have almost 2x sonas q? interesting maths

Deep Terror NamiAug 13, 20154 votes

Stop bothering me please

General MuricaAug 13, 20158 votes

[{quoted}](name=A Wild AP Sona,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=rbtBVKJU,comment-id=00000003,timestamp=2015-08-13T02:37:17.791+0000)

Sona Magic Damage: 40 / 80 / 120 / 160 / 200 (+ 50% AP)

How cute that you ignore the fact you get on hit damage on your AA.

Penguin EclipseAug 13, 20155 votes

[{quoted}](name=General Murica,realm=EUW,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=rbtBVKJU,comment-id=000000030001,timestamp=2015-08-13T02:54:47.479+0000)

How cute that you ignore the fact you get on hit damage on your AA.

And that her Q hits two targets at once.

General MuricaAug 13, 20153 votes

[{quoted}](name=Penguin Eclipse,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=rbtBVKJU,comment-id=0000000300010000,timestamp=2015-08-13T02:56:05.619+0000)

And that her Q hits two targets at once.

Ye,

Every 8 sec (5v5 TF)

With 2 targets

Sona =500 on hit+2x200 hit+192 =1092 base +2.2 ap (+passive q chord) -65!! mana

With 1

500 on hit+1x200 hit+192 =892 base +1.7 ap (+passive q chord)

RatbertAug 13, 20152 votes

Yeah better get that 5 tag with the mage and tank doing those sick autos. Realistically, you'll tag maybe two people and use two buffs or risk getting aoe wrecked. It's not like nami always gets her perfect q's w's and ults. Otherwise stunning 5 people for 1.5 seconds on a q is much better than sona.

General MuricaAug 13, 20155 votes

{quoted}

Yeah better get that 5 tag with the mage and tank doing those sick autos. Realistically, you'll tag maybe two people and use two buffs or risk getting aoe wrecked. It's not like nami always gets her perfect q's w's and ults. Otherwise stunning 5 people for 1.5 seconds on a q is much better than sona.

Irrelevant, 1 auto/8 sec is enough. And Q aura tagging is way easier/more realistic than hitting 5s bubs. Just 2-3 is enough

Also, who ranks nami q?

RatbertAug 13, 20151 votes

At level one you have a potential 5 man stun, but It's just as realistic as getting a 5 man tag + using them all + hitting bolts in a teamfight.

Yeah i'm saying you're going to tag only 2-3 people most of the time but you used 5 people in your calculations.

Just wish sona would either get nearly all her power from q (like she did) or make levelling her other two skills matter more in lane.

General MuricaAug 13, 20152 votes

{quoted}

At level one you have a potential 5 man stun, but It's just as realistic as getting a 5 man tag + using them all + hitting bolts in a teamfight.

Yeah i'm saying you're going to tag only 2-3 people most of the time but you used 5 people in your calculations.

Just wish sona would either get nearly all her power from q (like she did) or make levelling her other two skills matter more in lane.

NA plat 3 cant use 1 aa in 8 secs? A slow bub vs an instant 700 unit diameter aura? K!

3 peeps=still huge

RatbertAug 13, 20152 votes

One person doesn't mean everyone can aa. The buff lasts 3 seconds not 8. Try grouping up in a 700 diameter (which is like what 4 teemos?), especially when the other team has any aoe engage. You'll love it. In addition, try tagging fleeing or engaging allies, that's great too. For bonus points, don't die while doing it. Yeah a 1.5 second aoe stun has got to be slow, since it's potentially as powerful as sona's ult.

200 less damage is huge too. If you hit 2 bolts somehow, it's still around 15% of your damage. If you hit 0 bolts, it's nearly 30% of it. In addition, chances are, you have one mage, who will rarely auto.

General MuricaAug 13, 20152 votes

{quoted}

t. In addition, chances are, you have one mage, who will rarely auto.

So he's bad+0 hits???, you cant hit 850 range pnc shit?

RatbertAug 13, 20152 votes

"If" better hit that 850 range q and oh wait i'm dead because I went out of position. Your entire team is not going to shift so you can do 200-400 damage. If you always hit bolts then you're quite good or they're terrible and the enemy team will not let you do it for free either. Sona's biggest counter is still hard cc + right clicks for a reason.

Oh and mages autoing in a teamfight? That's what we're talking about right? It might hit the tank when they aren't casting and that's it. Otherwise where are the lichbanes.

General MuricaAug 13, 20152 votes

{quoted}

"If" better hit that 850 range q and oh wait i'm dead because I went out of position. Your entire team is not going to shift so you can do 200-400 damage. If you always hit bolts then you're quite good or they're terrible and the enemy team will not let you do it for free either. Sona's biggest counter is still hard cc + right clicks for a reason.

Oh and mages autoing in a teamfight? That's what we're talking about right? It might hit the tank when they aren't casting and that's it. Otherwise where are the lichbanes.

Utter BS right here, 850 range is 100% backline (cait=700)+cc focus on the sup? Sure.

Again

Typical sona main

Biggest victim complexes league. Despite even annie is harder

RatbertAug 13, 20151 votes

Yeah just get into that 150-300 range of that enemy frontline to hit adc. EASY. It's 25-175 range off being meleed btw. Annie is now a backline killer with 800 range who doesn't need to flash to stun reliably???

"I have never been good enough as a support to have been an actual factor in a game to be focused as a squishy in 175 range of the front line". Or maybe sona's just too weak that every other squishy support is liable to be focused? Their mage throws some cc at you, you evaporate, 4v5, or their tank engages on you with their basic skills. You still die.

Better argue against the person not the arguments :). You've probably never played sona.

Positioning, mana management and timing are no longer skills? Despite every mana user needing these mechanics?

Hopefully this is a soapbox account.

General MuricaAug 13, 20151 votes

{quoted}

Yeah just get into that 150-300 range of that enemy frontline to hit adc.

Noone said to hit the adc, what you smoking? Also, 850=longest pnc ingame lol

ALso, lol, sona's mana use is 1/10th anyones.

But ye, -50% w/l sona main. Stop emoing, sona's w/l is fine.

RatbertAug 19, 20151 votes

So hit the tanks with it for 100 damage? Wow that's gamebreaking. Literally no point in saying 850 range is "100% backline" and throwing around cait if you don't plan to hit the adc because protip, you can't. If it bothers you that I said adc, replace it with backline. What's pnc?

Good joke on the mana use. Can't think of any support more manahungry than sona. Glad to hear sona's heal mana cost is literally the highest at the first level and scales the least. Good job never playing sona.

But ye, good job being an unranked smurf account for shiteposting. I have 23 games as sona = sona main. My winrate is quite average, it's one game off 50% and only 2% lower than average.

WL means very little regarding balance, especially if sona's popularity and winrate decreases as you go higher in rank. If winrates were balanced upon, those 1% popularity champs with 54% winrates would be repeatedly and uselessly guttered.

DJ Di0Aug 13, 20151 votes

[{quoted}](name=General Murica,realm=EUW,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=rbtBVKJU,comment-id=0000000300010000000000000000,timestamp=2015-08-13T03:13:08.296+0000)

Irrelevant, 1 auto/8 sec is enough. And Q aura tagging is way easier/more realistic than hitting 5s bubs. Just 2-3 is enough

Also, who ranks nami q?

Well, I usually put only ~2 points in W and max Q first.

It lowers the cd with rank but doesn't raise the mana cost, as well as scaling great in damage; I find 2 ranks in W is ample to keep yourself sustained.

General MuricaAug 13, 20153 votes

[{quoted}](name=DJ Di0,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=rbtBVKJU,comment-id=00000003000100000000000000000001,timestamp=2015-08-13T03:31:56.003+0000)

Well, I usually put only ~2 points in W and max Q first.

It lowers the cd with rank but doesn't raise the mana cost, as well as scaling great in damage; I find 2 ranks in W is ample to keep yourself sustained.

rweq, always

JoquanAug 13, 20151 votes

you're better off having the W max because it is your major source of poke as well as your sstain.

Leaf of the lakeAug 13, 20151 votes

[{quoted}](name=General Murica,realm=EUW,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=rbtBVKJU,comment-id=000000030001,timestamp=2015-08-13T02:54:47.479+0000)

How cute that you ignore the fact you get on hit damage on your AA.

And her powerchord for that matter

General MuricaAug 13, 20155 votes

[{quoted}](name=Kyoki Shinkuro,realm=EUW,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=rbtBVKJU,comment-id=,timestamp=2015-08-12T23:44:53.386+0000)

Just asking, because everything Sona does,

Ehm no

AMYS GRAVEAug 13, 20153 votes

sona's oppresive as hell poke

VDc0zCqe0wAug 13, 20153 votes

people here have no fucking clue and it's sad

it's impossible to pick Sona (or any poke support) atm: too much relic sustain, too much sustain by cookies, too low damage on spellthief, Frostfang and Frostqueen being shit, no viable buildpaths for Sona or poke supports atm, nerfs for no reason at all

Sona was 100% fine before the 3 nerfs in a row but bronzies couldn't handle being poked by "muh anti-fun Sona" so now we have kill lanes and bullshit Nautilus dueling and soloing ADCs while having 10 times the CC Sona has

right now support Trundle or Shen are 10 times more viable than Sona or poke supports in general (Zyra and such) and it's sad

P.S. i wonder were were all those people saying "muh antifun poke supports", did they not play in Season 3?

Akali is SO HOTAug 13, 20152 votes

Sona's poke is infinitely times better than Nami's easily

Toothless LionAug 13, 20152 votes

Sure, pick Sona if you want to turn your brain off.

RogueWillAug 13, 20151 votes

Yeah you own DJ Sona and you like to play with her mix xD

A Wild AP SonaAug 13, 20151 votes

ok I am going to use your logic and say that namis bubble is a sona ult on a 10 second cd

who the fuck thinks you proc your abiltiy at max all the time?

SaltyToplaneGoatAug 13, 20151 votes

Dunno, but I use the bubble like 6-10 times more per game than Sona's ult (thx to the low cooldown). In total I catch more people with this ability than with the sona ult. Also I still have the tidal wave, so...

Trash ADC BtwAug 13, 20151 votes

If you catch more people with the bubble than Sona's ulti, you're doing the ulti wrong or the enemy is walking into the bubble.

General MuricaAug 13, 20152 votes

[{quoted}](name=A Wild AP Sona,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=rbtBVKJU,comment-id=0004,timestamp=2015-08-13T04:03:09.250+0000)

ok I am going to use your logic and say that namis bubble is a sona ult on a 10 second cd

who the fuck thinks you proc your abiltiy at max all the time?

Just 1 tag=already more

A Wild AP SonaAug 13, 20151 votes

[{quoted}](name=General Murica,realm=EUW,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=rbtBVKJU,comment-id=00040001,timestamp=2015-08-13T04:28:39.265+0000)

Just 1 tag=already more

sona is a garbage underpowered champion she has a 0% pick rate in compeitive play because support trundle is more viable

General MuricaAug 13, 20152 votes

[{quoted}](name=A Wild AP Sona,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=rbtBVKJU,comment-id=000400010000,timestamp=2015-08-13T04:35:24.837+0000)

sona is a garbage underpowered champion she has a 0% pick rate in compeitive play because support trundle is more viable

Ye, or cause lanebully sups arent lcs material rofl. Typical sona main

AbyssphereAug 13, 20151 votes

[{quoted}](name=General Murica,realm=EUW,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=rbtBVKJU,comment-id=0004000100000000,timestamp=2015-08-13T04:51:36.442+0000)

Ye, or cause lanebully sups arent lcs material rofl. Typical sona main

Lane bullies are more valued in the LCS than any other type of champion because competitive teams are better at pushing an advantage than solo q players are. Why would a lane bully support not be wanted?

General MuricaAug 13, 20151 votes

{quoted}

Lane bullies are more valued in the LCS

No, neither for carries, tanks, and even less for sups. LCS wants low xp required roam/cc sups.

PoskeAug 13, 20151 votes

Sona has better poke Sona has way better initiate Sona actually provides shield on top of heal

So there are some stuff in which she is a bit better

EnosetcAug 13, 20151 votes

why shouldn't nami outperform a champion that doesn't even have to aim 3/4 of their abilities

Meep ManAug 13, 20151 votes

Sona has a more instant and overall impactful ultimate in my opinion.

AbyssphereAug 13, 20151 votes

[{quoted}](name=Inept Maverick,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=rbtBVKJU,comment-id=000a,timestamp=2015-08-13T11:59:55.424+0000)

Sona has a more instant and overall impactful ultimate in my opinion.

Will that be true when Nami's ult is buffed to be a mini Sivir ultimate next patch, though?

ArtaccusationsAug 13, 20151 votes

I love them both and choose them at different circumstances. Sona's kit is more about keeping my adc healthy while she pokes. I prefer her with say, Caitlin or Lucian where they sit back and poke all the time until they are ready to execute. Sona's AA range and shield help immensely with this. Sona and say, Caitlin, also synergize at level 6 where it becomes a lane very capable of killing the enemy. She is also good for mid game team fights as her auras are strong enough to give your team a boost, be it a stun ulty, q aura for more poke, or speed.

Nami on the other hand, I prefer using for a strong kill-y lane. Her kit goes well with say, Jinx or even Draven. Her bubbles allow a potential kill, she has great sustain, and enhanced autos. Due to her mana hungry nature, she can't heal/poke as much with her abilities. Her AA range is a little less against other champions. Despite that, her bubbles and healing make great kiting plays. Her ult is nice for an engage/disengage.

I did not do any math because their kits make different plays happen. Yes, maybe Nami heals more, or maybe Sona's powerchord does more damage, but as a support, it's about your utility. What you can bring to your ADC. I think if you want to follow the meta, use Naut, shen or thresh. If not, play who you like. As long as you understand what you can do to enhance your ADC, Nami Sona or hell, even Taric might be more appealing to you. Just have fun :)

SKOBODOAug 13, 20151 votes

I wonder what would happen if they buffed Ardent Censer slightly. Sona is one of the best users of that item, since her W first procs it with the heal, and then procs it with the shield. Meanwhile, Nami's heal forces you to set it up in order to proc it on multiple people.