by glowix

[1.1.0] Seraphine Guide - How To Play: Seraphina AKA Sona Thot V2.0

7682
3
Perfectionist World Cultural Heritage
Patch 1.1.0
March 14, 2021 22:28
Support

How To Play: Seraphina AKA Sona Thot V2.0

A Seraphine guide for newcomers and experts alike. This guide details the building patterns, matchups, and choicest runes for Seraphine with some humor sprinkled in. Seraphine's early to late game playstyle, resources and general tips are at the bottom.

Seraphine Build

Best Build Guide for Seraphine

Starting Items
Sapphire Crystal
Amplifying Tome
Tear of the Goddess
Lost Chapter
NORMAL BUILD
Luden's Echo
Gluttonous Greaves
Morellonomicon
Infinity Orb
Rabadon's Deathcap
Void Staff
INTO TANK
Archangel's Staff
Gluttonous Greaves
Liandry's Torment
Morellonomicon
Rabadon's Deathcap
Void Staff
INTO AP AD ASSASSINS
Archangel's Staff
Gluttonous Greaves
Morellonomicon
Infinity Orb
Rabadon's Deathcap
Void Staff
CIRCUMSTANTIAL
Protector's Vow
Winter's Approach
BOOT UPGRADES
Shadows Enchant
Stasis Enchant
Glorious Enchant
Quicksilver Enchant
Redeeming Enchant

Item Build Description

Additional information on the items

Glossed vocabulary:
AP = ability power
AD = attack damage
MR = magic resistance
AR = armor
CD = cooldown
CC = Crowd Control



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> The "NORMAL BUILD" is recommended into team compositions that are well balanced or into teams you are unsure how to optimize against. It is a solid build that synergizes well with Seraphine's kit.

Luden's EchoLuden's Echo gives Seraphine a lot of burst potential and mana.

Gluttonous GreavesGluttonous Greaves are arguably the best boots in the game as it gives you free sustain for no reason.

MorellonomiconMorellonomicon gives magic penetration, more AP and grievous wounds, a very gold efficient item. This is also helpful into enchanter champions with healing skills such as Soraka's Astral InfusionAstral Infusion and Nami's Ebb And FlowEbb And Flow .

Infinity OrbInfinity Orb assists in finishing off enemies, adding onto the burst damage from Luden's EchoLuden's Echo .

Rabadon's DeathcapRabadon's Deathcap multiplies your AP but is only gold efficient with a lot of AP, hence why it is built later.

Void StaffVoid Staff for the late game % AP penetration.



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> The "INTO TANKS" build are meant to be built... into tanks. Beefy champions and all that hot stuff. It follows a similar build pattern, except replacing Luden's EchoLuden's Echo with Archangel's StaffArchangel's Staff .


Archangel's StaffArchangel's Staff is built primarily for the stupendous amount of mana it gives you, allowing you to take more sustained teamfights which is what often happens into tanky teamcomps. It also gives you a shield nearing death when automatically transformed into Seraph's EmbraceSeraph's Embrace , which is helpful for letting you escape with a sliver of health.

Liandry's TormentLiandry's Torment alongside MorellonomiconMorellonomicon are the most effective anti-tank AP items in the game. Liandry's TormentLiandry's Torment deals % HP damage over time in a burn effect, and its other passive Madness increases your damage output per interval you are in battle, again allowing you to take more extended fights. MorellonomiconMorellonomicon 's grievous wounds reduces the healing dramatically.

• The rest of the build takes similar items to the normal build for the same reasons.

[!] You can choose to build Void StaffVoid Staff before Rabadon's DeathcapRabadon's Deathcap if the enemy team is ahead and / or has a lot of MR.



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> The "INTO HEAVY AD AP" is meant to be built into assassins, burst mages, or enemy teams with a high damage output. The differentiation in build pattern is not as significant as the "INTO TANKS" build. The only major differences are building Archangel's StaffArchangel's Staff first instead of Luden's EchoLuden's Echo and building the [Ionian Statis] upgrade as soon as possible.


Archangel's StaffArchangel's Staff automatically upgraded to Seraph's EmbraceSeraph's Embrace when completing the item mission gives the Lifeline passive, which gives you a big shield in exchange for your mana when nearing death. This is especially important to survive burst damage from AP AD assassins.

• [Ionian Statis] gives you an active stasis effect, allowing you to survive skills such as [Zed:ult] and Perfect ExecutionPerfect Execution , and also allows you to immediately negate damage from incoming skillshots such as Lux's Final SparkFinal Spark when rooted by Light BindingLight Binding and Ahri's kit after CharmCharm .



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> The niche or circumstantial items are items you don't usually build, but could in specific scenarios.


Protector's VowProtector's Vow is an item you would usually never build because it gives no AP. However, it gives the Safeguard passive which grants you a shield when near an ally taking damage. If you have a very squishy team into a burst damage team, you might want to consider buying this but it takes a toll on your damage output.

Winter's ApproachWinter's Approach is another niche item that you can build into after buying one of its major components Tear of the GoddessTear of the Goddess . It is basically Seraph's EmbraceSeraph's Embrace except it just gives you armor instead. Would usually never buy this unless the whole enemy team is heavy AD damage, and I've only ever built this once after an odd twenty-five games.



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> Boot upgrades are more of a personal preference, so I will simply gloss over them very quickly.


• [Ionian Shadows] are good for chasing people down, or knowing the location of two enemies that are nearby. It's honestly very underrated, you can find out if the enemy jungler is doing an objective without vision as long as you activate it near them. After the shadows reach the enemy, it will slow and reveal them. This can also see invisible champions, but the current champion roster does not have Twitch or other major users of invisibility from LoL PC.

• [Ionian Statis] is the item you would usually build because it's helpful in any scenario to avoid death and escape with a sliver of health.

• [Ionian Glory] synergizes well with Surround SoundSurround Sound because using the active grants you and everyone near you a shield, and Serpahine's Surround SoundSurround Sound heal will activate when Seraphine already has a shield on her.

• [Ionian Quicksilver] gets rid of any CC.

• [Ionian Redemption] is good to start or clutch teamfights.



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Seraphine Runes

Best Runes for Seraphine

Keystone
Font of Life
Font of Life
Domination
Weakness
Weakness
Resolve
Second Wind
Second Wind
Inspiration
Manaflow Band
Manaflow Band
A very niche rune, but synergizes well with Seraphine's third skill and ultimate. This is only effective if 4/5 or more of your team is ranged, and can actively proc the rune.
Keystone
Fleet Footwork
Fleet Footwork
Domination
Weakness
Weakness
Resolve
Second Wind
Second Wind
Inspiration
Manaflow Band
Manaflow Band
Pro tip: did you know you can take fleet footwork into any difficult matchup, play safe and heal up any poke? Underrated rune. "When in doubt, take fleet footwork." Works on any champion, and is a little troll, but it's there if you want to take it. Still would rather take Summon Aery, and is mostly only useful laning against very pokey champions (Ezreal, Lux, Varus.)
Keystone
Summon Aery
Summon Aery
Domination
Brutal
Brutal
Resolve
Second Wind
Second Wind
Inspiration
Manaflow Band
Manaflow Band
Simply the most consistent, optimal and effective rune page for Seraphine. The summon aery brings her whole kit together, empowering her shield but also empowering all her other skills.

Skill Order

How to distribute skill points

Stage Presence
Stage Presence - Passive
High Note
High Note
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Surround Sound
Surround Sound
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Beat Drop
Beat Drop
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Encore
Encore
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Summoner Spells

When to take which summoners

Flash
Always take flash.
Ignite
Just better than exhaust at the moment.
Barrier
Don't be afraid to take barrier into a difficult team.
Smite
No. Hell no. Don't even think about taking smite.

Seraphine Matchups & Counters

Detailed information on how to play matchups and counters

Vayne
Easy
Vayne
Soraka
Easy
Soraka
Graves
Easy
Graves
Ziggs
Easy
Ziggs
Varus
Easy
Varus
Nami
Easy
Nami
Jinx
Easy
Jinx
Kai'sa
Easy
Kai'sa
Janna
Easy
Janna
Sona
Easy
Sona
Miss Fortune
Medium
Miss Fortune
Braum
Medium
Braum
Annie
Medium
Annie
Jhin
Medium
Jhin
Blitzcrank
Medium
Blitzcrank
Alistar
Medium
Alistar
Yasuo
Medium
Yasuo
Master Yi
Hard
Master Yi
Ashe
Hard
Ashe
Lux
Skill
Lux
Seraphine
Skill
Seraphine
Ezreal
Skill
Ezreal
In this current roster and meta, where even tanks can easily kill her and she is weak in all stages of the game, she's a niche pick, and an easy matchup. Even in the late game, where she is supposed to shine, she still falls short. Heavily underwhelming in comparison to the PC version of Vayne where she is an absolute nightmare. Use your skills High NoteHigh Note and Beat DropBeat Drop to poke her down, and beware of her TumbleTumble auto for poke.
Seraphine

Early game.

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How do you play out a Seraphine early game?

At the very start of the game, immediately upgrade your Beat DropBeat Drop , cast it, and wait until the cooldown to cast it again. Unless you are leashing your jungler, you will have time to cast your Beat DropBeat Drop twice so your next one is empowered, and you will arrive lane with your next skill being empowered.

During laning phase, don't be afraid to poke. However, also respect your ADC and spectate what they are doing: do they want your lane to push towards your tower, do they want to slow push, or do they want to fast push? It depends on the elo you're in, but in any case try to poke using Seraphine's High NoteHigh Note and Beat DropBeat Drop   while avoiding hitting the minions and stealing your ADC's gold. You are a support who needs less items than your ADC, and to make up for having less gold in the early game you have high base stats. Seraphine is an arguably overpowered pick into a large majority of the matchups because she is a mage built for midlane trying hard to be a support. She can do fine with little items, but also does too well without them.

If your skills are down, don't hesitate to use your auto attacks to poke the enemy champions. When the enemy ADC is leaning in for CS, about to last hit a minion, respond by attacking them but not leaning too close you draw minion aggro after the attack. This is a good tactic to proc your Summon Aery easily. The enemy ADC will have to pick between last hitting for the gold, or taking harass, and eventually you will wear them down that they are too scared to walk up for CS. This is a guaranteed way to easily win and carry your lane if you do this effectively.

Remember to ward the brushes leading into the river around the two minute mark if the enemy jungler starts at the opposite side. If they start near your side, it is unlikely they will gank you since the optimal jungling route is for you to clear the camps on one side and go onto the other. Therefore, if the start on your side, ward the brush at three minutes. If you are unsure of where the jungler starts, ward the brush at two minutes or even earlier if you have a feeling they are going to gank you soon. The deeper the ward, the better, but don't die for a single yellow ward.

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Seraphine

Mid Game.

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In the mid game, remember to buy the red ward. Two people on one team - one of which should be the jungler, and the other either the support or midlane should have a red ward after early game. Have the initiative to get the red ward yourself if nobody on your team has it, because it is the only item that can negate vision from the enemy team and help you secure objectives or plan out ambushes with your team.

Use your ultimate sparingly. Your ultimate can singlehandedly win fights, or even win games. At this point, the laning phase should almost be or already be over. Look to roam to other lanes, help push or help get picks, and focus on clearing major objectives such as drake, baron, and ask your jungler if you can have the blue buff if you are having mana problems.

Your role in teamfights is to shield your team and protect your ADC, to initiate teamfights, to CC and provide damage. If your ADC is undeniably behind, ditch them and accompany someone else in your team who is more fed or has more expertise than your ADC. Make sure you always have your empowered passive up, and when walking back from recalling use your skills along the way. Use your shield for the speed buff when walking back. Every second matters.

Keep your eye on the map, and don't group too much in one lane or area. If no fights are happening and the game is at a stalemate, ask yourself: how can I maximize my income, and how can I put myself in the lead? This might be clearing jungle camps, pinging to go to an empty lane, preparing to secure an objective, et cetera. However, as a support, you can't go willy nilly on your own. If your team decides to ARAM and go mid for no reason and share experience and gold together, instead of going literally top or bottom where there's nobody and there's a large minion wave which is free gold, don't go on your own. Your absence in a teamfight may or may not lose the game, unless your team is being really silly then by all means do your own thing, go bot and get that cash, gurl. 

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Seraphine

Late Game.

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At this point, everyone is near to equal footing, where everyone has the nearly the same amount of gold and everyone is the same level. The game feels like a fluctuating stalemate, where the lead is going to nobody. How can you win and finally put this game to rest?

Check: itemization, is it optimal, or can I sell and build something else that is better for their teamcomp? Check: do you have vision around the objectives? Check: do you know where the enemy is, and where they are concentrated? If the enemy is all mid and nobody is bot or top, encourage your team for only three to defend mid and splitpush bot or top. Three or even two powerful wave clearers are usually enough to fend off the minion wave. In the late game, you should be making sure your minion waves are all pushed out and making sure you pick the right fights.

At this point, the late game is up to your own wits. If the enemy team is fed, stall and get gold. Don't mindlessly start fights you can't win for no reason, or fight in the enemy jungle. Keep track of death timers: is their ADC, or their damage dealer dead? Is their jungler dead, and can we start baron or drake? Is their jungler on the other side of the map visibly pushing the lane? 

For Seraphine specifically, her saving grace is her ultimate in the late game. To start or finish fights from a safe distance. Stick near your ADC, and poke the enemy down. At this point, Seraphine is arguably at her weakest or her strongest - it's more of a coinflip dependant on the enemy champions you're fighting. 

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Seraphine

Summary and Tips.

Here are some tips:


  Know what correct builds and runes you need for each champion to get the leg up.
  Keep your eye on the minimap, where the enemy jungler is, where people are concentrated. For example, if you see four people pushing and skirmishing botlane, there are two and top and two mid, push the midlane and toplane instead of backing. You will usually never get there in time to defend the tower.
  If the game is at a stalemate (where both teams are equally matched) focus on farming and clearing major objectives such as the drakes/dragons/baron/rift herald.
  Clearing a minion wave instantly isn't always good. Sometimes it is better for your lane to push towards your tower so you are in less danger and you can easily farm your minions, and so your jungler has a better opportunity to gank.
  Freezing a lane:  where your minion wave is locked outside of your tower range but closer to your tower than your opponents. This is done through careful wave management and takes time to practice and execute properly. There are guides on how to do this properly.
Warding. Use your yellow trinket if it is on two. Vision is power and unlocks you more opportunities for picks and kills.
  Red trinket. Your team must have two red trinkers. One is always to the jungler and the other to the support or midlaner. The red trinket scans for wards, which is helpful when you want to clear an objective but also deny the opponent from seeing things.



Resources:


This website is a good insight into the kind of items you should be buying into which teamcomps, the skill order you should be levelling up, a tier list of the current patch's best champions, and a champion's counter picks (champions that a champion is weak to), weaknesses, and strengths. This should be a good starter into receiving more knowledge.

If you want more personally involved advice from professionals or players (because the website rankedboost uses statistics to calculate what builds and runes are most commonly used in ranked games with the highest success rates, and the tiers are calculated by statistics and not observation) you can also view tier lists from LoL PC, such as ones from Mobalytics. While the guides are for LoL PC, you can still apply the logic and strategies they use onto WR. You can find their latest tier list for LoL PC's latest patch here:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8eHOVWWml8 ]  Just beware that some champions they may use are not yet released on LoL WR. They also have helpful guides for LoL PC, such as: freezing, wave management, etc that is applicable to WR also if you are interested. There are also: jungling guides, mid lane guides, roaming guides, and more.

Also, if you haven't seen this reddit thread yet, check it out:
https://www.reddit.com/r/wildrift/comments/kb4jmt/honest_opinion/ ]  They give helpful tips here to newer players who are unfamiliar with the game.

If you refer to more mechanical help, that stuff comes with practice and knowledge about your game. If you plan to main a champion, you will slowly learn all their little tricks as you play more with them and do more research on them. Though I do advise, the best way to learn is just to have fun.


See you on the rift!


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Comments
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CraftyKhai
3 years ago
In any case, keep up the good work! (3/2)
CraftyKhai
3 years ago
Also, I always max my 1 first so I can spam stacking my passive since your 1 have much lower cooldown and mana cost than your 3. To be honest, there are times where you can't play AP Support.
CraftyKhai
3 years ago
As a Support Seraphine main, Ima say your guides are outdated since there's a lot of new items and matcups needed to be put in. BUT STILL your macro tips are super good. (1/2)