Hi everyone and welcome back to the latest in the Weird Pick Wednesday series! This week we're taking a look at a somewhat forgotten, but favorite weird pick of mine: AP Sona!
< Introduction
Hi everyone and welcome back to the latest in the Weird Pick Wednesday series! This week we're taking a look at a somewhat forgotten, but favorite weird pick of mine: AP Sona!
How to Play
Runes: Ability Power Quints, Hybrid Penetration Reds, Armor Yellows, Flat Magic Resist Blues
Masteries: 21-9-0, Standard AP Laner Masteries
Abilities: Q, W, Q, E then prioritize R > Q > W > E
Core items: Athene's Unholy Grail, Morellonomicon, Lichbane, Deathcap, Void Staff, Zhonya's Hourglass
Masteries: 21-9-0, Standard AP Laner Masteries
Abilities: Q, W, Q, E then prioritize R > Q > W > E
Core items: Athene's Unholy Grail, Morellonomicon, Lichbane, Deathcap, Void Staff, Zhonya's Hourglass
Why It Works
Level 1 Cheese BurstSona can quickly charge up her Q twice at base, come to lane, and instantly hit for:
auto (50) + Q (55) + Powerchord (50 + 53 boosted damage) = 203 damage lvl 1.
Very Low Offensive Cost
At 45 starting mana on an 8 second cooldown for about 50 damage at level 1, this works pretty well considering the fact that you don't even need to aim the spell. Without factoring in mana regen, Sona can throw out her Q at least 7 times in a minute.
Late Game Utility
After she gets her mana regen items and 40% CDR, Sona becomes an absolute machine of destruction. With her powerful AOE damage CCs, heals, and speed-ups, she's very similar to Lulu in how much sheer potential she can provide in a teamfight.
At 45 starting mana on an 8 second cooldown for about 50 damage at level 1, this works pretty well considering the fact that you don't even need to aim the spell. Without factoring in mana regen, Sona can throw out her Q at least 7 times in a minute.
Late Game Utility
After she gets her mana regen items and 40% CDR, Sona becomes an absolute machine of destruction. With her powerful AOE damage CCs, heals, and speed-ups, she's very similar to Lulu in how much sheer potential she can provide in a teamfight.
Potential Pitfalls
Weak waveclear
As a champion with a maximum of two little tendrils of magic damage, she does poorly against champions who can quickly clear the wave and push her up against her tower.
Needs to Play Offensively.
As a champion who needs to play offensively early game between levels 1-3 to be effective, this opens her up to potential ganks before she gets her E, which isn't that great at escaping 1v2 to begin with.
"Holds Powerchords"
Similar to Caitlyn, Sona needs to "hold" her powerchord while harassing, which means that she generally has to either give up CS or use it to last hit once she uses enough spells. Again, the fact that she has poor waveclear is a problem as she'll miss a lot of CS if she foregoes the usage of her Q except to harass.
As a champion with a maximum of two little tendrils of magic damage, she does poorly against champions who can quickly clear the wave and push her up against her tower.
Needs to Play Offensively.
As a champion who needs to play offensively early game between levels 1-3 to be effective, this opens her up to potential ganks before she gets her E, which isn't that great at escaping 1v2 to begin with.
"Holds Powerchords"
Similar to Caitlyn, Sona needs to "hold" her powerchord while harassing, which means that she generally has to either give up CS or use it to last hit once she uses enough spells. Again, the fact that she has poor waveclear is a problem as she'll miss a lot of CS if she foregoes the usage of her Q except to harass.
Conclusions
AP Sona mid late game is very strong once she gets a full build. However, where she cheeses opponents hard in lane, she can also be cheesed back. As a poor CSer, if she doesn't manage to get a strong early level 1~3 lead, she quickly falls behind when enemy champions start shoving her into turret.
Suggested Rating: Tier 3
What do you think about AP Sona? Comment below!
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