Today’s update to the League of Legends Public Beta Environment may have been a small one, but it came with big implications for everyone’s favorite banana-chucking Starchild, Soraka.
Soraka’s Starcall (Q) received an increase to its cooldown, starting at eight seconds at level one compared to its flat rate of five seconds. The ability’s damage has also been nerfed, but its rejuvenation saw buffs in both its duration and its ally heal. Rejuvenation’s duration is now five seconds across all levels, while its heal to friendly champions is now the same as its self-heal.
Likewise, Starcall now grants up to 30 percent decaying movement speed instead of its flat 10 percent, and the buff no longer requires Soraka players to be moving away from enemy champions.
Meanwhile, Equinox (E) will see a decreased cooldown at earlier levels, while the ability’s mana cost has increased by increments of five mana at each level instead of a flat 70. The ability’s damage has also been decreased past level one.
“As our most heal-focused character, Soraka’s brand of lane dominance should also manifest more through healing than damage,” game designer Riot AzuBK said.
With the changes to Starcall’s cooldown, Soraka will see a weaker early game with her inability to spam the ability as frequently. Soraka players often opt to max Equinox over Starcall, but with the changes to both abilities, it’s likely players will begin to favor maxing the latter.
Soraka’s changes will remain on the League of Legends PBE for further testing and will go live with a later patch if approved.
