Seraphine Support Players Ruined Her The Downfall Of A Versatile Mage

Seraphine, the Starry-Eyed Songstress, entered the League of Legends universe with a tidal wave of hype and anticipation. However, her journey since release has been turbulent, marked by debates about her optimal role and overall effectiveness. While Riot Games initially envisioned her as a versatile mage who could flex between mid lane and support, I believe Seraphine support players are the primary reason for her current state in the game. This might sound like a harsh accusation, but I will delve into the factors that led me to this conclusion, examining the impact of support Seraphine on her balance, perception, and overall viability.

The Initial Vision for Seraphine: A Versatile Mage

When Seraphine was first revealed, her kit sparked considerable excitement. She possessed all the hallmarks of a classic mage: AoE damage, crowd control, and team-fight-oriented abilities. Her passive, Stage Presence, allows her basic abilities to echo when cast near allies, amplifying their power. Her Q, High Note, is a scaling damage ability that deals more damage to enemies with lower health, making it a potent tool for wave clear and poke. Her W, Surround Sound, grants movement speed and a shield to nearby allies, and heals them based on the number of nearby allies when already shielded. Her E, Beat Drop, is a line skillshot that slows enemies, stuns them if they are already slowed, and roots them if they are already stunned. Finally, her ultimate, Encore, is a massive AoE charm that extends its range whenever it hits an ally or enemy, making it a game-changing ability in team fights.

Riot's initial champion spotlight showcased Seraphine as a mid-lane mage, capable of farming effectively, poking enemies, and scaling into a late-game threat. Her kit seemed well-suited for this role, providing her with the tools to control waves, engage in skirmishes, and contribute significantly to team fights. However, the League of Legends community quickly discovered an alternative playstyle for Seraphine: the support role. This is where the problems began, and I believe this shift towards Seraphine support is the reason for her current state in the game.

The Rise of Seraphine Support: A Community-Driven Shift

Despite Riot's intentions, Seraphine's kit also possessed elements that made her appealing as a support champion. Her W, Surround Sound, provides valuable utility in the form of movement speed, shields, and heals, making her a decent enchanter-style support. Her E, Beat Drop, offers crowd control, which is always a welcome addition in the bot lane. And her ultimate, Encore, is a powerful team-fight tool that can turn the tide of battle. The combination of these factors, coupled with the inherent appeal of playing a new champion, led to a surge in Seraphine support players. While it's natural for players to experiment with different roles, the widespread adoption of Seraphine as a support had significant consequences for her balance and overall perception.

The primary issue with Seraphine support is her inherent gold dependency. As a mage, Seraphine's abilities scale significantly with Ability Power (AP). To deal meaningful damage and maximize her utility, she needs items that provide AP, mana regeneration, and cooldown reduction. However, support champions typically have limited access to gold, relying instead on items that provide utility, such as wards, healing power, and crowd control. This creates a fundamental conflict for Seraphine support players. They are playing a champion designed to be a mage on a budget typically suited for utility-focused supports. As a result, Seraphine support often feels underwhelming compared to traditional mages in mid lane or dedicated enchanter supports. This inherent weakness is why I believe Seraphine support has negatively impacted her overall balance.

The Balancing Nightmare: Catering to Two Different Playstyles

Riot Games has struggled to balance Seraphine effectively due to the divergent playstyles of mid-lane Seraphine and support Seraphine. When they buff her damage to make her a more viable mid-lane mage, it often makes her support variant overpowered, increasing her poke and kill threat in the bot lane. Conversely, when they nerf her damage to tone down support Seraphine, it leaves mid-lane Seraphine feeling weak and ineffective. This constant tug-of-war has resulted in a series of balance changes that have left Seraphine in a state of flux, never truly excelling in either role.

The balancing act is further complicated by the different item builds and playstyles associated with each role. Mid-lane Seraphine typically builds items like Luden's Tempest or Liandry's Anguish to maximize her damage output. She focuses on farming minions, poking enemies, and scaling into a late-game carry. Support Seraphine, on the other hand, often builds items like Moonstone Renewer or Shurelya's Battlesong to enhance her utility and provide buffs to her team. She prioritizes warding, protecting her ADC, and engaging in team fights. These different item builds and playstyles make it incredibly difficult to find a balance that satisfies both groups of players. It is this constant need to cater to these two distinct playstyles that I think Seraphine support has truly ruined her.

The Perception Problem: A Jack of All Trades, Master of None

Another consequence of Seraphine's dual-role identity is a perception problem within the League of Legends community. Many players view her as a