So I've been playing a lot of games as Taric / Soraka recently (since healing can now be considered viable) and I had a few questions about Soraka that I was hoping someone could help me answer.

Firstly I typically go for the Mana Manipulator first item, this lets me push / heal spam in the beginning, other then that I don't really care much for the mana regen. Later I upgrade that to a Soul Shroud or w/e it's called (can't remember atm).

But after this I kind of just go for w/e I think we need IE Aegis, Frozen Heart, etc. (Aura items basically)

So I guess my question would have to be: Is going Soulstealer kind of early on a valuable item? Would going Rylai's after that also be a good choice, simply to USE starfall other then for pushing?

I ask about the Soulstealer more specifically because for my last few matches, if I had gotten one, end game I would have been max stacked, which IMO would vastly improve my healing potential.

Typically with Soraka I end the game with a score of something like 0-0-15 / 2-2-13
Basically high assists and low kills, but still a max stacked Soulstealer would have been really nice for fatter heals. Iunno give me some feedback =]

A)
playing vs Melee Team: Frozen Heart
playing vs mixed: soulshroud
A2)
capped CD-Reduce=>then Ability Power Items, 1 aura item is enough (else u get firstkilled)

B)
are your mates dumb: dont go for aura items, take Deathfire Grasp instead, Rylais ....

I find it very difficult and diversial to build items for soraka.
I was going few ways with clarity/flash, ignoring mana regen and just relying purely on AP(two kage's lucky picks, zhonya ring), then my heal was really GREAT, when you have 200+ AP you heal really well.
However then you have mana problems.
I still struggle all the time with items, i was getting archangels now and taking clarvoyance with flash, being more support, i had no mana problem but had very huge gold problem, i usually never make zhonya ring, i just make archangels, i buy two blasting wands and match ends before i finish zhonya. creeping is totally horrible with her.
I was also thinking about buying mana manipulator and innervation, but i dont find extra +50hp heal and 20mp recharge very amazing when i heal or recharge mana, and then i have less AP again.

Thanks guys, I have a lot of new things to try whenever I get to leave work >.<

But yeah I actually bought Taric last night, and I like him alot, but I don't think I should play him in pug games, people always ***** because they don't understand =[