The Power Of Support: Solid Picks

There’s certainly a lot of stigma attached to playing support at low ELO; most likely due to the egregious (either shockingly good or bad) nature of your AD Carry. This isn’t aided by the fact the solo queue experience revolves around a last pick nature; support often the last role standing, yet this dark horse is vital to the success of a match.

It’s recommended that you can play a minimum of 3 champions in each role, support is no exception. Your team may not recognise your contribution; but a solid support can turn a team fight, zone out the enemy and provide the map awareness that ultimately wins the game.

Solid Support Picks
We all have to play support sometimes, it may not be your first choice, but it’s definitely not the end of the world. There’s a lot of fun to be had; you don’t have to worry about creep score, leaving you to focus on harassing enemies or aiding comrades. This guide will be the first in a series that aims to improve your time supporting; starting with a selection of champions that are a devastating force on the Fields of Justice:



Sona
Sona is my favourite support, her balanced mix of offensive and defensive capabilities make her a prime pick. After casting 3 spells her ‘Power Chord’ is activated; the next auto attack dealing additional damage alongside a bonus effect; you can double your damage, reduce the damage output of an enemy or slow the movement speed of an opponent.

This staggering amount of utility allows you to harass opponents, slow enemies, patch up your team and maintain a decent damage output in fights. Her ultimate Crescendo, is an AoE stun that leaves the enemy dancing on the spot, cast it at the right time and you’ll devastate them. It can be used to break ultimate’s, initiate team fights and pick off champions that stray out of position.

Sona is a great all round support; with sustainability, harass potential, a movement speed buff and an AoE stun, she’s got it all. If forced she can even take on an enemy champion in a 1 on 1.

Blitzcrank
The Great Steam Golem is a risk/reward champion, played correctly and you can pull an enemy for a quick shut down. However certain champions want to be pulled and an unsuccessful grab can result in an unfavourable team fight.

During the lane phase you can camp in the brush; throwing out random grabs and forcing the enemy support to intensively ward. Here Blitz and Caitlyn synergise well; stand atop a Yordle Snap Trap, land the grab then the enemy is rooted. When freed use your power fist and you’ve given Caitlyn enough time to get off some staggering damage.

You can also patrol the lane, forcing the enemy AD carry to react to your presence, bear in mind that a last hit from your AD can present the opportunity for a quick grab. Either method puts a lot of pressure on the opposition; use this to keep them away from the creep farm and deny them experience.

Never forget to use the map to your advantage; pull an enemy into the drake/nashor pit, over the walls of your base, or into the range of a turret, this blocks reinforcements shifting the fight into a 4 v 5. Try to force fights within the Jungle; the maze-like pathways will prevent your enemies from escaping.

Having a Blitz on the field forces the enemy to play defensively; shut down the enemies ward coverage and snowball your AD carry. Bear in mind that if the enemy have settled on Alistar or Leona it’s probably not worth taking Blitz.

Lux + Orianna
If you’re looking for a support with a little more oomph try Orianna or Lux; solid options for mid lane and support. Both can lock down or slow opponents and whilst they lack lane sustain, they can forge shields. They can zone out enemy champions whilst maintaining a decent damage output; pick up ‘Kage’s Lucky Pick’ to maximise ability power and gold generation.

You can build aura items like a traditional support alongside ability power; becoming a more offensive force on the rift. Remember that you’re the support; don’t forget those ever important wards.

The Tanky Support
Champions like Mundo or Malphite can also take the Support role; tossing shards or cleavers from the brush. Tanky Supports are harassment based, peeling attention away from the AD Carry, who can free farm or burst in for the kill. If you have the ability to slow an opponent, land it just as your jungler comes in for a gank.

Picking up a ‘Heart of Gold’ will provide a health boost and the gold generation to maintain ward cover; later upgrading to a Randuin’s Omen will allow you to slow the enemies attack speed. Tanky supports excel at denying map awareness; your additional survivability makes grabbing an ‘Oracles Elixir’ high priority.

Final Thoughts
Playing support can be one of the most rewarding experiences in League of Legends, granting your team the ability to play at their optimal potential. It won’t lose you ELO; my highest win percentage in ranked is on Sona. The effect a support has is tremendous; so try out a support this week and get ready for the next instalment of ‘the Power of Support!’