Support: The Early Game Carry

There are many things that you, as a Support player should do, such as roaming (when possible), zoning out the enemy botlane if you can, but most important, provide good vision for your team. If you do these things correctly, you increase yours, and your team's chances of winning the game. In this article I will mention a few things that should be done as a Support player in the early game that can increase your chances of winning the game. 

Warding, warding, warding

One of the key things that can help your team in winning the game is the vision you have on the map. A lot of players think that it is only Support's job to put wards on the map, but it is definitely not true. In the early game, each player is responsible for the vision around his own lane. That means that the Support, together with his AD Carry are responsible for the bottom lane. There are a few places that MUST be warded, specially in the early game.

- The Tri-bush ward

This is the most important ward in the laning phase for the botlane, whether playing as blue or red side, and is often highly contested. When playing as Blue Team, it is also recommended to have a Vision Ward there. It's a valuable ward because it gives a lot of information. First off, if you are playing as Blue Team and you have a Vision Ward there, your Jungler can come without the enemy team knowing about it. You can also leave the lane without being noticed by the enemy team, and they will have no idea whether you went to roam, maybe put some vision down on the map, or recalled.

(The tri-bush ward, and also the first place for River Ward, first picture for Blue team, second for Red team)

Obviously, if you put a Vision Ward there the enemy team will try to contest and kill it. In that case, you should see whether your teammates are close to the botlane, but also whether the enemy laners are on their respective lanes or not. That should help you decide whether you go for and contest that Vision Ward, or just let the enemy team take it. If the enemy team has more members closer to the botlane, it is definitely not worth dying for it.

If playing as Red team, it is not preferable to put a Vision Ward there, because the enemy team can easily destroy it. Anyway, you have to try and have a Stealth Ward there because you gain vision about possible ganks, or if the enemy Support goes to roam. If the enemy team puts a Vision Ward there and destroys yours, do not instantly go to destroy that Vision Ward. Just tell your teammates that there is a Vision Ward and stay more defensive at botlane. The best time to go and destroy it is when the enemy botlane has recalled.

- The River ward

This is a ward also preferable when playing as either Blue or Red team. It is mainly placed to prevent ganks, but also to see if the enemy mid laner is coming to the botlane. There are two places where this ward can be placed. The first one is in the bush at the bottom exit of the river. The second one is just outside of the Dragon area. So, when should you use the first one and when the second one?

(The second place for a River Ward, same spot for both teams)

The first one is used when the enemy team has champions that can hop over a wall (ex. Lee Sin ward W, Sejuani's Q etc.). It is preferable to have that ward placed in that brush, so you can spot if the enemy Jungler, or laner, is approaching your lane like that. The second place is used when the enemy team does not have champions that can hop over the wall. So placing it just outside of the Dragon area, as it gives vision if the enemy midlaner, or Jungler is coming for gank, and even if he is going to counterjungle in your bottom part of your Jungle. 

- The lane gank protector

A lot of Junglers tend to do a lane gank once they know that the other entrances in the bottom lane are warded. In order to prevent that, you can place a ward in the further lane brush. Usually the enemy botlane will pressure you till you lose the middle point of the lane positioning, so they can call their Jungler to come for a lane gank. So, this ward can prevent that kind of gank. It is a preferable ward to be placed whether you are playing as Blue or Red team. 

(The lane gank protector for both teams, first picture for Blue team, second for Red team)

Roaming as a Support

Another thing that you should do, besides controlling the vision for your team and the map awareness, is roaming. It can give your teammates a few advantages. You can roam just to put down some deeper vision in the enemy Jungle, that will give your team more information, but also will help in controlling the enemy Jungler and his ganks. Also, you can call your Jungler and create the roaming squad.

There is one thing to remember though, that forcing the enemy laner use one or both of his Summoner Spells is almost equal to a kill, because it creates opportunities for you to do a repeat gank, and also easier time for your Jungler if he decides to gank that lane. However, whenever you decide to roam, it is nice to first have the vision set on the map, because you could end up punished if you go to roam in unrevealed areas of the map.

Counclusion

In this article I do not want to disrespect the impact that the Supports have in later parts of the game and the potential they have to make clutch plays during the late game. I just want to highlight the impact that the Supports have in the early part of the game that's usually not seen or credited by your teammates. Firstly, your main job is to provide early vision for your team as much as possible, as that will give your team more information to work with. There are some key places that MUST be warded in the early game, because they provide protection from ganks, but also some unexpected early roams. Place a ward, save a life. That is not only Support's job, but whole team should work together in creating the vision, and use the advantages it provides.