Understanding league of legends supports

In the fast-paced, team-centric world of League of Legends, every role contributes significantly to the outcome of a match. Among these roles, the support position plays a critical yet often underappreciated part in achieving victory. Whether setting up vision, enabling the AD carry, or initiating pivotal fights, League of Legends supports are essential to strategic gameplay and team coordination.

The Role of the Support

Supports typically accompany the Attack Damage Carry (ADC) in the bottom lane, focusing on enabling their lane partner to survive and thrive during the early game. Unlike other roles that rely on large amounts of gold and items to be effective, supports contribute primarily through utility, crowd control, and vision control, making them unique in the Summoner’s Rift landscape.

Core Responsibilities

  1. Warding and Vision: Supports are primarily responsible for placing wards and denying enemy vision using Control Wards or sweepers. This enables the team to play proactively and safely.
  2. Peeling and Protection: One of a support’s highest priorities is protecting the ADC and other squishier allies by interrupting enemies or redirecting aggression.
  3. Initiation: Engage supports often serve as the spark for teamfights by landing crucial crowd control abilities.
  4. Roaming: Post-laning phase or during windows of opportunity, many supports roam to assist mid or jungle, acknowledging the broader map impact needed for an edge.

Types of Supports

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all support. Champions are categorized by their playstyle and abilities. Understanding the different types helps players select what best fits their team composition and strategy.

Enchanter Supports

Enchanters excel at healing, shielding, and enhancing their allies with utility spells. They are best in compositions that prioritize sustained fights and backline protection.

  1. Janna: Known for her disengage tools and ability to keep her allies safe with shields and movement speed boosts.
  2. Lulu: Offers polymorph for crowd control, alongside a potent suite of shields and buffs.
  3. Soraka: Provides tremendous healing for sustain-heavy battles.

Tank Supports

Tank supports are generally frontliners who can soak up damage and start fights. They often include crowd control abilities that allow them to lock down high-priority targets.

  1. Leona: High-impact initiation with multiple forms of crowd control, ideal for aggressive plays.
  2. Nautilus: Tanky and disruptive, offering a unique hook mechanic to pull enemies out of position.
  3. Thresh: A versatile tank support capable of both engaging and saving teammates with well-timed lanterns.

AP Mage Supports

These supports offer magical damage and crowd control rather than protection or durability. Their kit allows for heavy poke and burst damage in the laning phase.

  1. Brand: A constant threat in lane with his AoE abilities and passive burn for teamfights.
  2. Zyra: Zone-controlling champion with plant summons and long-range snares.
  3. Lux: Provides long-range poke and crowd control, punishing positioning mistakes.

Choosing the Right Support

Selecting the proper support champion depends on various factors such as your ADC’s playstyle, team composition, and the enemy draft. Understanding synergy between bot lane partners can result in dominant lane control or safe scaling toward teamfights.

Consider Your ADC

If your ADC prefers aggressive laning and early trades, champions like Leona or Nautilus work well. For more passive farm lanes, enchanters like Janna or Soraka provide safe sustain and scaling potential.

Adapt to the Team Composition

Consider your team’s needs. If your team lacks front line, a tank support can fill that gap. If you lack magic damage, an AP mage support may balance the team.

Conclusion

Supports are more than just ward-placing sidekicks - they are the guardians, initiators, and hidden power behind team victories. With a diverse range of champions and playstyles to choose from, every game presents new opportunities for carrier-level impact from the support role. Whether you're shielding your carry or landing an ultimate that wins a teamfight, mastering support is key to climbing the ranks and achieving strategic dominance in League of Legends.