Riot introduced utility scaling for a few supports (Janna, Lulu, Nami, Sona, Soraka) to make them 'feel good about buying AP'. So do you build AP on these champions? In what situations would you buy AP? Do you think utility scaling is in a good place?
Done254 votesI do believe Riot should buff utility scaling for all Supports. By giving ratios to their utility, rather than their damage, it helps them stand out from pure Mages.
Fashion Mage3 votesI build AP on all of them in all situations, but depending on the scenario, I get different AP items. For example, I might get Banner of Command over Twin Shadows, but in all cases I try to get AP in every item.
Personally, I think caster supports without AP are like mages without AP, or marksmen without AD. This is especially true for Soraka. She does one thing exceptionally well, and that one thing scales very well with AP.
Lwnt1 votes[{quoted}](name=Fashion Mage,realm=EUW,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=5Kko3PbB,comment-id=0000,timestamp=2015-02-23T23:00:58.268+0000)
I build AP on all of them in all situations, but depending on the scenario, I get different AP items. For example, I might get Banner of Command over Twin Shadows, but in all cases I try to get AP in every item.
Personally, I think caster supports without AP are like mages without AP, or marksmen without AD. This is especially true for Soraka. She does one thing exceptionally well, and that one scales very well with AP.
It feels nice to build Ap but the only problem I have with it is that man i get instant death so fast. I saw annie r me once my health drop by 85% or an ezrael 3 q me to death when playing lulu.
Fashion Mage1 votesAs it tends to go for glassy things, positioning is your friend. Caster supports have range (and often self movement speed AP scaling) for a good reason. :>
Ghiefelstein1 votesInteresting. I usually go for CDR+tankiness with items like 
and 
. Maybe I need to reconsider that. Especially on Soraka building AP helps her do her one job a lot better.
Duke Anax1 votesSince they buffed her self heal, AP is a must on Soraka. It actually makes you tankier than any tank items. And you do actual damage too. Equinox is a nice execute, Kill Secure (;
Cindikle2 votesI believe there should of been a new stat called "Defensive Power".
This stat would effect support buffs as well as some tank shields or buffs(Leona/Rammus).
It would allow them to give more unique options in itemization without other rolls (AP/Bruisers) making the items OP. Imagain if Lulu actually had to choose between her ability to support or her ability to be a ranged AP pest. She probably wouldn't of seen as many nerfs.
DJ Di01 votesOn 
, I'll get things like 
if we're ahead, but if things are even or their team has absurd amounts of range/cc, I'll opt for a more tanky build like 
sclaes amazingly well with AP, I really like going ap support on her; squishy as all hell but you can easily clear waves with Q, shield absurd amounts with E(as well as give lots of ad), and heal entire teams back to full health with her ult.
Abyssphere1 votesI always try to take advantage of AP utility scaling on supports. Once they get a couple hundred AP, supports have terrifyingly strong utility, heals and shields.
It's the exact reason I'll never understand people building Soraka tanky. I realise her peel is mediocre but Jesus, you might regenerate your HP a little better with tanky items but who cares when you'll spend a lot less health for the same effect on AP Soraka, and you'll heal much more with your Starcall too.
That said, supports could use better AP itemisation. Ardent Censer especially could use a buff to like 60 AP. At the end of the day you probably shouldn't be buying Deathcap on a support, you're basically a poor man's AP carry at that point.
Vesarixx1 votesThe best time to build AP on a support is pre-nerf.
StrangerL1 votesRiot just nerf champions. Supports are not able to be strong according to the balance team. Support season 4 is over. They are too busy with the jungle changes in season 5. Lol
Zmuecat1 votesI'm not a fan of the scaling based on AP.
I think that it creates a problem where if the scaling was too high, they'd just be sent middle and nerfed, but if it's low, it doesn't really warrant building AP. Supports as a whole are down a slot just because we need to pick up SS.
I think they should have used a new stat to scale it off of, and used that stat as a means for tanks and supports (being that we share a lane and some items) to scale off of instead of AD and AP, which would separate tanks from bruisers and then you could solve two problems at once.
Duke Anax1 votesThe problem here is that a lot of the scaling is actually on the damage, not on the utility.
It's should be simple: midlaners need the, botlaners utility.
SmokingPuffin1 votesWorks decently on Lulu and Nami.
The others you don't really notice the scaling on the utility buttons. Sona E is kind of interesting post rework, but only kind of.
In general, the mechanics they chose to give utility scaling just aren't that impactful. Only +MS% seems to really feel good for the cost.
thinking man1 votesS4 changes in general made a lot of supports super broken so idk if I want to speak on the entire class having utility scalings since they're definitely a lot stronger now.
StrangerL1 votesUtility scalling?
Recently reworked support and upcoming Brad does not have that. I guess they hate it now.