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Support Meta Shifting?

TheGrumpy1·12/25/2015, 11:43:53 PM·4 votes·854 views

While I'm still unsure about how I feel considering the vision changes (it's more important for the entire team to contribute, but it's also harder for a single dedicated player to make a significance difference regarding vision), I'm wondering if certain support champions (or off-support champions) are going to have a resurgence in popularity and usefulness.

Support Champions that have good mobility to wander through jungle and between lanes (fewer wards makes assisting mid even easier, and mobility helps them escape junglers that wouldn't be seen because of fewer wards) Support Champions that have extra vision gimmicks (to counter the vision changes, at least a little bit)

His lantern grants vision and is the best example of an anti-gank ability if there ever was one. His healing shrines grant a little vision when placed, and his kit is practically built for wandering. It's been a while since I've played him: Don't his time-bombs give vision? Bushwack doesn't provide direct vision per se, but it can effectively create an alarm for certain openings, plus the mobility of cougar form encourages joining mid. has the most flexible pseudo-warding abilities I can think of! More sight for her.

Do yall think more traditional supports like and are going to fall on the wayside in exchange for more vision and jungle mobility?

8 Comments

MavenSong12/26/2015, 12:05:38 AM1 votes

Even Caitlyn has her snap traps. I main support but the few times I have played cait those traps are a fantastic alarm for an enemy gank.

As for what supports we might see often, im not entirely sure if there will be a giant shift, but im sure there will be a few more players playing more vision oriented champions. Vision is a great advantage im sure a few will try and utilize. Even with a good support who prudently wards around (I try my best to do this, I rarely got pink wards before, but im really starting to use those) there still will be blind spots. And to be honest, im going on a tangent, every player needs to start warding properly. Im unranked, so im not quite qualified to talk about high ranked players, but quite often I dont see people ward enough. I usually see 3 wards on the map at a given time (mostely from me).

TL;DR: Might be a slight rise in play for those champs, but I dont expect huge changes.

Yrzen12/26/2015, 12:18:18 AM1 votes

Bard's healing shrines can also let you know if someone is around to step on them! It takes a bit of focus on the little dot on the map, but it can be used as such.

The meta's focus is currently almost irrelevant to that though, as other things it favors will trump a minor bonus to vision most of the time.

Teemo support might become more viable with the sudden value of his unparalleled vision control, but I wouldn't count on it.

Vesarixx12/26/2015, 1:34:59 AM1 votes

Janna will still be played to protect low mobility, high damage carries Soraka will still be played whenever in certain comps and when your ADC doesn't play ADC and had to fill Sona is probably the most under rated, she has a lot of utility and the damage of a mage support, she also fits pretty much every team comp

The vision granting abilities are alright but not anything to cause a meta shift, Nidalee support is awful, she has no CC and can fall behind hard, using Zilean Q for vision instead of damage is very sub optimal, Thresh W can be used to check brushes but you want to save it for allies if you can. Zyra needs her W for her combo, if you use it just to get vision all the time you won't have as much effect in lane, they also don't grant that much vision. Bard can be used this way but that usually puts them in an awkward spot so you can't as easily use them for the sustain in lane.

LankPants12/26/2015, 5:01:06 AM1 votes

Do yall think more traditional supports like and are going to fall on the wayside in exchange for more vision and jungle mobility?

These supports weren't popular before. They've always had a much lower pickrate than supports like Thresh, Braum and Ali.

Bushwack doesn't provide direct vision per se, but it can effectively create an alarm for certain openings, plus the mobility of cougar form encourages joining mid.

This isn't going to happen. Nid just doesn't bring enough as a support. Knowing a gank is coming doesn't always help if you can't do anything to peel for your carry anyway.