I am convinced that Smite is the way to go on Bard Support.

Now, I'm not the most experienced player, but in any game I play I really enjoy trying new 'metas' and play the game in different ways than others. I've been theorycrafting some ideas on how to play Bard, the "roaming support". I've been spamming Smite/Flash with Bard and I believe it defiantly has it's ups and downs.

Running Smite on a support (specifically Bard) gives a few benefits: Skuttle Crab control (usually supports can't really solo Skuttle Crab in a reasonable time - with Smite on Bard, it's not that long of a solo.), Dragon/Baron control (I truly believe Bard's ultimate is the BEST ultimate for stealing/securing Dragon/Baron. If they are taking Dragon/Baron - Obviously, ult them plus the objective - E in and Smite. I've done this with coordination with a jungler for a double smite Baron steal, and it felt pretty awesome. I'm constantly stealing Dragons/Barons my self, as a support. If they are attempting to steal it - Ult their Smiter and time your Smite while they are in Stasis ), Oracles from raptor (being able to Smite the raptor for an Oracles is a huge bonus! Vision is almost everything) and epic early leashes for the jungler (in combination with 3 shrines, a Smite.. the jungler will love you!). Being a "roaming support" gives you more availability to use your Smite.

Bard isn't the best laner, and this actually weakens his laning even more! That's a huge disadvantage, my all ins early aren't as good as ignite or exhaust. My peel isn't as good as having exhaust. But the advantages seem to seep more into late game, having Smite as opposed to ignite or exhaust. But Bard isn't meant to be a laner, so I believe that running Smite on Bard helps him fill that "roaming support" dream. I feel like Bard can be played as an "Objective Control Carry".

In games, my focus is controlling Objectives (Dragon, Baron and Towers). I tend to core Frozen Heart and Cinderhulk for tankability, then proceed to get Banner of Command and that Voidling Spawner thing (always forget the name!). This allows me to splitpush while I roam late game (pressure on towers). I use my Smite advantage to gain control on Skuttle (I keep timers on Skuttle), using Oracles from Raptor to sweep Dragon/Baron wards, while heavy warding myself. ALSO: A huge plus for Bard for being an "Objective Control Carry" - is that I tend to keep 2-3 Shrines active at either Dragon or Baron before it respawns. That way, my team can negate a bit of Dragon/Baron's damage by using my Shrines. I feel like Bard's kit is perfect for being this so called "Objective Control Carry" role that I'm seeking.

I will actually tend to lose my lane due to my non existent All-In, but with this tactic I feel like it's looking at the broader spectrum of the game. If you were to duo queue with a Jungler as opposed to an ADC as Bard Support (with Smite), it'd help you coordinate those epic tunnel ganks as well as double smiting objectives.

And again, Cinderhulk is awesome.

What do you guys think about Smite on Supports, specifically Bard?