So support's a bit of a fiesta right now...

Like, with Malz support becoming a thing, I think it's time to really sit this down, grind this out, and really get to a point where we get why people are playing more mages in the role rather than traditional supports that everyone wants people to play so much. I'ma TRY to keep each point short so it's easy on the eyes. Bear with me and there's a summary at the bottom if you need the short story.

1. You only need enough utility to make it through the door: Some champs just can't work it. Someone with no utility or someone that can't apply it safely and easily will usually be unable to hang, which is why we don't see Divers, Assassins, and Jugs pulling this stuff that often. However, once you make it past that hump, if you offer high damage, you actually bring more than a traditional support does to your team, at least from your own base kit. Janna can hard stop a heavy engage twice (Q and R) and can possibly cock-block smaller stuff a few more times (E and W), but she isn't going to create a lead or apply pressure that well. Zyra can stop a heavy engage twice (E and R), even if it's not as well as Janna, but she offers VERY HIGH presence in lane and in fights because she provides damage. Zyra does the defense game well enough, but can also play the damage game. She has more options when it comes to how she approaches the match between going for guys attacking her back line garden setup and joining in on the initial engage.

2. So Riot decides to compensate with broken actives: With the previous stated, mages have the initial one-up on traditional supports. So Riot decided to shove late-game presence into traditional supports through excessively powerful toggles rather than their actual kits. Even if you build high ap on your support, the numbers on Locket/Redemption are not borderline ridiculous. They're legitimately ridiculous. The sheer amount of damage they can pad and heal is absurd. So the mages offer snowballing threat early, and are stronger in the mid game, but when late game rolls in and you got beefier numbers on Locket/Redemption since you're now level 15 - 18 rather than 11 - 13, these things nullify thousands of damage in an aoe. This isn't really smart design more than it's a band-aid.

3. Proof of 2 is that we're getting MORE mages bot lane: People say "Man, I feel so much more impactful as a support now!" That isn't really you being impactful more than it's just Locket/Redemption being broken. Meanwhile more people are taking mages (now Malzahar) bot lane because they're ACTUALLY impactful without needing excessively op toggles to be impactful. I'm seeing no competition in picking Sona, no traces of Lulu or Zilean, and I can go many-a-game without seeing Morgana, but I get plenty of Brand and Zyra in my games now, and Malz support is on the horizon. Some traditional supports still stick, but that's because, like I said, Locket/Redemption validates them seeing how mage supports don't build these, and are thus weaker later by virtue of not having these actives. That and Janna, much like any blowjob from a hot blonde in her undies, will never go out of style...let's be honest.

4. The overarching problem with support satisfaction is one of hypocrisy: I still remember that there was a podcast where Riot stated that they wanted people fighting and interacting more. They wanted more blood. More action. Tell me on what planet does forcing Locket/Redemption down everyone's throats encourage this? OBVIOUSLY the initial claim is a great way to get people interested in supporting, because people that talk about taking Veigar/Vel/Brand/Zyra down bot lane tend to highlight how much they enjoy feeling like they have some power in the lane. That they can take matters into their own hands a bit and get shit done if their adc is a little lack luster. Heal/shield is fine as an option and even as a general play style, but making it the ONLY style is excessive and people don't like it. Riot has been steady trying to make EVERYONE, pros, high elos, and bronzies alike, fight more. That's what all these systemic changes were for, right? Yet, for supports specifically we're told to just have fun with pom-poms on the sidelines? It may be some people's idea of fun, but you're neglecting too many others.

Summary: Mage supports have more direct control of the lane by tapping into offensive pressure, something traditional supports have been steadily steered away from over time. It's way more fun feeling like you have a hand in proceedings than it is mashing shields on the sidelines, and to boot, it's actually effective and allows these champs to be around the same ballpark of effectiveness as they'd be as mid laners if they don't feed. Redemption/Locket have ridiculous late-game scaling to counteract the fall-off that traditional supports otherwise tend to have in this game (except Janna cause she's a blowjob and those are always good), and are the main things keeping traditional supports in the running against mage ones. Although this functionally works, it's annoying for everyone else that isn't a support to have like 1k damage per head nullified because "I'm Lulu and I'm purple and purple = helping! :D :D :D" It also isn't that fun to play for most people, which I almost guarantee Riot knows.