support item build help?

RunDevilRun12·Mar 3, 2017·1 votes·1,203 views

I'm not sure if this has already been asked, and if so my apologizes, but could someone explain / give examples or scenarios where building the sight stone + support items would be better than just keeping them seperate. I know the obvious benefit would be to have an extra item slot but i feel like the actives on the full support items are just so useful that I myself find it hard to see when the combined item would be better. If you could also throw in some example builds and tips on how to optimize builds for different games ( because i find my self building the same items each game just in a different order depending on the situation ) that would be very much appreciated. Sorry for asking so much at once and thank you in advance for any help!

9 Comments

BaileyjayqtMar 3, 20172 votes

Basically for me it boils down to if I want the new bonus on red sightstone that lowers the cooldown of my on use items. Which means I can use my Redemption, locket, etc more often. As for a general build order it always boils down to what champion you are playing, team comp, and how the game is going. What champions are you looking for in general on builds?

RunDevilRun12Mar 3, 20171 votes

I prefer playing supps like nami,sona, janna, and lulu, but i feel like i should really start playing tanks like braum and alistar

BaileyjayqtMar 3, 20171 votes

It's definitely good to have one or two tank champs you can play incase your team needs one and both of those are pretty solid picks. Braum does a solid job of blocking for your teammates and is a solid counter to nami wave, ash arrow and provides the utility of your team being able to stun. Just experiment with what is more fun for you and develop your playstyle around that and the items you would tend to lean towards.

After your first item though it always tends to be what would best counter what your opponents can do. Are you going to be poking your opponent? item 3303 Do you want to play passive and just control the situation? item 3301 Are you wanting to provide a tiny bit of extra healing for your adc and get a shield later? item 3302

What items are worth combining with a sightstone and what would you rather go the other path? Do you need to have a slow and a reveal to help play safer against certain teams? item 3092 if that is not a concern item 2301 Do I want to have a speed boost for the team for engage or disengage? item 3069 if not then item 2302 Do I feel I need a shield to protect people in an emergency? item 3401 if not item 2303

If you end up not combing your item with the sightstone you end up with the ruby sightstone item 2045 which effects trinkets item 3340 item 3364 item 3363 and all of the on use items

item 3512 item 3060 item 3222 item 3056 item 3107 item 3040 item 3157 item 3144 item 3153 item 3092 item 3190 item 3139 item 3140 item 3800 item 3090 item 3401 item 3143 item 3069 item 3050 item 3814 item 3142 item 3030 item 3146 item 3152 item 3145 item 3748 item 3074 item 3077

It's just more what you think you are gonna need and how much income you think you are going to have that game. Some people end up going with alot of the same items due to personal preference. Myself for instance I almost always build a item 3069 unless I am playing malz or zyra as I love movement speed items. Not every game is the same and not every partner you play with will want to do things the same just have fun with it. It's a simple role with a ton of room for personal flavor.

Sorry if this is long winded and makes no sense.

RunDevilRun12Mar 4, 20171 votes

no, no thank you for all the info this really does help :)

ErockandrollMar 3, 20171 votes

Part of it for me is gold efficiency, not just slot efficiency. combining the sightstone items means building one item and not two.

Just Buying item 2301 is only 2200 gold where item 3092 item 2049 is 3000 gold. For that much in gold difference, I could buy a Forbidden idle, and have an extra boost in CDR, mana regen, and healing power.

This being said, I find Support itemization to be largely about the utility it can bring to your team. (or scale your own champs utility) So if your finding use in the tier 3 itemization, then your probably making the right choice.

Your other option might be to skip the tier 3 upgrade entirely. item 3098 item 2049 would only cost 1650. which is cheaper than either option. Won't give you as much stats as you would with a tier 3 item. (Hard to pass up the 10% CDR and extra ward though.) But that just means you can rush other support items, more so if you didn't rely on the stats to begin with.

Largely, it's a matter of preference, and it might be ideal to go one way with one support, and something else on another.

RunDevilRun12Mar 3, 20171 votes

oooh i never thought of it like that thank you so much haha

nanogibbonMar 3, 20171 votes

My simple/low ELO answer - am I gonna remember to use my actives effectively every time or not? When I play naut support, for example, I'll usually build locket pretty quick, but managing that shield on top of my own W means I don't really want to stack a third shield, so I'm happy to get item 2303 and build another straight tank/utility item. Unless I go zzrot, in which case I might want the item 2045 passive. This has very little to do with actual optimization or efficiency, but more to do with comfort and knowing my own abilities.

Though right now it seems like support item actives can have a pretty big impact, so it feels sad not to have that item 2045 CDR. Which is (aside time) a trend I personally hate. Why would you want to make item actives feel more impactful than the champ's abilities if you want to promote diversity? As a support main, I would not be sad at all to see redemption disappear.

nanogibbonMar 3, 20171 votes

Actually, just had a thought - I might start trying item 2301 on my Bard build, which I tend to build stats on more than utility and make him a surprise roaming carry. I used to go Zzrot 100% of the time and AFK splitpush to win, which made the ruby CDR crucial, and FQQ active was a nice bonus once I got around to completing it. But with the short-range/short-duration zzrot, it's much less effective.

Hm. Thanks for getting me thinking about this.

RunDevilRun12Mar 4, 20171 votes

lol np thank you for sharing!