Best way to solo queue as support?

Twinner69·8/19/2019, 12:11:52 AM·1 votes·2,415 views

I've been trying hard to handle support. I like it traditionally, however every now and then I like to take a break. I feel I have a handle on Janna and Nami for support, but could use more work on the other roles, especially Jungle, which I would like to alt. Are there any suggestions on which champions I should work on learning for the long run as a support, especially off role character I might want to learn? I don't wan't to devote a lot of time to champions that aren't going to play well, just in case I do (hopefully) get in a higher elo. Right now I'm screwing around too much, so I'm trying to tighten my focus. When I was focused I was winning way more than losing and I hope to carry that into ranked when I start, so any advice would be welcome.

10 Comments

Cind3rkick8/19/2019, 12:14:38 AM1 votes

I guess it would be someone like thresh or pyke who are more offensive and proactive than defensive and reactive. This way you can control the flow of the game more.

Tanerian8/19/2019, 12:26:02 AM1 votes

Nami/Janna are fine, but make sure to learn at least 1 of each support type really well to round yourself out.

You already have enchanters. Pick a tank support, like Nautilus/Alistar to learn. Get a hook support like Blitz/Thresh(Also Nautilus). Learn a mage support as well. Hell, sometimes I whip out Ashe support because her poke works so well vs certain adc/supp combos.

Certain support types work better with certain ADC's and will give you a much better chance of coming out of your lane ahead.

Since you don't have to CS, you have more time to watch the mini map. Personally when I play, I try to keep track of all MIA's. If I see an enemy go MIA, I try to ping, or warn people. I also have a lot of success being a shot caller, especially given your proximity to dragon, it's easy to make that call etc.

Macro is very important on support, make sure you're paying attention to what everyone else is doing as often as possible.

Twinner698/19/2019, 12:51:33 AM1 votes

I'm about ready to quit this game, because whenever I play support people like to blame me for losses, like I can heal stupidity. Record your matches and then look back, you'll see it's you over extending yourself that's getting you killed, there's not enough healers in the world to save you from that.

edit- with the rant aside. I am going to work on Morgana and Thresh/Blitzcrank as well.

Baby Ghoul8/19/2019, 1:31:14 AM1 votes

You need to have thick skin if you're going to play support. I've had top laners try to explain to me why I'm the reason they lost their lane. People will do crazy mind gymnastics to protect their ego.

Enchanters are perfectly viable, but the way people think that we play them isn't. You need to be aggressive and engaged in lane as an enchanter.

As Soraka if I'm not landing my Q+AA combos, then I'm going to get bullied out of lane. Even against something that's terrible in this meta like a Braum. Enchanter supports have a lot of bite early game that so many people underestimate, so use that to your advantage. Enchanters have to poke and ruffle the enemy's feathers early game.

Another thing is as an enchanter support you need to pick the right starting item. item 3303 is good if you can harass your laners or get in trades, but if you can't, it will put you behind. item 3301 is the safer choice and what you should take when you know you'll be pressured.

Tanks in general aren't that great to play right now because of the damage. If you're looking at the tanks, then you're going to be leaning on their engage more than their sustain. It doesn't hurt that a lot of pull/hook supports have wonky hitboxes right now either. Look out for that when you're playing against them too. So many people are surprised to see themselves hooked.

Mage supports are a popular pick right now because more damage is never a bad thing in this meta. However, most support mains can deal with them in lane just fine. They often overestimate themselves and get themselves and their ADC killed or put far behind. Since you're a support main, you probably won't have to worry about that. I know a lot of enchanter support mains who have switched to mage supports because you can't always save the ADC in every situation in the one-shot meta. Sometimes the only thing that scares assassins off is more damage.

Personally, I'm not too worried about that yet as Soraka since her AoE silence saves me and my ADC so often in fights. It's an ability that not many champions are designed with anymore. There's been plenty of times where I was shocked at how much damage something did though.

Another common support trap is trying to fill "what the team needs" or picking a champion based on your ADC. If you can do that, then great, but more often than not you want to be playing your very best bot lane because one screw up could be the end of your lane. Knowing your limits as support is so important. That ties into the most important advice I ever got though. Never, ever, go into the match thinking you can rely on your ADC unless you know them. You need to see how they play first.

Zardo8/19/2019, 1:58:20 AM1 votes

Janna and Nami are actually great! If you enjoy playing them stick with them!

For lower elo though, you can't just go redemption rush and play like a shield bot. You should pick up an early dark seal and harass the enemy with your W. Rush athene's first and get ardent second, then go into either AP(deathcap) or standard utility depending on if your team is doing fine on their own or not. I'd recommend learning an engage support of your choice and maybe a brand/zyra/vel/veigar/lux and focus on harassing the enemy when they go for cs. I climbed with enchanters pretty much exclusively from bronze to plat, so don't let anyone say you can't do it. If you enjoy playing them, they are worth putting the time into.

As for junglers, it all comes down to playstyle. You can carry on pretty much any jungler, you just have to play around your strengths(which vary widely from champ to champ). If you tell me who you play i'd be able to give you more specific advice.

Twinner698/19/2019, 5:32:30 AM1 votes

So I tried out Nautilus and I had my best game as a Jungler to date. You can check my match history, might be my best game ever and it was only my second match with him and the first against players. Can't wait to try him as support. I just seem to intuitively know what to do with him. I think he's similar to a character from HotS I've played so it's easy to pick up on, maybe not the powers but the mechanics. Anyways all the advice is good. I've been using Mobalytics specs for gearing up and they seem to be on the mark.

Ninjas Flossing8/19/2019, 8:22:23 AM1 votes

thresh. out of all the supports his numbers matter the least as almost all of his kit is cc or pull friend from danger. not to mean he doesnt do damage but his cc duration over the course of a fight is like 5 seconds of aggravation for your opponents

PhearBunny8/19/2019, 10:41:23 AM1 votes

Dont play Leona.

preternatural8/19/2019, 10:44:54 AM1 votes

oh shit someone who already plays janna. ah don't worry kid you'll be fine.