How to save your adc from assassins?

Miku Lv99·Jan 17, 2015·3 votes·1,129 views

In a lot of my recent games I find that an assassin can easily just 2v1 me and my adc. They seem to have tons of mobility and damage and can almost instantly kill my adc, even with slows, stuns, etc., and then way outrun me and kill me too. And there doesn't seem to be any way to stop them. I've seen people say Zhonya's but that doesn't help. He'll just stand there until it ends and then kill you.

Or maybe the only solution is to just admit the uselessness of your adc and just be with the rest of your team whenever they have a good assassin? Might as well not even bother helping your adc in the laning phase since he/she is just going to be useless mid/end game anyways.

Yes, I know it's fixed if your adc would actually position well with the rest of your team, but I've really started to not like that when he/she doesn't, it seems like it pretty much is gg with nothing I can do about it.

10 Comments

SirsirJan 17, 20151 votes

CC and focus. If your ADC is so bad that he is frontlining and not focusing what he should be then just leave him. But NEVER just leave them during lane, he might be good.

Der LindwurmJan 17, 20151 votes

Exhaust isn't a bad choice for support. Of course, it helps if your ADC will actually try to get away when necessary rather than just stand there still trying to kill things no matter what.

This is why I also like to play supports who have snares or CC. Soraka's silence in particular can interfere with an assassin's surprise attack long enough for the ADC to flash or otherwise wiggle away, for example. This is pretty much the only way an ADC will survive a LeBlanc attack.

Long Dong WukongJan 17, 20151 votes

You don't really. If they're sufficiently farmed your ADC just dies if there isn't an exhaust dropped.

The Assassin might die in the process, but you can't stop a Zed or Fizz etc from killing an ADC without Exhaust if they REALLY want to and aren't concerned with getting back out.

Truly PridefulJan 17, 20151 votes

Exhaust and/or someone like Janna. With a quick reaction time you can shove them back, slow them, or hit the knock-up. Of course this goes out the window if they're too fed and it's on the AD player and your frontline to position well. Sometimes you just can't save them.

Miku Lv99Jan 17, 20151 votes

He's not usually taking the front lines. He's much more of just not with them. Like they're at the brush on the bottom side of mid lane while we're so far away we're almost by the blue side red buff. And then a talon dives him and kills him. Exhaust does not seem to be able to stop him usually. So is it better to be with him all the way over there or just ignore him and be with the rest of the team?

Rock RockburghJan 17, 20151 votes

100% be with the rest of the team. If your ADC is that far out of position repeatedly, he isn't the one you should be supporting. Following someone who's feeding will probably just make you start feeding too.

GhiefelsteinJan 17, 20151 votes

You could ask your adc nicely to group with the team, so you can protect him better against assassins. It helps if you showed in the early game that you would do anything to save your adc. If you trust your adc, there is a bigger chance he trusts you too.

Emphasize how you and your team could do a better job protecting if the adc is with the group. Say it like it is your inability to protect him, not his stupid mistake to split from the team. Tell your adc how much the rest of the team needs him to push towers and win teamfights.

People are not going to listen if you say something like "Caitlyn, stop pushing so far without the rest of the team. Talon is going to kill you again." Pointing out mistakes won't convince people often. Instead go for "Caitlyn, we need you mid to push this tower." Every adc wants to feel important, so use that to make them do what you want.

There are plenty of answers against assassins (exhaust, Lulu, vision control). But positivity may be the most effective solution of all. Give it a try!

Tin TarantinoJan 17, 20151 votes

Mikaels can help, the heal and CC removal can be great for preventing picks, try to get your ADC to go for a GA, sometimes assassns will switch targets just because of that, you could also play Zilian, the xp boost can help ensure the assassin will not have as much of a level advantage over you and his ult/slow are not fun for an assassin to deal with. You could even play support Kalista if you think your ADC is just that bad at staying alive, and ult them every time the assassin jumps on them, I have a utility build for Kalista mid that's meant for a protect the Kog'maw comp, you run defensive summoners and build for extreme kiting, so you can ult the Kog'maw and kite away if he gets jumped on.

Kuroi86Jan 17, 20151 votes

Yes, I know it's fixed if your adc would actually position well with the rest of your team, but I've really started to not like that when he/she doesn't, it seems like it pretty much is gg with nothing I can do about it.

This is a big thing. LoL is a team based game so unless your ADC is willing to play as a team and position properly, then there's no bother trying to worry about it. If they want to die, then support whoever on your team is dealing the most damage and keep them alive as long as possible.

As for how to save your chosen carry from an assassin, peel. Know your assassins, know where they will drop. Zed, Kat and Talon will all appear right behind them when going in on your carry, drop your CC right behind them the moment you suspect the enemy assassin is going in. Fizz will either appear right next to your carry or on the other side of them depending on whether he uses Urchin strike or Playful/Trickster. Akali jump right up in their face, which makes it really easy. Some supports are easier to peel with than others. Alistar Point and click knock back plus heal. Blitzcrank AoE silence Fiddlesticks Targeted fear and silence Janna AoE knock back Kayle Invulnerability and heal Lulu Point and click CC with Whimsy and Wild Growth Soraka AoE silence/stun and global heal Taric Targeted silence and heal