Why does nobody play Orianna Support?

Deep Terror Nami·Jan 6, 2017·2 votes·2,667 views

She feels really good in that role, in my opinion. I max (E) Protect so it works a lot like Nami, with a little more emphasis on damage; She's got good harass combos, can speed up allies or slow the enemy, protects allies with a shield (instead of heal), and provides wombo combo and peel with her Ult. You can almost describe them both saying the same thing.

Orianna has very strong single-target protection with Protect. The mana cost is significantly less than Ebb & Flow (rank 1 is lower and it doesn't increase) and it has a 1 second shorter CD so spamming it is very easy, plus shields are superior to healing in most regards.

Some major pluses are that she can still waveclear as a Support, and she's good at defending herself.

My recommended items are;

8 Comments

Maximum MordeJan 6, 20171 votes

Too mana hungry for early game support fights. She'll get her shit pushed in by a poke support that doesn't have mana issues.

Deep Terror NamiJan 6, 20171 votes

She's not mana hungry at all unless you're spamming Q.

Maximum MordeJan 6, 20171 votes

Which, is basically all she is any good at? If she isn't making a threat of herself then she isn't doing her job as a mage support. I just can't imagine why I'd ever pick Orianna over say, Karma, Janna, Lulu if I'm after the shield alone.

That's just my 2 cents.

KaiokoJan 6, 20171 votes

She's not a bad support but she's just not on the level of other supports. I consider her more an equivalent to Lux Support - it can work but it's not ideal.

Very Hard EngageJan 6, 20171 votes

shes immobile and pushes the wave. she was designed originally to support but it was either broken or worthless. now shes niche.

too many other supports are just better than her, her main issue is the ball travel speed. shielding isn't instant like most believe.

JOÊMAMAMANJan 6, 20171 votes

I mean, I play Orianna support sometimes if I'm in the mood to play Ori and never go mid. I'm pretty much a support one trick and I personally feel like she's pretty fun and has a decent enough kit to utilize bot lane with ADCs who are either slow or mobile.

Truly PridefulJan 6, 20171 votes

I've played with a few and usually it's pretty decent. The shield is nice and her ultimate is always a gamechanger even if it isn't doing the 100-0 mid Orianna can pull off at times. She's probably gotten better as support with the release of Redemption as well. I kind of think of her like the offensive Janna.

I wouldn't mind seeing a little more of it. Part of the problem might be that she's still more popular mid currently.

Blumpkin NationJan 6, 20171 votes

I've played her as Support and I can say that while she is good at protecting your carry if they focus them (E>R>W is nice) if you are going support items her damage is much lower. She is a good mage that scales well with damage. Going AP cripples her ability to deal damage and since her only means of support is her shield+zoning she loses her supporting ability later in the game.

I think she'd be good for an early control/damage type support, but she's outshined by champions who can build no AP and be useful (I.E. Janna) or ones who can build AP and still provide consistent damage/support (I.E. Lulu or Nami).