Why do supports scale with ap?

majulito·8/23/2014, 11:24:45 PM·3 votes·1,387 views

I've never understood why the utility of supports scaled with their ap when supports tend to have very little room for ap.

A typical support build would be: gold generating item: relic, spell thief, coin sight stone boots crucible

The other two slots would be whatever if the support gets that far. Of those items only one would have ap. So supports have this utility scaling that they can't really make use of unless they disregard their support items and build like a mage which is hard to do on a support's income.

But you take that support and put them in a role where they can make money and are able to devote their build to ap you get someone whos damage and utility scale with the same items. Which as led to problems with lulu and soraka.

16 Comments

TinySparrow238/23/2014, 11:40:40 PM2 votes

The main reason is because if they choose to do off-builds, they can perform as a different role, usually as a mage if they are building a bunch of AP. And sometimes doing that rather than a standard support build can offset a disadvantage in lane because then there are two damage dealers as opposed to just one. It's not Garen teed to work, but if you have coordination, you could succeed with doing a full AP Soraka or Lulu. If they get popular and are getting used in places that they shouldn't be, then they will be nerfed because Riot is trying to keep champions they know can be oppressive in specific areas from doing that said job because it changes up rule of engagement and such and can make what is supposed to be a fun game not so fun. And if you aren't having fun while playing, why bother?

Personally, I would love a true support that scaled with AD, just so that they then have to consider an AD supports itemization that isn't just tanky items. lol

MyAccountYouGuys8/24/2014, 2:47:29 AM2 votes

Supports scale off AP because there's not much else TO scale off from. If you remove scaling entirely they become worthless past the 15-20 minute mark. If they scale off AD and have all the kinds of abilities you'd expect on a support, they might as well be the carry instead. AP is the only viable solution to LoL's lack of a third offensive stat to scale from for non-mages/marksmen. It's a frustrating limitation with the engine of the game itself. If you let your offensive abilities' stats scale off something gimmicky, you end up with a very niche kit(see Rammus Hecarim Singed Galio ) that limits how viable the champion is in any given situation. AP lets supports do something outside of sticking with team mates 24/7, if that's what you're inclined to do.

On a side note, most supports' utility doesn't scale, just their damage/healing, with the occasional shield.

Marthian8/24/2014, 4:13:21 AM2 votes

Depends on playstyle. I'm able to fit in AP and 40 CDR on Soraka, not to mentino build tanky as well. You could always sell your gold-gen item, I upgrade to Frostfang, and then when I need the slot, I sell it since it gave me a lot of gold.

Cloud Potato8/24/2014, 8:57:46 AM2 votes

When AP scaling on Supports was introduced it was a time where Supports were picked purely for what they could do without any items, because there were only 4 sources of income on the map. Supports were balanced around this. When Riot introduced a method of gaining Gold for Supports, the balance around no income Supports would be broken, so they compensated by lowering their base power but letting them scale through the game. AP was the stat chosen for many Supports because 1: some Support abilities already scaled from AP (shields and heals), 2: many Supports had mage-like kits and AP makes the most sense there, and 3: AP itemization has a lot of utility items that would benefit Support champions. However, all of this fell apart for one reason:

A typical support build would be: gold generating item: relic, spell thief, coin sight stone boots crucible

Despite Supports getting an income that didn't change the fact that the best Supports were the ones that did the best without any items. Because of this the Support picks that didn't get changed (Annie, Thresh, and Leona who got no compensation nerfs) remained the most popular. And, for the most part, the best Supports are still the ones who don't need items. Scaling Supports are like melee carries; they don't fit the current meta.

Sluiceway8/24/2014, 2:55:22 AM1 votes

I think this is something Riot can clear up by reclassifying what are currently called supports as Utility champs, since there are some champs that are played as supports that are not classified as such, and some that are played in other lanes even though they are classified as supports (bear with me, this is my first try at attaching a picture, so I am not sure where it will show up in relation to the text). I have attached what the current version of the LoL client lists when the champ roster is filtered to supports. Alistar, Annie, Blitzcrank, Leona, and Morgana are missing from the pool of what the client labels as support, and Lulu, Soraka, and Zilean have all had their time as mid lanes, and Nunu is usually seen in the jungle. But AP Soraka, to single out my favorite, still brings mostly utility to the team, just as she does in the support role. On the other hand, what makes Annie or Morgana good supports is their cc, peel (Morg), or initiation (Annie). Support, to bring this to a conclusion, is a play style and a role, not necessarily a champion type, and a role that usually overlaps with one or more of the other champion types, such as Alistar or Braum being tanks, Morgana, Annie, and Soraka being mages, all of whom, because of their ability sets, are capable of filling, but not limited to, the support role.

Nukes8/23/2014, 11:41:39 PM1 votes

Because supports tend to be very high utility champions. They give them AP scaling so they can't be played as a carry by both doing insane AA damage, but also destroy you with the spells.

Dese Games8/23/2014, 11:55:36 PM1 votes

I am a main support and I have to say that supports these days are going AP. When I play I go AP Annie Janna Karma Lulu Lux Morgana Nami Orianna Sona Soraka Zilean Zyra and even sometimes Thresh . This is of course if I'm choosing not to play a tanky support. Almost all of them have a heal or shield and when you build AP they can be game changers within seconds. I don't do this every game based on how it is going but when coordinated with the right ADC it murders. Only a few of them do I truly run utility masteries on. Everyone enjoys and dreads the double poke bottoms with the potential to still be beneficial to the team as a whole. This is just my opinion on the subject as all I really play competitively is support.

To the rest of my supports out there we know who the true carries are. We carry the carry...we are the foundation! :D

Rew7118/24/2014, 3:08:02 AM1 votes

well some people do try out Taric and Braum top and after a little while they find what works. The armor and health can be very hard to overcome. And they're abilities used for themselves adds more to the problem. Just think on it for a minute.