AP Support Itemization and the Problems it has.
Hello! I would like to discuss the state of support itemization. I am currently P5 and have a decent track record on playing support. Well, at least in terms of variety.
Getting down to business, I think there is a systemic problem with support itemization and, while it has gotten better in recent times, I still think there are improvements to be made. Notably in the AP support department.
This extends mostly to the enchanter class: 
Here we have potential non-carry AP support items. 
Here we find pretty good, but non-AP support items 
And lastly, the non-enchanter support items 
So, what do we have? We have AP scaling supports that have good base stats and enough utility that they dont need ratios to function and are generally okay building full CDR and tanky just to stick around longer to use more CC. They get whatever AOE support items are best, such as Locket and Redemption, and they provide usefulness by just existing and being near the team. Or by being dead, if you have a certain long range item....
I mean, okay I guess, maybe that is fine! Maybe. But I would like to see AP supports play more of the danger game, getting close and personal and having the built in tools to make a serious impact whilst still being squishy. Let's face it, you can build full AP Janna all you want, but you're probably going to contribute less than a full tank one. And that just seems wrong. So, Im going to go through and talk a little about each item and the strengths/weaknesses that I perceive.
: VERY strong first item on champions like that deal good amounts of damage IN LANE. It is, IMO, probably one of the strongest rushes there are. Unfortunately, this item has a number of things going against it. First of all, you need to get your 
before finishing this item, which puts you behind somewhere around 1600g. This means that by the time you finish this, there is a good chance your laning phase is almost over. Second, this item scales very poorly into the mid game; it becomes increasingly harder to deal damage as a support, and this item becomes very slot inefficient because of its low AP and 20% CDR. If it had a little more AP, less CDR, and maybe if there were a Luden's type item for supports, MAYBE this item could look a little more juicy in the mid game. Dont get me wrong though, the addition of a quest to was a great step in the right direction, allowing supports to hit and run better than before.
: The alternative to , Ardent Censer is almost as good of a lane rush, but it scales MUCH better into the mid and late game because it has more AP, less CDR, doesnt require the support to hit champions, and frankly, the % shield and heal bonus is REALLY strong with other items cough cough . It is pretty much the superior item in all but the early laning phase. The % MS bonus is just the icing on the cake. All in all, this is probably THE best AP support item available and I think it would be good to see other items balanced around it.
: Since the rework, this item has become, in my mind, MUCH more appealing on enchanters and really helps to cover up that whole, Im squishy and can't find AP problem. I think that without having to rush Locket and Redemption, this would become a core item on many enchanters, as it is ideally a very strong defensive item with the stats to help supports be better supports. I wouldn't be surprised to see this be a 4th item standard on AP supports, especially into champions like 
.
: A pretty decent item overall, the addition of the quest made it even better. Still, it can be hard to find another AP item to fill the open slot, and often I feel pigeonholed into this item because I dont want the alternatives. More on that next.
: An excellent item, I loved it back when it was Twin Shadows and even more now. UNFORTUNATELY, I never ever buy it because it then forces me to buy (Prepare for a rant when I get to that item) . For what it is worth though, I do still buy it some games where I just dont feel like buying Sightstone, and in Twisted Treeline.
: Probably an underrated item, I can see this being pretty dang good on enchanters like , but it is kind of awkward and doesn't really pop out at me as something I should get. I think the 
is sort of hard to justify, but overall I just think its goofy on most supports. Again, probably underrated and definitely inferior to other support items.
: I actually really like this item when I have an ADC that loves to fight. I rush this item often and really like having it for early Dragons. My quarrel with it is how you just lose 100% of the stacks all at once and that if you buy this, chances are you dont have the MS to keep up with an ADC unless you have 
. I would really like to see it grant bonus MS towards your partner like and perhaps go down to 25 stacks if you idle at 100 too long. Again, there is the issue of ADC's exceeding 50% crit chance and the fact that I RARELY bind to AP champs because, like, who thinks to save your ult for when Zeke's goes off? All in all, not a bad item... still needs MP5 instead of mana though.
: Not a bad item, but honestly I only really buy it for the +20% healing and shielding bonus. The active would be GREAT, OMG GREAT, in lane. Against like, Ashe or Morg, I would love to rush this just as much as Id love to rush , but sadly, it has the same problems of being hard to complete early enough and doesnt give the same impact mid game as other items. Its definitely not bad though if you like playing more defensive. Honestly though, it could use some AP... Wardens dont buy it because its budgeted so much towards % healing and shielding. There is barely any MR, so either make it universal by buffing the resistance or give it AP to make it an enchanter item.
: A VERY strong item when used correctly, I personally suck at using it. The change to a larger, but decaying shield was a very good one, something that has made me shirk away from the item slightly. The stats are great for wardens and overall, I think it is in a good place. I am pretty comfortable not getting this on Enchanters, but I do wish there wasnt the stigma of needing it if youre a support. I heard mention of the shield scaling with resistance or bonus health, and that would probably be ideal.
: You. YOU. God did I hate this item when it came out. I thought it was completely troll and an easy way out for the game designers to give supports a solid impact. I still stand by that statement, but less so than before. Redemption is overall too strong and too generalist. It gives Wardens some health and a way to contribute to the team, and it gives enchanters some % healing and shielding. Honestly though, the ability to cast while dead PLUS cast from super far away is overkill I think. This item would be much better suited to an AOE dropped on the support like a Taric ult. I also think the % healing and shielding should go. It is just too strong and generalist for me to support the item, it crowds out too many other options and is too strong on enchanters that buy and .
: GRRR this item frustrates me to no end. I want to buy but I cant because of this stupid thing. I feel like I am much better off just getting and another AP item because that way I dont have 500 health sitting around. Sure, sure, if I want to win the game then the CDR for Actives is great. But it is distasteful. I dont want 500 health on or , I want more AP damn it! Give me an AP + % healing and shielding sightstone that forces me to be around allies to get recharges! I know there is a way to do it without letting other lanes abuse it, so make it! /rant. Otherwise, this item is nice AF for Wardens. Id like to see it give trinket timer reduction instead of the 4th ward though.
: Uh, I mean kind of the same issue as , I really dont want to get half the time. Currently, the coin grabbing mechanic puts most enchanters off and make them want , and the armor bonus from 
isnt the most ideal thing to have, but overall I mean I like the item. No AP still sorta sucks considering now there are 2 items for Wardens and 1 for AP-supports. I think a % healing and shielding bonus on this would be appropriate. 
anyone? On another note, the quest is super lame. Like, REALLY lame. Please redo it. Make it so that your heals and shields on allies does some cool Shuriman sand thing. +1 to someone who thinks of a better idea.
: I like it. It is cheap, lets me do my GP5 and Warding thing without much problem. I dont need two item slots and I can get other AP items. This guy is golden. ;)
: Sort of out dated on the likes of . It gives a ton of CDR and other decent stats, but at the same time I'm not even very likely to get it on because it gives no AP and Im not going to stick around long. Decent enough item, but could use a new active or something to make it fresh. Id propose giving it
's active and giving Randuin's a new one. Something Ominous. Omenous. OMNOMNOMINOUS
: Competes too much with 
and isnt the easiest thing to use properly. Having no AP, it doesnt enhance an enchanter's ability to help teammates. It is SEXY AF with Baron, but often times the Mana isnt useful, nor is the CDR in the late game..... and again, lots of resistances that arent great for enchanters. Id honestly like to see this become 's active and get rid of the AOE movespeed bonus.
That's it for now guys, that is my little analysis. I was bored and thought itd be fun to write for a bit. [slayer-jinx-wink]
ok
