How many "actual" supports are there

Lord Ligma·May 7, 2016·2 votes·499 views

Not champs like Sona that are pretty much mages and will 1v1 the AD carry. But actual supports that have one purpose, help your team with buffs slows shields, heals and cc? (i.e Janna and Soraka)

10 Comments

redniwediSMay 7, 20165 votes

Supports with one purpose are honestly pretty bad. That's why most supports have more than one use.

Janna has massive disengage and Soraka has poke and disruptive CC, for instance. Not counting Sona as a support because of her damage just ignores the non-supporty strengths of the people you think fit your definition of support.

Fashion MageMay 7, 20161 votes

I think you're misunderstanding the OP. Both Janna and Soraka virtually only support and without allies they're not very effective, but their abilities on allies are quite strong. Contrast with Sona who has a lot of her power invested in burst rather than focusing all of that power into assisting allies.

redniwediSMay 8, 20161 votes

I'm not misunderstanding at all, actually, I just don't see the point in ignoring champions who are clearly meant to be supports simply because they are not the type of support who buffs an ally.

Blitzcrank, Braum, Leona, Thresh, and Zilean are all classic supports that do not quite meet the criteria the OP is looking for. They have CC, they have damage, and in cases where they get ahead they can 1v1 the enemy ADC successfully, and yet no one in their right mind would consider them to not be supports.

Yes, some of them have shields and other utility for their carry, but not to the extent of Janna and Soraka. If Sona's heal, shield, movement speed boost, movement speed slow, damage reduction, and CC do not count because of her damage then none of these other supports I mentioned count.

BeldairMay 7, 20163 votes

Sona is not a mage but primarily a Support.

Primary Role Secondary Role Support Mage

Lord LigmaMay 7, 20162 votes

When you go to the shop the recommended items are mage items. Lich Bane Luden's Echo things like that. That's a pretty standard mage build but I understand she's a primary support. It's nice to just half health by a support's q

Friendly RamMay 7, 20162 votes

most supports have more than one purpose. that's why they are called supports not babysitters.

Fashion MageMay 7, 20161 votes

Janna, Soraka, and Nami. Sona is kind of like half support half mage now days. So in other words, there aren't many sadly. There's also Braum and Taric, but I'm assuming you're referring to "enchanters".

Lord LigmaMay 7, 20161 votes

Basically. When you here support that's what you think. Someone "supporting" you. As of lately bot lane feels like a duo top lane rather than you having someone aid you and help you kill the enemy but hey man. Not my game I just play this crap. I don't wanna use mages int he bot lane but that's really what it feels like. Either a mage or a tank.

Fashion MageMay 7, 20161 votes

There's a reason I almost exclusively use Soraka and Janna (and sometimes Sona/Nami). They're the only "real" supports in the game. :p