From one support to another; how do y'all keep your cool?

Milky Thighs·2/13/2019, 12:41:47 AM·29 votes·19,232 views

I won't lie, I'm a woman with a temper as short as I stand (cries in exactly 5 ft.) But really, I don't know how fellow supports keep their cool with ADCs toxic as they come and dumb as a sack of potatoes. It's like, I really want to win, but clearly they don't. I generally play Nami, give good stuns and initiations for people, but they just spectate. I'm pretty on-point with Nami and most other enchanters, but I can't seem to coax my ADCs into the delightful idea of trying to win the lane. And then they fuck up and I finally blow up on them. I'm not sure how to deal with the monotony of solo queue. I've tried duo'ing, but it seems everyone ends up getting bored of me. Maybe I should put up my mantle as the Gold 5 Nami main? [sona-playing]

112 Comments

The thigh guy2/13/2019, 12:50:16 AM25 votes

Tbh it’s a matter of accepting 99/100 my teammates are a bunch of corndogs who somehow achieved sentience.

Nice name btw

BottleCapster2/13/2019, 8:18:00 PM14 votes

Sit down child, it's time for a talk.

I've been supporting for around 6 years or so, and you see a lot in this role you really do. What's important though, is to make sure you're focusing on what you can do, how you can improve, and where your time is best placed.

ADCs are a varied bunch, some are really dumb, and some are absolute monsters, and you can't expect to get the latter every time you queue up. That said, some ADCs are dumb because they're overconfident, and some need guidance. Good communication with your carry can make the difference between a hellish lane phase, and something resembling actual teamwork. When you can, try and get on the same level as to where you and your carry want to be. If you don't feel confident in trading, let them know, If you think they're being too aggressive gently warn them that you either can't or won't match that aggression. Being honest, but sympathetic tends to be how I keep a lot of my carries out of trouble, and honestly I've found that I rarely get flamed. By and large I do feel that the vast majority of Marksmen I've played with over the years have been great people, with only the occasional bad apple.

Second, establish rapport. I can't stress this enough, supports often complain about not getting enough credit for doing good things, well sometimes you have to give to receive, and in this case, it can really help your carry if you compliment them on things they do right. Not only do a lot of people reciprocate the compliment, especially if the two of you are doing well, but I find it makes them trust you a bit more, because they know you're not just on their asses because you hate them. A little bit of trust can go a long way, and help lend that critical bit of validity to criticism you do give, and can help both of you be in a position to adjust to the other's needs. You don't have to kiss ass, just a simple acknowledgment of things they do right, generally kills, CS, etc.

Third, some Marksmen are just completely too far gone. Either they're tilted to the moon, or they're just not very good people to partner with. If a Marksman decides that they're going to spew nothing but ridicule, then make use of the mute button. An ally who is more likely to tilt you, is likely more detrimental to your play than any potential insights they might give later down the line. If they're assholes, but are doing well, continue to support them so long as its beneficial to the team. If they're tilting and they're really bad, come mid-game once you aren't bound by lanes, seek out the most impactful member of your team and attempt to help snowball their lead instead. Supporting the Marksmen is part of our job, but our overarching role has always been to "Keep the damage rolling". If the marksmen isn't the source of damage that needs protecting, you don't always need to go out of your way to save them, especially if you fed mid who is cooperating with you might be better served by your protection and CC. Just because you start with the carry doesn't always mean you have to stay with the carry, especially if they aren't....y'know...carrying?

Final tid-bit. Always remember that you aren't going to win every game. Ideally you win more than you lose, but remember that part of the whole experience is learning how to improve. If you're losing, that generally means there are things you can improve on. Just because we aren't the main damage dealers doesn't mean we have no agency as to how our games go. Sometimes it's about roaming and finding good places to help snowball more competent players. Sometimes it's about being able to talk a team of misfits into getting their acts together. We're a powerful asset to any team we're on, so we have as much say as anyone whether we win or lose. Focus on what you might be able to improve, and gradually as you get better, you'll find yourself being able to handle situations which seemed completely unwinnable to the you of the past.

Bard Also Pick up Bard because he's great, no I'm not biased Bard

Yordle Xayah2/13/2019, 5:53:58 PM14 votes

Hi, I'm an ADC main. It's a bit frustrating to know that a post like this is an actual trend on the boards.

Supports are allowed to insult and blame us for toxicity and lanes going poorly, but I rarely see supports admit to any kind of mistake. I know I'm setting myself for failure and a rain of down votes with this one, but this attitude of blaming us for every bad lane you have isn't helping anybody.

I've been playing since 2012, ADC since 2014, and I've never had a toxicity-related problem. Not once. I'm also a player who will ALWAYS prioritize honor and commendations towards my support. I don't care that our Mid Irelia went 59/0/23 and carried the game, I'll still commend my Support. I don't question people for weird support picks. I'll never EVER flame a single support player for taking any kill in lane. There's no such thing as a "KS" which was a term used by raging kids in season one who thought the game was another Team Deathmatch game. Everytime a Support apologizes to me about taking a kill, I'll tell them to not apologize for such a thing. I'll also always let them get ward-kill gold. And yet, the amount of times that I've had to deal with supports screwing me over would make for a funny post, including some of the following situations:

  • Support flames me for not following them into an ill advised fight. Examples include engaging when we're at half HP or low on mana, engaging a Draven or Lucian that have level and item advantage, attempting to fight in lane when I'm on my way from base to then ping me in rage because they engaged too early.
  • Leaving me to rot 1v2 and "teach me a lesson" because I did one of the following: Asked them to play more passively. Asked them to please stop attacking the minions so I can control my wave. Asked them to play more aggressively when we have a clear lead.
  • Support player will make a bad roam. They'll decide to leave as our mid player is recalling. They arrive mid when there's literally nothing to be done and our Jungler isn't even going for an invade and is at the other side of the jungle. Playing against oppressive lanes that know how to freeze, this often results in a nearly unplayable laning stage, as I can't get close enough to farm and I'm being zoned by Draven/Nami or whatever. But if I ask my Support to please not leave me alone, I'm called a toxic idiot who doesn't know how to play safe, with the player not realizing how much a 1v2 frozen lane actually hurts any ADC.
  • Support decides they're the "real" carry and start taking CS. Unlike what some of you may think, doing this won't make you stronger. It'll only make the both of us weaker. We'll be sharing CS in a lane where enemy ADC will be getting all the gold for themselves, and heading into the mid game, maybe you'll be alright as you don't need as much gold, but we do. CS gold is our bread and butter, and when you do this, you're only slowing us down and directly jeopardizing the team.
  • This is the most rare, but sometimes I really get a support that is absurdly clueless. Yesterday I had to deal with two different kinds of supports. One was an over-eager Nidalee, who dove the enemy 1v3 several times to get a kill. The other one was a Blitz who after being chunked half health by Varus/Soraka, would just run into them unable to land a single hook, and this is no exaggeration. He would make you Blitz mains cringe. Of these two, I'll take the eager Nidalee 10 out of 10 games. She may have been insane, but she at least had a plan, stayed with me without pointless roams... then actually roamed to help when the time was right, and did get some useful kills for the whole team. It's rare that I get a Support as clueless as that Blitz, but yes: the support position isn't immune to these kinds of players, except because we're a duo lane, that player will drag the both of us together. Did I flame Blitz? No. But it wasn't a fun lane/game for me.

If any of the above happen and I end up in a weak mid-game phase, starved for gold and items, it's apparently never the support's fault. It's never their bad roams, ill-advised engages or bad plays. It's always my fault because the other person is just "the poor support doing their best". I don't want anyone's pity, I just want responsibilities assumed. I'm only as strong as my support is. I won't flame you, but I expect you to realize when you've made a mistake.

If you're going into the game with a mentality of "ADCs toxic as they come and dumb as a sack of potatoes" then it's no wonder you get frustrated so easily. Of the times I've had to play Support in ranked, I've rarely (if ever) have had to deal with a really toxic ADC, yet for a couple rotten apples you wanna put us all in the same basket? I come into every game trusting my Support, regardless of previous experiences. I'll always try to be amicable when trying to fix an ongoing problem in lane and will never call people "Stupid" or any names like that.

You guys as support mains wanna claim respect but don't seem interested in giving it back. Not every ADC is how you paint us, and you too are capable of making mistakes.

Less insulting, more open minds please.

Thank you and take care. Tristana

jocomotion2/13/2019, 4:59:49 PM11 votes

I’m no longer a support main but I found that if one guy on my team just ABSOLUTELY sucks. (Obviously usually the ADC is the first one realized) I’d place them in what I like to call the “low priority” meaning I’d help and fight with them, but only if it’s not risking anything for our teams main carry, whoever that may be.

Say you’re like 0/2/6 and the ADC is 1/4/2 with 40 CS behind, you just can’t seem to work with this person, whatever that’s fine, if the mid laner’s ahead 60 CS and 3 kills, getting them ahead and protecting THEM is your new priority.

Tldr if they suck ditch them

L Psy Kongroo2/13/2019, 12:52:02 AM10 votes

[{quoted}](name=Milky Thighs,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=xAtRXQha,comment-id=,timestamp=2019-02-13T00:41:47.463+0000)

I really want to win

There's your problem right there. You want to win too badly. Once you accept mediocrity, things get much easier. I main jungle, but support is my secondary, and I can tell you right now that your desire to win is inversely proportional to your happiness levels. Just take it easy, completely ignore the fact that it's a competition, and play for fun. /muteall in chat at the start of the game, put on some of your favorite music, and just play for the sake of playing.

Bârd2/13/2019, 7:39:40 PM6 votes
  1. Play Bard.
  2. Identify when your lane is a lost cause.
  3. That is no longer your lane.
Boltonator2/13/2019, 12:50:21 AM5 votes

If I get frustrated and lose a lot I play against the AI. AI will not mock you for making mistakes, will not pick grossly overwhelming champions and even have the decency to congratulate you after you smash their teeth in.Lulu

Spiced Rum2/13/2019, 6:07:09 PM5 votes

that's the worst part about bot lane. ADC or Support it doesn't matter. You both have to click well. You both have to not be toxic to another. it's very struggling and frustrating queueing up solo for bot lane. If you see an adc you did well with and they were chill, add them and ask for duo. it can take numerous games of suffering before you find the right duo partner for bot. but once you find that support/adc it gets better. keep the adc's you meet added and see if any of them will queue up. don't have to stick to one adc.

Rustypug2/13/2019, 3:05:39 PM3 votes

if my adc is being a douche i just think "fine ill do it myself" and build full ad/ap Bard item 3100 item 3115 for example ill also take support champs into other lanes just so i can get a better feel for them pyke, for example, is my favorite mid laner because I just feel more comfortable playing him if my adc starts shit talking me ill just tell them to nut in my butt "holy shit rusty youre so bad" "dude adc bro bust a fat load right into my ass please bro im fucking begging you" when my adc is being a douche i just roam whenever i can and help mid you cant let your adcs drag you down people suck if you can get a friend who will understand what youre trying to do and know when you want to engage i main support but if you want a shit bronze adc you can hit me up I play jinx and tristana for my adcs and jhin and my graves adc is pretty fun i can duo with you if you slide me a friend request, i play on the weekends after i get off work i prefer tank supports but enchanters are my favorite to play with

Wild Geese2/14/2019, 8:07:05 PM2 votes

ADC main here.. it cuts both ways of course, it is a duo lane and if one person is flaming the other it gets ugly...

Best thing you can do is just give a person the benefit of the doubt, if they do something dumb give them advice don't flame them. Make it clear how you'd like the lane to be played. If they have a different opinion consider it.

If their reaction to that advice is like "fuck you" then mute them. Hell if the lane is going badly enough go roam somewhere else (preferably mid since top Laners a are often antisocial aholes lol, so ask them first) supports had the option to roam unlike adcs., So use it.

Tuition Fee2/13/2019, 5:38:29 AM2 votes

Keep a punching bag in your room

grayamir2/13/2019, 11:23:13 PM2 votes

Keep calm and play Bard

You just have to accept that sometimes the person you're playing with isn't going to be the strongest player with their role/champ, which can cause them to act toxic out of frustration. In most cases you should identify the best player on your team and focus on supporting them, whenever you're able, to help them carry instead.

MeilinII2/13/2019, 11:45:17 PM2 votes

[{quoted}](name=Milky Thighs,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=xAtRXQha,comment-id=,timestamp=2019-02-13T00:41:47.463+0000)

I won't lie, I'm a woman with a temper as short as I stand (cries in exactly 5 ft.)

I generally play Nami,

I'm sorry are you me?

I play with my best friend IRL, and play ARAM or sometimes mid the rest of the time TBH. Playing support with a strange ADC is russian roulette.

Troll Slaiyer2/14/2019, 2:51:47 AM2 votes

dont worry about winning that much. just be happy when u play well and move on.

nyakasgoods2/14/2019, 3:36:51 AM2 votes

Fiddlesticks.

A lot of Fiddlesticks.

Adc is an optional accessory for the first 25 minutes and you're so cheesy the enemy team is more pissed off than you are.

Seenan2/14/2019, 5:14:23 PM2 votes

/mute

Bardmageddon2/14/2019, 8:14:08 PM1 votes

Play Bard Allies won't flame you out of fear of being ulted at a bad time

zaire902/15/2019, 9:08:37 AM1 votes

You don't keep your cool you rage all you want. Just dont say it in game and play normally,see where you can try to help see who on your team is your win con and play around that.

I am Bardo Bard2/15/2019, 3:19:46 PM1 votes

I just keep wandering around. Also, I mute them and usually their pings in EVERY game (as the most pings are "?"). Bardo is a big daddy and kind of a authority in my eyes, and I pretty much play like that. If they are absolutely terrible, I collect chimes, place heal shrines and look at top. Until my bottom laner might calm his attitude and realizes he can't do anything, I migh come back. But I rather help top or mid than getting abused. Works in average MMR.

USG Failsawce2/15/2019, 4:55:16 PM1 votes

I was gonna come into this thread and tell you to stop picking mage supports, especially lux support, like the jackass troll that I am (with plenty of truth tho). But you actually play healer and 'support' champs, like I do as a plat support main (tho I prob play more tanks). I also play a fuckton of adc so I can relate to both sides.. I've seen quite a few toxic supports as well, but generally adcs are the worse ones.

I can understand the temper thing too, but it's true what people say.. just mute, or even better than that.. get into a mindset where the toxic things adcs say are laughable to you. since you most likely do know better than the bad ones who are legitimately being toxic. give em the "Lol" response when they type out this big essay about how shit you are and your decisions. You'll feel better about it, and they might just stfu ;)

What to do about the problem? honestly.. op.gg your team before the match starts, that's right.. all fucking 4 of em. do this during champ select after highlighting your pick. your adc first. If said adc has a 20% wr on their highlighted pick with an overall 1.17 kda.. just dodge. that game won't go well for you, won't be fun, and you'll only lose 3 LP for it. If they're decent normally, but extremely toxic in game or have a bad game.. find the person on your team that either is the smurf, the best player, or is currently doing the best and then roam to their lane.. even if it's top. once laning is over, stick to that person and get shit done.

this is what i do when things go bad bot, generally even if my adc isn't being toxic. you just have to know when to rotate/roam/macro to the players who have the edge.

Greenette2/15/2019, 6:00:35 PM1 votes

You have to learn to adapt to your current adc's style, if your play style is aggro and theirs isn't you'll just die on your engages no matter how good they are. Even if you have a carry who is suppose to bully the lane you can't force the ad to do his job.

Also, I think only players use to bot/carry roles understand just how aggressive you have to be to win 2v2, or even understand that closing a kill is easy if you continue to fight after they back off. It took me a long time to transition from the trade/trade/all-in cycle of of the solo lanes to just simply all-inning 2v2.

But the best advice is to duo. Find an ad you can trust decently to be aggro or at least follow your calls. Will make the experience much better.

RebeccaUCuber2/15/2019, 6:14:45 PM1 votes

Lissandra

Glacier Gang 0502/15/2019, 6:21:32 PM1 votes

If your adc is a %%%%, use the god given right to mute his ass up and play the game. Literally, if he flames once, fine, let him. The second time he starts talking shit just mute him and continue. Fuck him. Be on the lane as long as you need to, get those mobi boots and roam around the map. If you see someone in your team is a potential carry, go with them, roam, get them a kill, a lead, whatever, and move on. Yeah, your adc will cry, flame, but guess what? You won't see it cause the fucker is muted. Cheers

Shirvallah2/15/2019, 7:59:37 PM1 votes

Me: “I don’t. Next question.”

[sg-shisa] [sg-zephyr]

TKM Axe2/15/2019, 8:20:57 PM1 votes

every time some flame me i just respond with "ok cool :)"

DontTouchMyBall2/15/2019, 8:47:58 PM1 votes

You complaining? Then try to be an off-meta support, things would get much much worse, trust me. Be 0/0/10 and have your team still blame the loss on you cuz "troll support pick hex fukin deee" [slayer-jinx-wink]

Deliberate Inter2/15/2019, 10:05:38 PM1 votes

I have fun. Take a little pride in doing your best and making decisions towards winning, there's a lot of joy to be had in just your game and your responsibilities. And if I may add, try a gym membership, happiness comes with fitness, if that isn't already something you hafe.

TyroneWatermelon2/16/2019, 12:02:08 AM1 votes

I quit ranked long ago but you just need to accept that fact that your teammates will always be a bunch of random apes, champion balance is underwhelming and the matchmaking is responsible for the majority of the match's happening. league's non esports ranked is a joke and a terrible experience and i wouldn't play even if I was being paid to.

Silent Reaper2/16/2019, 12:02:33 AM1 votes

I've been a support main since before season 1 and my wife is one too... It really depends in your personality.

I consider everyone who complains to be a 5 year old kid and either laugh at them and their insults or just ignore them.

If you're like my wife whose temper is shorter than a match stick, it's easiest to just mute everyone at the start of game. Honestly chat isn't that necessary since pings exist

Kasyrgan2/16/2019, 1:45:11 AM1 votes

I don't. If the adc is bad I mute them and leave. I go support the mid lane and roam around with the jg. No use trying to help a goomba get ahead when they just want to get mediocre farm and int.