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Support tips?

Ralanr··2 votes·814 views

So I've been having a losing streak when playing support lately. I used to be able to do fine, but now I just seem to get blown up too much in the early game to be useful. I normally play Nautilus support, but I've been having problems landing hooks. Basically my opponents know to be behind their minions often enough that I get hook happy and end up hooking the first person I get, which ends up being a poor mistake as I get too close to their enemy team. Plus combined with being on red side (which isn't always) it becomes frustrating to land hooks with the HUD in the way.

Other supports I play are: Leona (not as much anymore since I tended to die when I dived in) Bard (when I don't have to play a tank. Which is rare) and Blitzcrank (who suffers the same hook problem).

I own supports such as: Alistar Lux Thresh Braum but I don't play them for certain reasons (Alistar has led to more fuck ups than I'd like to admit. Lux is too squishy for me. Thresh has the hook problem and I'm starting to think I should learn more than hook shots. And playing as Braum makes me feel like I'm having a heart attack due to how aggressive people can be sometimes (knowing when and when not to shield and jump is a big worry for me).

So does anyone have any tips or champs they could recommend for supporting that might help me out? I tend to focus tanks with CC, but I can't seem to utilize it enough early game to keep my carry alive or keep the enemy stable. I have half a mind to just play Sion support out of frustration.

14 Comments

Emmy Cha0s4 votes

It could just be a string of bad luck or you're in a slump. Just keep doing what you're doing, but take a more methodical approach and learn to relax a bit more and you'll figure out what you're doing wrong. Perhaps change your runes and masteries up a bit and see if anything feels better to use. Of course, you can try a new champ and see if you like how any of them feels. Pretty much every support EXCEPT Sona is viable, so your options are literally anyone that IS NOT her, even most off-supports are better choices. If someone works for you, just go ahead and use them even if a bit unconventional.

As an ADC main, I've learned to keep an open mind regarding the support's champion choices. So long as they aren't picking Sona, I'm always more than happy to give them the benefit of the doubt if they want to pick things like Zac, Heimerdinger, Lee Sin or whoever. They're all more viable options than her, especially if the person knows how to play them exceptionally well.

HamerDrunk3 votes

i find that Lulu is a great all round support that can get you started she has good poke shielding and her ult can safe the day

oh and about the hook champs its not Always imporrtant to land a hook you can zone them just by not having it on cd just you and you're adc move up there minion wave a bit and zone out also ask you're adc not to push the lane and hope he does it

Athenes Lulu2 votes

Though you have to be real smart when playing Lulu, remember that poking willy-nilly isn't everything.

It also involves timing your shields/polymorph, mana management, and looking out for ganks. She is one of the easiest supports to gank because of her lack of reliable cc that can get both parties to safety; being slowed doesn't mean anything, you can literally throw a hook/lockdown to secure the gank.

AHarmlessTaco2 votes

Take some time off and play Janna Nami SonaSoraka and get used to dodging hooks and watching your fragile team mates. From playing these kinds of supports into hook lanes I can pretty much tell you every opportunity the enemy support has to land a hook because those are the times I get scared. Then as the hooker you'll know better times to throw the hooks and who to aim for and when.

Also, watch minion waves and health more closely. Intentionally wait for a wave to die or for a particular minion to die then throw your hook. Simply walk throughhhh the minions before throwing a hook... sometimes people don't expect that, especially when proc'cing relic. Also, watch your ADC super well and make sure you ping before you go in. The ADC needs to be in range for you to get substantial damage off.

And of course, look at who has the level/gold advantage. If you are behind, just don't go in. Wait for your jungler. On the flip side, if you're ahead, practice zoning. Just having the hook available is as good as using it sometimes.

Ralanr1 votes

Thanks for the advice!

AHarmlessTaco1 votes

Yeah no problem.... not sure why I got downvoted.... I hit G5 in the preseason and I have mained support for 3 seasons with Mastery 5 on Blitz/Naut/Thresh/Soraka/Janna/Alistar/Braum and Mastery 4 Shen/Nami....... if that means anything.

Ralanr1 votes

I'm not sure either. Though I think some people just like downvoting.

PapaGreg212 votes

I have about 50k mastery on Nautilus support so I know some things about him. It is easy to think you are "failing" as a support because you aren't landing hooks on enemy champions in lane but remember that you are primarily there to let your adc farm. You don't necessarily need to harass at all to win lane as long as you are warding river and effectively peeling. Your only offense should be if the enemy gets out of position and you can punish them. If they are staying in good position just let it be and don't force the issue.

Fanny Forecast2 votes

You sound like, what Emmo Chaos said, you're in a slump or just bad luck. Take a couple days off League is my recommendation, relax, read, sleep, then go back.

Skuttlz1 votes

Hi, I am a support main that was in platinum promos at the end of last season. This Meta has changed so much with the new items and the pace of the game. Especially with items like item 1038 (Being cheaper). The main thing to keep in mind is that this Meta is extremely snowbally. The best thing to do as a support right now is keep your adc alive and let them farm, especially in the early game! (Basically, only all-in if your opponent has blown summoner spells or you have an hp/mana advantage. When you KNOW the trade will favor you.) Remember, Have patience. All things are difficult before they become easy. The people that you play, such as Nautilus or Blitzcrank take a lot of skill of knowing when to engage or not to engage. Also landing skillshots on any of these champions take SOME skill. As Nautilus you will probably find it easier if you play passive early, as his w shield is not as strong in the early game. But a hook on either champion in the mid/late (or even early if you can win the fight) will snowball into an advantaged team fight, an item, or an objective. Blitzcrank Blows summoner spells early because most people in lower elo panic flash if you grab them at level 1 or 2. However, be warned that if your team falls behind and you are a blitz, you are useless unless you grab a carry. If you are planning on playing Braum always remember that his disengage is some of the best in the game with glacial fissure and unbreakable (ult and e). You cvan also use them to catch someone, as the ult knocks up the first person hit when its in the line. My personal favorite is Thresh . The Box is immensly powerful at the first time you level it, having 250 base damage and a massive slow. Also, landing hooks is extremely satisfying in lane and in teamfights. Flay can also be used to stop dashing enemies when timed correctly.

Bard is another favorite of mine. Having some of the best harass as a support with his empowered autos and being able to roam and never run out of mana or be under leveled as long as you get chimes.

Probably one of the strong supports right now is Zilean . With item 3147 being out and everyone picking ALOT more assassins, zilean's ultimate is the best counter, along with his bomb stun.

Finally, squishy supports, such as Lux Janna Nami Brand In my opinion are just too squishy to play right now. I remember a zed being 0-5 roaming bot and I was playing Janna. He 2 shot me with a shadow e, an aa, and duskblade proc. (I even landed the tornado and ulted him away)

Hope this helps! [slayer-pantheon-thumbs]

Original Quitter1 votes

Try Trundle or Volibear support. They are both very very forgiving champions. Trundle has a weak early game but once you like 5ish and you have a bit of armor you are suddenly unkillable. Voli just straight up first bloods people from support, especially at low elo where people do not pay attention to summoner skills.

Trundle is probably one of the absolute best supports in the game right now, most teams are full of squishy dps champs, leaving a single tank on the team and trundle eliminates the enemy ability to tank in mid game which can win so many fihts its funny. Gold and down most players will not account for the trundle ult and they will dive, ult them and go ham.

Ralanr2 votes

I seriously don't understand how Trundle support works. Or Poppy.

We have weird supports now.

Athenes Lulu1 votes

You have to be real patient and keep your eye out for opportunities to fish for enemies for possible kills. More importantly, you need to make sure that your ADC is also "mentally prepared" to go all-in.

For instance, when there's a big fat wave and if you land a hook, chances are your ADC is not gonna go in right away, and plus you will also be taking lots of unnecessary minion damage.

You actually don't have to switch your own gears and play the squishy supports if you find yourself extremely uncomfortable playing them, especially since tankier supports usually don't screw up team comps.

Also you can always try Taric, especially in a meta where people somehow let full AD comps pass. Point and click stun, actually tanky, decent heals to make yourself/your ADC die less, and you can always be THE carry because Taric is fabulous.

Tahm Kench is also not bad. His engage is a bit safer and mistakes can be easily erased (I forgot how long his Q CD was but I know it's short), your peels are hilariously insane (free zhonyas for your stupid ally what's not to give?), you are actually not easy to kill, and your passive... no one knows why it lasts so long. Though the only problem is he is often banned in low elo, and permaban higher up. Did I mention he can carry too?

Beldair1 votes

If you ever need help with Braum, i can help ya there. I am Braum main.

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