Support Tips for new supports and new players

I know Summer is coming up and with more free time there is more likely going to be more gaming for older players and new. That’s why I chose to make this small support guide with some pretty helpful tips.

Tip1: Make sure you buy a support item at start. Even though this is a self explanatory thing I see a lot of supports start a Dorans item and try to build as a carry. The problem with a Dorans start is you loose a lot of free income. Income is important sense it will be buying you items.

Tip2: Unless you started Relic Shield don’t take your ADC CS (minions). They need it the most sense you will be getting gold any way from your support item. They need the gold to help carry fights and get those big item spikes quick.

Tip3: First back buy. It’s important to make sure you use this push lead. If you know you are gonna get a lot of ganks by enemy jungle rush sight stone. Only rush support upgrade first if you are already in a pretty big lead.

Tip4:Get a trinket sweeper once you have sight stone then upgrade it when you can. A lot of supports tend to not use them or buy them. These are used for clearing wards, traps, and best of all Teemo mushrooms. You can even tell top or jungle to get one to help get vision control.

Tip5: Get a pink ward and encourage your team to do so as well. This is a pretty efficient way of having long term vision. It also helps big time against stealth champions.

Tip6: Ward placement. This is a important thing. It will give you a lot of knowledge of the enemy team roams and jungle pressure. It can deny a huge a mount of ganks while giving your own jungler knowledge to know where to be at the right time.

Tip7: This might not seem important but it is. Be as friendly and encourage your teams good plays and team fights as you can. Its not that hard to say gj when a ally does good. It makes them feel better and the team when they feel that they are performing well and the team appreciates it. On the other hand don’t bash your team and try to end any arguments your team starts quick.

Tip8: As a support you will be the eyes of the map for the most part. Make sure you check the mini map often. Every few seconds if possible. This will let you see incoming ganks and missing enemies more often.

Tip9: Pings are a quick and efficient way to notify your team of problems. Whether you need help, signal the enemy is missing, danger, or target a enemy. It is the fastest way to get your point across with out typing.

Tip10: Type timers of summoners spells. This is a pretty big key to forcing fights. If you know a enemy flash is down it can be a lot easier to get a dive or bank pulled off effectively. Also knowing if a teleport is down is good for objective taking as well. I’ll make it easy for you and tell you flash and teleport are both 5 minute cool downs. That is with out cool down reductions.

Tip11: Zone the enemy out of being able to farm and harass/ zone them. This is a very affective of way of forcing your enemy into a uncomfortable lane phase. It will make them miss cs and experience both giving you the upper hand. Remember to ward though when you are pushed up to prevent ganks.

Tip12: Know your limits. Don’t try to do some big time LCS play. Chances are your team probably aren’t on the same page if you are not on a microphone chat. You will probably die and give up free gold. Try to communicate with team before going to crazy of a play to see if they are ok with trying it.

Tip13: Make sure you take advantage of your leads. Most people especially low elo tend to draw the game out even if they got a lead. Don’t sit on your gold advantage and give the enemy a chance to catch back up. Push your tower in and help other lanes if possible after you take your tower. The more fast you end the less chance you have of the enemy scaling up late game and possibly beating you. Plus it will cause the enemy team to most likely play worst sense they will feel pressured and probably start arguing in chat. Thats what we heavy gamers call tilt. That is when you most likely secured the win already.

Tip14: Every game will be different due to various things. Draft picks, summoners, new players. This is important to note. Make sure you adapt your build path accordingly to your current game needs. If the enemy team has double marksman get a Frozen Heart. If they have a lot of AP damage get a Locket of the Iron Solari.

Tip15: Being a pretty good selection of support available with different style kits make sure you use these things in decision picking during draft pick. What are your teams needs? Do you need a tank? Do you need heals to help your ADC scale to be that late game beast during lane phase? Am I good at this champion? Does this champion ether counter there team in some way or is countered by them?

This is not a tip. Just a list of a few relatively easy supports I recommend for beginner players that are both easy and scale well to late game.

Morgana, Annie, Blitzcrank

I know that I might of and probably did leave some things out. Feel free to add anything you feel will help people be both a better support and player. Thanks for reading and good luck on the rift. =D