Supporting and You : A Compendium by Poro Support
####Introduction: [Please note this is a work in progress and will have a change log featured at the bottom]
Hello and welcome to Poro Support's Supporting Compendium!~ This guide is meant to be all inclusive and will cover topics from who is a support, what they should do, and everything in between. I will also answer any questions not readily/fully addressed below or in game, so please DO NOT hesitate to ask. Even what may seem like a dumb question, can produce the best answer.
So let's waddle on down to Bottom Lane!
#####Table of Contents [Work in progress]
1.) Champion Overview - Who is considered a support currently, and who may see popularity at some point again.
2.) Masteries and Runes - How can I equip my support for the best start possible?
3.) Role - Okay Poro, I've got my champion and pre-game setup, what do I do now!?
4.) ADC (or Marksman) and You: What to expect of each other and how to communicate in a proper fashion.
5.) Itemization - Picking items to suit every scenario.
6.) TBA
7.) TBA
8.) TBA
9.) TBA ?
###1.) Champion Overview So you may be asking, who is considered a support? Currently there are a handful of champions that be considered as a support, however there are only so many that can do the role successfully due to the current meta. I will highlight both the popular champions at the moment, and the champions who were previously successful and may return when the meta shifts to another style of play.
###Currently Popular
Thresh : The support that every support player should be familiar with. Thresh brings just about everything a support could ask for in one kit and every player should at least know how to use him, even if you're not going to 'main' him.
Strengths : Tanky, Early damage, has an engage for his team, provides an escape and multiple forms of CC.
Weaknesses : Weak to early game poke coupled with having to move into fire often to retrieve souls. Has a 'tell' on his death sentence which allows for the enemy to move in time.
Leona : The 'I'm going to jump on you and there's not jack you can do about it' support. Leona comes packed with tankiness and high base damage, coupled with a passive that is made for bottom lane.
Strengths : High base health, resistances due to W, and multiple forms of CC including an AoE stun/slow
Weaknesses : May unintentionally put herself into a bad situation due to jump on Zenith Blade, slow moving with mobility items, after her combo she's left doing nothing but auto attacking.
Morgana : The 'Anti-Support' Support. Morgana always seems to see a rise in popularity any time the support meta shifts due to her 'anti-support' kit.
Strengths : 3 Second Snare on a very small cooldown, CC/Magic Shield, AoE Stun Ult
Weaknesses : Doesn't build tanky, easily focused in fights, shield doesn't stop AD attacks.
Nami : Nami in my opinion is very underrated. She has many favorable matchups bottom lane and brings a wide array of utility for your lane and team.
Strengths : Two CC's, a heal that doubles as an attack, movement boost, lane-width knock up.
Weaknesses : Bubble is semi-slow, very squishy, high cooldowns.
Zyra : Zyra is starting to see play once more as she effectively does quite a bit of damage from range, along with multiple forms of CC. However be careful as she has no inherent escape and position is key with her.
Strengths : Snare/Knockup, Plants can proc Spellthief, Hidden Burst potential
Weaknesses : No escape, Tends to not build utility items opting for damage, higher learning curve than some.
Braum : Braum, our newest addition to the support pool, is the first 'true' tank support who has only one offensive move while the rest of the kit is used to protect his team. Don't let his gentle smile fool you, he packs quite a wallop.
Strengths : Tanky very early and a semi-lane bully due to decent damage on Winter's Bite. Good peel for his team, great at being a meat shield.
Weaknesses : Has trouble with most champions with poke in lane, requires to be fairly close to your ADC (Marksman) at all times which may be a detriment.
###Other Options - Viable but not 'popular'
Janna : Janna is a favorite of mine, and one that takes some getting used to. However the peel and utility she provides is still very useful in the current meta game where everyone seems to have an ability to jump onto your back line.
Strengths : Shield that gives AD steroid, Movement speed on passives, Knockaway and baby heal.
Weakness : Straight utility so damage is minimal, When shield breaks AD steroid goes as well, tends to be considered a 'passive support'
Lulu : Lulu is still very strong for bottom lane as she provides constant harass, however with a popularity gain in mid lane, she isn't seen bottom as much.
Strengths : Long range poke, escape for a team mate / cc, vision gain, health boost / slow on ultimate
Weaknesses : No innate sustain, long-ish cooldowns, weak against sustain lanes.
Karma : Karma, much like Lulu, is a lane bully. She has a ungodly scary level one with Mantra + Q, and excels in poking down the opponent
Strengths : High damage - low cooldown poke, Movement increase + Shield, Slow + Stun.
Weaknesses : Sustain lanes, hard engage, falls off mid/late game with no steady AP gains.
Sona : Sona hasn't seen much play as of a late, however that doesn't mean she is in a state of un-playability. She just hasn't had as much popularity since the gold income changes. Make no mistake though, she can still do her job in bot lane.
Strengths : Auras boosting your allies' stats, high base damage on Q makes for decent poking in lane, AoE stun.
Weaknesses : Requires proper positioning as auras are small, has no real peel for carry outside of a movement boost after ult is used.
[Change Log] 6/3/2014 Guide is started. Plans to have favorable/unfavorable matchups and adcs listed underneath each champion description. Will add more champions tomorrow.
6/4/2014 : Added more champions, collecting feedback on each section. Trying out how people like ability descriptions and tips in one section.
6/10/2014 : Hey guys sorry for the update. I was recently given more responsibility at work that's taken up quite a bit of time. This will be put on slight hold unfortunately.
