Support Flexibility

Kxnlei·7/29/2019, 1:22:39 PM·2 votes·5,176 views

I simply wish to ask if playing support in a different lane is considered a punishable offense? I understand that it's the general idea that they go bot lane with their ADC. However, Riot does not specify that support may only go bottom lane. If I feel my adc is underperforming (in terms of lack of effort, rather than low-quality gameplay) then am I strictly required to stay with them or can I go inhibit another lane where my time will be used more efficiently, helping someone that is also looking to win the game?

29 Comments

Zardo7/29/2019, 1:30:42 PM3 votes

It's not punishable on it's own, but it should be. First off, the adc literally wont be able to get any CS. Second, they'll get 3 player dove. Third, you're soaking xp from champions who need solo xp.

Genuine roaming is fine. You need to go back to lane to prevent dives after you roamed to make plays. If not, you're just shooting yourself in the foot.

C0NCH0BAR7/29/2019, 5:14:50 PM3 votes

It's the same thing junglers are supposed to do: Get the most valuable teammate ahead so that you have a better chance at winning. If your adc is dying or not farming due to harass and all in, then you leave to help the other lanes. There's a good chance after the first turret is pushed the adc can farm bot unhindered (with good vision from the support of course. No need to make their already hard comeback any harder) and get solo experience. If the support leaves bot, then there is also a good chance that after the first turret goes down or even before the enemy support will follow you. This gives your adc a handicapped 1v1 instead of a handicapped 2v2. Much easier to dodge and run from 1 person than 2. More easy to punish mistakes as well. Ganks are much stronger in 2v1's than 3v2's. It all adds up. There are cons, of course, but it's a better for the team.

Cycera8/2/2019, 4:45:15 AM2 votes

So you should definitely protect your adc to the best of your ability until about mid game, then you should be free to roam with the team as that's generally when laning phase is over. You want your adc to get as strong as possible in the early game, but if they simply aren't the carry then they simply aren't the carry and your focus should shift to the strongest member of the team (while, of course, protecting the rest of your team as well). Squishies should be protected always, but if it comes to giving your life, save it for the strongest member, not those who step out of formation.

Lemexis7/29/2019, 1:45:36 PM1 votes

I did this myself when playing support, and have witnessed it several times, and I think it should definitely not be punishable. And as of right now, I highly doubt that you can get validly reported for trolling when doing that.

I like to be pragmatic and just ask myself whether what I want to do will increase the team's chances of winning or not. If it does, then I should do that. And you're right : sometimes the ADC is absolutely terrible, and for the time I spent maining support, I can tell for sure that in this case, you're wasting your potential by sticking to them, and you can achieve much more by supporting a good laner so that he may snowball harder.

Then again, I'm just some random player, and I'm in bronze, so take what I'm saying for what it is : just an opinion.

Alpacus7/30/2019, 8:11:19 PM1 votes

Situational. Like your main priority early game is supporting your carry to get him to carry but when you realise your carry won't be able to do that you should focus your attention as soon as the laning phase ends towards the guy who'll most likely carry your team. In my case the guy I duo with a lot plays midlane and is really good do during midgame I tend to hang with him more than my ADC. At this point in the game your ADC is usually able to solo farm so sticking with the guy that most likely will get targeted by the enemy is imo a better option than running behind like a lovesick puppy and meanwhile you have the rest of the team going downhill.