What Champions Can Function as a Second Support?

EkkoFroffles·Sep 9, 2015·2 votes·1,655 views

As a newly minted support main who's played 99.99% support the past 2-3 months, I decided today that, rather than trying to completely relearn the other roles, I'd instead find a middle-ground by playing as if I was another support. That means focusing on those champions who function as a second support, in essence, and I was trying to figure out who that'd be. I think the following is all of them, but I worry I'm forgetting one or more and so I thought I'd just ask the forums.

For all of these, it's when they're not played as support, obviously.

20 Comments

5000000000000000Sep 9, 20152 votes

I'm on the same boat! Generally, when you want to play another lane but like a support, jungler with sightstone is pretty good. I'm not just talking about Lee Sin and his ward jumps. Counter jungle Nunu can use sightstone really well, for example. You'll also like utility champions like you've listed above, and to add to the list, there's Ashe and Sivir. Ashe for permaslow, vision, and decent initiation, and Sivir mostly for initiation. I think you should also look into Malzahar and Fiddlesticks.

EkkoFrofflesSep 9, 20151 votes

I love Malz, and Fiddle's a champ I'll probably try in lane at some point. Can't see myself making it work in the jungle.

XinZhao2WinNhaoSep 9, 20151 votes

Ashe

EkkoFrofflesSep 9, 20151 votes

Was thinking about her and Sivir. They're about as close as you get from the ADC position, since they're picked largely for their utility. Now if I can just learn not to suck with them. Heh.

XinZhao2WinNhaoSep 9, 20151 votes

{quoted}

Was thinking about her and Sivir. They're about as close as you get from the ADC position, since they're picked largely for their utility. Now if I can just learn not to suck with them. Heh.

if there's an assassin on your team like Fizz and Katarina every ADC becomes a support

EkkoFrofflesSep 9, 20151 votes

If you have a fed player on your team, everyone becomes a "support." That's not what I'm after, though. Everyone can "support" their teammates, helping them get fed and/or win. But ADCs like Ashe and Sivir have the sort of utility that can keep them relevant, and make them an asset, even if they're not the one getting fed. Ashe has an ability that can give you tons of (momentary) vision and do so quickly, a global skillshot that's amazing for making picks, and slows. Sivir is the best ADC when it comes to engaging teamfights. That's the sort of stuff I'm after. The champions in each role who come the closest to being a support, even when they're not playing support.

Lord of VendettaSep 9, 20151 votes

{quoted}

If you have a fed player on your team, everyone becomes a "support." That's not what I'm after, though. Everyone can "support" their teammates, helping them get fed and/or win. But ADCs like Ashe and Sivir have the sort of utility that can keep them relevant, and make them an asset, even if they're not the one getting fed. Ashe has an ability that can give you tons of (momentary) vision and do so quickly, a global skillshot that's amazing for making picks, and slows. Sivir is the best ADC when it comes to engaging teamfights. That's the sort of stuff I'm after. The champions in each role who come the closest to being a support, even when they're not playing support.

thats not what im talking about

im talking about how most adcs don't really have any quick burst so it's hard for them to secure the last hit on kills against an assassin who does

DarkRitualSep 9, 20151 votes

Lux, Ekko, Poppy. Technically any jungler, since half of your job is to get the carries fed.

EkkoFrofflesSep 9, 20151 votes

Technically, yeah. But I'm looking for champions who tend to function best at setting others up. Malphite with his ult, Orianna with her ult (and shield), Lissandra with all her CC, etc. You can do things on your own with champions like them, sure, but they often rival the support in assists simply because of the nature of their kits.

Ekko sort of falls into that category, especially since his nerfs. He's not as much of a carry threat now, but with all his CC, and the potential for a multi-person stun, he can act like a support for his team, setting up the plays and letting his teammates finish the job. He and Lux were two I debated including on the list. Poppy, on the other hand, just seems like the sort of champion who's only relevant when she gets fed and can just go stomp the entire enemy team by ulting their weakest member and then going off.

HavenscytheSep 9, 20151 votes

Vel'koz, Zyra, Anivia, Nidalee

EkkoFrofflesSep 9, 20151 votes

I'll give you Anivia. Vel'Koz... eh, he can be played support, since he has a slow, a knock-up, reliable damage, and range... but if I'm playing him mid lane, I'm going APC, not trying to treat him as another support for my team. If I could play Zyra at all, I might take her mid and she'd be decent at acting as another support, but I'm trash with her and Nidalee (who, like Vel'Koz, seems to lean more towards "carry" than "support" when she's not actually playing support).

JcrcmiahSep 9, 20151 votes

I've seen a these champions as supp in plat. Heimerdinger Anivia Kennen Nidalee Velkoz Zyra Syndra Lux MissFortune Shaco Syndra Trundle

EkkoFrofflesSep 9, 20151 votes

Practically anyone can support, as another user said, if they have any form of CC. And I intend to play some more odd-ball "supports" here soon. Mainly been working on learning more meta supports first, but am almost done and intend to toy around with stuff like Ekko support once I am. But, for the purposes of this, I'm looking more for champions who feel more support-like than that. Champions like Malphite and Orianna, who you can play support if you so desire, but whose playstyle and kit seems built around them setting their teammates up more than doing all the work themselves.

Aeolian MelodiesSep 9, 20151 votes

Considering the current state of support champions compared to mages and tanks?

Anyone with flippin' CC can efficiently support if you can play the champ.

Rabid HuskySep 9, 20151 votes

Sion Ekko Darius Volibear also work

TulareSep 9, 20151 votes

Of those that you mentioned, I consider Annie , Karma , Lulu , Morgana , and TahmKench to be 100% legitimate as support without any further qualification.

Of those you've mentioned, I think that Galio , Kayle , Nautilus , Orianna , and Nunu are all solid, viable choices. They're more niche and you should carefully consider what specific tools they add to enhance your team or counter the enemy team before choosing them.

To your list, I would also add the following. They're not always great support picks and you can be certain that your team won't always understand how to play with your strengths. I'd suggest reserving them for normal games. When they work, they're surprising and a lot of fun. Aatrox , Gragas , Urgot , TwistedFate , Volibear

EkkoFrofflesSep 9, 20151 votes

I'm looking for champions who function essentially as a support even when they're not going support. Malphite top/jungle is there to set things up for his team with his ult, as is Orianna. That's what I'm after. Not unconventional picks for support. Thanks for the time and effort, though!

TulareSep 9, 20151 votes

All of them still qualify, though. Being an unconventional support pick just means that they have the right tools for the job. Even though I answered in terms of unconventional supports, my picks still qualify. Playing Nautilus jungle, Aatrox top, Galio or Kayle mid, I still often find myself in the late game providing support functionality to whomever has emerged as the team's carry.

EkkoFrofflesSep 9, 20151 votes

I just don't personally see Aatrox or Urgot as filling that role. Obviously I agree with most of the others, though, since you were seconding many of my mentions.

FaurbolienSep 9, 20151 votes

I play Urgot as support. He works VERY well. I am not the best player, but I have had better luck with him there than I have had top or jg many times. His auto 15% dr, the slow, the ar reducer, and the position switcher have all helped me help the adc get first kill and MUCH more. I build him just like I do my topgot, but depending on the game change the way I pick my skill when leveling. More of a slow or armor reduction can help my adc than my total damage output. I also rush Ruunans after my tear. Helps spread the debuff better.

Also people just seem to fear the GOT and it helps to keep the other side away from the action thus preventing them from leveling like you do.