Question about Smite and supports

It Hertz When IP·9/18/2015, 9:13:09 PM·1 votes·455 views

My thought... take on a support with , maybe as he has a harder time proccing Relic's passive. At around level 6, buy . It's weaker than , yes, but the tradeoff is more frequent use, increased support for junglers taking Dragon or Baron, the ability to steal enemy jungle camp buffs (assuming your jungler doesn't want them), and being able to more safely/quickly proc Relic charges. Plus you can add Cinderhulk on tanky supports.

Am I nuts/retarded, or could this work?

6 Comments

AwesomeChad9/19/2015, 12:41:40 AM2 votes

[{quoted}](name=Darien Juranas,realm=NA,application-id=WEuoGbmp,discussion-id=Iwv6V2Em,comment-id=,timestamp=2015-09-18T21:13:09.377+0000)

My thought... take on a support with , maybe as he has a harder time proccing Relic's passive. At around level 6, buy . It's weaker than , yes, but the tradeoff is more frequent use, increased support for junglers taking Dragon or Baron, the ability to steal enemy jungle camp buffs (assuming your jungler doesn't want them), and being able to more safely/quickly proc Relic charges. Plus you can add Cinderhulk on tanky supports.

Am I nuts/retarded, or could this work?

Procing item 3302 on Thresh 's autoattacks is a skill you have to learn if you wish to build that item. Depending on summoner 11 to proc relic shield is a waste of a summoner spell and hinders you in the 2v2 scenario where the enemy has the advantage of an extra offensive summoner spell. There are other factors you are not considering:

Smite does more dmg than your autoattack will to the minion, which can cause your minion wave to constantly push towards the enemy's side of the map. This forces you to overextend more often for cs. Being able to "safely" proc relic shield shouldn't depend on having a summoner spell. Again, this should depend on your own skill and wits as a player. Besides, you want to have health pots on hand so you can trade more often and stay in lane longer.
Sure, you do get to secure dragon/baron with a 2nd smite however, you're not accounting for the other situations. Having or even will make a difference in teamfights or any encounters with enemy champions. This happens more frequent than a baron spawning every 7 minutes and dragon spawning every 6 minutes. In general, and are much more limited. The chilling smite has poor CC and dmg compared to ignite. The challenging smite only reduces the dmg the target deals to you which isn't very useful.
If you're planning to steal camps, you still need to understand that you're a support that doesn't deal alot of dmg. Unless you're attempting to steal a camp when the enemy jungler is doing it, you're going to have trouble taking camps without assistance from another ally.
Regarding cinderhulk, you have to realize this item is a very selfish purchase when compared to the general support items players tend to buy that provide extra utility, auras, and defenses to your allies.

IcyPepper9/18/2015, 9:14:48 PM1 votes

Eh, it's not the worst strat ever.

Problem is that complete jungle items aren't really good for supports, sans cinderhulk I suppose. RG might be useful on some mage supports, though.

tseihei9/18/2015, 9:32:01 PM1 votes

Supports get levels the slowest in game. Being that smite scales its damage from levels, being 3 levels behind screws over the entire point of taking smite.

Kei1439/19/2015, 1:11:35 AM1 votes

item 3706 is more of a peel / chase item as it steals move speed. It has its uses against tanky comps because of the true dmg nuke.

item 3715 is what you consider as a mini exhaust. It can be helpful if you are the one tanking the bulk of the enemy dmg, but if they are diving your carries, that skirmishers sabre isn't going to help them one bit, as the active on champs only applies to the damage dealt to you only. Most the time, I prefer exhaust over the skirmishers sabre.