When to take ignite or exhaust as a support

TheAceKicker·2/13/2015, 5:59:51 AM·2 votes·18,609 views

As many can see in the current high ranking games, supports have either been taking exhaust or ignite. Ignite can be taken as a support to increase kill pressure and lane and in late game teamfights, but gives the chance that one particular enemy that is fed to destroy the fight. So, taking ignite as a support summoner is a risk. Another case of taking ignite over exhaust is when the enemy teamcomp doesnt have the type of carries that suffer a lot from exhaust. For example: exhausting a fiora vs exhausting an orianna. Part of the reason support ignites in soloQ are not as prevalent is due to the soloQ factor of one particular enemy member getting fed, so exhaust would be more useful.

11 Comments

Leti the Yeti2/13/2015, 7:05:25 AM1 votes

imo, exhaust will do more than ignite ever will in late game team fights or just team fights in general

notice how nobody ever takes ignite in aram? its all heal/exhaust + flash ;l

CyrosGold2/13/2015, 9:51:49 AM1 votes

I wish more people would look at the merits of Skirmisher's and smite on a auto attack heavy support as an ignite replacement. Not only will it do more true damage(provided you get the auto attacks in) but it grants vision to them for 6 secs and reduces their damage to you by 20% for that time. So champs like Zyra, Annie, Lulu, even some Thresh builds can utilize smite and Skirmisher's. It also provides options through the enchant, If you need tankiness go Jugernaut, need AP and CDR go Magus. You could even build smite and Relic shield and just smite the canon minions early game. Plus a support with smite can help secure objectives and steal Smite Buffs from enemy jungle camps while warding. Like their raptor, gromp, or wolves.

Scramrail2/13/2015, 3:55:55 PM1 votes

Exhaust is an all around safer pick especially in Solo Queue because youre able to use it both offensively during a kill attempt, or defensively during an enemy all-in/gank. Its just an all around better option when you cant rely on your teammates or the enemy has a diver. Another thing to consider is that most of the time (at least for me), your mid laner is going to have ignite. You've got more breathing room if your mid has exhaust, but even then youd be relying on them to not only use it in team fights, but use it on the right target.

Plus I mean, at the end of the day, a kill that can be secured by Ignite could have probably been secured without it except in rare occasions.

Sirin Gioro2/13/2015, 7:51:20 PM1 votes

I only get ignite when I play Thresh and Blitzcrank because of their ridiculously high kill pressure and high damage early (especially for Blitzcrank). Sometimes I do wish that I have taken exhaust instead of ignite though. LOL I really like Ignite for hookers. It makes your match history looks fancier :^)

Exhaust>Ignite teamfight Ignite>Exhaust laning

Texicant2/14/2015, 12:42:51 AM1 votes

exhaust can let a bot support lock down an adc and/or support if they have a stun in addition. as Taric exhaust can give my adc a couple seconds of free damage time. ignite...not so much