Support Role (for non-support mains and help for supports) + Game phases/ect. Tips New player

After playing this game for about a year or so (not counting my 7month break), I have fallen into loving the role of support. Many non-support mains blame the support for anything that goes wrong in the laning phase. Which sometimes can be anyone's fault. Every type of support has a niche role and I think it is important for the community to understand some basic structures to help add to strategies.

Generally, There are 3 types of supports (with sub-categories) -Note some supports can fit into more than one category

1. The tanky - CC support (CC stands for Crowd control like a stun or root) For example... Nautilus , Thresh , Zac (Very under rated but still useful in some team comps) , Leona , Taric , and Alistar .

These tanky supports (typically) have the largest impact on the mid or late game (with the exception of who can quickly snowball an adc with his mad hooks in the early game). The tanky supports have such a large impact on the mid and late game due to their Team fighting "kits". Most Tanky supports can be in the middle the action (fighting) for an extended period of time and CC 3 or more of the enemy team players. If the other team focuses your support, (your team) should focus their damage dealers. Prioritize a fed or the enemy adc because they will be able to "carry" if they are alive. These tanky supports benefit the most from --> and the -> . The shield is great because you are able to keep yourself or a teammate alive longer due to the active shield. this can help give your ADC the extra 1 second it takes to kill the enemy ADC (while keeping yours alive with a sliver of health). The coin/Talisman of ascension very useful for an engage or disengage (starting a team fight or allowing your team to flee a fight safely). The tanky supports can also help your team take down towers due to the large amount of HP. If 2 or 3 teammates are attacking a tower (without minions) the tank can take most of the turret damage so that your team can secure a tower. If you are the tanky support make sure to ping the tower, and communicate to your team so that they can follow up with your plan.

2. The Bursty/Poke - (usually have stuns/roots/CC) For example... Annie , Karma , Blitzcrank (who also can fit into the 1st category depending on how he is built), Morgana , Lulu , and Lux .

These Bursty/Poke supports are typically strongest early game and late game. In the early game they will poke/CC the enemy ADC which will allow an easy kill for your ADC (if both the support and ADC are keeping good commination and are in-sync). These supports are usually picked if you want to have an aggressive early game (Be warned, if you and your ADC are too aggressive, you are EXTREMELY vulnerable to ganks from the jungle - this causes free kills for the enemy team. To help avoid this, ward the river, river bush, and the tri-bush. It is VERY important for the ADC to use his or her trinket . The support can only place 3 wards at a time with a sight stone , and one pink ward. Also please upgrade your trinkets, it only costs 250 gold and it is re-useable. Sorry for the tangent, but these supports benefit the most from spelltheifs -> (I usually do not pick up the Frostqueen as a support because other items will help your team better and it is not the most "gold efficient" item). I only recommend Frostqueen on off-supports that do not have any slows/CC. If you know that you will need to play more passive or need better engage/disengage, pick up the coin/Talisman for the late game. These Bursty/Poke supports can built into a utility (group 3) or damage (group 4) and pick up the advantages and disadvantages from there...

Side note: I typically sell my Frostfang in the mid/late game and buy the crystal scepter because it will allow all of my abilities to slow enemy champs. As an added bonus, there is a lower cool down on champion abilities than the Frostqueen's and your abilities are easier to aim.

3. The healing/shielding/utility These supports are my personal favorite because of the usefulness you can bring to the team

For example...

Janna , Nami , Sona , Soraka , Bard , Tahm Kench , Lulu , Oriana , Morgana , Annie , and Zyra

These types of supports are extremely useful and can be game changing plays. However their early game is usually more passive and less "rewarding". This is especially true for Janna, Bard, and Tahm Kench. However champs like Sona, Annie, and Morgana should begin their game more like the 2nd type of support, and transition into a utility support in the mid/late game. Your job as a Utility support is to heal, shield, slow the other team, and buff up your team. This is usually done through some abilities but is most effective through items. Utility supports benefit the most from the coin due to the advantages mentioned prior. Then afterwards Utility supports should build items that have auras, shields, and buffs. Some of these items include , , , , , , the boot enchantment "Captain" , , and many more. Make sure you choose your items smartly though. If the enemy team has AD only champions, it may not be wise to buy the because it gives magic resist (mr) even though it has an active shield component. If the enemy team continually tries to kill you (which they should focus other people first) then you may want to pick up a . A utility support can be used in many different ways to help their team win. Accordingly, each Champion is played differently and some items may benefit one Champ more than another. A may benefit more from a rather than a if her team is ahead.

Bard and Tahm Kench are great utility supports because they can help their team with ganks, and help them maneuver around the map. For this reason, I typically would build them full tank so that they have better survive-ability. I would still consider them a hybrid utility/tank support.

4. Off-Support or "Support" For example...

Annie , Arhi , Brand , Darius , Nidalee , Fiddlesticks , Shaco , Zac , Syndra , and many more "Supports"

I put support in quotes "_" because there are some supports that are supports in the early game but then move on to Carry roles in the mid/late game. I personally don't like when people "support" but it is a very viable option if you are forced into a support role when you originally wanted to play Yasuo mid. When you "Support" this could potentially work really well for you and your team, or REALLY bad. Sometimes if you are "supporting" you take farm or kills from your ADC. This will put your ADC behind, and make him or her potentially useless. However, this is a good idea if your ADC is not good and does not follow up with ganks/other. Sometimes it is better to carry as a Sona "Support" when your ADC is farming in the jungle or trolling (??? I've seen it before). With these supports, it is hard to say whether they have the best early game, mid game or late game. They are volatile at times, and are all different. Sometimes an Annie support has the intention of being a utility support but her team has a strong lead. This may cause her to buy a Deathcap instead of something else. I do have to say, that the "supports" do extremely well at roaming after the laning phase. This means that after you and your ADC win or lose lane, then you should MELT the face off of the enemy mid laner.

The off-supports are more uncommon supports like the Shaco, Zac, Darius who will build like a support in group 1, 2, or 3. Their "kit" may be completely different but they still fulfil the role of a Support. If you would like to try a Darius support, you may want to go smite/frozen/cynderhulk . This will make sure you have a slow, and a TON of health. This allows you to keep a different Summoner spell such as Teleport, Flash, or Barrier. By doing this, you will likely confuse the opposite team (if in a ranked or draft pick). I recommend looking up item builds or looking at Youtube footage of someone who has done this in the past.

And Finally, here are some last notes that are essential for all of your team to know.

1. The easiest way to lose is by splitting up, please stay together in the late game (unless you are split-pushing or creating a purposeful distraction).
2. WARD!!!!!! Wards help win games. You can see if the enemy is planning an ambush or if and enemy is planning on flanking your back line (the ADC, Midlaner, and your "Squishies"). It is the responsibility of all teammates (regardless of role) to ward. You all have trinkets , so use them.
3. UPGRADE YOUR TRINKET! allows you to have more wards that last longer. A allows you to shut down a Teemo or other invisible Champion. it also helps you spot out enemy wards. A support should have both a or plus a so that they can lay down wards and clear some out too.
4. Stay positive. Who knows, you can be losing really bad, then your support can land a BEAUTIFUL ult, and cause your team to win a teamfight, and allow you to push the mid lane, and win. This happened with me when I played an Alistar game. I Flashed , Ulted, then pulverized. . . My team followed up (when the other team focused me, the tank) and they were able to win from one play.
5. Play smart. Don't rush into a 2v5 fight. You are setting yourself up for failure. Look at the first essential note. It may be better to have a 5v5 fight where you can have more control over the outcome.
6. Have fun.

Thank You for reading this thread even if you only read one paragraph.

Jub Jub282 ^_^

If anyone would like to add to this post or has questions, please feel free to comment.