Leigh's Guide on choosing your Support Base Item

After answering a question, related to what item is best for which support champs, I decided to move my answer to a brand new thread. Maybe another summoner can use this information that was passed on to me. I used to main Support, and it is now my second main next to ADC - that being said, I may have some information here off. I will take any corrections and edit this post.

Here's how I've been taught to think of it when trying to choose.

Relic Shield: While any champ can can activate the charges, only Melee get the "less than 40% execute on minions" proc (works on Thresh because he's half melee). This helps you get up in the enemies' faces during laning, take some poke, get a heal for yourself and your carry, help push when needed, and still earn some gold for your effort. Oh and that late game shield is great for your divers and getting your ADC out of the pickles they keep finding themselves in. This item also lets you share the minion kill with the closest ally. IF YOU TAKE THIS, THE LARGE MINIONS ARE YOURS (only as long as you have a charge up).

Note to ADCs: Do NOT rage when your support takes the big minion, unless they do so without a charge up. Even then, don't rage. Just ask them to look for charges before doing that. Also, for the sake of all that is right in the world, help your poor support actually take the minion so they are not sitting there tanking the enemies' autos while trying for that extra gold. Just don't steal it in the process.

Frostqueen's Fang: Take this if you think you can poke enemy champs with your AP spells often (which is why it's good on Sona). This one is riskier because if you take it but can't get the pokes in, you're loosing money. You get bonus gold for hitting those spells.

Talisman: Take this if you think you can't poke or if you're playing with a team that specifically needs the speed boost (taking it on Sona when you can't poke is actually hilarious because, you know, speed up again when one speed boost runs out). This is a "safer" option because you will gain gold just for being near minions that die (not necessarily on the front lines risking your face to that insane Cait range), but I think it is a little lower rate than if you have a poke heavy composition that lets you make use of Frostqueens instead.

In essence it comes down what you expect the game to look like. A good support can gauge what kind of lane they are going to have (minus the actual skill cap of the enemy duo or the knowledge of your ADC - it can sometimes be hard).

For instance, my personal style is to ALWAYS take Frostqueen on Nami, because I will gladly just poke/heal myself with W and make my ADC scream "Retreat you retard! Oh wait, free kill. Gotcha. Now please save some healz for me next time, kthx." Though it should be noted, it may never actually get activated, because, you know, activated items are too much to remember.

But Sona is a little harder for me. I find I have a hard time poking without taking massive autos the entire time. It may be because I'm too aggressive, it may be that my ADC isn't following the poke up when they can. It may be that I just underestimate her in-built heal. So if we are going against a crazy poke heavy comp, I will take Talisman, or if I know my ADC will help me poke when they can, I will take Frostqueens. It really just depends.

NOTE TO ADCs: Watch what item your support starts with. If they take that ancient coin, then know it's on you to poke and still play safe. If they go with that shield, give up the big minion whenever possible and prepare to poke the enemy duo away while your support takes it. If they take the Frostqueen, then let them have the front lines, but stay close to follow up if that pokes get the enemy low enough. This particular item also relieves you of a little poke responsibility, allowing you to focus just a little more on farming instead - but don't neglect the trades or helping your support secure a kill in the process!