Support main, slumped in other roles (just Bronze II)

Kei143·Mar 20, 2015·2 votes·1,337 views

So I'm on a slump and I know why.

I'm a support main, and I think I'm pretty good at it. At my current level of Bronze2 / Bronze1, I truely believe I can get up to silver with my level of support play.

My problem lies when I'm in other roles. where my game play mechanics / mindset isn't close to my support play. At bronze 3/4, I was able to get away from medicore performances and outplay my opponents. At bronze 2, its like 50/50. Now at bronze1, it seems like that when I'm in other roles, I end up not doing well and costing me the game.

What I do realise is that the support role is much more forgiving in terms of build path. I can be creative and build to context and it'll still work out, but somehow in other roles, it feels like that if I don't follow the optimal path (which I always fall behind on, cos I suck), then I can never catch up and it just snowballs against me from that point.

I can't seem to get my mind around the "feed me every kill / CS else rage" mind set that ADCs / APC (heck even some top laners) want, so I don't think I'll be able to get close to my support play with the other roles. Now I know I can work on my other roles in normals / team builder, but I guess my real questions is, to what extent do I want to practice the other roles? Do people just queue dodge if they don't get their role? and if they do queue dodge, that means my level of play in other roles will never be as good, which spells trouble when climbing the ladder.

--Support main, at a point of confusion for other roles.

18 Comments

ZACKandATTACKMar 20, 20153 votes

Learn to play Annie. You can use her as a support/mid/top.

GGMysticMar 20, 20152 votes

Main a role, but be able to play at least 1 champ in every other role comfortably. You can make this a lot easier if you pick up a champ that can fill multiple roles. Using myself as an example, I main Jungle. Whenever I can't get Jungle, I would play Lulu in Top, Mid, or Support and use Lucian as my ADC. I have a much larger pool now, but like most players, I had to climb the ranks and learn.

I understand that most players tend to favor a few roles, but playing other roles to the point where you have at least 1 comfortable champion in that role will benefit you immensely. Here are a couple examples of how playing other roles will help you improve as a support: **Jungle **- Helps you to know when your jungler can gank and where the enemy jungler is likely to be (Map awareness). Also, it helps a lot with warding and dewarding. **Top **- Helps you know when you should drop a deeper ward in bottom brushes for Teleport ganks. **ADC **- It helps to be aware of what the other person's options are in lane.

You don't need to be amazing at the other roles, just be capable of holding your own.

I hope this helps.

Kei143Mar 20, 20151 votes

{quoted}

Main a role, but be able to play at least 1 champ in every other role comfortably. You can make this a lot easier if you pick up a champ that can fill multiple roles. Using myself as an example, I main Jungle. Whenever I can't get Jungle, I would play Lulu in Top, Mid, or Support and use Lucian as my ADC. I have a much larger pool now, but like most players, I had to climb the ranks and learn.

I understand that most players tend to favor a few roles, but playing other roles to the point where you have at least 1 comfortable champion in that role will benefit you immensely. Here are a couple examples of how playing other roles will help you improve as a support: **Jungle **- Helps you to know when your jungler can gank and where the enemy jungler is likely to be (Map awareness). Also, it helps a lot with warding and dewarding. **Top **- Helps you know when you should drop a deeper ward in bottom brushes for Teleport ganks. **ADC **- It helps to be aware of what the other person's options are in lane.

You don't need to be amazing at the other roles, just be capable of holding your own.

I hope this helps.

I'm ok at other roles, but only up to bronze 2. At bronze 1, I just see this trend that I loose when I'm in other roles.

Actually, when I'm in normals / team builder, it just seems like that the level of play is much less than what I experience in ranked. so I don't know how I can improve without facing stronger opponents...

maybe I'll just follow those CSing tips for a while..

GGMysticMar 20, 20151 votes

If you don't already record your games, you might want to consider using a third-party software (LSI: http://leaguelsi.com/ ) to do so or you can just use OP.GG to do the same. Watching past games is probably one of the best ways to figure out what you're doing right and wrong. Even if you lose the lane/game, you could use it to figure out how to improve.

Br4ndonMar 20, 20151 votes

This is exactly what i do. I main support, but i comfort picks in each role. Theyre not exactly that great and arnt up to par with other champions that would typically see play in the role, but theyre comfort picks for me because i play them in normals and understand their mechanics better than whatever is OP this month.

For example, If i have to go mid i go as velkoz, top is nasus, jungle would be kha zix and ADC is jinx. I also have back up plans for each one of those roles, but thats just getting desperate.

bad arcade kittyMar 20, 20152 votes

support players usually can pick mid pretty easy, it's nearly the same (if you play ap supports like sona, janna etc) except you farm with abilities and aa, you roam (gank) too etc

Actually, when I'm in normals / team builder, it just seems like that the level of play is much less than what I experience in ranked.

depends on your normal mmr try drafts, they usually tend to be better than blind picks

Br4ndonMar 20, 20152 votes

You can safely play morgana as a top and she performs very well as a mid. CSing isnt an issue when your puddle is one shotting waves. Just think of it as playing support morgana, upgrade your yellow trinket so you can ward as much. The only difference is that you are using your W for 150~ gold instead of 30 gold. (oh and build path, but im assuming that you know how to build a morgana)

ClutchCruxMar 20, 20151 votes

as someone that used to play support when they couldn't jungle it takes no skill to play support. mechanically support lacks in about everything but positioning and using actives.

Br4ndonMar 20, 20151 votes

yeah screw those supports. all they do is get carried. thank god for last pick, thats where the supports (aka the losers) go!

ClutchCruxMar 21, 20151 votes

{quoted}

yeah screw those supports. all they do is get carried. thank god for last pick, thats where the supports (aka the losers) go!

That isn't what I ment by any means yeah supports are needed but if you only play support if you carry yourself to gold you still have learned nothing about the game.

Br4ndonMar 21, 20151 votes

yeah, thats not true. sorry.

ClutchCruxMar 21, 20151 votes

{quoted}

yeah, thats not true. sorry.

Okay instead of just saying "not true" how about explaining? as a support you don't learn the following

Last hitting Trading 1v1s Split pushing properly ADC/Assassin teamfight positioning Dealing with actually being focused

Br4ndonMar 21, 20153 votes

Alright, I'll make a list as in why support is just as technically sophisticated as other roles.

-You need to know how last hit with very low AD (unless youre thresh) so not to push the lane and deny your ADC farm. ~Understanding when to shove the lane to deny your enemy EXP and gold is extremely important as well ~Keep track of how many minions die while the enemy is in EXP range and know when theyre gonna hit 2 ~Why or When you need to ward their or your lane bush

-You need to understand when to ward and where. ~You cant go warding whiling your ADC is pushing a wave or you will miss EXP and your potentially vulnerable ADC will be exposed to lane ganks while shoving. ~Understanding where and why a ward is placed. Why ward your blue if your jungle entrances are warded? Does the enemy have a ward nearby and knows where you placed yours now? Junglers will work around your wards now

-As a support it is YOUR job to deny the enemy support from harassing your ADC. It is also your job to prevent the enemy ADC from farming and getting exp. ~You need to know champions synergies at level 2, 3, 5 and 6. ~Understand your champions limits and ability to harass and zone in a 1v2 situation ~Pay attention to the map and keep track of the enemy jungler and mid laner. ~Knowing your ADCs limits and how the enemy jungler will take advantage of that. (do you have an immobile adc vs a panth? play back at 6, ask the jungler to deep ward their bottom jungle)

-Positioning is everything for a support. Almost every support has a different spot the need to stand in relative to the team. Playing soraka? Stand behind your back-line. Playing thresh? Stand between your back-line and front line. And so on. ~You need to keep track of your cooldowns and the enemies to understand their threat level. If the enemy malph just unloaded his kit into your tank then dont waste your time CCing and peeling him when the enemies Vi is charging at your ADC.

-Utilizing your minimal income as efficiently as possible. While not all support items are that great, they are cheap and give great stats for that cost.

-The enemy will, in fact, focus a support. Unless theyre a tank support, youre gonna be squishy and will likely die to just about any AoE by accident if you dont position right. Do you really think a competent enemy team will just let a 1900 health soraka make her 1800 health ADC have an effective 4000 health? Why would i let the janna who is giving my enemy 8% MS, heal per second and a rather large shield live?

-You need to know when to and where to ward post laning phase. Warding the enemies red when theyre pushing into your base is nearly pointless. You cant just go out and ward while a team fight is about to happen.

-Whats the enemy team? Do they have a fiddle? Do they have something obnoxious thats gonna fly over a wall and CC lock someone? Where will 3 wards need to go to prevent that Warwick from coming from the fog of war? Does someone on my team have teleport and could use a ward to help us secure dragon/baron?

-What is the next objective that needs to be pushed? Where will my 3 wards need to go to help secure this objective?

-Who is the largest threat to my ADC and APC?

-What item order should i go? what will be more useful at XX:XX time?

Im sure i missed a bunch of stuff and im sure you probably wont even read this, but you know. Supports suck am i right?

Edit: If you feel my list isnt convincing enough ill be happy to add more.

ClutchCruxMar 22, 20151 votes

{quoted}

Alright, I'll make a list as in why support is just as technically sophisticated as other roles.

-You need to know how last hit with very low AD (unless youre thresh) so not to push the lane and deny your ADC farm. ~Understanding when to shove the lane to deny your enemy EXP and gold is extremely important as well ~Keep track of how many minions die while the enemy is in EXP range and know when theyre gonna hit 2 ~Why or When you need to ward their or your lane bush

-You need to understand when to ward and where. ~You cant go warding whiling your ADC is pushing a wave or you will miss EXP and your potentially vulnerable ADC will be exposed to lane ganks while shoving. ~Understanding where and why a ward is placed. Why ward your blue if your jungle entrances are warded? Does the enemy have a ward nearby and knows where you placed yours now? Junglers will work around your wards now

-As a support it is YOUR job to deny the enemy support from harassing your ADC. It is also your job to prevent the enemy ADC from farming and getting exp. ~You need to know champions synergies at level 2, 3, 5 and 6. ~Understand your champions limits and ability to harass and zone in a 1v2 situation ~Pay attention to the map and keep track of the enemy jungler and mid laner. ~Knowing your ADCs limits and how the enemy jungler will take advantage of that. (do you have an immobile adc vs a panth? play back at 6, ask the jungler to deep ward their bottom jungle)

-Positioning is everything for a support. Almost every support has a different spot the need to stand in relative to the team. Playing soraka? Stand behind your back-line. Playing thresh? Stand between your back-line and front line. And so on. ~You need to keep track of your cooldowns and the enemies to understand their threat level. If the enemy malph just unloaded his kit into your tank then dont waste your time CCing and peeling him when the enemies Vi is charging at your ADC.

-Utilizing your minimal income as efficiently as possible. While not all support items are that great, they are cheap and give great stats for that cost.

-The enemy will, in fact, focus a support. Unless theyre a tank support, youre gonna be squishy and will likely die to just about any AoE by accident if you dont position right. Do you really think a competent enemy team will just let a 1900 health soraka make her 1800 health ADC have an effective 4000 health? Why would i let the janna who is giving my enemy 8% MS, heal per second and a rather large shield live?

-You need to know when to and where to ward post laning phase. Warding the enemies red when theyre pushing into your base is nearly pointless. You cant just go out and ward while a team fight is about to happen.

-Whats the enemy team? Do they have a fiddle? Do they have something obnoxious thats gonna fly over a wall and CC lock someone? Where will 3 wards need to go to prevent that Warwick from coming from the fog of war? Does someone on my team have teleport and could use a ward to help us secure dragon/baron?

-What is the next objective that needs to be pushed? Where will my 3 wards need to go to help secure this objective?

-Who is the largest threat to my ADC and APC?

-What item order should i go? what will be more useful at XX:XX time?

Im sure i missed a bunch of stuff and im sure you probably wont even read this, but you know. Supports suck am i right?

Edit: If you feel my list isnt convincing enough ill be happy to add more.

about 90% of the stuff you listed is basic gameplay only things you mentioned where supports need to know is "Knowing your ADCs limits and how the enemy jungler will take advantage of that. (do you have an immobile adc vs a panth? play back at 6, ask the jungler to deep ward their bottom jungle)" Everything else you listed is general gameplay knowledge. yes everyone else should be warding. With free ward trinket there should be no issue for everyone to have atleast 1 ward down atleast. You also should get through your thick skull that I don't think supports suck they make the ADC what they are late game and I play support a ton. (just not recently cause I wanna learn how to swain) and yes I did read it all.

Br4ndonMar 22, 20151 votes

You said: "Okay instead of just saying "not true" how about explaining? as a support you don't learn the following

Last hitting Trading 1v1s Split pushing properly ADC/Assassin teamfight positioning Dealing with actually being focused"

So in response i made a list of things that would cover what most supports would deal with. I made sure to cover the points you listed, aside from split pushing. Then in response you said "about 90% of the stuff you listed is basic gameplay ". So are you saying that supports do learn it or are you saying they dont?

Also i should note that supports should know how to create slow pushes in minion waves that would allow a 1-4-0 push. How would i have learned all this? ive been a support main since season 2.

gitsiMar 20, 20151 votes

I actually found top and jungle fairly easy to get to a level of competence at sticking with tanks and initiating bruisers. You get the safer laning phase with tanks and as long as you can land your cc and peel, which are normal support type jobs you'll be ok even if youre not the best farmer. Similar idea with mid, play support mages; karma, lulu, morg etc... who offer enough utility that you can be relevant lategame even if your still struggling with last hitting well.

RogueWillMar 20, 20151 votes

Get 1 champ which are really comfortable with on each lane. It really doesn't matter who as long as you are really good with them. Jungle could also be a good role to get as second main as it is similar to support (specially if it is a tank or utility jungle)

o0O Madoka O0oMar 21, 20151 votes

Playing other roles can be struggling for support mains, especially in bronze where people play only certain lanes and won't give up their calls. I remember it took me about 400 games to be able to play all lanes other than support, and i'm still not every good at them. When I was in bronze I thought I was pretty good at support and I'm able to bully bronzes in lane badly. I climbed to higher silver later, and figure out it's just because people in bronze don't support at all. I struggled at silver for about a year and last season I made it to gold 5. I'm currently gold 1 due to some luck but I dont' feel I belong there, I should be somewhere gold 3 or maybe 4. Some advice to play other lanes: Generally, as you mentioned, it's pretty forgiving to play support, not only item builds, but also positioning and skill casting. You have to change that mindset first.

You can start playing adc, bot lane is still the most familiar lane to you. Practice your csing in bot games and normal.( I spent 100 bot games to improve my cs and I'm able to get 90+ per min without harass in bot games, 70 to 80 per min depends on how good the enemy support is. Recommend champion: Caitlyn, Graves, Corki. Remember: Try your best to ks every kill and take all cs wherever you go, you're not support anymore.
Alternatively, you can play jg, but that's for S4. You don't need to know how to cs. S5 jungle changes really hurt causal jungle players like me. I'm still trying to figure out a way to success in new jg. Current meta is Lee sin, Vi, J4(before he's nerfed, but still an okay pick). Sej and amumu are strong this patch. Elise is getting some buff next patch. Maokai has some problem in early clearing, but good at ganks and mid game teamfights.
Mid casters is also a choice, but the Athene nerf is hurting mages at the moment. Waiting for the Athene buff next patch.(The buff almost doubles the mana regen).
I don't recommend going top first, it's a completely different play style than bot. You can try to jg first, and then use the jg champs that you are comfortable with to try out top lane.

That's personal experience of a bronze support main to a gold support main but fill all lanes, hope this will help.