The Unsung Hero: A Support

Season Four was the season of rapidly changing metas and why I went from a Mid Main to a Support Main. With Season Four just finishing around the corner and the Pre-Season preparing to launch, the highlight of Season Four was definitely the changes made to the Support role.

At the beginning of Season 4, Supports were left in an unwanted position (ha, get it?) because not only did Riot revamp the ward usage, but they had also taken away the traditional gold items that were once so stackable. And so where did this leave Supports if they couldn’t just buy wards and get carried? Where would they get money if there was no source of income? Take minions? Definitely if you start with Relic Shield.

And I know, I know, I know that the various changes were made for the good of the game (and the patiently, waiting Summoners around the world cried as they waited for their voices to be heard by the Riot Gods).

I’m going to be honest here. If you play support, you’re basically the kid with chump change in your pocket compared to your lane partner’s cash. If I’m not making sense, let’s put it this way: you’re a Honda Civic with good mileage and your ADC is a Ferrari.

You:

Your ADC: 

But enough about cars – let’s talk about supporting.

Once upon a time, the thought of playing Support used to make me gag because you can’t carry as a Support and gosh, how I hate those abusive ADCs at least in solo queue. After months of climbing the rank ladder, I finally achieved my goal of Platinum but as a Support player. I had started in Bronze 1 at the beginning of the season after a crushing blow of preliminaries (I went 2 – 8 if you were wondering) – switching mid-way from Mid to the (once) dreaded position of Support. If there is anything I learned by playing Support full-time, you make the calls early and mid-game; not only for your lane partner but for the rest of the team. Supporting has some of the most impact on the course of the game from early dragons to securing First Blood.

Plat as a Support

Here is the number one myth I always encounter as a Support player.

Support is the easiest role to play.

I wish this was true then everybody would be playing Support! But sadly this is not the case. Support is easily one of the hardest roles considering how many responsibilities a talented Support carries.

1. You are babysitting an ADC who is equivalent to a baby at the start of the game who has the potential to become an awesome killing machine.
2. You basically don’t earn much money or recognition for all the hard work you do from warding to buying Vision Wards and items that basically makes your team much stronger.
3. You cannot control the actions of your teammates, BUT you can control your lane by creating opportunities to demolish the enemy bot lane and pray that your ADC is choosing to follow up on this easy kill instead of farming a caster minion.

Support is not the easiest of roles and it is not the most recognized or appreciated, but you are the unsung hero that everyone needs when the mini map is dark and no one knows how to use their trinkets.

Have patience.

Tips and strategies:

• Warding the map during lane phase. Here are some examples:
• For Blue Side: 
• For Purple/Red Side: 
• Roam to mid lane if your bot lane is pushed and winning. You can act as a second Jungler if you have CC. The overall goal is to have continuous pressure all over the map – giving your Jungler an opportunity to help top or level up while theirs will be focused on mid or bot.
• Note: If you are roaming, make sure your ADC is aware of this. You DO NOT want him to get caught because then you will lose your lead very easy.
• Note: Ward Tri-bush, river and the enemy’s bot lane up-side bush before roaming.
• Recognize opportunities in which an easy objective can be won – this allows for more gold income such as Dragon or a tower, etc.
• Don’t get mad. If your teammate is acting out, the mute button can be your best friend.
• PEEL. I CAN’T EMPHASIZE HOW IMPORTANT PEELING IS. Remember, your ADC is an oversized baby.
• Have fun. There’s no point in playing if you don’t have fun.
• Optional: My personal favorite strategy is duo queuing, but it is not for everyone. But honestly synergy is needed for a good bot lane because if you do not have compatibility, it is going to be a hard laning phase. In order to have good synergy, you and your lane partner needs to be able to react accordingly to the situation down in bot lane. Whether it is denying the enemy’s carry from getting gold or securing a kill – if you cannot follow up on one and another, it is going to lead to many frustrations and disappointments. You are only as strong as your mental state.
• Note: When you duo queue, you are placed against higher ranked players. Play with caution…