Overview
Wanna be a great support, or just learn something about this unplayed role? Just read some of this points, maybe it will help you.
Introduction
Playing as a support is not too difficult, and when you have a great team it’s as funny as other roles. You don’t have the chance to carry a game, but with a bad support your game is lost.
In everygame i’ve played, anyone didn’t want to support, so i started playing it, and when you know how to play this role you enjoy it. A lot of the highlights of the games are not just kils, most of the time, the support of the team does a great job and has a highlight saving your live or something like that.
Please, rate š
Basics
First, some things you have to remember when playing:
- Always be possitive (in any role)
- Protect your team mates
- Secure objetives or zone
- Make calls
- Map awereness
- Don’t care about who gets the kill
- Rotate to other lanes
This are some things that you should be able to do and control.
Some things that you shouldn’t do as a serious support:
- Build full damage
- Be at the background of the fight
- Do stacks / steal stacks from your adc
- Stay at lane
Build (S3) – April
You are going to start with Watchers gift, boots 1 and 4 green pots and 4 multi pots in most of the cases. That will be 1,5k gold. Relics: sprint or shell (in most of the cases), weakening (enemy healers) or blink (for gods that need it). This are the 4 relics that you should use the most. At level 12, all your mates will have the second relic, so you will need to supplement it with yours. And finally, never build Wrath! (hog 3 on s2).
Focus on finishing your core items: cdr/mana shoes (you can go for other shoes but better cdr/mana boots), Breastplate of valor (full cdr, and some physical defense), then you can go Hide of the Urchin, Sovereignity (more physical defense and aura for the team) or Vulwark of Hope (magical defense, for enemy mages), depending on the game and the enemy team.
This season you have to think more on your build. Those three items above are great elections to build. Also, this mixed items (Spirit Robe, Magi’s Blessing and Cloak of Unrelentin Sorrow) are really good this season and you should think to build them. If both magical and physical is killing you: Spirit Robe or Cloak of Unrelenting Sorrow. When you back to get your 4th item think about it.
Spirit Robe is cheaper than Cloak of Unrelenting Sorrow, so if you don’t have enough money get Spirit Robe.
Depending on the enemy team you can build Winged blade (for slows, also gives health), if there are healers you have to build Pestilence and you won’t build Bulwark of Hope, a lot of physical damage: you can go for Hide of the Nemean Lion or Midgardian Mail (only last item).
This season there are a lot of items you can choose. There is not the perfect build for every game, so you will have to think what to build.
Build (S3) – february 16
You are going to start with Watchers gift, boots 1 and 4 green pots and 4 multi pots in most of the cases. That will be 1,5k gold. Now actives (relics) are free, so you would have to get one at level 1. This relic include: sprint (most of the cases), weakening (enemy healers), blink (for gods that need it) or shell (better at level 12). This are the 4 relics that you should use the most. At level 12, all your mates will have the second relic, so you will need to supplement it with yours. And finally, never build Wrath! (hog 3 on s2).
Focus on finishing your core items: cdr/mana shoes (you can go for other shoes but better cdr/mana boots), sovereignity (second, when you are okey in the game, or third item, when you have enogh gold to get it and you have some kills advantage; even the nerfs, still core item and you have to be careful with the magic damage) and hide of the urchin (if we are ahead get it for second item, you won’t build this item later than third item, in roder to get the stacks early).
This season you have to think more on your build. This mixed items (Spirit Robe, Magi’s Blessing and Cloak of Unrelentin Sorrow, new huge item) are really good this season and you should think to build them, sometimes you can also build all of them and you are going to have a complete build. Following the build, you can buy Bulwark of Hope (3 mages or even 2 mages, note that this season magical damage is huge) or one of these two: Spirit Robe and Cloak of Unrelenting Sorrow (new item). Magical damage is killing you: Bulwark of Hope. Both magical and physical is killing you: Spirit Robe or Cloak of Unrelenting Sorrow. When you back to get your 4th item think about it,
Spirit Robe is cheaper than Cloak of Unrelenting Sorrow, so if you don’t have enough money get Spirit Robe.
Depending on the enemy team you can build Winged blade (for slows, also gives health), if there are healers you have to build Pestilence and you won’t build Bulwark of Hope, a lot of physical damage: you can choose between Breastplate of Valor for cdr or Hide of the Nemean Lion (only last item).
This season there are a lot of items you can choose. There is not the perfect build for every game, so you will have to think what to build.
Build (S2)
You are going to start with Watchers gift and blink, weakening or boots 1 and 4 green pots and 4 multi pots in most of the cases. That will be 1,5k gold.
Focus on finishing your core items: travelers shoes/cdr shoes, sovereignity and heartward amulet (depending on the game). Depending on the enemy team you can build Winged blade (for slows), Midgardian Mail (3-4 physical damage gods), Bulwark of Hope (3 mages) etc. There are a lot of items you can choose. For actives, look what you think your team needs (always care about your team) and build it (Heavenly agility, Shell, Weakening…).
Warding
Having vision on the map is one the most important things in the game if you want to win, and it’s even more important to deny vision to the enemy with some sentry wards in key spots.
You shouldnt ward at the beginning of the game (if it’s not a competitive game or premade of 5 in the other team), but when you back to your base, buy at least 1 ward (this is not just for supprots…). If you think that they are going to invade, just play safe till you know you can do your buffs as always.
The best spot to ward is in the jungle, near your lane, and there you think the enemy jungle can come to gank your lane. As a support you sould ward duo lane and gold fury in early game, in late game make sure you have vision near Fire Giant.
It’s better to get a sentry wards because you can clean enemy wards and get somo extra gold.
Early game
The game just have started, second 10, clean red buff with your mid laner and then pigs with your adc. Make sure you win the lane phase and be careful for early ganks (not to frecuent but can happen). Think about everything you do, dont start just rotating because you are bored of staying in lane, you are going to loose xp and gold (that doesnt mean staying in duo lane for the entire game), every step you make have to be because of something. Sharing waves with your midlaner can also be a great option. Rotate when you can have some advantage in mid lane, and to secure mid harpies. Your main worry should be defend the gold fury, so be careful backing, till you can do it safely.
Late game
Late game starts when the lane phase have finished. It’s not always the same time, it depends on every game.
You will have at least your core items finished and you will be able to be the frontliner of your team. That doesn’t mean you can go alone everywhere on the map fighting everything. You have to be near and in front of your team mates. Be able to tank most of the habilities to mitigate damage from them. When everybody from your team is ready, you have to begin the teamfight. Just jump/blink in and use your most powerfull habilities, try to survive as much as you can and support your team.
Tanking (objetives)
The lane is pushed, but there are no minions. It’s time to tank the tower, in order to destroy it. Be careful, never go below half of your life tanking it, and never go to deep inside, just stay one step front the radius of the tower.
Do the same with phoenixes. Most of the time you will have to engage inside the phoenix, but dont worry, just get out when your life is in trouble, but make sure your team destroy that phoenix.
Sumary
Support role is not easy to play, you will need patience. Build defense, tank objetives, protect your team mates, engage and practice.
Thats all from me, thanks for reading.
I hope you have learned something from this.
If you have any questions leave it on the coment section.
(This image is just a guide)
