Mastering the Art: How to Play Support in League of Legends

Are you tired of feeling underappreciated and misunderstood in your role as a Support in League of Legends? Feeling like you’re left in the shadows while everyone else basks in the glory? Welcome to the club. Fortunately, we’ve got the solution to your woes.

TL;DR:

• Support role is vital for team success
• High skill ceiling offers room for mastery
• Map awareness and vision control are key
• Communication and synergy with your ADC can make or break your lane Sacrifice is the name of the game

The Unsung Heroes of the Rift: Why Play Support?

Support is, according to a survey conducted by Riot Games, the least popular role in League of Legends, with only 12% of players maining it. But, why is it so overlooked when it can be the determining factor in a game’s outcome? Remember Aphromoo, professional League of Legends player’s words, “Playing support is like being a parent. You have to take care of your children (ADC) and make sure they don’t die, while sacrificing your own resources and sometimes even your life.”

The Backbone of Victory: The Importance of Support

In the 2020 League of Legends World Championship, the support role had the highest pick and ban rate, with a 94.7% presence in all games played. Now, why would that be if support wasn’t absolutely crucial?

Map Control and Vision

Ever heard the phrase “knowledge is power?” In LoL, that translates to map control and vision. As a support, you’ll be the team’s eyes, tracking the enemy’s movements and ensuring your team’s safety.

Synergy with the ADC

Supports and ADCs are like peanut butter and jelly – they just work well together. By coordinating your efforts, you can dominate the bot lane and help your ADC scale into a late-game powerhouse.

How to Play Support: Becoming the Guardian Angel Your Team Needs

Now that we’ve established the importance of the role, let’s delve into the specifics. How do you actually play support in League of Legends?

Choose the Right Champion

The first step is choosing a champion that fits your playstyle. Whether you’re a protective healer like Soraka, an aggressive engager like Leona, or a crafty utility champ like Thresh, the choice is yours.

Master the Art of Warding

Warding isn’t just about placing a ward whenever you can. It’s about strategic placement, knowing when to ward, and understanding how to utilize your vision tools effectively.

Communication is Key

Keep the lines of communication open with your team. Inform them of enemy positions, cooldowns, and your plans for initiation or retreat.

Delving Deeper: Advanced Support Strategies

After mastering the basics, it’s time to level up your game. Let’s look at some advanced strategies that can help you take your support gameplay to the next level.

Understanding and Exploiting Bot Lane Matchups

Every champion in League of Legends has strengths and weaknesses. As a support, understanding these in-depth for both your team and the enemy team can give you a significant advantage. Knowledge about bot lane matchups can help you make informed decisions about when to engage, disengage, or simply play safe.

Roaming and Impacting Other Lanes

While your primary responsibility is to your ADC, don’t let that tether you to the bot lane. Effective roaming can help your other lanes gain an advantage, potentially swinging the game in your favor. However, timing is key here – you wouldn’t want to leave your ADC vulnerable.

Objective Control

Supports play a vital role in controlling objectives like Dragon, Baron Nashor, and Rift Herald. Proper vision control, timing your abilities, and coordinating with your team can turn the tide of these crucial encounters.

Peeling and Engaging

Whether you’re a tanky Leona jumping headfirst into a fight or a Janna blowing enemies away from your ADC, understanding when to engage and when to peel is crucial. It’s about knowing your champion’s capabilities, your team’s readiness, and the enemy’s position.

Walking the Path of the Pro: Learning from the Best

Learning from professional players can be an invaluable tool. They’ve honed their skills through countless hours of practice, and their gameplay can provide insight into effective strategies, champion synergies, and creative playstyles.

Watch Pro Games and Streamers

This can help you understand the meta, learn new strategies, and see how different champions are played at the highest level. It can also be a good source of entertainment!

Read Guides and Tutorials

There’s a wealth of knowledge out there written by experienced players. These guides can provide you with in-depth knowledge about your champion, tips for warding, and strategies for winning your lane.

Practice, Practice, Practice

As with anything, practice makes perfect. The more you play, the better you’ll get. Don’t be discouraged by losses – see them as opportunities to learn and improve.

FAQs

What are the main responsibilities of a support in League of Legends? The main responsibilities of a support in League of Legends include maintaining vision control, protecting and assisting the ADC, and coordinating with the team for objectives and team fights. 

How can I improve my warding as a support? Improving warding involves strategic placement of wards, understanding the optimal timing for warding, and knowing how to effectively use your vision tools like Control Wards and Oracle Lens.

How can I better coordinate with my ADC? Better coordination with your ADC involves clear communication about your plans, understanding your ADC’s playstyle and champion, and working together to control the bot lane.

Why is the support role important in the World Championship? The support role is vital in the World Championship due to their ability to control the map, protect the ADC, and set up team fights. This is reflected in the high pick and ban rate for supports in the championship.

What can I do to improve as a support player in League of Legends? Improving as a support player involves mastering your chosen champion, perfecting your warding skills, enhancing your map awareness, and improving your communication with your team.

Are there resources to help me improve as a support? Yes, there are plenty of resources available to help you improve as a support. Watching professional games and streamers, reading guides and tutorials, and joining online communities are all great ways to learn and improve.

How can I contribute to team fights as a support? As a support, you can contribute to team fights by initiating combat, peeling for your carries, providing crowd control, and using your abilities to disrupt the enemy team’s actions.

How important is it to understand bot lane matchups? Understanding bot lane matchups is crucial. This knowledge can help you make informed decisions about when to engage, disengage, or play defensively.

What role does a support play in controlling objectives? Supports play a vital role in controlling objectives. They are often responsible for maintaining vision control around these objectives and coordinating with their team to secure them.

In conclusion, playing support in League of Legends is an art that requires understanding, skill, and patience. It’s not about personal glory, but about ensuring the success of your team. So, are you ready to become the unsung hero your team needs?

References:

1. Riot Games Survey, 2022, Riot Games.
2. “Aphromoo’s Guide to Support,” 2021, YouTube.
3. “2020 League of Legends World Championship Statistics,” 2020, LoLEsports.
4. “How to Play Support,” 2022, League of Legends Official Guide.
5. “Effective Warding Guide,” 2022, Mobalytics.
6. Understanding Bot Lane Matchups,” 2023, ProGuides.
7. “Support Roaming Guide,” 2023, Mobalytics. “Objective Control as a Support,”

Remember, the journey of mastering the support role is one of patience and perseverance. So, don’t get disheartened if you don’t see immediate results. Keep practicing, keep learning, and keep supporting. Your team needs you!