How to Carry as a Support in League of Legends - The Ultimate Guide
If you've stumbled upon this article, chances are you're in the same position I was back in Season 5 when I found myself stuck in Silver as a support, wondering how to impact games positively in League of Legends.
Despite the game evolving over the years, the essence of the support role remains unchanged - we are the unsung heroes of Summoner's Rift.
A prevalent misconception among non-support players about this role is that supports merely place wards and cast shields. Unfortunately, even some support players fall into this trap, believing their role to be "useless" and "incapable" of carrying games in solo queue. However, this couldn't be further from the truth.
As a seasoned support main who has weathered the storms of bot lane metas and changes, I can confidently assert that the support role is one of the easiest roles to climb with in League of Legends. Even Tyler1 reached Challenger as a support in fewer games than any other role.
So, fret not - climbing as a support is entirely feasible if you grasp the foundational principles I'll outline in this guide. Let's delve into them one by one and elucidate how you can leverage this role to amass LP effortlessly.
Understanding the Support Role
The support role is multifaceted and offers plenty of opportunities to impact the game. Whether you’re peeling for your ADC, initiating team fights, or controlling vision, playing support effectively can be a game-changer.
Supporting with Zoe in League of Legends
Zoe is not typically considered a support, but her CC and poke potential make her a hidden gem in this role. Mastering off-meta picks like Zoe can surprise enemies and give you the edge you need to carry your games.
The Laning Phase
During the laning phase, your primary focus is protecting your ADC, harassing enemies, and setting up plays. Ensure you're trading efficiently and always looking for opportunities to establish lane dominance.
Mid and Late Game
As the game progresses, your role shifts towards vision control, peeling for your carries, and assisting in objective control. Supports play a critical part in dictating the pace of team fights and securing key objectives like Baron and Dragon.
Flexibility
A good support can adapt to any situation. Whether you’re playing a tank, enchanter, or mage, always be ready to shift your playstyle to what your team needs the most.
Playing the Right Champion
Champion selection plays a key role in climbing as a support. Make sure you are choosing champions that synergize well with your ADC and offer strong utility for your team. Champions like Thresh, Leona, and Lulu are always solid picks.
Vision Control
Warding is one of the most crucial aspects of playing support. Vision control allows your team to spot enemy movements, prevent ganks, and secure objectives safely. Mastering this will give your team a massive advantage.
Protecting and Empowering Your ADC
Your ADC relies on you for protection and engagement. It's your job to position yourself optimally to shield, heal, or initiate fights, ensuring your ADC can output maximum damage.
Winning Objectives and Team Fights
Supports often play a pivotal role in securing objectives and team fights. From peeling to engaging, mastering your abilities and knowing when to use them can make all the difference in game outcomes.
Communication and Shot-Calling
Strong communication is key for success as a support. Take charge of shot-calling when necessary, especially when it comes to engaging in team fights or setting up vision control.
Constant Improvement and Adaptation
Every game offers a chance to learn and improve. Stay updated with patches, learn from higher-ranked players, and always look to adapt your playstyle based on the current meta and team composition.
Conclusion
To summarize, the support role in League of Legends is multifaceted, impactful, and conducive to climbing if approached correctly. It's not about accumulating kills; it's about empowering your team to excel.
From making plays in the laning phase to maintaining vision control and shot-calling, a proficient support can always sway the outcome of games. If you remain skeptical, take a glance at OPGG and peruse the leaderboards of the top 200 players on any server. You'll invariably find support players among the elite, possibly even at the coveted rank 1 spot. That's the potency of the support role for climbing in League of Legends!