10 Reliable League of Legends Supports for Every Playstyle

Introduction

In the ever-evolving landscape of League of Legends, supports play a crucial role in determining the outcome of every match. From engaging initiators to protective enchanters and healing sustainers, the variety of support champions offers something for every playstyle. This comprehensive guide will delve into the top 10 most reliable supports in League of Legends, providing insights into their strengths, weaknesses, and ideal team compositions.

Top 10 Reliable Supports

1. Thresh: The Chain Warden (5.3% pick rate, 52.8% win rate)

Thresh is an iconic support champion renowned for his crowd control and game-changing ultimate ability. With his signature hook, he can initiate fights or peel for his carries, while his ability to create walls with his lantern grants unmatched mobility.

2. Nami: The Tidecaller (4.7% pick rate, 53.2% win rate)

Nami is a versatile support who excels at providing healing, crowd control, and utility. Her bubble can stun enemies from afar, her heal can keep her allies alive in the thick of battle, and her ultimate can slow and knock back opponents, making her an excellent choice for peeling and disengage.

3. Seraphine: The Starlit Songstress (5.1% pick rate, 52.7% win rate)

Seraphine is a rising star in the support role, offering a unique blend of healing, crowd control, and damage. Her abilities can amplify the damage of her allies, slow enemies, or shield and heal her team, making her a versatile pick in any team composition.

4. Braum: The Heart of the Freljord (4.6% pick rate, 52.5% win rate)

Braum is a tanky support who excels at protecting his allies from harm. His unbreakable shield can block incoming damage, while his ultimate can knock up and stun multiple enemies, setting up perfect ganks or disengages.

5. Rakan: The Charmer (3.9% pick rate, 52.3% win rate)

Rakan is a high-mobility support who can disrupt enemy formations and engage fights with ease. His abilities allow him to dash to allies, shield and knock up enemies, and even redirect incoming projectiles, making him a slippery and effective support.

6. Karma: The Enlightened One (4.2% pick rate, 52.1% win rate)

Karma is a versatile support who can fulfill both a damage-dealing and support role. Her mantra mechanic allows her to empower her abilities, healing allies, damaging enemies, or providing shields. Karma excels at peeling and utility, making her a solid pick for team fights.

7. Lulu: The Fae Sorceress (4.1% pick rate, 52.0% win rate)

Lulu is a charming support who can manipulate the battlefield with her polymorph and whimsy abilities. She can transform enemies into harmless critters, grant allies bonus health and movement speed, and even knock up opponents with her ultimate, making her a perfect utility support.

8. Ashe: The Frost Archer (3.8% pick rate, 51.8% win rate)

Ashe may be known as an ADC, but her support build offers unique utility and crowd control. Her volley ability can slow enemies from a distance, her hawkshot can reveal stealthy foes, and her ultimate can stun multiple targets, making her an effective counter to mobile assassins.

9. Sona: Maven of the Strings (4.0% pick rate, 51.6% win rate)

Sona is a musical support who excels at healing and empowering her allies. Her aura abilities can heal and restore mana to teammates, while her ultimate can stun multiple enemies and deal damage. Sona is an excellent choice for protecting and sustaining her team in extended fights.

10. Maokai: The Twisted Treant (3.9% pick rate, 51.4% win rate)

Maokai is an unusual but effective tanky support. His abilities allow him to root enemies in place, slow them with his sapling toss, and even knock them up with his ultimate. Maokai is an excellent choice for engaging fights and setting up ganks for his team.

Selecting the Right Support

Choosing the right support for your team depends on several factors, including:

• Team composition: Supports with crowd control and utility can complement teams with high damage output, while healing supports are crucial for teams lacking sustain.
• Playstyle: Some supports, like Thresh and Rakan, excel at engaging and initiating fights, while others, like Sona and Nami, provide more passive healing and utility.
• Enemy composition: Supports with crowd control can counter mobile assassins, while healing supports can mitigate the damage from burst damage dealers.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Picking a support that doesn't synergize with your team: Selecting a support that doesn't complement your team's strengths or weaknesses can hinder your chances of success.
• Overstaying your welcome: Supports are often the first to engage in fights, but it's crucial to know your limits and avoid dying unnecessarily, as this can leave your team vulnerable.
• Not warding effectively: Supports play a vital role in controlling vision in the game, but neglecting to ward can give your opponents an advantage in map awareness.
• Ignoring your carry: A good support focuses on peeling for and supporting their carry, ensuring their survival and maximizing their damage output.

Step-by-Step Approach to Playing Support

1. Choose a support that fits your team's needs: Consider your team composition, playstyle, and enemy composition when selecting a support.
2. Ward effectively: Place wards in key areas to gain vision and information on enemy movements.
3. Peel for your carry: Prioritize protecting your carry from enemy assassins or other threats.
4. Control crowd: Use your abilities to crowd control enemies, setting up ganks or disengages for your team.
5. Communicate with your team: Stay in constant communication with your team, providing information and coordinating ganks or objectives.
6. Don't get caught out: Supports are often the first to engage, but avoid overextending and dying unnecessarily.
7. Evaluate your performance: After each game, reflect on your performance, identify areas for improvement, and adjust your playstyle accordingly.

Conclusion

League of Legends offers a vast array of reliable supports, each with unique strengths and playstyles. By understanding the role of a support, selecting the right champion for your team, and avoiding common mistakes, you can become a formidable support player and help your team achieve victory. Remember, the art of supporting is a delicate balance of aggression, protection, and utility, and mastering this role requires practice, patience, and a deep understanding of the game.