Supporting. The crown jewel of League’s gameplay loop. Argued to be the most challenging role to fulfill, Supports are the unsung heroes of League of Legends and worthy of all the praise in the world. But like all of us, Support players are often lost in the increasingly oversized League of Legends Champion roster.
Each patch adjusts the game’s many systems, and not all Champions can survive those changes. Some that were powerful at one point lost all their might with just a hotfix. To keep track of what’s good and what isn’t, players have come up with the Tier List concept.
This article will feature one such Tier List overviewing the best Support Champions in League of Legends’ Patch 13.14. We based our article on the fantastic work of u.gg, and we thank them for what they do for League’s community. We’ll be taking a detailed look at each individual Champion, what makes them tick, and how they fare in the current patch.
What you can expect:
- A detailed Tier List of the Best Supports.
- An overview of each individual Champion.
- The author’s many comments on the game.
9. Alistar
Tier: S
Win Rate: 51.28%
Pick Rate: 7.3%
Ban Rate: 2.7%
In my long eleven years of playing League of Legends, I’ve seen a hundred new Champions released. Patch after patch, Riot would announce or release a fresh Champion with exciting abilities and whatnot. Even so, the old crew never seemed to feel old and remained perfectly viable all throughout this long decade and more. One such Champion is certainly Alistar, who, despite his age, is still among the top performing Support Champions in League.
His reemergence came with Riot’s changes made to his Ultimate which prolonged its duration significantly. These additional few seconds allowed him to remain virtually immortal for quite a while. All-ins and pressure on the enemies suddenly became super easy, and his many CC spells are nothing to scoff at. Alistar now has all the tools he needs to constantly, safely, and consistently engage with the enemy in long battles of attrition where he usually emerges victorious.
His relative obscurity compared to the latest and greatest of Riot’s roster results in his having a lower pick and ban rate. This gives you an apt opportunity to pick him up and abuse his many strengths while you still can. The Ultimate duration is, to put it lightly, absurd and can be the determining factor in your victory.
8. Janna
Tier: S
Win Rate: 51.78%
Pick Rate: 6.6%
Ban Rate: 2.3%
Janna is an old Support Champion that has remained somewhat popular with players over the years. Overshadowed by the much more popular Seraphine and similar Enchanters, Janna grasps at straws to remain relevant. However, she was thrown a lifeline by Riot Games in this patch which has propelled her to this high position in the Tier List.
Janna was given a bit more leniency when it came to aggressive gameplay. Her W, Zephyr, now deals better damage and can effectively poke. Her E’s shield decay was also increased twofold, and it should now last long enough to allow for effective early trades. All this might seem minor, but it has significantly impacted how Janna gets treated by the community.
That aside, Janna is still an overall good Champion. Though a bit outdated, she can provide a ton of utility to her ADC and her team. She does need to take things a bit easier than other popular Supports. But this doesn’t mean she’s entirely obsolete. Her tornado is a fantastic CC ability, her shield is excellent (especially now), and there’s more than enough damage to her kit.
Her Ultimate is a fantastic late-game ability that provides incredible healing and a lifesaving knockback that can make or break entire fights. A well-placed Janna Ultimate can change the course of a game, and that alone should give her a spot on this list.
Janna has a ton in store for players of all skill levels. Therefore, be a good chap and save her from obscurity.
7. Pyke
Tier: S+
Win Rate: 50.33%
Pick Rate: 8.4%
Ban Rate: 9.1%
Pyke was Riot’s first genuine attempt at challenging the ‘traditional’ definition of Support. Though he was a groundbreaking example that a Support doesn’t have to be an Enchanter, he quickly lost his footing therein and moved to other Lanes. Luckily for all of us, he bounced back and has remained a Support ever since.
Pyke wasn’t at the receiving end of the last two patches, but that doesn’t matter. His kit is timeless and immensely powerful against most matchups. In the early game, Pyke takes a moment to get to his desired strength but still manages perfectly fine. He is aggressive, has high base damage, excellent mobility, and helpful CC. Pyke can be a formidable opponent capable of carrying his ADC in the right hands.
From his high ban rate, we can see that many players don’t sit well with having Pyke on the enemy team. The primary reason is that he can take all the kills while still giving the gold to his ADC. That’s the brutal power of his Ultimate, perhaps the most valuable ability in the entire game. It gives Pyke and his team all the gold of his Ultimate kills, which can drive up their net worth reasonably quickly. One well-executed team fight, and his whole team will be richer than the Rothschilds.
All in all, Pyke is an excellent pick in Patch 13.14 and is one of those unorthodox Supports that feel at home in the Bot Lane. We highly recommend him to those tired of the usual Enchanting Support that want to experience something new and fresh. There’s nothing quite like an Assassin Support.
6. Xerath
Tier: S
Win Rate: 51.32%
Pick Rate: 6.0%
Ban Rate: 8.5%
One of the better examples of Riot’s old game design, Xerath has roamed the fields of Summoner’s Rift for over a decade. He’s a long-range Mage capable of dishing out severe damage and providing relatively good utility to his team. Everyone who has experienced Xerath’s distant attacks knows how powerful he can be.
Though traditionally a Mid Laner, Xerath enjoys his spot as a Support for several reasons. The long-range means he can easily poke down his opponents, making skirmishes unnecessary. His ADC can focus on farming and leveling up while he pummels the enemies down with those insane energy rays. If a skirmish does indeed happen, Xerath has a strong slow and a stronger stun that can easily prevent an all-in.
Xerath also scales well as a Support, meaning he’ll have more than enough damage to fill in any lack thereof. By the late game, he’ll be a formidable Champion capable of killing squishy targets without leaving the Fog of War. Striking from the heavens, his Ultimate is one of the most overpowered abilities in League of Legends. Though hard to hit, a good Xerath player will find a way to stay consistent.
He’s an outstanding Champion that has been this good for ages. His kit remains unchanged from when he was released, save for a visual update. This future-proof design will stay relevant for years, so pick him up when you can.
5. Thresh
Tier: S+
Win Rate: 50.93%
Pick Rate: 16.7%
Ban Rate: 6.5%
Moving on, we have the most popular Support Champion in all of League of Legends. This infamous hooker is notorious for his incredible kit, utility, and for just being a silly little guy. In the lore, he killed the Champion right above him on this list, and he’s an overall badass all things considered.
But being an excellent character doesn’t help you become a good Champion. Thresh has recently been hit with a few updates that have drastically improved his performance in the game. His Q, the so-called hook, has been changed to have a lowered cooldown if Thresh lands it. This has allowed for hook spam, making Thresh an unbearable Champion in the Bot Lane.
All the rest of his abilities are nowhere near as important as his Q. While there’s a ton of utility on his Lamp, his Flail, and the fantastic Ultimate cage, Thresh strives from throwing and landing hooks. The lowered cooldown has changed Thresh from a lantern-throwing walking corpse into a formidable agent of chaos. A good Thresh player can finally shine, as landing hooks is now fundamental to his entire performance.
Hooking people has never been so satisfying as it is now. Thresh’s low cooldown means that he can easily disable any Champion he targets and do so continuously. It is thus no wonder that Thresh has risen in popularity so much. Considering he was famous even before this mini-rework, it should be evident as to why he’d be on this list.
We highly recommend Thresh to any Support player out there. He’s one of the most aggressive and best-performing Supports ever created and combines perfectly with offensive ADCs such as Draven or Jinx. Trust us on this one–Thresh will be the key to your climb as a Support. Do it and see for yourself.
4. Nautilus
Tier: S+
Win Rate: 50.34%
Pick Rate: 15.8%
Ban Rate: 17.4%
Nautilus has been in the news lately, as he’s been picked up by some Korean players for their infamous experiments. Nautilus Mid is a popular pick in the high Elo right now, but he’s outstanding even as a Support. Nautilus is one of those old Champions that maintain their quality so many years down the line.
He has all the tools you’d need for aggressive games in the Bot Lane–a hook (like Thresh, though a bit different), a shield, roots, tons of damage, and a lot more. He can fight for minutes on end, and by the time he reaches level 6, you should have already won the Lane.
His Ultimate is a fantastic team-fighting tool that Nautilus can use to knock up an entire team. The advantages of the knock-up mechanic are reflected in the fact that it cannot be dispelled. So no matter how many oranges Gangplank eats or how many cleanses the enemy Draven has picked up, they’ll remain in the air for the whole duration. Now apply that to an entire team, and you’ve got a served banquet ready to be devoured.
Nautilus also synergizes well with aggressive ADCs and those Champions that can utilize his knock-ups. Draven, Yasuo, and Yone would be solid examples. While Nautilus has his counters, none are prevalent or in a good position. Therefore, feel free to pick him up and effortlessly dominate Bot Lane.
3. Rakan
Tier: S+
Win Rate: 52.35%
Pick Rate: 14.2%
Ban Rate: 5.0%
It seems like the infamous feathered duo sticks together even in Tier Lists. We’ve covered Xayah in our Bot Lane Tier list, having her at number three. While Rakan is a tad bit lower than that, both enjoy the golden S+ tag next to their names. Now, isn’t that a love story better than Twilight? Not that it’s hard to be, but still.
Rakan enjoys a ton of popularity, and there are several reasons for that. His high mobility and excellent CC make him a fantastic Support suited for any ADC out there. He can play aggressively or passively, depending on what the ADC needs at any given moment. However, the former playstyle is much better since he can engage quickly and leave just as fast. This allows him to make rapid ins and outs, damaging and disrupting the enemy.
Rakan also has a heal and a shield which give him further utility. He can protect his ADC from any harm while continuously dishing out damage and CC. Rakan truly shines in the late game when his Ultimate ability becomes pivotal in team fighting strategies and tactics. A well-used Rakan Ultimate can charm an entire team. Combine that with his other CC abilities, and the results are beyond brutal.
That he can single handedly disrupt the entire enemy team speaks enough of Rakan’s value. Both as a Support and an Initiator, Rakan is genuinely remarkable. We recommend him to any Support enjoyers out there, as he gives out Enchanter vibes without ever being one.
2. Blitzcrank
Tier: S+
Win Rate: 51.11%
Pick Rate: 9.8%
Ban Rate: 26.3%
Last but not least, we have everyone’s favorite rusting robot that hasn’t been cleaned in over ten years. Blitzcrank probably would be the most-picked Champion in League of Legends if he weren’t banned in almost every Champion Select. With an insane 37.5% ban rate, Blitzcrank is officially League’s most hated and dreaded Champions. Those who manage to pick him in a game can expect the following performance.
Blitz wasn’t the target of buffs or nerfs in the last three patches. His design is just that future-proof. He can use his Q (an arguably better version of Thresh’s Q) to pull enemies in and have them hammered to death by his ADC. With the itemization changes, Blitzcrank no longer drops off in the late game. On the contrary, he gets pretty strong as time goes on. He can utilize all his spells fully and doesn’t lose on quality in the late game. His hooks stay relevant all throughout the game, and the incredible CC and silence on his E and Ultimate are unmatched.
His W is a meme and should be treated as such. There has never been a spell more deserving of an update than this. Considering what else is in the game, it’s a damn shame that Blitz has to put up with such a disservice from Riot.
Blitzcrank is an aggressive Support best suited for aggressive ADCs. His business is pulling people with his Q, and that’s about it. If you have an ADC that lacks early-game damage, you will suffer as a consequence. Blitzcrank cannot do damage alone and heavily relies on his ADC’s output. He doesn’t buff, he doesn’t Enchant. He’s just a rusting robot walking around and throwing his hand at people.
Therefore, Blitzcrank is best paired with high-damage output ADCs like Jhin, Jinx, Draven, and Nilah.
Blitzcrank puts the legend in League of Legends, and you should try him.
1. Rell
Tier: S+
Win Rate: 52.12%
Pick Rate: 9.3%
Ban Rate: 23.5%
Rell has had a rough time in League of Legends. Her release was quite uneventful and she lacked all the overpowered abilities that Riot’s new Champions are known for. But fret not, Riot knows that new Champs still need to sell skins and all that so they buffed the hell out of her and made her into one of the best Jungler/Supports in history of League of Legends. Just for once we thought that Riot had released a relatively weak or balanced Champion. Once can only hope, it seems.
Patch 13.13 saw Rell get a massive buff to both her Jungling and Supporting. In current patch, 13.14, Riot actually ‘nerfed’ Rell in their own words, but did nothing in actuality. Rell sports massive damage and unprecedented CC capabilities. She can stun whole teams and even kill strong and potentially important targets with ease. Her impact on matches is insane, resulting in her massive 52.12% Win Rate. It is a bit lower than in the previous patch, so one could argue that the nerfs actually did something. However, I beg to differ and still believe firmly that Rell is in need of a major nerf.
Her ban rate is among the highest in League, being only behind Blitzcrank by a few points. I don’t have to point out Blitz’s popularity among the community and his inherently high ban rate as a result of it. This clearly indicates the community’s fear of Rell and her potential impact on their matches and nearly a quarter of players simply wish to avoid her at all costs.
Those of you that would like to try Rell need to know that this opportunity won’t arise too often. Nevertheless, you should pick her up whenever you can as she is completely broken at the moment.
Author’s Comment on the Best Support
Of all the Supports I’ve covered in this article, I have to stand behind two. Blitzcrank and Thresh. Why do I choose two instead of picking a singular favorite? Well, let me explain.
These two Champions are like bread and butter. They’re two sides of the same coin. Similar yet different enough to cover different situations. You should pick Blitzcrank for those compositions and duos that cannot withstand immense aggression. He’ll capitalize on squishy and hardly defensible targets, as well as those that don’t have much mobility. Think Xerath, Zyra, or Janna. Neither of these can move very fast or have the means of defending themselves. If they’re paired with an immobile or weak ADC, you’ve got yourself a jackpot.
Thresh is a much slower and meticulous Champion that works well with a fast-paced, aggressive ADC. However, it’s much harder for him to land his hooks effectively due to the slow animation and cast time. Blitzcrank himself is one of Thresh’s worst counters and for a good reason. He just doesn’t cope well with high mobility, which Bltiz has plenty of.
Thresh is best against Champions that are easily alled-in at any stage of the game. Champions like Twitch, Soraka, Ashe, or Nami are good examples. None of these Champions can defend themselves well from an engagement, especially one coming from Thresh and his many disables and CC.
Always keep an eye on the enemy composition before making your choice. Champions are not to be selected blindly. Unless you absolutely can’t (first pick), pay special attention to what the enemy picked, how it synergizes, and answer adequately. Never be caught with your pants down.
Conclusion
New patches and releases are always on the way. Each can fundamentally change how the game functions and alter its meta. To keep track, players have come up with the Tier List concept. It has tremendously helped players of all skill levels to find what works and what doesn’t at any given moment. The Champions above are the best representatives of their Support role. We hope this list helped you inform yourself of the latest patch. We update these lists regularly, so stay tuned!
