In the current meta, supports are required to be able to not only provide sustain to their AD carries, but they also need to provide different forms of crowd control, as well as have the ability to harass during the laning phase to give their side the upper hand. Nami is a champion which is able to fill all those roles, as she can not only harass but can also provide sustain to her laning partner.

With the ability to provide sustain, a stun, a slow, and even a knockup, Nami offers tons of utility to her team composition which can easily change the tide of a team fight.

Taking a look at her abilities:
Passive: Surging Tides

When Nami's abilities hit allied champions they gain 40 (+ 10% AP) movement speed for 1.5 seconds.

This passive is quite interesting as it works with all of nami's abilities. Although gaining increased movement speed may not seem like much, it really does help in team fights. Due to her passive being applied to allies with all her abilities, it makes her ultimate an amazing method of initiating a team fight. (Buff allies and slow/knockup opponents). This passive fits well with Nami’s kit as many of her abilities are AOE spells, and can both hit an enemy as well as an ally.

Q: Aqua Prison

Nami sends a bubble towards a targeted area. When it lands it deals magic damage to enemies in the affected area as well as knocking up the enemies for 1.5s.

This ability is Nami’s primary form of CC which like most other supports, is a skillshot ability. Unlike most other supports ability, this is a knockup CC meaning that if used in a fight properly it can knockup more than just 1 person. Taking this into account can easily change the tide of a fight in botlane as both ADC and support can be out of play for 1.5 seconds. This ability also procs Nami’s passive meaning that your ADC could have potentially increased movement speed if they are within the AOE target area.

W: Ebb and Flow

Nami unleashes a stream of water that bounces between allied and enemy champions. This ability can only bounce to each target once and hits up to 3 targets.

Ebb and Flow is Nami’s bread and butter ability during laning phase as it can allow her to harass enemies while providing heals to her laning partner. What is interesting about this ability is the fact that you can either choose to heal more by activating the ability on an ally, or to deal more damage by activating the ability on an enemy. If champions are within range, it will continue to bounce for a maximum of 3 times. This ability allows Nami’s lane to sustain against poke compositions as well as offer a form of poke to hit enemies. This ability is a great ability to engage a fight with as it will give your ADC a movement speed buff as well as do a little damage to enemy laners.

E: Tidecaller’s Blessing

Nami empowers an allied champion for 6 seconds or until they have attacked 3 times. During this time, their basic attacks deal bonus magic damage and slow the target hit for 1 second.

This ability provides Nami the ability to give an ally some extra damage with their auto attack as well as slowing enemies if they are hit. Using this ability as a tool to engage or chasing enemies works extremely well due to Nami’s passive buff, as well as the slow de-buff applied on enemies. The extra damage applied in early levels is minimal, but adds up over the three hits.

R: Tidal Wave

Nami summons a tidal wave that moves outward in a broad line and deals magic damage to enemies it comes into contact with, briefly knocking them up and then slowing them.

Nami’s ultimate ability is probably one of the best methods to initiate a team fight as it has a range of 2750 which also applies a knockup as well as a heavy slow. You can also proc Nami’s passive on your entire team by starting at a point where they are at. This provides all the essentially components for a successful engage. Starting with a speed buff to your team and a knock-up + slow on enemies.

This ability is best used either in lane or in tight spaces as more often than not, enemies will not have a place to go and avoid the tidal wave resulting in your team easily catching them and turning the game into your favor.

Some tips for Nami:

- Predict enemy movements, as many players move linearly (in a straight line) as this will help you land an Aqua Prison.
- Don’t underestimate the range on Tidal Wave as the range/distance is quite big and if used in confined areas makes it nearly impossible to avoid.
- Nami works well with champions who are able to gap close quickly and build attack speed early to use the stacks of Tidecaller’s Blessing. Such champions would be Vayne, Jinx. Other champs who have long range can also be affective as it increases the range of catching opponents through the slow from Nami’s E. Champions this method works well with are Kog’Maw, Caitlyn, and Tristana.

Nami’s abilities can be used both offensively as a means to engage enemies as well as defensively as a means to peel for your carries. Due to her E (Tidecaller’s Blessing) being able to be self-cast, you can slow enemies if they are chasing. Further more you can heal allies and damage enemies, with Ebb and Flow and lastly use Aqua prison as a means to stop a chase all together.

The application of Tidal Wave also very as it can also be used as a means for escape, often when a team is backing off/overextended. A friendly Tidal Wave can act as a deterrent for the enemies, as it will knock them up as well as slow them resulting in a failed chase. While they are slowed, your allies will also have increased movement speed allowing them to scurry to safety quickly.

If played correctly, Nami can easily change the “Tide” of battle in her lane and provide a hefty amount of support/ CC.