What the Support Meta Could Look Like in S8 with Other S8 Support Predictions
A look into the possible Support Meta for S8 and some other most likely wrong predictions.
S8 is just around the corner. The new runes changed the scene for Supports. In this article, I go through my (most likely wrong) predictions and my (mostly to change in a couple months) tier list for Supports in S8.
1. Tanks with Lots of Hard CC (i.e. Alistar, Leona)
Tanks are in. As of the writing of this article, look at the top 12 Supports in terms on win-rate.
Image via OP.GG
Notice anything? You should. If S7 was the year of the Ardent Censor for Supports, S8 looks like it will be the year of the Tanks for Supports. What separates the tanks within themselves is currently their ability to utilize Aftershock, which requires one to immobilize an enemy Champion. Those that cannot trigger Aftershock at all, or as reliably, have to use Guardian, which just is not as strong currently. Conditioning, Front of Line, Second Wind, and Unflinching all work well into the Tank playstyle. These also are easier to proc with heavy hard CC Supports like Alistar, putting them ahead of Tank Supports will less CC such as Braum. Prediction: Alistar will be in the top 5 Champions for ban-rate this year.
2. Other Tank Supports (i.e Braum, Thresh)
Tanks that are not able to use Aftershock or as reliable as the category above are a tier below their fellow Tank Supports. One issue with Guardian being that one has to basically stand directly on top of their ADC to proc it, making positioning key, which is usually a skill lacking at lower tiers. The rest of the Resolve Rune tree path helps put Tank Supports at top of the Support Meta and work well into the Tank playstyle. As stated above, these also are easier to proc with heavy hard CC Supports like Alistar, putting them ahead of Tank Supports will less CC such as Braum.
Further, Tank Supports currently have a variety of items at their disposal that allow for building on the game situation. A previous article I wrote on Support items can be seen here. Righteous Glory provides a good tool for engaging. Locket of the Iron Solari now scales off bonus health, making it great for Tank Supports and a solid first item. Although Redemption is not as good on Tank Supports as it is on Supports with a shield or healing, its active still makes it a useful item to have. Zeke's Convergence and Knight's Vow are good ADC binding items. Randuin's Omen, Gargoyle Stoneplate, and Abyssal Mask, while costly, can provide great tankiness and teamfight ability in the late game.
Currently, Tank Supports play so well that even Tank Champions typically not played in the Bot lane are seeing success, such as Shen and Maokai. Prediction: That one guy that played Sion Support all year near the top of the win-rate list will play Shen and Maokai Support at the top of the win-rate list all year.
3. Janna
Janna is third on this list but really is in line with the "Other Tank Supports." (It made writing this article easier with putting the tanks back to back.) The gap between Janna and the rest of the Supports below is huge right now.
Fun fact: Janna will never go out of style. Even with nerfs to popular/build items, her kit will keep her relevant at all elo-levels. She is also viable to play into most team compositions and into any Support the enemy team should choose. Meaning, learn to play her! See this Janna article for more.
The difference between S7 Janna and S8 Janna? Playstyle. Prediction: Aggressive poke Janna will be better than passive shield Janna. Summon Aery works very well with Janna, both allowing for an extra shield and extra damage.
4a. Other Healing/Shielding Supports (i.e. Soraka, Lulu)
The Ardent Censer buffs hit these Supports hard. Unless there are changes to typical shielding/healing Support items, they will not be nearly as effective as they were in S7. Summon Aery works will with these Supports just like it does for Janna. The rest of the build path to Summon Aery, however, just is not as effective as the Tank Support route to Aftershock or Guardian (not to say they are bad).
4b. Damage Supports meant to be Supports (i.e. Zyra, Karma)
Before the nerf to Summon Aery, these supports would have had a smaller gap between 1-3. Although they can poke tanks and give a very hard time early in the game during laning phase, they will fall off hard and will not be able to match Support Tanks starting during the mid-game phase. Playing safe as a Tank early in the game will allow you to easily handle these squishy Supports later on.
5. Mid Lane Champion to Damage Supports (i.e. Lux, Brand)
Just one look at the bottom of the winrate list on op.gg says it all. Do NOT play these kinds of Champions as Supports this season. Even in the lower tiers. You may hear and think that these Champions will rocket you out of bronze, but learning and playing an actual Support Champion will help you climb even further. Further, the removal of Frost Queen's Claim will not help these Champions to be "Supports." Prediction: The ONLY Mid lane Champion that will have success this year in the Bot lane will be Vel'Koz.
Image via OP.GG
Last, here are some other Support predictions for S8 most likely to be incorrect!
1. Unsealed Spellbook Sivir Support will become popular and work because Imaqtpie said it works.
2. Riot will nerf the Tank rune tree into a perfectly balanced Support pool of Champions. Then, they will buff Karma to the moon ruining said balance (new Karma skin released week after buff).
3. Although aggressive Janna will be tremendously popular and effective, the enemy team will still call you out for playing a brain-dead Champions. "You only are shielding."
4. With the change in Support item gold quests (removal of Sightstone and making it the quest prize), rushing another item will be common place for every Support. Warding levels will hit an all-time low.
5. People will not be able to play safe early game on Tank Supports making my tier list look foolish.
6. Nautilus gets a buff and becomes best Support in the game by far.
7. Riot gives up on trying to change gold items so other roles do not buy them. They instead make them similar to Jungle items where only the Support can buy them. System still does not work.
8. Riot replaces Glacial Augment in the runes.
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