League of Legends’ Season 14 brings a host of changes to the game’s meta, including a significant revamp of the AP support role. With the introduction of new items, runes, and champions, AP supports have emerged as formidable playmakers in the bot lane. This guide will provide an in-depth analysis of the AP support meta in Season 14, offering insights into champion selection, itemization, and playstyle. By embracing the strategies outlined in this article, players can ascend to the pinnacle of success as AP support mains.
Champion Selection
Top-Tier Picks
Lillia: With her unparalleled crowd control and mobility, Lillia reigns supreme as one of the strongest AP supports in Season 14. Her Dream Dust ability slows enemies, making it harder for opponents to engage or disengage.
Brand: Brand’s fiery abilities inflict massive damage, both in the early and late game. His passive, Blaze, detonates on stunned enemies, allowing him to secure quick kills.
Lux: Lux is a versatile support who excels at both damage and crowd control. Her Light Binding root is a game-changer in team fights, while her Final Spark ultimate can snipe distant opponents.
Situational Picks
Seraphine: Seraphine’s supportive abilities shine when paired with engage-heavy compositions. Her Surround Sound ability grants movement speed to her team, while her Crescendo ultimate stuns multiple enemies.
Morgana: Morgana’s Dark Binding ability is a potent tool against assassins and other mobile champions. Her ultimate, Tormented Shadow, creates a stasis field that disables enemies caught within it.
Karma: Karma is a flexible support who can adapt to various team compositions. Her Mantra ability enhances her other abilities, granting them additional effects.
Itemization
Core Items
Moonstone Renewer: This mythic item is a must-have for AP supports who prioritize healing and shielding their team. Its unique passive, Grace, grants bonus movement speed and healing to nearby allies.
Shurelya’s Battlesong: For supports who prefer engaging or disengaging team fights, Shurelya’s Battlesong is an excellent choice. Its active ability, Hymn of Valor, grants movement speed and an attack speed buff to nearby allies.
Staff of Flowing Water: This item provides AP supports with additional mana regeneration and enhances their healing and shielding abilities. Its passive, Amplify, increases the duration of buffs and debuffs applied to allies.
Situational Items
Night Harvester: For AP supports who want to maximize their damage output, Night Harvester is a viable option. Its unique passive, Soulrend, deals bonus magic damage to enemies who fall below a certain health threshold.
Locket of the Iron Solari: For team fights where the enemy has a heavy amount of burst damage, Locket of the Iron Solari can provide crucial protection for your team. Its active ability, Searing Charge, grants a shield to nearby allies.
Ardent Censer: AP supports who want to empower their marksmen should consider Ardent Censer. Its unique passive, Ardent Blessing, grants bonus attack speed and on-hit damage to nearby allied marksmen.
Playstyle
Early Game
Control the lane: AP supports have strong crowd control abilities early on. Use them effectively to prevent the enemy ADC from farming and to secure kills.
Ward aggressively: Vision is critical for AP supports. Place wards deep into the enemy jungle to track their movements and provide information for your team.
Roam intelligently: Once the laning phase is stable, AP supports should look to roam mid or top to help their team secure kills or objectives.
Mid Game
Participate in team fights: As the game progresses, AP supports should focus on providing crowd control and damage in team fights. Use your abilities wisely to peel for your carries and disrupt the enemy team.
Secure objectives: Dragon and Rift Herald are crucial objectives for AP supports to secure. Use your vision control and crowd control to help your team take these objectives safely.
Late Game
Stay alive: AP supports are often targeted late game. Prioritize staying alive so that you can continue to provide your team with crowd control and damage.
Protect your carries: As the game reaches its climax, focus on protecting your team’s carries. Use your abilities to peel for them and prevent them from getting assassinated.
Conclusion
AP support season 14 brings a host of exciting changes and opportunities for players. By embracing the strategies outlined in this guide, players can ascend to the pinnacle of success as AP support mains. Whether you choose to bring the heat with Brand, control the crowd with Lillia, or outsmart your opponents with Lux, the AP support meta in Season 14 offers a rewarding and impactful way to climb the ranked ladder and dominate the Rift.
Additional Tables
Table 1: Top-Tier AP Support Win Rates
Champion
Win Rate
Lillia
53%
Brand
52%
Lux
51%
Table 2: Core Item Statistics
Item
Ability Power
Mana Regen
Active Ability
Moonstone Renewer
100
100% base mana regen
Heal and grant bonus movement speed to nearby allies
Shurelya’s Battlesong
80
100% base mana regen
Grant movement speed and attack speed buff to nearby allies
Staff of Flowing Water
100
20% bonus mana regen
Increase the duration of buffs and debuffs applied to allies
Table 3: Situational Item Effects
Item
Effect
Night Harvester
Deals bonus magic damage to enemies below a certain health threshold
Locket of the Iron Solari
Grants a shield to nearby allies when activated
Ardent Censer
Grants bonus attack speed and on-hit damage to nearby allied marksmen
Table 4: AP Support Playstyle Guide
Phase
Focus
Early Game
Control the lane, ward aggressively, roam intelligently