Phreak’s strategic overhaul to restore tank supports and balance League of Legends competitive play
Current Support Meta Analysis
The professional League of Legends support landscape has become overwhelmingly dominated by ranged damage dealers and enchanters, creating one of the most polarized metas in competitive history.
The support meta in professional matches has heavily favored ranged champions who provide consistent damage and utility from a safe distance. Phreak’s upcoming modifications in LoL patch 13.3 aim to revitalize the professional scene before strategic diversity completely disappears.
Professional support selections have evolved into some of the most unconventional picks ever witnessed in League’s competitive arena. Tracking the bizarre champion choices that have emerged on the competitive stage has become increasingly challenging for analysts and viewers alike.
This trend originated with Ashe and Heimerdinger support appearances during Season 12’s conclusion, progressively developing into more experimental picks like BeryL’s Jhin support and reaching its peak with Keria’s innovative Caitlyn and Kalista selections.
Following the substantial ADC modifications introduced by Phreak in patch 13.1B, the designer now plans to reintroduce tank support champions as viable options for patch 13.3’s competitive environment.
The support position typically attracts strategic players who excel at initiating engagements and recognizing optimal fight opportunities. Professional competitors such as CoreJJ, Kaiser, and Hylissang have built their careers around decisive moments while controlling champions specifically designed to start teamfights.
Phreak’s Vision for Healthy Pro Play
In his detailed video explaining the objectives behind the support modifications arriving in LoL patch 13.3, Phreak explicitly targets establishing what he describes as a “healthy professional play meta.” But what exactly constitutes a healthy competitive environment?
Phreak’s objective involves achieving at minimum an equal distribution between ranged and melee supports, though he would consider a 70/30 ratio favoring melee champions acceptable. His mission focuses on dismantling the current bot lane dynamic where professional teams primarily concern themselves with drafting either early-game dominant pushing lanes or hyper-carry ADC setups paired with enchanters.
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A preview of Support changes slated for 13.3, in video formhttps://t.co/tUHHe7eUmu
I’m expecting there to be more iteration here
Phreak has distributed comprehensive preliminary notes covering numerous support champions. Many proposed adjustments underwent significant revision or complete removal before patch 13.3’s implementation, meaning the following details don’t reflect the final live version. Nevertheless, examining the divergence between initial proposals and actual live server implementations makes preserving these preliminary notes valuable for analysis. Consult the official 13.3 patch notes to identify which changes ultimately reached the live environment.
Champion-Specific Adjustments
Passive: Triumphant Roar
Passive: Concussive Blows
Passive: Staggering Blow
Practical Impact and Player Strategies
While there exists a clear possibility that certain modifications might require reversal if enhanced AP ratios enable these champions to become viable in alternative lanes or jungle positions (a scenario Phreak explicitly acknowledged during his patch analysis), these adjustments will undoubtedly inject fresh strategic diversity into the support role for LoL patch 13.3.
For players adapting to these changes, focus on mastering engage timing with tank supports. The reduced cooldowns on key abilities allow for more frequent trading opportunities in lane phase. However, be cautious about overextending early – the increased scaling means these champions become significantly more potent as games progress.
Common mistakes include attempting to force engages without proper vision control or misjudging the new healing and shield values. Practice in normal games to develop intuition for the updated numbers before bringing these champions into ranked play.
Advanced optimization involves building hybrid items that capitalize on the improved AP ratios while maintaining traditional tank stats. Consider items like Imperial Mandate or even Demonic Embrace on champions who benefit from both health and ability power.
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