Blitzcrank Support: The Ultimate Guide To Victory
Are you ready to grab your enemies and lead your team to victory? If so, you've come to the right place! This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know to dominate as Blitzcrank support. From runes and masteries to advanced strategies, we will turn you into a fearless robot. So, buckle up, and let's dive into the world of Blitzcrank.
Why Pick Blitzcrank?
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let's talk about why Blitzcrank is an excellent choice for a support player. Blitzcrank is a high-impact, playmaking support champion. His Rocket Grab can single-handedly win games by pulling enemies out of position. Also, he provides excellent engage and can disrupt team fights with his Static Field. Blitzcrank is easy to learn but difficult to master, offering a rewarding experience for players who invest time in him. He is also incredibly fun to play. There's nothing quite like the satisfaction of landing a clutch Rocket Grab and watching your team pile on the hapless victim. However, Blitzcrank also has weaknesses. He can be vulnerable if his Rocket Grab misses, and he relies heavily on vision control to set up successful engagements. But with practice and good decision-making, these weaknesses can be mitigated, making Blitzcrank a formidable force on the Rift.
Runes and Summoner Spells
Choosing the right runes and summoner spells is crucial to maximizing Blitzcrank's effectiveness. Here's a breakdown of recommended setups:
Runes
- Resolve (Guardian): This is the primary rune path for Blitzcrank. Guardian provides a shield to you and your nearby ally when you take damage, increasing your survivability in lane. It synergizes well with Blitzcrank's role as a protector. Other useful runes in this path include Demolish (to take towers quickly after a successful roam), Font of Life (to heal allies when you impair enemy movement), and Revitalize (to increase the effectiveness of healing and shielding).
- Inspiration (Secondary): This path offers utility and sustain. Biscuit Delivery provides valuable sustain in lane, while Cosmic Insight reduces the cooldown of your summoner spells and items. This allows you to use Flash and Exhaust more frequently, giving you more playmaking potential.
Summoner Spells
- Flash: An absolute must-have. Flash provides engage, escape, and outplay potential. Use it to surprise enemies with Rocket Grab or to escape from dangerous situations.
- Exhaust: This is the preferred second summoner spell. Exhaust reduces the damage output of enemy carries, making it easier for your team to win fights. It's also useful for peeling for your ADC or catching out enemies.
Abilities and Skill Maxing
Understanding Blitzcrank's abilities and how to maximize them is essential for success. Here's an overview:
- Passive - Mana Barrier: When Blitzcrank is at low health, he gains a shield based on his mana. This can save you in a pinch, so be mindful of your mana levels.
- Q - Rocket Grab: Blitzcrank's signature ability. He launches his fist in a line, pulling the first enemy hit towards him. This is your primary engage tool. Landing Rocket Grab consistently is crucial for success.
- W - Overdrive: Blitzcrank gains increased movement speed and attack speed. Use this to chase down enemies or to quickly close the gap for an engage.
- E - Power Fist: Blitzcrank empowers his next auto-attack to deal bonus physical damage and knock up the target. Use this to interrupt enemy abilities or to follow up after a Rocket Grab.
- R - Static Field: Blitzcrank deals magic damage to nearby enemies and silences them. This is a powerful team fight ability that can disrupt enemy positioning and prevent them from casting spells.
Skill Maxing Order
The standard skill maxing order for Blitzcrank is Q > E > W. Maxing Rocket Grab first reduces its cooldown and increases its range, making it easier to land. Maxing Power Fist second increases its damage and reduces its cooldown, giving you more burst damage. Maxing Overdrive last provides utility, but its impact is less significant than the other two abilities.
Laning Phase Strategies
The laning phase is critical for setting the tone of the game. As Blitzcrank, your goal is to create opportunities for your ADC and establish lane dominance. Here are some tips:
- Early Game (Levels 1-3): Start with Q and look for early Rocket Grab opportunities. Position yourself aggressively to zone the enemy ADC. Be mindful of your mana, as Rocket Grab can be mana-intensive. Communicate with your ADC and coordinate your engages.
- Mid Game (Levels 4-6): Continue to look for Rocket Grab opportunities, but be more cautious of ganks. Ward frequently and track the enemy jungler's movements. Consider roaming to other lanes to help your team secure objectives.
- Late Game (Level 7+): Focus on peeling for your ADC and disrupting enemy carries. Use Static Field to silence multiple enemies in team fights. Continue to provide vision control and track enemy movements.
Advanced Laning Tips
- Bush Control: Controlling the bushes is essential for setting up successful Rocket Grabs. Use control wards to deny vision and surprise enemies.
- Fake Grabs: Sometimes, the threat of a Rocket Grab is more powerful than the actual grab. Use this to zone enemies and force them to play defensively.
- Predict Enemy Movement: Pay attention to enemy movement patterns and anticipate where they will be. This will increase your chances of landing Rocket Grab.
- Communicate: Communicate with your ADC and let them know when you are going to engage. This will ensure that you are on the same page and increase your chances of success.
Team Fighting
In team fights, Blitzcrank's role is to disrupt the enemy team and protect your carries. Here's how to play team fights effectively:
- Engage: Look for opportunities to engage with Rocket Grab. Prioritize pulling out-of-position carries or high-value targets.
- Peel: Protect your ADC and other carries from enemy assassins and divers. Use Power Fist and Exhaust to keep them safe.
- Disrupt: Use Static Field to silence multiple enemies and disrupt their positioning. This can create opportunities for your team to follow up and secure kills.
- Positioning: Position yourself between your carries and the enemy team. Be ready to intercept enemy threats and protect your allies.
Advanced Team Fighting Tips
- Flanking: Consider flanking the enemy team to catch them off guard. This can create chaos and allow you to pick off key targets.
- Vision Control: Maintain vision control around objectives to prevent the enemy team from setting up ambushes.
- Communicate: Communicate with your team and coordinate your engages. This will ensure that everyone is on the same page and increase your chances of success.
Item Builds
Choosing the right items is crucial for optimizing Blitzcrank's performance. Here are some recommended item builds:
Starting Items
- Relic Shield: Provides health, mana regeneration, and gold generation. It also allows you to execute minions and share gold with your ADC.
- Health Potion: Provides sustain in lane.
- Stealth Ward: Provides vision control.
Core Items
- Celestial Opposition: A strong item that provides Ability Haste, Armor, and Magic Resist, enhancing both your offensive and defensive capabilities.
- Boots of Swiftness/Ionian Boots of Lucidity: Boots of Swiftness are typically preferred for increased movement speed, while Ionian Boots of Lucidity provide valuable cooldown reduction.
Situational Items
- Zeke's Convergence: If you want to support your ADC. It provides Armor, Magic Resist, and Ability Haste, and when you cast your ultimate, it empowers your ADC's attacks and provides additional damage.
- Knight's Vow: Ideal for protecting a fed carry. Transfers a portion of the damage they take to you, making you a protector.
- Locket of the Iron Solari: Provides a shield to nearby allies, increasing their survivability in team fights.
- Mikael's Blessing: Removes crowd control effects from an ally, allowing them to escape from dangerous situations.
Tips and Tricks
Here are some additional tips and tricks to help you master Blitzcrank:
- Flash + Rocket Grab: Use Flash to extend the range of your Rocket Grab and surprise enemies. This is a powerful engage tool that can catch enemies off guard.
- Hook Over Walls: Rocket Grab can pull enemies over walls, allowing you to create unexpected engages.
- Interrupt Dashes: Use Power Fist to interrupt enemy dashes and prevent them from escaping.
- Zone with Rocket Grab: Use the threat of Rocket Grab to zone enemies and control the lane.
- Mastery Emotes: Use your mastery emote after landing a clutch Rocket Grab to assert your dominance.
Conclusion
Blitzcrank is a rewarding and impactful support champion that can carry games with his playmaking ability. By mastering his abilities, understanding his role in team fights, and optimizing his item builds, you can become a formidable force on the Rift. So go forth, grab your enemies, and lead your team to victory! Remember, practice makes perfect. Keep honing your skills, and you'll be climbing the ranks in no time. Good luck, and have fun!