The 5 Best Mage Supports in League of Legends

In League of Legends, supports play pivotal roles, ranging from hardy engage types like Nautilus and Leona to the more delicate yet devastating mage supports. Mage supports, such as Lux, Lulu, and Karma, excel at long-range harassment and significant magic damage output, posing a lethal threat to enemies who neglect their magic resistance.

Contrary to popular belief, these mage supports demand a high level of skill and precision, challenging players to master the art of spellcasting from a safe distance. This article dives into the top five mage supports that are not only viable but also highly effective in the current League of Legends meta, providing players with the tools to influence battles from the back lines with strategic spellwork and timely interventions.

#5: Lux

Lux stands out as a formidable mage support in League of Legends, offering a versatile mix of defensive and offensive abilities. She excels with her unique blend of crowd control, protective barriers, and high burst damage potential:

• Light Binding: Lux’s Q ability, throws out a light beam that can snare two enemies in succession, making it a potent tool for controlling enemy movement and setting up kills.
• Prismatic Barrier: Her W offers a boomerang-shaped shield that protects herself and allies it passes through, twice.
• Lucent Singularity: With her E, Lux can create a zone of radiant energy that slows enemies and can be detonated to deal area damage, perfect for zoning and wave control.
• Final Spark: Lux’s ultimate is a powerful long-range laser that can turn the tides of battle with its massive damage, especially effective in team fights.

Lux’s effectiveness spikes in the mid to late game when her damage scales up, though her light-binding skill demands precision to maximize its impact, as it is relatively easy for opponents to evade. Her comprehensive kit makes her a top choice for players looking to influence the game across all phases with strategic play and high impact spells.

#4: Yuumi

Yuumi stands out as a uniquely polarizing mage support in League of Legends, often drawing ire from opponents due to her significant late-game impact. Her kit allows her to attach to an ally, becoming untargetable, which can make her carry incredibly difficult to bring down:

• You and Me!: Yuumi attaches herself to a teammate, dodging all attacks except tower shots, and can hop between allies without cooldown. This makes her an elusive and persistent force in any skirmish.
• Prowling Projectile: While attached, she can fire a missile that deals magic damage and slows enemies, enhancing her harass capabilities.
• Zoomies: Yuumi’s E provides substantial healing and a burst of speed to her attached ally, turning even moderately strong carries into formidable tanks.
• Final Chapter: Her ultimate releases waves of magic damage that root enemies, setting up devastating plays or thwarting enemy advances.

The synergy between Yuumi and hypercarries like Yasuo, Jinx, or Viego can dominate late-game scenarios, making them nearly unstoppable. However, Yuumi’s effectiveness is somewhat muted early on, as her presence in lane depends heavily on the champion she’s attached to. Mastering Yuumi requires strategic foresight and positioning to maximize her healing and disruptive capabilities.

#3: Lulu

Lulu is an exemplary mage support in League of Legends, celebrated for her versatile ability to bolster allies while frustrating her foes. Her toolkit allows for both aggressive and defensive playstyles:

• Glitterlance (Q): This ability projects a beam that slows and damages the first enemies it hits, making it a useful tool for both engaging foes and retreating.
• Whimsy (W): On allies, it boosts attack speed and movement, enhancing their combat and chase capabilities. Cast on enemies, it transforms them into harmless critters, neutralizing threats momentarily.
• Help, Pix! (E): Grants a protective shield to allies or deals damage and grants vision when targeted at enemies, offering tactical flexibility in skirmishes.
• Wild Growth (R): Lulu’s ultimate magnifies an ally’s size, boosting their health and knocking up nearby enemies. This not only makes them harder to take down but also disrupts enemy positioning.

Lulu’s primary role is to empower her team, making her an integral component in both lane dominance and team fights. Her impact grows as the game progresses, with her abilities scaling effectively into the late game. While Lulu may not dominate early game exchanges, her ability to alter the course of fights becomes invaluable as matches draw on.

#2: Karma

Karma stands out as a formidable mage support in League of Legends, thanks to her versatile abilities that enhance both her supportive and offensive capabilities. Unique among champions, Karma’s ultimate, Mantra, is available from level one, allowing her to enhance her other abilities throughout the game.

• Inner Flame (Q): When empowered by Mantra, this ability inflicts significant burst damage and creates an area of effect slow, making it a potent tool for both harassment and crowd control.
• Inspire (E): Karma’s shield not only protects her allies but, when enhanced by Mantra, also grants a burst of speed to all nearby teammates, which can be crucial for engaging or disengaging.
• Focused Resolve (W): This tether slows and eventually roots an enemy, providing reliable peel or setting up kills when combined with Mantra.

Karma’s ability to empower her skills with her ultimate from the start of the game enables her to exert substantial pressure during the laning phase, keeping opponents on edge. Her balanced mix of damage, protection, and utility makes her an excellent choice for players looking to make a significant impact in the support role.

#1: Zilean

Zilean, often hailed as a top-tier mage support in League of Legends, excels at altering the dynamics of team fights and laning with his unique set of abilities. His presence on the battlefield is transformative, making him a pivotal figure in both offensive pushes and defensive stands.

• Time Warp (E): Zilean can dramatically slow enemies or boost allies’ speed, making him excellent for controlling movements during engagements.
• Time Bomb (Q): He places bombs that detonate after a brief delay, providing substantial area control and forcing opponents to scatter, disrupting their positioning.
• Chronoshift (R): Perhaps his most game-changing ability, Zilean can preemptively cast this on allies, reviving them if they fall in battle, which can decisively turn the tide of team fights.

While Zilean’s potential to impact the game is immense, he does have vulnerabilities due to his relatively low base defenses and health. Mastery of Zilean requires precise positioning and timing to avoid quick eliminations by opponents. Despite these challenges, mastering Zilean can significantly boost a player’s climb up the ranked ladder, earning him a reputation as a ‘free-elo’ champion when played effectively.

Conclusion

Mastering mage supports in League of Legends can dramatically enhance your gameplay, offering both high damage potential and crucial support abilities that can swing the tide of battles. From Lux’s versatile skill set and Yuumi’s frustrating untargetability to Lulu’s protective enchantments, Karma’s empowering presence, and Zilean’s game-altering ultimates, each of these champions brings a unique flair to the support role. Whether you’re a new player looking to dive into the support role or a seasoned veteran aiming to refine your strategic play, these mage supports offer a dynamic range of tools to control the game’s flow and secure victories.