League of Legends: Top 15 Best Engage Supports

In League of Legends, playing the support role means you have a wide array of champions to choose from, each with its own strengths. Engage supports are a key archetype, known for their tankiness and powerful crowd control (CC) abilities. These champions are the initiators, the ones who set up plays for their team, creating opportunities to secure kills and dominate objectives.

Engage supports excel at shutting down enchanters, but they might face challenges against poke supports who also have CC tools. In this article, we’ll explore the 15 best engage supports in League of Legends history, perfect for taking control of the bot lane and setting up your ADC for success. Whether you’re looking to make big plays or simply protect your team, these champions will help you carry the game from the support role.

#15: Swain

Swain, the Noxian Grand General, is a versatile champion who thrives in multiple roles, including support. His Nevermove ability can be a nightmare for enemies to avoid, rooting them in place and pulling them toward Swain for further damage. His Vision of Empire skill adds to his crowd control arsenal by slowing enemies and dealing significant area-of-effect (AoE) damage after a brief delay. With his ability to disrupt and control the battlefield, Swain is a formidable engage support who can set up kills and dominate the bot lane.

#14: Pantheon

Pantheon, the Unbreakable Spear, is a force to be reckoned with in the support role. His Shield Vault provides a reliable point-and-click stun that can catch enemies off guard, while his Aegis Assault offers significant damage mitigation, allowing him to dive into fights without hesitation. Pantheon can also dish out considerable damage, making him a dual threat in the bot lane. His ultimate, Grand Starfall, is a game-changer—hurling his spear to a targeted location before he crashes down, dealing damage and slowing enemies caught in his path. Pantheon’s aggressive playstyle and strong engage potential make him a formidable support who can dictate the flow of the game.

#13: Tahm Kench

Tahm Kench, the River King, excels at making impactful entrances with his Abyssal Dive, a powerful engage tool that knocks up and stuns enemies when he resurfaces. This ability allows him to initiate fights effectively, often catching opponents off guard. Following up with Thick Skin, Tahm Kench can absorb significant damage by generating a large shield, giving him impressive durability in skirmishes. The gray health from this ability also allows him to heal, providing sustained survivability in prolonged engagements. Additionally, once Tahm Kench applies three stacks of An Acquired Taste on an enemy, he can unleash a Tongue Lash to stun them, creating further opportunities for his team to capitalize on. His blend of crowd control, tankiness, and sustain makes Tahm Kench a formidable engage support.

#12: Braum

Braum, the Heart of the Freljord, is a resilient warden who excels in crowd control and initiating fights. His Concussive Blows passive, activated through his basic attacks, can stun enemies once fully stacked, making it easier for his team to secure kills. His Winter’s Bite ability adds to his utility by slowing down opponents, setting them up for further crowd control or an all-in engage. Braum’s ultimate, Glacial Fissure, is a powerful tool that sends a fissure of ice through the ground, knocking up enemies caught in its path and creating a slowing zone that hinders any enemies who try to cross it. With his blend of stuns, slows, and knock-ups, Braum is a reliable engage support who can turn the tide of battle in his team’s favor.

#11: Rell

Rell, the Iron Maiden, is a formidable vanguard known for her exceptional ability to initiate fights and lock down multiple enemies at once. With her Ferromancy: Crash Down, she dives into the fray, creating an impactful area-of-effect (AoE) crowd control that can catch opponents off guard. This can be followed up with her Attract and Repel ability, which stuns any enemies caught between her and her tethered ally, further increasing her team’s chances of success.

Rell’s ultimate, Magnet Storm, is the pinnacle of her engage potential, drawing enemies toward her in a devastating magnetic field that disrupts and disorients them, making it easier for her team to secure kills. When she’s ready to reposition or chase down fleeing opponents, Rell can activate Ferromancy: Mount Up, hopping back onto her metal steed and charging at enemies, knocking them up and keeping the momentum in her team’s favor. With her ability to chain crowd control and initiate team fights, Rell is a powerhouse when it comes to engaging in battles.

#10: Blitzcrank

Blitzcrank, the Great Steam Golem, is notorious for his game-changing grabs that can single-handedly turn the tide of a match. His signature move, Rocket Grab, is a terrifying tool that can yank unsuspecting enemies from the safety of their team, dragging them into a quick and often fatal confrontation. Once caught, Blitzcrank follows up with Power Fist, delivering a powerful knock-up that leaves the target vulnerable to further attacks. His Static Field ultimate adds an extra layer of crowd control, silencing and damaging nearby foes, making Blitzcrank a relentless threat in team fights.

While Blitzcrank’s pick potential is unmatched, his effectiveness largely hinges on landing that crucial grab. If the Rocket Grab is dodged or blocked, the enemy team has a brief window to breathe, but with Blitzcrank’s quick cooldowns, the threat of being pulled back into danger never truly disappears.

#9: Alistar

Alistar, the Minotaur, is a powerhouse when it comes to engaging and disrupting the enemy team. Known for his iconic Pulverize and Headbutt combo, Alistar can launch enemies into the air with a devastating knock-up and then send them flying back, creating chaos in the enemy ranks. His ability to dive into the heart of the battle is further enhanced by his ultimate, Unbreakable Will, which not only grants him immense damage reduction but also cleanses crowd control effects, allowing him to shrug off stuns, roots, and other debuffs.

Alistar’s Trample ability adds another layer of crowd control, stunning enemies after he has moved through them enough times, while his passive, Triumphant Roar, provides sustained healing to both himself and nearby allies, making him a resilient and supportive presence in team fights. If you challenge the bull, be ready to face the horns.

#8: Galio

While Galio, The Colossus, is often found in the mid lane countering mages, he also shines as a formidable support. With his massive frame and protective nature, Galio excels at holding the line for his team. His Shield of Durand is a powerful tool in his arsenal, taunting all nearby enemies and forcing them to attack him, creating a perfect opportunity for his team to strike. After taunting his foes, Galio can follow up with a devastating Justice Punch, knocking them up and setting up kills for his team.

When his allies are in trouble, Galio’s Hero’s Entrance ultimate allows him to leap across the map, landing with a ground-shaking impact that knocks back enemies in the area. This ability not only provides crucial crowd control but also serves as a game-changing defensive tool, turning the tide of battle in favor of his team. Galio’s ability to protect and engage makes him a powerful and versatile support choice.

#7: Pyke

Pyke, the Bloodharbor Ripper, thrives on aggressive plays and excels at catching enemies off guard with his lethal abilities. His Bone Skewer pulls unsuspecting targets toward him, applying a significant slow that makes it easy for his team to follow up with damage. Once he’s close, Pyke can deploy his Phantom Undertow, leaving behind a trail that stuns any enemy caught in its path, ensuring they have little chance to escape.

What makes Pyke truly terrifying as an engage support is his ultimate, Death from Below. When an enemy’s health falls into the execution range, Pyke can swiftly eliminate them with a single strike, leaving no time for counterplay. This ability also grants bonus gold to both Pyke and his allies, making him not only a playmaker but also a valuable asset in snowballing the team’s advantage. Pyke’s relentless aggression and execution potential make him a formidable presence in the bot lane.

#6: Bard

Bard, known as the Wandering Caretaker, possesses a uniquely powerful toolkit for initiating team engagements. His Cosmic Binding not only slows the first enemy it strikes but can also stun multiple adversaries if positioned correctly against walls or another champion. This makes him a formidable force in setting up plays.

The true test of a skilled Bard player lies in the masterful use of his ultimate, Tempered Fate. This ability can dramatically alter the course of team fights by placing enemies in stasis, effectively freezing them in place. It also temporarily disables turrets, opening the door for daring tower dives. A well-timed Tempered Fate can either rescue teammates from certain doom or secure the fate of an enemy team, distinguishing the exceptional Bards from the merely good.

#5: Nautilus

Nautilus, known as the Titan of the Depths, dominates as a vanguard support, wielding his enormous anchor to control the battlefield. His signature ability, Dredge Line, not only pulls enemies towards him but also roots them upon impact, setting up his team for easy follow-up attacks. His passive, Staggering Blow, adds another layer of crowd control by applying a brief root with his initial auto attack on each target.

Riptide provides Nautilus with an area of effect slow that radiates out from him, further hampering his enemies’ ability to escape or engage. His ultimate, Depth Charge, seeks out a primary target, knocking up and stunning them, along with any other enemies in its path, making it a formidable tool in team fights. Nautilus’s ability to disrupt and control makes him a key initiator and protector in any team composition.

#4: Morgana

Morgana, known as The Fallen, is not your typical tanky support, but she excels in setting up plays with her potent crowd control abilities. Her Dark Binding feels like an eternity to those ensnared, holding enemies in place long enough to turn the tides of battle. This snare, notorious for its lengthy duration, often leaves opponents helplessly waiting for freedom without a cleanse, Quicksilver Sash, or Mikael’s Crucible in reach.

Morgana users commonly prioritize a Zhonya’s Hourglass even before their Mythic item, enabling bold, frontline initiations with her Soul Shackles ultimate. This tactic allows her to dive into enemy ranks, bind them with her chains, and survive the counterattack, all while her team capitalizes on the disruption.

#3: Rakan

Known affectionately as The Charmer, Rakan excels in swift, impactful engagements. He dives into battle using his Grand Entrance to deliver a powerful area-of-effect knockup, setting the stage for his team. This is swiftly followed by his ultimate, The Quickness, which charms and captivates anyone in his path, disorienting the opposition. To ensure his own safety and bolster his allies, Rakan skillfully uses Battle Dance to shield teammates and dance away from danger, weaving in and out of the melee with elegant agility.

#2: Leona

Dubbed The Radiant Dawn, Leona shines brightly on the battlefield with her sun-themed abilities. She initiates combat using Zenith Blade to dart towards her target, seamlessly chaining this move with a stun from her Shield of Daybreak to incapacitate foes. For a grand display of her power, Leona calls down her ultimate, Solar Flare, upon adversaries. This celestial strike stuns enemies at its epicenter and casts a slowing effect on those caught on its periphery, making her a formidable presence in any skirmish.

#1: Thresh

Thresh, known as The Chain Warden, reigns supreme in the realm of engage supports with his notorious Death Sentence—a hook that, true to its name, often spells doom for those it catches. His Dark Passage offers a strategic escape or an entry point for allies, bolstering his versatility on the battlefield. Flay serves dual purposes: it can disrupt enemy charges or drag adversaries into perilous positions. His ultimate, The Box, casts a prison of spectral walls that heavily slow anyone daring enough to break through, cementing his role as a relentless and formidable controller in any team fight.

Conclusion

Engage supports in League of Legends are the linchpins of their teams, turning the tides of battle with their crowd control abilities and initiating capabilities. From the depth-charging Nautilus to the swift and charming Rakan, each of these top 15 champions offers unique strategies to dominate the bot lane and influence the broader game. Choosing the right engage support can drastically enhance your team’s ability to secure kills and objectives, making mastering one of these champions a potentially game-changing move for any player looking to climb the ranks or just enjoy more dynamic gameplay.