League of Legends has always revolved around shifting metas, and few roles feel the tremors of patches more than support. With Patch 15.10: The Rise of Utility Supports, Riot has tipped the scales once again, pulling the spotlight away from tanky engage picks and back onto the enchanters and utility champions that enable carries to thrive.
If you’ve felt like Janna, Lulu, Nami, and Milio are suddenly everywhere in ranked, you’re not imagining it. Their win rates have spiked, pro play is experimenting with utility lanes, and solo queue is seeing a shift in bot lane dynamics. This article will dive deep into the balance changes, strategic implications, and ranked climbing advice that Patch 15.10 brings to the support role.
1. Why Patch 15.10 Shifted the Meta
Key Buffs
- Janna: Base mana regen increased, W cooldown reduced.
- Lulu: Increased shield scaling with AP, making her mid-to-late game stronger.
- Nami: E ability now synergizes better with crit ADCs.
- Item Adjustments: Moonstone Renewer and Redemption received efficiency buffs.
Nerfs to Engage Supports
- Nautilus: Base armor reduced.
- Leona: Increased mana costs.
- Rell: Slightly longer cooldown on engage abilities.
Together, these changes tilted the meta away from all-in engage and toward sustain, peel, and teamfight utility.
2. The Philosophy of Utility Supports
Utility supports aren’t there to carry fights through damage or engages. Instead, they excel by:
- Protecting carries with shields, heals, and disengage.
- Scaling into late game far more effectively than most engage supports.
- Controlling tempo with vision and lane sustain.
In Patch 15.10, their value is amplified because of the current ADC itemization trends (more crit scaling) and longer, more sustained fights.
3. Champions on the Rise
Janna – The Queen of Disengage
Her W buff makes her laning phase oppressive again. Combined with her unrivaled peel, Janna shuts down hard engage like Nautilus or Rell.
Lulu – The Hypercarry Enabler
Paired with Kog’Maw, Jinx, or Vayne, Lulu is the definition of utility scaling. Wild Growth in teamfights is game-changing.
Nami – The Lane Dominator
Her synergy with Lucian is back in the spotlight, but she also works wonders with crit marksmen like Caitlyn and Jinx.
Milio – The New Star
His cleansing ultimate and long-range buffs make him a nightmare for CC-heavy comps.
4. The Decline of Engage Supports
Engage supports aren’t dead — they’re just less reliable. Nautilus and Leona can still work if:
- Paired with snowball ADCs like Draven or Kalista.
- Used in aggressive jungle/support duos.
But in general, their win rates have dipped, and their “all-in or nothing” style feels riskier in Patch 15.10.
5. How This Impacts Solo Queue
For ranked players, the rise of utility supports means:
- ADC Synergy Matters More: Pairing with hypercarries is optimal. If your ADC locks in Jinx, Kog’Maw, or Twitch, a utility pick is often the best call.
- Roaming Less Effective: Enchanters don’t roam like Nautilus or Rakan, so expect more 2v2 focus.
- Jungle Dynamics Change: Junglers may prefer farming over bot dives since enchanters protect towers better.
6. Pro Play and Draft Implications
At the professional level, Patch 15.10 could redefine drafts:
- First-pick Lulu or Janna might become standard.
- Teams will prioritize hypercarry ADCs like Jinx and Aphelios.
- Engage supports may appear situationally against poke comps.
Expect to see more scaling bot lanes and fewer level 2 all-ins.
7. Counterplay to Utility Supports
If you hate playing against enchanters, here’s how to punish them:
- Pick poke supports like Zyra or Brand to burn through heals/shields.
- Exploit weak early levels with hard engage if your team commits.
- Focus mid-game objectives before enchanters hit scaling power.
8. The Future Beyond Patch 15.10
Riot tends to swing the pendulum between engage and enchanters. The rise of utility supports may dominate for a few months, but:
- New engage-focused items could restore balance.
- ADC adjustments may shift synergies again.
- Riot’s balance philosophy keeps both archetypes viable long-term.
9. Tips to Climb in Patch 15.10 as Support
- Learn 2–3 enchanters: Master Janna + Lulu, then add Milio or Nami.
- Track vision carefully: Utility supports thrive when you maintain map control.
- Communicate with your ADC: Sync cooldowns for maximum peel and engage denial.
- Don’t Over-Roam: Lane stability is your strength now.
10. Conclusion
Patch 15.10 has ushered in a new era: The Rise of Utility Supports. Where once Leona, Nautilus, and Rell dominated, now Lulu, Janna, and Milio are dictating the pace of the game.
This shift doesn’t just affect the support role — it reshapes the entire bot lane dynamic, jungle pathing, and pro-level drafts. For ranked players, adapting early means easy LP gains. For fans, it means a fresh look at bot lane strategy on the biggest stages.
The pendulum will swing again, but for now, if you want to climb — embrace the utility era of Patch 15.10.
