This guide is still WIP, so I will be tweaking and updating it as time goes on.
(This will mainly be adding synergies and threats)

Also, please don't denounce a guide because it is very off-meta. If you disagree with it, state that it is a nice idea, or don't, but it doesn't work with you. Don't just state that it 'doesn't work', because I have tried it and it works for me. I want to share this guide because I find Sylas support very fun and I want to share with people how to do it.

Once you have looked at this guide, give it a positive vote if you liked it, and/or check it again in a month or so, because it is likely to have changed since then. Also, why isn't this guide classed as in-depth yet? It has the criteria...

Finally, this is my first MOBAFIRE League of Legends guide, so please don't discriminate against it because it isn't as glamourous or as colourful as other guides, however I have been making it more colourful recently.

Thank You.

Why Sylas support?

My friends say that they have never seen a guide for this, and have never seen it being run. However, I have run it, and I formulated an item set for Sylas Support since before he was released. This is why he can support:

1) His E. Abscond / Abduct is a really good engage and he works well with Yasuo ADC, because it knocks the target up, allowing Yasuo to ult.
2) He can be a Bruiser. Riot designed Sylas to be run two ways: high damage or bruiser. Bruiser supports work well because of how tanky they are. This is why you should focus AP and health items when running Sylas support.
3) His damage. There are many supports that are only made of their cc and their damage ( Lux, Brand, Vel'Koz, Neeko, etc.). Sylas can deal a lot of damage if run full AP, which this build allows.
4) His Q. Sylas' poke ( Chain Lash) is very powerful because it doesn't just initially keep them back, but the extra explosion keeps the enemy from stepping into that region until the explosion has gone off. You have to be careful not to steal cs with it though, but if you go Relic Shield it shouldn't be a problem.
5) His Ult. I know I have just listed nearly all of his abilities, but they work for a Support. Hijack is obviously useful for any Role, and so are his other abilities, but because you spend your time in Bot lane a lot, you always have the choice of between 2 ultimates to steal. So when one enemy is on cooldown, you can steal the ult from the other.

Bruiser Sylas Support is focused around his engage, and its tankiness isn't to be underestimated. Enemy laners must be careful to remain behind their minions, and not out of position, or they will be dived.

Runes

With runes, I went with Resolve as the main rune, because of the tankiness it provides and Aftershock. I also went with Sorcery as the secondary rune, because of how it enhances spells. Here is more on why I picked what I picked:

Aftershock: I went with Aftershock, because of the extra damage it deals once you successfully hit an enemy champion with your E. It also gives you armour and magic resist for 2.5 seconds, which help you to survive engagements.
Shield Bash: This works well with your Passive and your E, as once you gain the shield from your E, you E again to get close to the enemy and auto-attack them. The auto-attack is enhanced by both your passive and your Shield Bash to deal more damage.
Bone Plating: Bone Plating is the best of the options it provides you for this section, for your situation. It helps reduce the damage you take in your engages, making them more survivable, especially in early game.
Revitalize: Revitalize is a very good for Sylas, as it enhances the heal from your W and the shield from your E. This provides a lot more survivability for Sylas.
Manaflow Band: A problem in early game for Mana-based supports when holding lane, especially while your ADC has backed, is running out of mana. This makes you want to back once your ADC has returned, but that will leave your squishy ADC alone to hold lane. Therefore, Manaflow Band will make you run out of mana less and entice you to poke more.
Absolute Focus: I have seen builds which use Scorch for extra damage or Transcendence for more utility, and if you want, you can swap out Absolute Focus with Scorch or Transcendence. But I use Absolute Focus for more AP. Also, your W should keep you topped up so it applies.

Starting Items

To decide whether to go Spellthief's Edge or Relic Shield, look at your own team composition and compare it to the enemy. If the enemy team is more tanky than your team, go Relic Shield and therefore go Bruiser. If the enemy team is more composed of squishies, go Spellthief's Edge and maybe go High Damage Sylas.

It is also down to preference, if you prefer to go High Damage Sylas, go Spellthief's Edge, if you prefer to go Bruiser Sylas, go Relic Shield.

Another reason to go Relic Shield is if you are versing a Pyke, a Thresh, a Swain, or a Blitzcrank. This will help you survive their 'grabs' and escape with your E. You can also go Relic Shield if you are versing any other tank support, so you can keep on par with the enemy support. Vice versa, you could go Spellthief's Edge if you are versing an enemy squishy support.

Ability Order

I know it is controversial to max your E before your Q or W, however, Abscond / Abduct is your key component as a Support. Your E is your engage and your disengage, and the threat of your engage off-cooldown should make your opponents stay behind their minion wave, just as you would do against a Pyke, Blitzcrank or a Thresh.

After you max your E, you can choose to put some points into your W before maxing your Q if the situation demands. For example: if you need more sustain to survive teamfights.

Another tip for taking towers is to use an ability randomly to activate your passive to deal extra damage, but don't use your E to do this if your minions wave is small, flash is on cooldown or you think that an enemy champion is nearby and on their way.

How to Behave in Lane

In lane, you want to always be poking them when they get close enough or when they may need to get closer to last-hit a minion. Also, stay in the bushes a lot, like what a Blitzcrank or Pyke would do. Even if the enemy know you're there, it's good at keeping them away from the bushes under threat of being jumped.

A way you can keep them from knowing where you are is by purchasing a Control Ward, or an Oracle Lens once you finish your Support Item Quest.

One thing to remember is that if you go tanky, you can afford to stay in dangerous positions more and wait until they get close enough for you to dive them, but if you go high damage, you must stay out of their range to avoid getting poked down to the point that you can't engage anymore and you must engage at the right time.

What Items to go

Rylai's Crystal Scepter is core to this build, despite the slow on the Q already. This is because it adds a slow to your other abilities, since you have little cc. Also, Rylai's Crystal Scepter is relatively low of cost and provides a good amount of health and AP.

If you don't know what to go as your third or second item, as I suggest you get boots as your second or third item, I recommend you to go Hextech Rocketbelt. This is because it also gives you a good amount of AP and health, and it gives you an extra engage, disengage and gap closer.

As for the rest of your items, they are down to your judgement. If you need to be more tanky and are versing a high AP enemy team, go Spirit Visage or Banshee's Veil. If you are even with the enemy team, go Rod of Ages, as it is a worthwhile item to get and may slowly turn the tide into your favour. If your team is ahead and the enemy team clump up a lot, get Luden's Tempest, as it provides some extra splash damage.

High Damage Sylas Support is also focused around his engage, and its damage isn't to be underestimated. Enemy laners must be careful not to underestimate it, or else they might find themselves at half health from a single engage.

Runes

With runes, I went with Domination as the main rune, because of the damage it provides and Electrocute. I again went with Sorcery as the secondary rune, because of how it enhances spells. This is why I picked what I picked:

Electrocute: I went with Electrocute, because of the extra damage it deals once you successfully hit an enemy champion with your E and unleash your combo on them. After a mere E, AA and Q combo, Electrocute already applies and helps you burst them down for your ADC to finishe them off
Sudden Impact: This is an obvious pick, since the build is heavily focused on its engage.
Ghost Poro: One of the main role of supports is vision, and Ghost Poro helps provide vision long after your ward has expired and even pings the map when an enemy come close enough.
Ultimate Hunter: Ultimate Hunter is great for Sylas, as one of the main things that make Sylas stand out is his ultimate. In bot lane, you should have the choice of two ultimates to steal most of the time, so more ultimate cooldown is more good.
Transcendence: Transcendence is great, as it not only provide cooldown reduction, but it converts excess cooldown reduction, which most supports are often in the situation of having, into AP for your burst.
Gathering Storm: I have seen builds which use Scorch for extra damage and Celerity has been suggested to me to give extra movement speed, and if you want, you can swap out Absolute Focus with Scorch or Celerity. But I use Gathering Storm for more scaling for the late game.

Starting Items

Spellthief's Edge is the obvious choice here: you want AP and your support build is focused around damaging the enemy, less supporting your ally. If the enemy team is more tanky than your team, maybe consider going Bruiser Sylas, as you might need that extra tank.

It is also down to preference, if you prefer to go High Damage Sylas, go Spellthief's Edge, if you prefer to go Bruiser Sylas, go Relic Shield.

Another reason to go Spellthief's Edge is if you are versing a damaging support, so you can keep on par with the enemy support. Vice versa, you could go Relic Shield if you are versing an enemy tanky support.

Ability Order

I know it is controversial to max your E before your Q or W, however, Abscond / Abduct is your key component as a Support. Your E is your engage and your disengage, and the threat of your engage off-cooldown should make your opponents stay behind their minion wave, just as you would do against a Pyke, Blitzcrank or a Thresh.

After you max your E, you can choose to put some points into your W before maxing your Q if the situation demands. For example: if you need more sustain to survive teamfights.

Another tip for taking towers is to use an ability randomly to activate your passive to deal extra damage, but don't use your E to do this if your minions wave is small, flash is on cooldown or you think that an enemy champion is nearby and on their way.

How to Behave in Lane

In lane, you want to always be poking them when they get close enough or when they may need to get closer to last-hit a minion. Also, stay in the bushes a lot, like what a Blitzcrank or Pyke would do. Even if the enemy know you're there, it's good at keeping them away from the bushes under threat of being jumped.

A way you can keep them from knowing where you are is by purchasing a Control Ward, or an Oracle Lens once you finish your Support Item Quest.

One thing to remember is that if you go high damage, you must stay out of their range to avoid getting poked down, as that is a risk in playing this build, however, as they say: 'High risk, high reward'.

What Items to go

Morellonomicon is very important, especially if you are versing an enemy tanky support. It provides you with AP, health, magic penetration and Greivous Wounds to counter those tanky enemy supports.

Rylai's Crystal Scepter isn't as core as it is for Bruiser Sylas Support, but it is still pretty core to this build, despite the slow on the Q already. This is because it adds a slow to your other abilities, since you have little cc. Also, Rylai's Crystal Scepter is relatively low of cost and provides a good amount of health and AP.

If you don't know what to go as your third or second item, as I suggest you get boots as your second or third item, I recommend you to go Zhonya's Hourglass. This is because it also gives you a good amount of AP and armour, and the stasis ability can really save your life, especially in the late game when you engage and the entire enemy team all respond.

As for the rest of your items, they are down to your judgement. If you need to be more tanky and are versing a high AP enemy team, go Banshee's Veil. If you need more of an engage to get close, go Hextech Rocketbelt, as it is a worthwhile item to get and may slowly turn the tide into your favour. If you need more of an engage as your burst isn't strong enough, get Lich Bane, as it provides some extra burst damage to work alongside your passive.

Yes, I know this chapter is a tweaked copy-paste version of the Bruiser Sylas Support chapter, but I don't have the most time on my hands to do this guide and I admit that I almost forgot about it while I was taking a break from League.

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