Taric is what is called a damage delay support. This isn't based on any formal description of Taric, but more so a data analytical description. When comparing the supports win to loss ratio based on match ups with other supports, it's clear that supports that are built around specific mechanics end up always being on top of other supports with other mechanics. Taric is almost the best support in the entire game throughout all seasons, only second to Janna who beats Taric in almost every way possible.

When To Use Taric

When the enemy team is selecting champions and they picked a Blitzcrank, Pyke, or Thresh, you should always pick Taric and remember that support is a mechanics game, not a numbers game. Because of this, always use Taric to counter the kit of Blitzcrank, Pyke, and Thresh. ADC synergies can make life difficult, but so long as you land the skill shot and prepare to take damage when needed without your ADC feeding, you will make short of those three specific supports. If the enemy picks a goofy support or a support comparable to Taric such as Zilean or Bard, you will be able to absolutely obliterate them so long as you're careful.

When Not To Pick Taric

If the enemy picks Janna, Lux, Morgana, Nami, maybe even Ash depending on if they're teamed with Lulu, or other champions that do a combination of immobilization and zoning as a support with an ADC synergy, don't pick Taric. In those cases, you instead want to pick Blitzcrank or Thresh, of which Blitzcrank has more unused potential while Thresh is the safest bet. Maybe even consider in those situations using Pyke if the enemy team has too much crowd control and instakill assassinate everybody.

Laning Phase

Remember to first place your ward in the gank prevention location you feel most comfortable with. Focus on turtling every chance you get while getting the value of your support item higher, but try to remain in front of but not directly in front of your ADC. If the enemy ADC steps up or the enemy support tries to do a grab, attempt a stun and run. Continue this process of "stun and run" until you unlock your ultimate ability and upgrade your support item. After this, you want to switch from a Warding Totem to an Oracle Lens and begin the next phase.

Mid Phase

Take your support item and begin to place wards in the following manner. The first ward needs to go as close to the Harold as you can get it without stepping in the river. Do the same for the Dragon, but don't step in the river. The last ward gets placed where you place a ward to prevent ganks from happening without warning at bottom lane. Prepare to use those wards or towers at any time to teleport into a team fight that's too far for you to get to. If a tower goes down, consider giving up the Harold ward for a ward next to where the tower use to be in order to help with team fights where you will shine the most. Use the Oracle Lens near your lane to avoid getting ganked from proxy champions, but also use it in random locations in the jungle when moving between lanes in order to clean the jungle bushes. Cleaning the jungle bushes is extremely game changing, especially in the lower tiers of the game.

Late Game

Late game begins when towers leading up to an inhibitor have been destroyed. This is because the player style in the game now changes between teams mechanically and a lack of competency or consideration can lead to a loss in game if not careful or prepared. The way this phase works is simple. If your team has an inhibitor exposed or destroyed, if the enemy team has an inhibitor exposed or destroyed, or if both teams have at least one inhibitor exposed or destroyed, there's nothing you can do about it except continue warding at critical locations, Oracle Lens, and always show up to team fights for supporting the team. During this phase more than any other phase, you have to be prepared to switch which champion you support at a moments notice to prevent getting aced by an assassin, as this will cost you the game at this point unless the enemy team is incompetent.

Extended Late Game

Extended late game occurs when a game goes on for forty minutes. The mechanical factor in the game that decides extended late game is the point where almost everybody in the game except for perhaps the supports, have a fully completed build and a single ace with only one surviving champion will assure victory for that surviving champion. For simple people, I remind you that this is about forty minutes in the game. Remember, forty minutes means overtime. The play style here is the same for Taric, but if you want the edge, you might have to consider exchanging the Frozen Heart or Sunfire Cape with an item that overrules other items such as the Trinity Force and prepare yourself for becoming slightly more aggressive, though not aggressive enough to step in front of your team and go out into the enemy jungle alone.