User blog comment:Rollnstoned/Types of Supports/@comment-5955640-20130812203233

I often go with the trinty I made up for use inside my own head.

Buffers

Sustainers

and initators(and counter initiators)

Buffers are champs who cast or give a buff aura for allies. These modfication of stats also for the Marksmen to make more power plays and pokes in lane while the support is shielded in their zone. The support plays passively while the Marksman actually plays aggresively but only to maintain the lane.

Sustainers are the ones who can heal allies. Really that's it. It can't be an ult heal like Lulu's or Janna's. Heal as a basic spell or byproduct function (Shen's Vorpal Blade). You can engage in a battle of attritution and make the opponent waste resources and force them to their turret.

Initators and counter initators are often not genuine supports. Just champs with grabbing abilties, snares, and stuns. They are great for mowing down a passive duo lane opponent. Counter initators are usually someone else with High CC or spammable spells.

Top buffers I would say are Lulu, Galio, and Orianna

Top sustainers would be Soraka (Strongest heal), Sona (most frequent heals), And Nami (can do damage to other targets or heal them)

Top initators are Leona and Thresh.

Top Counter initators are Morgana and Karma.

Although the classifications intersect alot I do generally try to which Marksman goes well with which support. Although it gets changed up even more when the Allied Marksman is passive in lane or the opponents are setting up a kill lane. You should see the sort of people who have the support tag these days.

Or you can always choose Taric who has a little bit of everything.