Braum

Hardly any champion embodies the idea of a “frontline bodyguard” quite like Braum. This melee tank support exists to plant himself between his damage dealers and whatever the enemy team sends their way. Sometimes that is quite literal: Unbreakable lifts his shield to catch every incoming projectile, fully canceling the first one and softening the ones that follow. Against poke-heavy lineups and carries who depend on skillshots, a shield held at the right angle can wipe out a whole barrage.

His crowd control is built around Concussive Blows. Braum’s basic attacks begin the stack, and after the first one lands, his allies’ attacks add to it as well; hitting four stacks stuns the target and deals magic damage. That makes him especially strong alongside aggressive, quick-attacking lane partners: he opens the fight and the carry closes it out. Winter’s Bite gives him a long-range slow that also adds a stack, so he can start engages from beyond melee reach.

Support value above raw damage

Stand Behind Me lets Braum leap to an allied champion or minion, and both of them gain armor and magic resist when he arrives. It doubles as a peel tool, an engage follow-up, and an escape route. Glacial Fissure launches everything along a line into the air and leaves a slowing trail behind, which can cut off flanking routes or slow down a retreat.

With a defense rating of 9 and fairly modest damage, Braum earns his keep through utility rather than kills. He is primarily a Bot lane support, with the occasional appearance in the top lane. Players who prefer reactive, protective play, such as blocking the killing blow, chaining stuns with teammates, and reshaping fights with terrain-like ultimates, will likely find him one of the most rewarding pure supports in the game.