Throughout the many iterations of Arena of Valor, we have always found it best to have a support hero in your 5-man team. Unfortunately, support heroes tend to fall behind in Gold and leveling, which causes them to lack the ideal support equipment and leave support players feeling like they had a bad experience at the end of a match. Given how crucial these heroes are, we're tackling this head on so that support becomes an even more desirable role.

Support heroes typically play two roles: roaming the map to aid allies and protecting marksman in lane while they farm safely. With our next update, we will be introducing new equipment that suits both of these playstyles: Wind and Water sets. These items will upgrade from the Wind Stone and Water Stone, respectively.

The Wind Stone is designed for roamers, providing a Movement Speed buff and compensates for EXP and Gold loss from leaving lanes. 

Attributes: Movement Speed +5%, +8% Mana regen

Wage (Unique Passive): Collects 5 Gold and EXP every 3 seconds if you have the least Gold or the lowest level on your team.

Essence of the Wind is used to protect your teammates with a shield.

Atrributes: +250 Armor, +600 HP, +5% Movement Speed, +40 HP regen, +15 Mana regen

Wage (Unique Passive): Collects 5 Gold and EXP every 3 seconds if you have the least Gold or the lowest level on your team.

Distinction (Unique Passive): Earn an additional 30% Gold and EXP after a kill or an assist.

Tempest Shield (Unique Active): Provides a shield to a nearby hero with the lowest HP that absorbs damage (800+80 per level). Also increases the hero's Movement Speed by 30% for 3 seconds. 45s cooldown.

Ring of the Fiend is used to scout the map and provide extra vision of your enemies. Map awareness is key to staying alive for fragile heroes who put themselves at risk.

Attributes: +90 Ability Power, +15% Cooldown Speed, +5% Movement Speed, +30 Mana regen

Wage (Unique Passive): Collects 5 Gold and EXP every 3 seconds if you have the least Gold or the lowest level on your team.

Distinction (Unique Passive): Earn an additional 30% Gold and EXP after a kill or an assist.

Tornado Eye: (Unique Active): Shares the location of the nearest enemy unit for 4 seconds. 30s cooldown.

The Water Stone is designed for supports who prefer to stay in lane to protect their carries.

Attributes: +20 HP regen, +10 Mana regen

Devotion (Unique Passive): Grants a stack of this buff every 30 seconds, up to a max of 2 stacks. When a minion is killed nearby, one stack is consumed and grants the nearest ally 15 Gold and 40 EXP.

Purifying Bracers are more suited for frontline support heroes.

Attributes: +500 HP, +15% Cooldown Speed

Devotion (Unique Passive): Grants a stack of this buff every 30 seconds, up to a max of 2 stacks. When a minion is killed nearby, one stack is consumed and grants the nearest ally 15 Gold and 40 EXP.

Tidal Force (Unique Passive): Grants player hero and nearby allies within 600 units 20 HP regen (+1 per level) and 10 Mana regen (+1 per 2 levels)

Purifying Spell (Unique Active): Removes control effects from one nearby ally. Also restores the target's HP by 160+30 per level, increases Movement Speed by 20% for 1s, and grants immunity to Movement Speed reduction for 2s. 90s cooldown.

Tidecaller's Mark is a great choice for those who would rather provide their nearby teammates with buffs.

Attributes: +200 Armor, +600 HP

Devotion (Unique Passive): Grants a stack of this buff every 30 seconds, up to a max of 2 stacks. When a minion is killed nearby, one stack is consumed and grants the nearest ally 15 Gold and 40 EXP.

Tidal Force (Unique Passive): Grants player hero and nearby allies within 600 units 20 HP regen (+1 per level) and 10 Mana regen (+1 per 2 levels)

Poseidon (Unique Active): Increases the damage of nearby allies by 5% and reduces their damage taken by 10%.

We can't for you to let us know what you think of these new items! Be sure to share your thoughts on Reddit and Discord and prepare for the update to hit next week.