Who Supports Well With Jhin, The Virtuoso of the Rift

Mastering the Maestro: Who Supports Well With Jhin

Ah, Jhin. The flamboyant marksman, the Virtuoso of the Rift. He's a champion who demands a unique approach, not just from his allies, but especially from his support. Jhin isn't your typical rapid-fire ADC. He thrives on precise, impactful bursts of damage, often culminating in his powerful fourth shot. This means his support needs to enable him to land those shots, provide utility, and keep him alive while he meticulously orchestrates his deadly symphony.

The Core Principles of a Good Jhin Support

Before we dive into specific champions, let's break down what makes a support a great partner for Jhin. It boils down to a few key areas:

• Enabling his Crit and Damage: Jhin's power scales heavily with crit chance and attack damage. Supports who can buff his damage output or provide opportunities to land critical hits are invaluable.
• Crowd Control (CC) is King: Jhin's kit has some built-in CC, but it's often single-target and can be telegraphed. A support with reliable, multi-target, or long-duration CC can set up Jhin's abilities and keep enemies locked down for his devastating combos.
• Peel and Protection: Jhin is a squishy champion who needs time to channel his abilities and reload. A support who can effectively protect him from divers and assassins is crucial for his survival.
• Vision Control: Like any ADC, Jhin benefits immensely from good vision. A support who excels at warding and denying enemy vision can give Jhin the safe space he needs to farm and poke.
• Synergistic Poke and All-ins: While Jhin's poke is potent, it's often followed by a cooldown. Supports who can add to his poke or synergize with his all-in potential can create powerful lane pressure.

Top Tier Support Synergies for Jhin

Now, let's get down to the champions that truly shine alongside the Virtuoso:

1. Bard: Bard is an exceptional pick for Jhin, offering a unique blend of utility, roaming potential, and crowd control.
   • Meeps: Bard's Meeps can add a surprising amount of extra damage to Jhin's auto-attacks, especially when Jhin lands his fourth shot.
   • Cosmic Binding (Q): Bard's Q can stun multiple enemies if it hits another unit, providing fantastic setup for Jhin's Deadly Flourish (W) and Curtain Call (R).
   • Magical Journey (E): Bard's portals can be used for incredibly aggressive plays, allowing Jhin to reposition quickly or escape danger. They can also be used offensively to chase down fleeing enemies.
   • Tempered Fate (R): Bard's ultimate is a high-risk, high-reward ability. When used perfectly, it can freeze enemies in place, allowing Jhin to unleash a full barrage of abilities and auto-attacks. However, a mistimed ultimate can be detrimental.
2. Thresh: Thresh is a classic playmaker and a phenomenal choice for Jhin, providing robust peel and engagement.
   • Death Sentence (Q): Landing a hook with Thresh's Q is arguably one of the best ways to initiate a fight for Jhin. It locks down a target, allowing Jhin to land his W and subsequent damage.
   • Dark Passage (W): Thresh's lantern is a lifesaver. It can pull Jhin out of danger, provide him with a shield, and allow for safer engages or disengages.
   • Flay (E): Thresh's E can be used to knock back enemies, disrupting their engages or setting up his own. It also provides an auto-attack reset, which can be surprisingly effective.
   • The Box (R): Thresh's ultimate creates a zone of slowing walls. This is perfect for keeping enemies in place for Jhin's ultimate or for disengaging from a losing fight.
3. Nami: Nami offers a potent combination of poke, sustain, and crowd control, making her a strong lane partner.
   • Aqua Prison (Q): Nami's Q is a skillshot stun that can set up Jhin's W and W. It's a bit harder to land than some other stuns, but rewarding.
   • Ebb and Flow (W): Nami's W bounces between allies and enemies, providing both healing and poke damage. This helps Jhin sustain in lane and adds to his trading power.
   • Tidecaller's Blessing (E): This ability enchants Jhin's auto-attacks with bonus damage and a slow, significantly enhancing his trading potential and ability to stick to targets.
   • Tidal Wave (R): Nami's ultimate is a large, sweeping wave that slows enemies and deals damage. It can be used to initiate fights, chase down targets, or peel for Jhin.
4. Soraka: While not typically an aggressive laner, Soraka's incredible healing and silence can keep Jhin alive and enable him to dictate trades.
   • Astral Infusion (W): Soraka's ability to heal Jhin from anywhere on the map is invaluable. It allows Jhin to take more aggressive risks, knowing he has significant sustain.
   • Equinox (E): Soraka's silence can be a powerful tool against enemy engage supports or damage dealers, preventing them from using crucial abilities and giving Jhin ample time to react or retaliate.
   • Wish (R): Soraka's global ultimate can turn the tide of a teamfight or save Jhin from a distant threat.

Situational and Niche Picks

While the above champions are generally excellent, some other supports can work well in specific situations or with experienced players:

• Zyra: Her plant-based damage and root can be surprisingly potent for setting up Jhin.
• Morgana: Her Black Shield can prevent Jhin from being CC'd, and her Dark Binding is a powerful lockdown tool.
• Karma: Her Q can poke alongside Jhin, and her E provides a shield and movement speed buff.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How does Jhin's kit synergize with supports?

Jhin's kit relies on landing precise, high-damage auto-attacks, especially his fourth shot. Supports who can provide crowd control to lock down targets for these shots, or offer protection and sustain, allow Jhin to safely unleash his damage and ultimate.

Why is crowd control so important for Jhin?

Jhin's primary CC is his Deadly Flourish (W), which requires a rooted or slowed target to activate. Supports with reliable stuns, roots, or slows can set up this crucial ability, enabling Jhin to land more damage and chain his abilities effectively.

Should I prioritize poke supports or engage supports with Jhin?

Both can work, but generally, supports who can provide reliable CC and follow-up damage are preferred. Poke supports can supplement Jhin's early lane pressure, while engage supports can create decisive kill opportunities. The key is consistency in setting up Jhin's damage.

Why is Bard a good support for Jhin?

Bard offers unique utility with his Cosmic Binding (stun), Magical Journey (mobility for both allies and enemies), and Tempered Fate (area denial/stasis). His Meeps also add extra damage to Jhin's auto-attacks, making him a potent all-around partner.