Brand support plays like a damage carry wearing a support tag. Your kill threat in lane is among the highest of any support — a full E+Q+W combo at level 3 into a Blaze detonation can kill the enemy ADC from 80% HP. Your role is to create chaos, kill squishy targets, and have your ADC clean up. In teamfights, your R is a 5-bounce bomb that wins the entire engagement.
Abilities
Skills Overview
P
Blaze
Passive
Brand's spells light his targets ablaze, dealing damage over 4 seconds, stacking up to 3 times. If Brand kills an enemy while it is ablaze he regains mana. When Blaze reaches max stacks on a Champion or large monster, it becomes unstable. It detonates in 2 seconds, applying spell effects and dealing massive damage in an area around the victim.
Blaze stacks 3 times on a target. At 3 stacks, the next ability detonates them for massive AoE damage. Track Blaze stacks on each enemy — always aim to detonate at 3.
Q
Sear
Skillshot · Stun (if Ablaze)
Brand launches a ball of fire forward that deals magic damage. If the target is ablaze, Sear will stun the target.
CD: 8/7.5/7/6.5/6 · Cost: 70
Sear only stuns if the target is already Ablaze (has at least 1 Blaze stack). Land W or E first to apply Blaze, then Q for the guaranteed stun.
W
Pillar of Flame
AoE · Ground-Targeted
After a short delay, Brand creates a Pillar of Flame at a target area, dealing magic damage to enemy units within the area. Units that are ablaze take an additional 25% damage.
CD: 10/9.5/9/8.5/8 · Cost: 60/70/80/90/100
Pillar of Flame deals 25% more damage to Ablaze targets. Always apply Blaze with E or auto before dropping W for maximum damage.
E
Conflagration
Single-Target · Spreads Blaze
Brand conjures a powerful blast at his target that spreads to nearby enemies, dealing magic damage. If the target is ablaze, Conflagration's spread is doubled.
CD: 13/12/11/10/9 · Cost: 70/75/80/85/90
Conflagration is short range but instantly applies Blaze to the main target and spreads to all nearby enemies. Use E to set up your Q stun from safety.
R
Pyroclasm
Bouncing · AoE · Passive Burn
Brand unleashes a devastating torrent of fire that bounces up to 5 times off of Brand and nearby enemies, dealing magic damage to enemies each time bounce. Bounces prioritize stacking Blaze to max on Champions. If a target is ablaze, Pyroclasm will briefly slow them.
CD: 100/90/80 · Cost: 100
Pyroclasm bounces 5 times between the nearest targets — enemies AND minions. In lane, make sure there are no minions nearby when you ult or the bounces will be wasted on them.
Skill Leveling Order — Max W first, then E, then Q · R at 6 / 11 / 16
| Level | Q | W | E | R | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Take E — instant Blaze application and combo setup from level 1 | ||||
| 2 | Take W — AoE damage zone online | ||||
| 3 | Take Q — full combo available: E → Q stun | ||||
| 4 | Level W — more damage on the key ability | ||||
| 5 | Level W | ||||
| 6 | R — Pyroclasm unlocked, teamfight bomb ready | ||||
| 7 | Level W | ||||
| 8 | Level E — lower CD on Blaze application | ||||
| 9 | W maxed ✓ | ||||
| 10 | Level E | ||||
| 11 | R rank 2 | ||||
| 12 | Level E | ||||
| 13 | Level E | ||||
| 14 | E maxed ✓ | ||||
| 15 | Start leveling Q — stun on shorter CD | ||||
| 16 | R rank 3 | ||||
| 17 | Level Q | ||||
| 18 | Q maxed ✓ |
Itemization
Recommended Builds
Starter Items
Spellthief's Edge
Your E+W+Q combo generates 3 charges rapidly. Spellthief's gold income is extremely high on Brand.
400g
Health Potion
Early sustain as you poke aggressively.
50g
Core Build
Luden's Tempest
Echo proc amplifies your first ability in the rotation. Pairs perfectly with Blaze — the echo burst detonates stacks before your full combo even finishes.
3200g
Sorcerer's Shoes
Magic pen is mandatory. Brand's damage falls off hard against MR — penetration restores his full burst potential.
1100g
Shadowflame
High AP stat plus magic penetration against shields — extremely common in supports. Your E + detonation shreds shielded targets.
3000g
Rabadon's Deathcap
The ultimate AP amplifier. With Luden's and Shadowflame, Rabadon's causes your combos to deal 30-50% more damage — one-shotting most supports and squishy carries.
3600g
Situational
Void Staff
Essential when the enemy team builds MR. 40% magic penetration makes your damage ignore most MR stacking.
2800g
Zhonya's Hourglass
Self-stasis after diving in to land E close-range. Cast R, go Zhonya's — your R bounces while you're safe in stasis.
3250g
Liandry's Torment
Burns deal % max HP damage — ideal against tanky comps. Blaze already burns, Liandry's stacks on top for massive sustained damage.
3000g
Rush Luden's Tempest for poke and wave clear threat. Shadowflame second for anti-shield penetration. Rabadon's is your power spike — after this item your combos are one-shots on most supports and ADCs.
Tank-Shred Core
Liandry's Torment
AoE burn that deals % max HP — perfect against tanky, clustered teamfight comps. Blaze + Liandry's burns are synergistic passive damage.
3000g
Void Staff
Magic pen to bypass tank MR. Tanks rush MR against Brand — this negates their investment.
2800g
Shadowflame
Completes the triple-threat damage set for % burn, pen, and burst.
3000g
Run Liandry's build when the enemy has multiple tanks. Your bouncing R + Liandry's % HP burn destroys HP stacking teams.
Runes
Sorcery Primary
Arcane Comet
Triggers every time you land E or Q. Your Blaze application + Comet proc deals substantial early poke damage. The CD is shortened by your other abilities.
Manaflow Band
Brand is mana hungry early. Manaflow builds a permanent mana pool that solves your sustain issues.
Transcendence
Ability haste lets you combo more frequently. More combos means more Blaze detonations and more kills.
Scorch
Extra burn damage on every ability hit. Stacks with Blaze for oppressive early lane poke.
Domination Secondary
Cheap Shot
Bonus true damage when you land Q stuns or when Blaze detonates and slows. Adds up to significant extra damage across a game.
Zombie Ward
Free ward from enemy wards you destroy. Good for a support who generates vision control through aggressive positioning.
Shards
Ability Haste · Ability Haste · Health
Gameplay
How to Play Brand
01
Early Game
Stack Blaze and Execute Combos
- Level 1 E + auto applies Blaze instantly. Then Q stuns. This 3-ability chain at level 3 (E → Q → W onto stunned target → Blaze detonation) is a burst combo that threatens a kill at level 3.
- Harass constantly with E + Comet proc in lane. Every time you land E, Arcane Comet falls on the target. This adds up to massive pressure over a 10-minute lane phase.
- Track your Blaze stacks. When an enemy has 2 stacks and you land the 3rd, instantly follow up with W or Q to detonate — the AoE explosion often catches the nearby ADC too.
- Zone enemies off minions with W ground zones. Dropping Pillar of Flame under the minion wave forces enemies to step back or take damage, letting you CS-deny them effectively.
- Don't waste Q without Blaze pre-applied. Sear without Blaze deals minimal damage. Your stun requires Blaze — never throw Q first unless it's a pure escape tool.
02
Mid Game
Poke Enemies Off Objectives
- After Luden's Tempest, your burst damage is at its first major spike. Start looking for roam opportunities after every bot lane kill — your Q stun into R is a free kill on mid laners.
- Dragon fights: use W to zone the enemy team from stepping into Dragon pit. The ground zone forces them to commit or retreat — never try to contest a Brand controlling the pit entrance.
- In skirmishes, lead with E to apply Blaze, then Q for the guaranteed stun. Drop W immediately on the stunned target for full W damage bonus. Follow with R as enemies cluster to disengage.
- Poke enemies down before major objective fights. Your E + Comet proc chip damage before a Dragon fight can make the enemy team too low to engage, forcing them to retreat.
- Clear enemy wards aggressively — you need vision to land your Q angles. Place Control Wards in river brushes to see engage approaches.
03
Late Game
One-Shot Carries with Fully-Stacked Combos
- In full teamfights, R should be cast when 4+ enemies are within 5 units of each other. The bounce prioritizes un-bounced targets — in a cluster, it hits everyone for full damage.
- Your full combo on a squishy target: E → Q (stun) → W → R → Blaze detonation. This sequence deals 2000-3000 damage at full build and one-shots most supports and ADCs.
- If the enemy has QSS users, bait out the QSS with your Q stun first, then follow with R. They've already used their cleanse and are now helpless against the full damage.
- Position like a mage, not a support — stay in the backline and create sight lines for your Q and W. You are a carry that needs protection, not a frontliner.
- Void Staff is mandatory when the enemy team buys MR. A Brand with no pen against a Spirit Visage Leona deals negligible damage — prioritize Void Staff as your 4th or 5th item against tanky comps.
Teamfighting
How to Teamfight as Brand
Brand teamfights around his R — a bouncing Pyroclasm that deals more damage the more enemies are clustered. Your goal is to pre-stack Blaze on multiple targets before the R lands so that every bounce triggers a Blaze detonation.
1
Pre-Fight — Stack Blaze Early
Before engage
01
Apply Blaze to 2-3 enemies with E or long-range Q pokes before the fight starts. Pre-stacked enemies will detonate during the teamfight on the first extra ability hit.
02
Position for W angles. Find a position where your W covers the expected enemy fight location — drop it when they step into it.
03
Save R until enemies cluster. A Pyroclasm that bounces between 5 enemies is infinitely more valuable than one that bounces between 2 enemies and 3 minions.
Pyroclasm prioritizes the nearest targets — including minions. NEVER use R when a large minion wave is nearby or the bounces will be wasted on creeps.
2
Fight — Execute Full Combo
Fight opening
01
E onto a priority target to instantly apply 1 Blaze stack and set up your stun.
02
Q immediately for the guaranteed stun on the Ablaze target. They're now frozen for 2 seconds of free follow-up.
03
W on the stunned target — they can't dodge it and it hits for +25% damage against Ablaze. This often detonates the 3-stack AoE explosion.
04
R when 3+ enemies are grouped. Each bounce can trigger a Blaze detonation — the fight ends in 3 bounces.
3
Aftermath — Burn the Survivors
Mid-fight
01
Re-apply Blaze to any survivors. Your cooldowns reset quickly with Transcendence. A second full combo rotation kills anyone who survived the first.
02
Q to pick off fleeing enemies. A stunned target at low HP is a free kill — Q anyone trying to escape.
03
Stay back if your team is winning. Your job is done — don't walk into a 5-person counter-focus when you're squishy.
After R, the Blaze passive detonations deal damage in an AoE around each exploding target. One detonation on a clustered group often triggers 3-4 chain explosions simultaneously.
Tips & Tricks
Advanced Mechanics & Hidden Tech
Advanced mechanics for Brand.
Basic
E Before Q Always
Sear (Q) only stuns if the target is Ablaze. Conflagration (E) instantly applies Blaze at close range. Always land E first, then Q for the guaranteed stun. Never lead with Q unless the target is already burning.
Basic
Detonate 3 Blaze Stacks for AoE
When a target reaches 3 Blaze stacks, the next ability causes an AoE explosion around them. In teamfights, stack Blaze on the tank to detonate on their nearby carries — the explosion hits everything close.
Intermediate
W Deals +25% Damage to Ablaze Targets
Pillar of Flame's bonus damage to Ablaze targets is massive. Always apply at least one Blaze stack with E or auto before dropping W. The damage difference is significant at all stages of the game.
Intermediate
R Bounce Count and Minions
Pyroclasm bounces 5 times between nearest targets. In lane or near waves, bounces get wasted on minions. Always use R in open teamfights away from large minion waves for maximum bounce efficiency.
Advanced
R Then Zhonya's
Cast R, immediately activate Zhonya's Hourglass. Your R bounces independently while you're safe in stasis — enemies can't interrupt the bounces and you survive the counter-engage. The combo is a free teamfight win.
Basic
Track Blaze Stacks on Every Enemy
Use your team's auto attacks to stack Blaze — each auto from an ally after you land E applies additional stacks. Coordinate with your ADC to detonate 3-stack explosions on priority targets.
Intermediate
Poke with E + Comet Before Objectives
Before every Dragon or Baron fight, spend 60 seconds poking enemies with E to proc Arcane Comet. Chipping them to 60-70% HP means your full combo is a kill rather than a trade when the fight starts.
Advanced
Chain Blaze Detonations
Pre-stack Blaze on multiple enemies before teamfights. When R bounces and triggers a detonation, the AoE can apply Blaze to nearby targets — triggering their detonations in turn. A perfectly set up Brand R can trigger 3-4 simultaneous explosions.
Matchups
Counters & Matchups
Brand is soft-countered by champions who can engage before he can set up his Blaze combo or who can shield his burst damage. He destroys supports and ADCs who cluster near him.
Click any matchup to expand tips & how to play against them
Loses Against
Thresh can hook you out of position before you apply Blaze. His lantern gives his ADC an escape from your Q stun, and his Flay knockback can interrupt your W drop.
Stay at max W range. Don't engage close enough for Thresh to hook you. Your Q range is similar to his hook range — poke him safely from distance.
Blitzcrank hooks you before you can apply Blaze and his E knockup interrupts your Q wind-up. Being grabbed and thrown into his ADC as a squishy support is usually lethal.
Stay behind your ADC at all times. Blitz can't hook you through them. If you get hooked, immediately activate Zhonya's if available.
Nautilus hooks you from outside your effective range and his ult tracks any of your targets from across the map. His tankiness means your Blaze combo barely damages him.
Focus the ADC, not Nautilus. His tankiness negates your damage — the ADC is always the soft kill target.
Wins Against
Soraka has no escape and is extremely squishy. Your E + Q combo stuns her and W detonates for nearly her entire HP bar. She cannot heal through your burst damage.
Target Soraka first in every fight. Her global heal is neutralized if she's dead or silenced by your combo.
When Yuumi detaches from her host to use R, she's a squishy, immobile target for your E + Q combo. Your Blaze stacks deal significant damage even on a briefly-detached Yuumi.
Stack Blaze on Yuumi's host. When Yuumi detaches, her own Blaze stack will detonate AoE around the host dealing damage to both.
Sona is extremely squishy and your E range exceeds her aura range. You can Blaze stack her while staying outside her W aura healing range — she cannot sustain through your poke.
Abuse your E range advantage. E poke Sona repeatedly — she heals very little against Blaze chip damage and eventually falls below execute threshold.
Lulu's shields and polymorph can slow your combo down but cannot negate Blaze's passive burning. Your AoE detonations hit through her shields and she's relatively squishy.
Bait Lulu's polymorph with a fake Q, then follow up with E onto her ADC when she wastes the ability. Her resources are limited.