OWL: 2022 Support Role Stars

The top four Support players for the Overwatch 2022 season have been chosen.

Without them, your favorite players simply wouldn't be able to perform they way they do.

A little medicine goes a long way 💉

Congratulations to our Support Role Stars: @shu_overwatch, @fielder_ow, @Izayaki_ow, @ChiYo_ow1!

⭐ Read more https://t.co/V6koUPz2LL pic.twitter.com/NnSWgdZ9bc

— Overwatch League (@overwatchleague) November 1, 2022

The players that get the least attention for their hard work get put front and center. Three of the 2022 Support Role Stars were also 2021 Role Stars, and two of this year's Support Stars were the Dallas Fuel's Support Duo. Just like with the Tank Role Stars, the Support Role Star lineup consists of three veteran players, and one rookie. Two of those veterans will likely receive this award every season until their retirements.

After Sung-hyeon “JJoNak” Bang won the 2018 Season MVP, he split his power into two players that would eventually separate, leaving one for the West, and one for the East.

2022 Role Star Supports

After Sung-hyeon “JJoNak” Bang won the 2018 Season MVP, he split his power into two players that would eventually separate, leaving one for the West, and one for the East.

Shu

The West would receive Jin-seo “Shu” Kim. He is the flashy half of JJoNak's legacy. A walking highlight reel from the backline. Somehow, he manages to make pop off plays to be replayed through the week while keeping his team of All-Star players alive, and at the top of the standings. It would be impossible not to call the most spoken of Support player this year a Role Star award. Shu's stat list is unending in the 2022 season.

• 1st in Hero Damage per 10 minutes (3,288) on Ana.
• 1st in Sleep Dart Accuracy (39%) on Ana.
• 1st in Final Blows per 10 minutes (4.4) on Baptiste.
• 1st in Amplification Matrix Assists per 10 minutes (2.7) as Baptiste.
• 1st in First Elimination Rate (8%) as Baptiste.
• 1st in Teamfight Win Rate (55%) as Baptiste.

It's impossible to say that Shu isn't the best Baptiste player in the world right now. Just as impossible as it is to say that he isn't the definitive Role Star Support for two years running.

IZaYaKI

The East would receive Min-chul “IZaYaKI” Kim. The technical half JJoNak's legacy. He's the most precise and well timed Flex Support player since JJoNak himself. He does rely on winning fights for his team, because he's so spectacular at his coordination between supporting his own team and putting pressure on the enemy. His decision making is so well trained, and he has the mechanics to back it up, which is why he'll have a solid place in the league until the day he retires.

• 1st in First Elimination Rate (8.4%) as Zenyatta.
• 3rd in Teamfight Win Rate (49.5%) as Zenyatta.
• 1st in Teamfight Win Rate (56.4) as Brigitte.
• 2nd in Eliminations per 10 minutes (16.0) as Brigitte.
• 2nd in Fewest Deaths per 10 minutes (4.5) as Brigette.

As expected, he has some of the highest stat records on his signature hero Zenyatta, which is as impressive to see as it is impressive to watch him play. Next to that, he even showed up as one of the best Brigette players, a hero he is certainly not known for. His flexibility is part of his game sense giving him the ability to perform on any role at any time.

Fielder

This first of the Dallas Support line who earned the title of “Role Star” together this season. Jun “Fielder” Kwon was the single best Support player this entire season. From his stats, to his clutch plays. Fielder was the definition of a Support Role Star. For the second year in a row he has been the man in the backline ensuring that his team would be able to thrive through every fight, every game. He simply refuses to let his team do anything less than survive.

• 1st in healing per 10 minutes (10,282).
• 1st in Healing per 10 minutes (10,435) as Ana.
• 1st in Defensive Assists per 10 minutes (14.3) as Ana.
• 1st in Teamfight Win Rate (52.2%) as Ana.
• 1st in Teamfight Win Rate (56.1%) as Brigitte.
• 3rd in Healing per 10 minutes (11,067) as Baptiste.
• 3rd in Final Blow per 10 minutes (3.6) as Baptiste.

Despite the fact that he has stat records across the board on plenty of heroes, he is the 1st place healer of all players in the league this season. On top of that, he finished playoffs with a whopping 12,343 Healing per 10 minutes, obviously making him first in Healing for the playoffs. There was no single Support player as great as Fielder this season.

ChiYo

Fielder couldn't have done what he did without a Main Support player to always have his back and keep the team out of harms way. Hyeonseok “ChiYo” Han is the only Main Support player to make this list for a reason. While Fielder may provide the absolute best support for his team in terms of healing, ChiYo provides the best support for his team in terms of eliminations, which in his position often come from his role of protecting Fielder. Some say he's too aggressive or doesn't play his role correctly. Those people don't know what it means to be a Support player. It's far more than just providing healing. Its about enabling teamfight wins by any means necessary.

• T-1st in Final Blow/Death Ratio (0.8) Among Supports.
• 1st in Environmental Kills (37).
• 1st in Eliminations per 10 minutes (17.1) as Lúcio.
• 1st in Final Blows per 10 minutes (3.8) as Lúcio.
• 1st in Offensive Assists (16.9) per 10 mins as Lúcio.
• 2nd in Knockback Kills (10.2) per 10 minutes as Lúcio.

Without such a greatly offensive backline player, how could anybody expect the best Flex Support to pump out all the healing he needs to provide? ChiYo's mastery of Lúcio and backline play made Fielder capable of becoming a Role Star, making ChiYo himself a start Support.