Season 2024 Guide to ADC in LOL

If you've landed on this article, chances are you're curious about mastering the ADC (Attack Damage Carry) role in League of Legends. Great choice! The ADC role, while a tough nut to crack, can be incredibly rewarding once you get the hang of it. In this guide, we'll break down the basics, discuss some beginner-friendly champions, and dive into crucial mechanics to elevate your game.

Understanding the ADC Role

The ADC role is tailored for champions who primarily deal Attack Damage and typically find their home in the bot lane. Working in tandem with a support, your primary objective as an ADC is to deal significant damage while avoiding unnecessary risks – think of yourself as the striker, waiting for plays and making the most of each opportunity. 

Beginner-Friendly ADCs

Choosing the right champion is crucial, especially for beginners. Let's explore some beginner-friendly ADCs:

Caitlyn: The Sniper

Caitlyn's claim to fame lies in her impressive auto-attack range, making her a formidable lane bully. Excelling in sieges and team fights, she scales well into the late game. However, playing Caitlyn demands a strategic mindset, as falling behind early can be challenging to recover from.

Ashe: Good for Kiting

Ashe's strength lies in her slowing volley attack, autos that slow, and a long-range stun with her ultimate. Her simplicity is an advantage for beginners, making Ashe an excellent choice for those new to the ADC role.

Ezreal: Safe but still Hard!

Ezreal's safety stems from his built-in flash, providing an escape route when needed. While landing skill shots is crucial, his short auto-attack range can encourage overly cautious play. However, many players appreciate Ezreal for his high skill expression since all of his abilities are skillshots. Unfortunately, this also makes Ezreal one of the harder ADCs to master.

Key Mechanics for ADC Success

To succeed as an ADC, mastering key mechanics is essential:

Kiting: The Art of Constant Movement

Kiting involves a delicate dance of constant movement and canceling auto-attack animations with precise movement commands. This keeps you unpredictable, making it challenging for opponents to land crucial abilities. Devote time to practicing this in a controlled environment to find your rhythm.

Map Awareness: The Mini-Map Is Your Friend

Frequent glances at the mini-map provide invaluable information about enemy positions, objectives, and potential threats. This awareness is crucial for making informed decisions and staying one step ahead of your opponents.

Wave Management: Controlling the Flow

Wave management is an art that involves manipulating minion waves to suit your objectives. Understanding when to push, freeze, or slow push can create opportunities or provide a safety net.

Item Prioritization: Build Smartly

Avoid blindly following build guides. Instead, adapt your build based on the enemy team composition. Consider defensive items if needed, and prioritize efficiency over a one-size-fits-all approach.

Team Fights: Stay Alive, Deal Damage

Surviving team fights is paramount for an ADC. Position yourself strategically, prioritize high-value targets, and remain vigilant about potential threats. A dead ADC means no damage output, so your survival is a top priority.

Auto Attack Range: Stay at a Safe Distance

Understanding your champion's maximum auto-attack range is fundamental. Always aim to stay at this range during fights, allowing you to deal damage while minimizing the risk of taking damage. You can press the A-key to show you your current attack range.

Decision-making as ADC

This one is important. As the main damage dealer in your team, making mistakes and poor decisions comes at the cost of everyone else. If you're the hyper-carry and your team is build around supporting you, you can imagine they'll be frustrated if you keep running it down. Here's a couple of tips to improve your decision-making and macro plays!

Smart Decision-Making in Team Fights

Waiting for opponents to use threatening spells before committing to the fight is a strategic move. By being patient, you avoid unnecessary risks and contribute more effectively to the team fight. A great way to practise this skill is by playing ARAM (All Random All Mid). Constant teamfighting and the fact that you're forced to try and learn new Champions will quickly improve your spider sense to dodge and anticipate enemy abilities.

Push the Wave or Join the Teamfight?

You can ceate multiple pressure points if you have a large minion wave building up before a team fight is expected to take place. For example, if you're in the mid lane and dragon is about to spawn, it usually makes sense to push the wave into the turret to make the opponent miss out on gold. Another example, if you notice a team fight building up in the top lane and bot lane is left unprotected, it could be more valuable to push hard to possibly get a high value objective like the Inhibitor.  This strategic move increases the chances of your opponents making mistakes and can lead to more victories. Just make sure that everyone on your team is aware of your play so that they can play smart and avoid a 3v5 or 4v5 while you're split-pushing.

Champion Pool Considerations

1. Diversify Your Pool:

While having comfort picks is essential, consider expanding your champion pool. This flexibility allows you to adapt to different team compositions and lane matchups.

2. Learn Hyper-Carries:

Experiment with hyper-carry ADCs like Jinx, Vayne, or Kog'Maw. These champions scale exceptionally well into the late game and can single-handedly carry team fights when properly played and protected.

3. Understanding Synergy:

In Champion Select, always consider the synergy between your ADC pick and the team composition. Some ADCs thrive in poke compositions, while others excel in hard engage scenarios. Choose champions that complement your team's strategy. For example, if your team is lacking a healthy front line or crowd control, you might want to consider an ADC with high mobility. You also really want to study the synergies between all possible ADC and Support combinations. On Blitz.gg, you can find the most up-to-date lists of synergies between roles.

Mental Aspects of Playing ADC

1. Resilience and Adaptability:

ADC can be a challenging role, especially when facing aggressive opponents or falling behind. Stay focused, and look for opportunities to catch up in farm and experience.

2. Effective Communication:

Communication with your support and the rest of the team is key. Inform them of your power spikes, summoner spell cooldowns, and potential threats. Effective shot-calling contributes significantly to overall team success.

3. Minimizing Tilt:

ADCs are high-priority targets, and dying early can be frustrating. Develop mental resilience to avoid tilting, focus on recovery, and learn from each death rather than dwelling on mistakes.

Mastering the ADC role is a journey that requires time, practice, and a willingness to learn. Begin with the basics, grow comfortable with your chosen champions, and gradually incorporate these mechanics into your gameplay. If you ever feel overwhelmed, revisit this guide, and remember that improvement is a step-by-step process. Enjoy the journey of becoming a skilled ADC player, and happy gaming!