Mastering the role of adc in league of legends

Af Simon - 25 Aug 2025

In the dynamic world of League of Legends ADC, the Attack Damage Carry holds a critical position within a team. Commonly found in the bottom lane alongside a support, ADCs are the champions responsible for dealing high sustained damage from range, especially in the late game. Understanding their role, strengths, and optimal strategies can significantly impact your team's odds of victory.

What is an ADC?

ADC stands for Attack Damage Carry. This champion class specializes in using basic attacks and attack-damage-based abilities to output consistent damage from a distance. The term "carry" reflects their potential to carry the game into the late stages through superior damage output once they've acquired key items.

Main Responsibilities of an ADC

  1. Farming: Securing minion kills (CS) efficiently to build necessary items.
  2. Positioning: Maintaining a safe and strategic location during team fights to avoid being targeted while dealing damage.
  3. Objective Control: Helping to secure key objectives such as Dragon and Baron with high DPS (damage per second).
  4. Teamfighting: Maximizing damage output in coordinated battles without overextending.

Choosing the Right ADC Champion

There are numerous ADC champions to choose from, each with unique playstyles and strengths. Some emphasize burst damage or mobility, while others excel in pure auto-attack damage.

Popular ADC Champions

  1. Jinx: Incredible late-game scaling and AoE damage with her rockets.
  2. Caitlyn: Strong lane control with incredible range and zoning tools.
  3. Ezreal: Highly mobile and poke-oriented, ideal for aggressive players.
  4. Aphelios: Complex kit with high damage potential if mastered.
  5. Samira: A hybrid ADC with both melee and ranged attacks and explosive combos.

Understanding the Laning Phase

The laning phase defines how well an ADC will transition into the mid and late game. Since ADCs are generally weak early, maintaining optimal positioning and synergizing with your support is vital.

Tips for a Successful Lane

  1. Wave Management: Learn to freeze, push, or reset waves depending on the matchup.
  2. Map Awareness: Keep an eye on the minimap to avoid ganks and respond to enemy movements.
  3. Synergy with Support: Work with your support for trades, vision control, and kill setups.

Scaling into the Late Game

As ADCs gather gold and experience, their power peaks in the late game. At this stage, proper positioning and understanding of itemization can determine your effectiveness in team fights.

Core ADC Items

  1. Kraken Slayer: Excellent against tanky opponents due to its true damage passive.
  2. Galeforce: Adds mobility, giving squishier ADCs an escape option.
  3. Infinity Edge: A must for critical strike AD builds that focus on maximum damage output.
  4. Runaan's Hurricane: Great for AoE damage in team fights with multi-target autos.

Conclusion

The ADC role in League of Legends demands precision, patience, and game knowledge. While often labeled as a "glass cannon," a skilled ADC can dominate any game by dealing immense damage from the backline when properly protected. Through strong mechanics, intelligent positioning, and effective communication with your team, you can become a formidable force in the bottom lane.