What is ADC?

ADC (Attack Damage Carry) is a crucial role in League of Legends that specializes in dealing sustained physical damage through basic attacks. ADCs are typically ranged champions who excel at dealing consistent damage from a safe distance, making them the primary source of physical damage on most teams.

The role has evolved over time, and while the term 'ADC' is still commonly used, Riot Games officially rebranded it as 'Marksman' to better reflect the role's function. This change was made because not all champions in this category build attack damage, and the term 'carry' can be misleading as it implies the ability to solo carry games, which isn't always the case.

ADCs scale primarily with attack damage (AD), critical strike chance, and attack speed. They typically start the game weak but become increasingly powerful as they acquire items and levels. This scaling pattern makes ADCs vulnerable in the early game but extremely dangerous in the late game when they have their core items.

Common ADC champions include:

• Ashe: A utility-focused ADC with crowd control abilities and global vision
• Caitlyn: A long-range sniper with excellent lane pressure
• Jinx: A hyper-carry with strong late-game scaling
• Kai'Sa: A versatile ADC with mixed damage and mobility
• Vayne: A short-range assassin ADC with high mobility and true damage

ADCs typically occupy the bottom lane (bot lane) alongside a support champion. This lane pairing is crucial because ADCs are often too weak and vulnerable early in the game to survive without protection. The support's role is to protect the ADC, control vision, and create opportunities for them to farm and scale.

The ADC's primary objectives are:

1. Farming minions to gain gold and experience
2. Securing kills when opportunities arise
3. Providing consistent damage in team fights
4. Taking down objectives like towers and inhibitors

In team fights, ADCs are often the primary damage dealers, positioned at the back of the team to stay safe while dealing damage. However, they need protection from their team's front line, as ADCs are typically squishy and can be easily eliminated if caught out of position.

The importance of ADCs has fluctuated over League of Legends' history. In some metas, they're considered essential for winning games, while in others, they can be less impactful due to strong anti-AD items or meta shifts favoring other roles. Understanding when to play ADC and how to position them effectively is crucial for success in League of Legends.