The ADC role is played in the Bottom lane alongside a Support and is centred around farming as efficiently as possible, converting gold into items and becoming the primary source of sustained damage in the late game. This playstyle is supported by a specific Role Quest which, after completion, grants bonus gold from minion kills and champion takedowns for the rest of the game and moves Boots into a dedicated slot, freeing up inventory space for six full items.
Although Marksmen are the traditional Champions played in this position, some Metas see Mages move from Mid into Bot, bringing a change of pace to the laning phase and creating different matchup dynamics.
Different Types of Bot Lane Carries
League of Legends ADC Guide: Everything You Need to Know content image
The way Bot Lane Carries are classified depends on the aspect being considered. Before looking at specific Champions, it is important to understand whether the focus is on how they deal damage or the way they create advantages during the game. The table below breaks down these categories and their defining characteristics.
Core Responsibilities of the ADC Player
Managing the Bot Lane
As the ADC, one of your main goals is to enter the mid game with a steady gold advantage. Since your power comes heavily from items, every decision you make during the laning phase matters. To succeed, you need to understand your Champion's strengths, the specific matchup, and how to manage waves and trade correctly.
Champion and Matchup
In the early game, the matchup determines how aggressive you can be. Choosing Champions like Lucian or Draven gives you more opportunities to pressure the enemy bot lane through their strong early damage and trading power. However, if you choose a Hypercarry such as Jinx or Kog'Maw, you will often need to play more defensively, prioritising safe farming and avoiding unnecessary risks until you reach your power spikes.
Trading
Understanding your Champion and the matchup is only part of the equation. To consistently find good trades, you also need to pay attention to your positioning and the space you control in lane, often referred to as your posture. When the enemy ADC walks forward to last hit, position yourself to threaten them with attacks and force them to choose between farming safely or taking damage.
Wave Management
Avoid aggressively pushing the wave when you have no vision or your Jungler is on the opposite side of the map, as this leaves you vulnerable to ganks. When you need to recall, try to crash the wave into the enemy tower first. This gives you more time to return to lane before the next wave starts dying.
Transitioning into the Mid Game
Mid Lane
After the first Bot tower falls , from either team , the lane becomes much more dangerous. As the ADC, you will usually want to move to Mid. There, your priority is keeping the wave pushed, but only if you have vision or nearby teammates to support you. Otherwise, play safer and let the minions come towards you instead.
Hovering
When Mid is pushed, you can start moving with your team and looking for opportunities. However, not every fight is worth following, so always consider whether you can return to Mid in time to catch the next wave.
Tempo
To better understand Tempo, think of League as a turn-based game. During your turn, you make a move by pushing the wave and crashing it into the enemy Mid tower. The enemy then has to spend their turn clearing that wave instead of making a play elsewhere. By creating situations where the enemy has to respond to your actions, you gain Tempo , giving your team extra time to act first or set up vision.
Teamfighting
After spending the early and mid game accumulating gold and buying items, you eventually reach teamfights where your hard work pays off. However, you are still one of the most vulnerable players on the map, so keep the following in mind before committing to a fight.
Common Beginner Mistakes
Prioritising Damage over Survival
Adapt your build depending on the enemy team. Defensive items often give you more time to deal damage and have a bigger impact in fights.
Staying Isolated on Side Lanes
After the laning phase, go Mid and clear the waves there. Only move to the Side Lanes when you have vision or nearby teammates to support you.
Ignoring Item Spikes
Recognise your item spikes and look to fight your lane opponents when you have the advantage.
Not Switching to Farsight Alteration
Swap to Farsight Alteration once you reach the mid game. Use it to safely check areas around the map and objectives where you do not have vision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to play aggressive to carry games?
No. Play around your Champion's strengths. Some ADCs are stronger early, while others need time to scale and become stronger later.
I have good farm but I still keep losing games. What am I doing wrong?
Having a gold advantage does not matter if you do not use it in your favour. Improve your positioning and choose your fights more carefully.
Why do I feel useless when playing ADC?
Generally, ADCs need more time to scale, so falling behind early can make the game feel miserable. Even a small gold deficit can keep you behind for most of the match, so do not get discouraged if you feel weaker than everyone else early on.
What should I do if my Support keeps roaming and leaves me alone in lane?
Avoid trading or pushing too far without vision. If you are struggling to handle the lane alone, try to communicate with your Support.
Want to learn more about the other roles in League of Legends? Check out our other guides to understand what each role does and how they impact the game.