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ADCs Are NOT Fine Right Now

Brain Errör 404··15 votes·977 views

Look, I'm getting tired of people saying, "Salty ADC mains can't do 'X' or 'Y' or 'Z' and come to boards to cry about dying" etc, etc. Look, the role is a complete mess and dependency on other roles. However, what I cannot agree with is for people to say that the role is "too strong" and "needs to be gutted". No, they don't need to be gutted. Do they need to be buffed? Heck freaking no. Get that shit outta here, I'm so far away from saying ADCs need to be buffed it's not even funny. Some could use some love and ADCs need a balance check for more bot lane diversity, but they are somewhat fine atm. That's not the issue.

I think some ADCs need to be toned down right now, IE: Cait and Twitch -- but for the most part, I think the main issue is ADCs itemization and the way they interact with Crit. They are going to need a complete overhaul. The role itself will only carry under very limited circumstances: IE, the enemy team has 0 strong engages or 0 divers that can effectively jump on the ADC. Other than that, the role will struggle doing anything remotely necessary to carrying teams. I've seen more games where the ADCs on BOTH sides of the team didn't even matter more than one being better than the next.

The games where ADCs are carrying are small -- especially in the Elo where I'm currently at. Maybe if you go higher up, they serve a better purpose. But as it stands, not just ADC, but botlane in general, is a scrap fest. It DOES decides who wins and loses games, but not the adc. It just depends on which teams Mid/Jgler or even Top laner is going to feast on the other team's bot lane.

8 Comments

sit kid5 votes

Honestly, aa+crit champions are just too focused onto the late game

The low base damage, the high ad ratios on their aa, their crit builds and their lifesteal items pprovide nothing early-mid game, while being just a bit overpowered late game

Spoofghoul1 votes

this^^^

been saying this since forever but always met with downvotes

id much rather have the role be stronger early and mid with more emphasis on niche roles and be strong at that

Currently they are fairly useless until they get to 3 items then nobody can get near them anymore and they become vastly overpowered

so they put the game on a timer

they aren't fun to play around at all they are very binary with only slight emphasis on niche roles but they mainly just dpos and draintank with lifesteal and just burst dps you to death with unavoidable damage in late game

their itemization is just off and providing a lot of unnecessary strengths and this makes them too similar to each other.

SGT Dingle Berry4 votes

ADC have lost their dominance at the moment because the current meta is largely stocked with divers who can reach the back lane easily and honestly I think it's a pretty balanced spot right now although I am sure most won't agree. If an ADC pops off its because the ADC and his team are doing what they're supposed too and the losing team is not.

ZT Xperimentor4 votes

However if a marksmen gets ahead, then they nuke you from the edge of vision; ever since season 6, riot's accelerated damage to the point of 'instakill or be instakilled'. Regardless if it's a melee with mobility, or a physical ranged champion.

Spoofghoul2 votes

or a tank

Divewing3 votes

Thing is. ADCs actually are super busted. They are so busted that literally every other role revolves around them (either beating the shit out of them or babysitting them all game). There is no play you can make pre-20 minutes that will be better than goon-squadding bot lane.

Now you say ADCs aren't overpowered (in general; forgiving obvious outliers), and the problems stem from itemisation - specifically their interactions with crit. I half agree. Crit is definitely the root cause, but I think ADCs in general are also partly to blame. They need to reach a state where they can scale as dps champions but not as burst champions, minus niche exceptions (the pseudo 'assassin' ADCs).

The simple fact is ADCs are just TOO good, and they create a polarising stale meta that's simply either something that smashes them or something that protects them, whichever is the strongest in its respective area (eg ranged tops were the thing but now collosus champs are).

Until ADCs reach a point where they are between now (2-shot crit-lords), and Ezreal (death of a thousand cuts), they will always be a problem.

Brínk2 votes

Waow ur post is just so much better and well formulated. I totally agree with u about adcs being so bad and the game isnt balanced

Kiyoshiz1 votes

ADCs are in a good place at the moment. What I feel is the cause for the ADC role being rather lack luster is the current meta where everyone is focused on doing damage. There are rarely skirmish lines anymore, as people are opting to take casters as supports instead of tanks or supports. Junglers are coming in as primary damage dealers, as are top lane. Everyone is focused on playing a 'carry' these days and running around the map playing team deathmatch.

ADCs bring a lot to the objective control, and are crucial in pushing down towers. What happens a lot in lower elos is the bot lane may win a trade or two, get ganked, and fall to pieces as they get repeatedly ganked extending too far. ADCs need a lot of protection, they rely on their team for that protection to peel, distract, and counter engage during team fights. If your team is rolling across the map demolishing the enemy and you feel useless as an ADC, remember that there's a lot more to it than just getting kills. You can still shove waves, demolish towers, and put down damage to help out your team.

The game is focused on winning, and to win you need a team. It's not often a single player is going to carry the entire game on their back without helping out their team mates in securing objectives along the way. So always keep in mind that your team needs you, and you need them. It's a symbiotic relationship, if you hate your support and they hate you, you're both gonna die.

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