Is Ashe really a viable ADC?

KLee1007·6/24/2014, 8:48:13 AM·6 votes·3,589 views

First of all, I'm a Korean user who's trying to share some thoughts about Ashe.

I've been playing Ashe for quite a while but i couldn't get away with a thought tht she needs a remake/rework like Urgot (or "buffed" for the least). I know that CCs are her unique aspects but its too much so that her damage is comparatively lower than other ADC that she cannot perform as ADC properly. Some even see her as an AD support.

And the last comment about Ashe from Riot was: We don't need to tweak her or rework her cos she got good CCs and kiting.

Do you really think she is still viable ADC???

53 Comments

Cerbearus6/24/2014, 3:30:27 PM5 votes

Both Ashe and Varus were popular picks a while back both in solo queue and competitive. The reason they aren't being played right now is because they are utility/teamfight ADCs as opposed to the carry-style ADCs that fit in the meta right now. The reason we can have these carry style ADCs is because utility mids are getting ever so popular and tank tops are really common. One would pick Ashe/Varus for a reliable way to engage or if your team lacked decent CC. Being not in the meta and different from other ADCs doesn't make them bad, just out of favor. Both have around 50% winrate so they aren't in the same boat with Urgot who has had the lowest winrate in League for years...

Remlap12236/24/2014, 12:02:29 PM3 votes

Varus and Ashe both need a rework. I can handle champions who have no escapes (my main top laner is Cho'Gath) but Ashe and Varus only have soft CC and no escapes. It's why they're absolutely terrible right now (not even including Ashe's atrocious passive.) They need to either increase her mobility and give her a new passive, or send her off to the rework department, because her "niche pick" status is inaccurate at best and a farce at worst. I mean, I don't play them because I think they're terrible, and a lot of Ashe players say I'm just a noob with her, so I guess if they don't think she's broken they shouldn't fix her. However, I'm not going to be party to that nonsense, and Ashe will continue to collect dust in my champion collection much like Garen and Lux.

KingSmizzy7/3/2014, 3:26:58 PM3 votes

I think hawkshot is pretty bad, instead of having an escape to make her safe, they give her a vision tool. Doesnt help much when a yi is sprinting at you and 'cannot be slowed'. Plus it doesnt even make her as much money as draven even if you max it first. plus you'd be weaker.

EverTokki7/10/2014, 7:40:16 PM2 votes

I totally agree that she needs a buff. I am a hardcore Ashe player as well(but sadly not lvl 30 yet) and it is really hard even if I'm a level or two ahead of other ADC's. I like her ult, slows, and her farming skills but that's it. She does well in later game but dies super fast in tf's if you get cc'd by someone and I mean super fast in 0.5~1.3 seconds :/ I really hope for something that will help her damage (but if you get the right items, this is unneccessary, I think) or at least her survival in terms of armor, speed, or some motion change because it just takes too long for her to get her arrow and I die before I slow them and run. Everyone groans when I pick Ashe, but she still is the best champion I can play with tho. <3 Ashe

Manchette6/24/2014, 5:19:52 PM2 votes

Playing either is really fun when your team plays "protect the carry" so that you can do tons of damage without the fear of a Master Yi popping up and one-shotting you.

Phreak1236/24/2014, 9:22:41 PM2 votes

shes been secretly buffed over and over

CapNJacket6/24/2014, 3:10:26 PM1 votes

Don't know how much a bronze player's opinions are worth but i think Ashe is viable. She may not have the damage like you say, but her utility is a decent trade-off (Passive could another re-work). For what its worth, her E/passive is free semi-functional avarice item 3093 with bonus vision. I find her kit works best chasing foes in the jungle with her Q slow and her W/E/R for making shots in the dark a breeze.

Probably the only other defence for her would be that's it a team game. Her trade-off for better utility becomes better synergy with teammates (slow chases/global ult), and any flaws (like harder cc) can be made up by other teammates (like your support).

Maybe tweaking her passive so her arrows have bonus armour pen might help with her low looking damage. Would fit for her well. Two of her quotes (in english anyways) are: "My arrows fly true" and "Make it count". That or the old passive where she would crit stacks regardless if she was in/out of combat (or i think how it went).

Linna Excel6/25/2014, 9:04:50 PM1 votes

I got a penta with her last night on ARAM so she does her job well enough.

ModCaptainMårvelous6/25/2014, 9:27:32 PM1 votes

I think the word you're looking for is "Optimal"

Can Ashe carry a game? Yes. Can she work well in several comps? Again, yes. But does she do the job better than others? I wouldn't say so. I think she could use a little buff or two.

Goumindong6/26/2014, 6:42:33 PM1 votes

Between cleanse, Mikaels, QSS, and BV its really hard to play Ashe competitively. As you get higher in ranking you will see these more often and it will be harder to win games as Ashe.

On the other hand, this can give you a slight power advantage sometimes.

Overall, Ashe is a competent AD with surprising burst and catch potential but suffers in having the second lowest DPS in the game behind cait. She could probably use a 5 to 10 unit move speed buff given the number of mobility spells in the game, but she is also sitting at around a 50% win rate at the moment, so she can't be that bad.

ILoveTiramisu6/26/2014, 9:50:19 PM1 votes

I was watch this in past day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYFXe-PX_JA

Phreak really like play Ashe.

However, I think the question isnt "Is Ashe really viable?" but "Why should I pick Ashe?" Ashe has no mobility and this is right because she can slow multiple targets. Ashe's W don't pass minions(:W have a good AoE), deals low damage(Scaling well and low mana costs) and high cooldown early(yes, this is right). She's easy to assassinate(I know but you have AoE stun and slow in your R).

However, Ashe's passive is very useless(Here I agree).

I don't know why you said you are Korean? If you are Korean, European or American, you are just a random player.

Dicerson6/27/2014, 9:59:16 PM1 votes

I'm surprised, you're Korean and your better at grammar than most Americans I have seen :/

ReaperOfBodom7/2/2014, 7:06:27 PM1 votes

Ashe is my favorite champion and I like playing her. I must admit I often feel like I'm in a certain disadvantage when I'm laning with my support vs the other team's AD Carry and Support. The only thing I thought of is runes.

I'm trying a new set of runes (it isn't complete yet). My runes will be full critical damage runes, except for the Quintessences. These ones are Movement Speed bonus. I don't know if it will really works but I'm trying it anyway.

I know some will think it's weird but with those runes, I also often pick Ashe Mid in team builder and it works well.

I forgot: Sometimes I fell like the Hawkshot is pretty useless because we now have trinkets. Normally, I use it to make sure my ult does hit my target but even by doing that, it happends that the target know that if I shoot my Hawk, I'll probably ult, so they get manage to avoid the frost arrow.

ILoveTiramisu6/24/2014, 5:26:34 PM1 votes

I think she is viable in normal games, not in ranked xD. However, When you talk about a sniper, you should to compare her with other sniper (Varus and Caitlyn).

The passive of varus and caitlyn and theirQ makes them strong pusher. You can compare varus'Q and caitlyn's Q with ashe W. Ashe W is strong in pushing and outscales other in late game, but passive of Ashe isn't good, it works only if you are zoned, supporting or zoning, and don't help her in teamfight.

Ashe's base stats are low and also cait and varus are more early game champion.

If I can touch Ashe, I will make frost shot as her passive and I will give her an ability like Draven's bloodrush.

Zantoshu6/24/2014, 6:03:15 PM1 votes

I think that Ashe is a viable ADC. Just like all ADC champions in LoL, they each have a unique play style that you can tweak to your own liking. For instance, Varus has Hail of Arrows that slow champions as they walk over the area of impact. This helps to maintain control of the battlefield as well as to get kills. The same thing can be said about Ashe; she has (including her ult) three slowing abilities; this also gives her a lot of control in a fight.

I see what you're saying, though. Ashe is pretty weak when it comes to straight-up damaging abilities, but I'm certain you can create a build to compensate.