Which ADC Has the Hardest Scaling? A Deep Dive into League of Legends Marksmen

Determining which ADC (Attack Damage Carry) has the hardest scaling is a complex question, as it depends on what we mean by “hardest.” If we define “hardest” as the most difficult to reach the point where the champion becomes a hyper-carry, the answer is likely Aphelios. His mechanically intensive kit, reliance on cycling through his five weapons, and dependence on knowing how to utilize each weapon in different scenarios make him incredibly challenging to master. This high barrier of entry makes him difficult to play at peak performance, thus making his scaling hardest to achieve. It’s not just about raw numbers, but about consistently executing at a high level to unlock his full potential.

The Nuances of ADC Scaling

The term “scaling” in League of Legends refers to how well a champion performs as the game progresses and they acquire more items and levels. Some ADCs are early-game powerhouses, dominating the lane but falling off later. Others are weak early but become monstrous carries as the game goes on. Understanding where an ADC fits on this spectrum is crucial for success in the bot lane.

ADCs like Kog’Maw, Jinx, Vayne, Tristana, and Twitch are renowned for their fantastic late-game scaling. These champions become incredibly powerful with multiple items, often being able to shred through enemy teams with their hyper-carry potential. These champions tend to have simpler mechanical execution making their scaling easier to achieve, even if it takes some time to get there.

However, reaching their peak potential varies significantly across these champions. While Kog’Maw, Jinx, and Vayne largely rely on consistently dealing damage through basic attacks, Tristana, who has a simpler kit, has an easier time reaching her potential with less complex mechanical play, even if she isn’t as impactful as the other three. This highlights that “scaling” isn’t simply about damage output, but also about a champion’s mechanical skill requirement to achieve that damage.

Aphelios, on the other hand, demands a higher level of strategic play and mechanical precision to unlock his damage potential. While his late-game damage rivals other hyper-carries, this potential is often locked behind complex weapon combinations and a deep understanding of his kit that can be hard to achieve. This makes his scaling harder.

Skill Floor vs. Skill Ceiling

To truly understand what makes an ADC’s scaling difficult, we need to consider the concepts of skill floor and skill ceiling.

• Skill Floor: This refers to how difficult it is to pick up a champion and play them at a basic level. A low skill floor means a champion is easy to learn, while a high skill floor indicates the champion is initially challenging to grasp.
• Skill Ceiling: This represents the maximum potential of a champion. A high skill ceiling means there’s a huge gap between a decent player and a master, often requiring high mechanical skill, strategic thinking, and game sense.

Draven, for example, has a high skill floor because managing his axes requires constant practice and concentration. He has decent scaling but it’s not the same as someone like Vayne. Meanwhile Aphelios, has a high skill floor and an even higher skill ceiling. Simply put, achieving the point where he’s consistently a hyper-carry is much more demanding, which is why his scaling is considered the “hardest”. It requires a deep understanding of his kit and a lot of practice. Champions like Kalista fall into this difficult category as well, although to a slightly lesser extent than Aphelios.

ADC Scaling Tiers Explained

Let’s break down the scaling tiers for various ADCs:

Fantastic Scaling

These champions are known for their late-game prowess. They can carry games if they manage to survive the early and mid-game phases.

• Kog’Maw: Deals enormous damage with his % health damage combined with attack speed.
• Jinx: Becomes a hyper-carry capable of team-wiping.
• Vayne: Excel in late-game duels and tank shredding.
• Tristana: Becomes a mobile turret with long-range auto-attacks.
• Aphelios: His arsenal of weapons makes him extremely versatile and powerful late-game but very hard to master.
• Twitch: Can melt entire teams with his ultimate.

Great Scaling

These ADCs have good late-game potential and can carry, but usually not at the same levels as those in the fantastic tier.

• Kai’Sa: Has hybrid damage and great mobility.
• Sivir: Great wave clear and team fight presence.
• Ezreal: Can deal consistent damage with poke and mobility.
• Varus: Has poke and team fight utility with his ultimate.
• Xayah: A strong ADC with team-fight synergy.

Decent Scaling

These ADCs are reliable throughout the game but don’t have hyper-carry potential in the late game.

• Caitlyn: Long-range lane bully that becomes less impactful later.
• Ashe: Utility-focused ADC with team-fight engages.
• Jhin: Consistent damage and strong pick potential with his ultimate.

Mediocre Scaling

These ADCs tend to be more early to mid-game focused and fall off in the late game

• Draven: Strong in the early-to-mid game, but falls off slightly in late-game fights.
• Lucian: Great early burst but limited range in the late game.
• Miss Fortune: Great early game harass, and team fight burst.

Bad Scaling

This champion struggles to scale into the late game.

• Kalista: Focused on early and mid-game aggression.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Which ADC is the hardest to learn?

Draven is often considered the hardest ADC to pick up due to his axe-catching mechanics and aggressive playstyle. Aphelios also has a high learning curve because of his weapon system.

2. Which ADC scales the best?

Kog’Maw, Jinx, Vayne, Tristana, and Twitch are considered the best scaling ADCs, reaching hyper-carry status in the late game.

3. Who is the easiest ADC for beginners?

Tristana is often recommended for beginners due to her simple kit and safe gameplay.

4. What are the safest ADCs to pick?

Caitlyn, Ezreal, and Sivir are considered very safe lane picks due to their range, poke, and wave clear capabilities.

5. Who is the most powerful ADC in League of Legends?

Kog’Maw is often considered the most powerful ADC because of his on-hit damage capabilities, particularly with items like Guinsoo’s Rageblade.

6. Which ADCs are the most aggressive?

Graves, Draven, and Miss Fortune are among the most aggressive ADCs due to their early game damage potential.

7. Is the ADC role difficult to learn?

Yes, the ADC role is one of the most challenging roles in League of Legends due to the numerous champions in the bot lane and the importance of positioning and mechanics.

8. Who are the least picked ADCs in Pro League?

While traditionally ADC champions are often picked, off-role picks like Yasuo, Syndra, Seraphine, Swain, and Samira are the least picked as ADC in professional play.

9. Which ADC has the longest base range?

Caitlyn has the longest base range among ADCs.

10. Is ADC a harder role than jungle?

It depends on your strengths. If you struggle with mechanics, ADC is harder. If you struggle with decision-making and map awareness, jungle is harder.

11. What ADC counters Jinx?

Sivir, Draven, Yasuo, Tristana, and Jhin are effective counters to Jinx.

12. Is ADC harder than support?

Again, it depends on your skills. If your mechanics are weak, the ADC role is harder. If decision-making and map awareness are not your strength, support will be harder.

13. Should ADCs do the most damage?

In a full 5v5 scenario, ADCs should output the most damage due to their late-game scaling.

14. What are some ADCs that deal well with tanks?

Cassiopeia, a mage, and Master Yi, a jungler, are good at dealing with tanks, in addition to the traditional ADC picks like Vayne and Kog’Maw.

15. Is Seraphine a viable ADC?

Yes, Seraphine is a viable ADC with a high win rate when played in the bot lane.

Conclusion

While many ADCs scale powerfully into the late game, Aphelios stands out as having the “hardest” scaling to achieve. His complicated kit demands exceptional skill and understanding to unlock his true potential. Other hyper-carries like Kog’Maw and Jinx become extremely powerful, their scaling is usually not limited by the execution of their kit. They don’t require the same level of mechanical precision to reach their hyper-carry potential. This distinction emphasizes that “scaling” encompasses more than just raw damage output. It’s about the difficulty of execution to achieve peak performance, putting Aphelios at the top of the “hardest scaling” list. Understanding these nuances is crucial for players looking to master the bot lane and climb the ranks in League of Legends.