Why Isn’t Kindred Played as ADC?
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Kindred, the Eternal Hunters, are a fascinating champion in League of Legends. Known for their unique marksman-jungle hybrid playstyle, they’re often seen terrorizing the jungle, but rarely grace the bot lane as a dedicated AD Carry. The question begs: why isn’t Kindred played as ADC more often? The core reason lies in a combination of factors that prevent them from fully capitalizing on the ADC role’s demands. Simply put, Kindred’s kit isn’t optimized for the traditional ADC experience, despite technically being a marksman.
The Core Issues
Firstly, Kindred’s ultimate (Lamb’s Respite) doesn’t offer the offensive boost most ADCs need for all-in engagements. While it’s a powerful tool for survival and team fights, it lacks the raw damage amplification or mobility that other ADCs rely on to secure kills in the bot lane. The ult’s primary purpose is to delay death, not accelerate it. In a skirmish heavy bot lane, the delay aspect of the ult is only truly beneficial in a coordinated environment.
Secondly, Kindred’s lane-shoving capabilities are subpar compared to other ADCs. Their primary damage source, Dance of Arrows (Q), is a single-target ability until later game, making it difficult to efficiently clear minion waves, a crucial requirement for ADCs to gain gold and push lane advantage. This leads to Kindred being pushed under tower and at a disadvantage.
Third, Kindred’s itemization doesn’t synergize as efficiently as other ADCs. Champions like Kog’Maw and Zeri benefit immensely from items that enhance their attack speed and critical strike chances. Kindred, on the other hand, scales with on-hit effects and marks. This difference in item scaling results in Kindred being outdamaged by meta ADCs during crucial mid and late-game phases when gold is more available.
Finally, their mobility is severely limited without Wolf’s Frenzy (W). The high cooldown on Wolf’s Frenzy means Kindred is essentially immobile for significant periods in the early game if she chooses to use it offensively. This makes them vulnerable to ganks, poke, and all-in engages from the enemy lane. A burst from an assassin will easily leave Kindred vulnerable.
In summary, Kindred’s kit, reliant on specific conditions and a slow scaling curve, doesn’t fit well with the aggressive, consistent damage output required of a traditional bot lane carry. While they can be surprisingly effective in some matchups, their inherent weaknesses make them an off-meta choice at best, not a reliable pick for climbing the ranks in the ADC role.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can Kindred be played as ADC at all?
Yes, Kindred can be played as ADC, but it’s considered an off-meta pick. While their kit is designed to function as a marksman, they lack the consistent lane presence, wave clear, and explosive damage that traditional ADCs possess.
2. Is Kindred a strong ADC?
No, Kindred is generally not considered a strong ADC. They can be effective in niche matchups against squishy bot lanes and with very specific supportive pairings, but they are not a consistent or reliable pick compared to meta ADCs. Their power lies in the jungle, not the bot lane.
3. What lanes are Kindred good in?
Kindred excels in the jungle. Some players have found success in top and mid lane as well. They are viable in these roles because their kit benefits from roaming and skirmishing. However, they generally underperform in the bot lane as ADC.
4. Why is Kindred considered a hard champion to play?
Kindred is considered hard due to the high skill ceiling in getting the most value out of their marks, effectively utilizing Wolf’s Frenzy for positioning and chasing, and maximizing the timing of Lamb’s Respite. The champ is not intuitive and requires good decision making.
5. What makes Kindred different from other ADCs?
Unlike most ADCs, Kindred’s damage is dependent on stacking marks acquired from hunts. Their ultimate is defensive, not offensive. They also have less inherent wave clear than most ADCs, and depend on their W for mobility.
6. How does Kindred scale into the late game?
Kindred is a hard scaling late game champion but is highly dependent on stacking their marks throughout the game. Without those marks, they struggle to out-damage other marksman champions. This scaling also depends on getting marks from specific targets, which can be a coin flip.
7. Who are Kindred’s biggest counters in the jungle?
According to player data, some of the best counters for Kindred in the jungle include Rammus, Shaco, Master Yi, Nocturne, and Ivern. These champions can typically out-duel or out-farm Kindred.
8. Is Kindred a good pick against tanky teams?
No, Kindred’s damage is often less efficient against tanky teams due to their reliance on on-hit effects and lack of consistent damage. Other ADCs with armor penetration and high sustained DPS are generally better options. Kindred struggles against sustained damage.
9. What is the best starting buff for Kindred in the jungle?
The optimal jungle path for Kindred typically starts with a Red Buff which requires a leash from allies. After this, the Kindred player will typically proceed to the other camps.
10. Who are Kindred strong against?
Kindred can perform well against squishy bot lanes and champions who are unable to deal with their mobility and sustain provided by Lambs Respite. They benefit from supports who can set up and peel.
11. What support champions synergize well with Kindred?
Kindred pairs well with supports who can provide peel and setup, such as Taric, Maokai and Sett, who can keep her safe and enable her to acquire marks and make plays. Supports that offer high utility are generally great for Kindred.
12. Is Kindred the most powerful character in League of Legends lore?
Kindred is one of the most powerful beings in Runeterra’s lore as they are the embodiment of death itself. However, there is a debate between whether Kindred or Aurelion Sol is the most powerful, with Kindred generally being considered slightly stronger due to Sol’s mortality. However, it’s worth noting both have exceptional power.
13. Are there any professional players who play Kindred ADC?
Kindred is rarely seen in professional play as ADC. There are some off meta picks, but the consistent weakness of this champ in lane means that it’s typically avoided. Kindred is typically a jungle or other off role champ.
14. What is the best way to improve at Kindred?
To improve with Kindred, focus on efficient jungle pathing, carefully tracking marks, mastering their W mobility, and understanding when to utilize their ultimate. Practice patience in fights, and focus on using marks to maximize damage output.
15. What is the most difficult ADC to master in League of Legends?
While opinions vary, Draven is often considered the hardest ADC to pick up due to his intricate mechanics. Aphelios and Kalista also have a high skill ceiling. Kindred is definitely not considered an easy marksman, but has a different kit than most ADC champs.
By understanding these fundamental limitations and nuances, players can better grasp why Kindred, despite being a marksman, is not typically a strong ADC pick. They remain a powerful and rewarding champion but are best left to their intended role of a roaming jungle hunter.