The ADC role has seen a lot of transition in both pro play and solo queue resulting in the terms ‘marksman bottom’ and ‘attack damage carry’ to become partially obsolete with picks such as Yasuo and Vladimir entering the bot lane alongside supports such as Alistar and Ornn. This variety has opened up the meta for some new picks in the bot lane. In this piece, I’m going to showcase some AP picks that can be used in the bottom lane in place of the traditional marksmen so that you can expand you pool in an attempt to adapt to this very unusual metagame.

Ziggs

The only member of this list that has been played in the bottom lane before this wacky, wacky meta. He saw himself at the forefront of the bot lane meta in the very early stages of Season 7 due to his ability to take turrets quickly and effectively, but now the Hexplosives Expert can most certainly make his way back there. His immense range, wave-clear, and area of effect teamfight potential (especially with his high damage large AOE ultimate, Mega Inferno Bomb). This paired with his ability to take turrets makes Ziggs almost certainly viable as one of the new picks in the bot lane for this wild meta.

Vladimir

Vladimir is one of the new bottom lane picks that have already been seen in the LCK against Yasuo and it can be summed up in one term, ‘Sustain DPS’. For the experienced players, I’m sure you remember the unkillable triple life steal item combo on Kalista (Bloodthirster, Blade of the Ruined King and Mercurial Scimitar) where you physically could not kill her due to her ability to dodge damage (via avoiding skillshots) and her build meaning that she would outheal whatever damage you could stick on her (all of this while she was still a major damage threat from the bot lane). Now think back to Vladimir, more importantly, what does Vladimir not bring to bot that a pick such as Kalista does. Does Vlad have ranged DPS? Check! Immense sustain? Check! A method of avoiding damage? Check (Sanguine Pool). So, we are seeing Vladimir as an unorthodox carry as he brings everything to the role to succeed, just as a different form of carry.

Lulu

Lulu is next on our list of carry champions that have been brought in by this weird meta. Yes, this is Lulu in a carry role. Another pick that has been showcased in Korea’s LCK (most recently by SKT’s Bang) but this weird pick has been seen as an out of the box hybrid as a mix of attack speed and support items is the current build. This build features such items as Nashor's Tooth and Trinity Force for the attack speed combined with items such as Ardent Censer and Redemption for the utility. This weird combination from a carry role is surprisingly effective in both being a damage carry and an amplification support, and it is this niche that makes carry Lulu bot meta ‘viable’ and may make her worth adding to your pool in this game state around Patch 8.12

Malzahar

One of the reasons Caitlyn had been meta for so many patches has been her ability to push via the ability to take minions from range and so push up to the turret to take it with ease. However, with the recent changes to ADC marksman itemization, the Sheriff of Piltover has found herself out of the meta and so an opening for a pushing carry has become available. Enter Malzahar, who has immense shoving potential with his E, Malefic Visions (supplemented by his Q, Call of the Void), and can take turrets quickly using his pets summoned via his W, Void Swarm, to overrun structures while he can also auto attack the structures seeing as to how he is ranged champion (this also makes farming easier too). This ability to shove and take turrets while also being a very potent damage threat in an AP capacity makes Malzahar a potentially very good pick in this meta state.

Conclusion

To conclude the current meta for ADCs has been gutted (leaving just Lucian and a few outlier traditional marksmen left with a shot at ‘meta status,’ and use in competitive play) all thanks to the changes in the AD marksman itemization (mostly the complete and utter nerfing of critical strike chance, especially the rework nerfs to Infinity Edge). This has left the bottom lane open to a series of new picks but not just anything goes, these picks still need to meet one of the job roles that the marksmen of previous patches did. This can be one of many jobs. It may be sustained DPS, being a relentless pushing machine, burst DPS (with AOE potential?), or even being a utility source. Maybe even more jobs are potentially available!

So as a result, even though we are now seeing different types of carry in the bot from bruisers, mages and even the odd support variant, we cannot get carried away and must still respect the purpose of the bot lane carry, which is to carry! So, if you do decide to add to your bottom lane champions pool, remember to do so with a job in mind and with that I once again leave you with the thoughts of GL, HF, and GG.

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