League of Legends: 8 Best ADC Mage Champions

In the current meta, mage champions have taken the ADC role by storm, outperforming traditional marksmen in both win rates and impact. This shift is largely due to changes in itemization and the growing prevalence of AD-heavy team compositions, which makes AP-focused mage ADCs a valuable pick. By filling the magic damage gap, they provide a strategic advantage, ensuring balanced team damage output.

Mage ADCs offer everything an ADC main could ask for: efficient wave clear, potent poke, and excellent late-game scaling. In this article, we’ll showcase the 8 best mage ADC champions that you should consider playing to dominate your games. Let’s dive in!

#8: Vel'Koz

Vel’Koz, the Eye of the Void, brings exceptional poke and zone control to the ADC role. His passive, Organic Deconstruction, deals true damage upon stacking, allowing for significant burst potential. Plasma Fission (Q) serves as a long-range poke tool, while Void Rift (W) provides area damage and wave clear. Tectonic Disruption (E) offers crowd control, and his ultimate, Life Form Disintegration Ray (R), delivers sustained damage from a distance.

Vel’Koz excels against champions like Nilah, Veigar, and Varus, but may struggle against others. Overall, Vel’Koz’s long-range abilities and true damage make him a formidable choice for players seeking a mage ADC with strong poke and burst potential.

#7: Kennen

Kennen, the Heart of the Tempest, is a versatile champion capable of fulfilling the ADC role with his unique blend of ranged attacks and crowd control. His passive, Mark of the Storm, applies a stack on enemies hit by his abilities; upon reaching three stacks, enemies are stunned, providing significant control during skirmishes. Thundering Shuriken (Q) serves as a primary poke tool, while Electrical Surge (W) enhances basic attacks to deal bonus magic damage, bolstering his trading potential. Lightning Rush (E) grants increased movement speed and allows Kennen to pass through units, aiding in positioning. His ultimate, Slicing Maelstrom (R), unleashes a storm that damages and stuns nearby enemies, making it impactful during team fights.

Kennen excels against champions lacking mobility, as his crowd control can effectively catch opponents off guard. However, he may struggle against compositions with strong disengage or poke that can whittle down his health before engagements. Overall, Kennen’s blend of ranged attacks and crowd control makes him a unique choice for players seeking an unconventional ADC pick.

#6: Cassiopeia

Cassiopeia, the Serpent’s Embrace, is a potent mage capable of dominating the ADC role with her sustained damage and area control. Her passive, Serpentine Grace, increases movement speed per level but prevents the purchase of boots, allowing her to invest in additional offensive items. Noxious Blast (Q) serves as her primary poke and kiting tool, while Miasma (W) creates zones that ground and slow enemies, preventing dashes and blinks. Twin Fang (E) provides rapid, targeted damage, especially effective against poisoned targets. Her ultimate, Petrifying Gaze (R), can stun enemies facing her, making it impactful during team fights.

#5: Ziggs

Ziggs, the Hexplosives Expert, is a mage champion who excels in the ADC role by providing exceptional poke, wave clear, and objective control. His passive, Short Fuse, empowers his basic attacks to deal bonus magic damage periodically, enhancing his trading potential. Bouncing Bomb (Q) serves as his primary long-range poke tool, allowing him to harass enemies from a safe distance. Satchel Charge (W) offers mobility and the unique ability to execute turrets below a certain health threshold, facilitating objective control. Hexplosive Minefield (E) creates a zone of mines that slow and damage enemies, effective for zoning and area denial. His ultimate, Mega Inferno Bomb (R), delivers massive area-of-effect damage over a large range, making it impactful during team fights and for securing kills.

#4: Veigar

Veigar, the Tiny Master of Evil, is a formidable mage who can excel in the ADC role by leveraging his scaling damage and crowd control abilities. His passive, Phenomenal Evil Power, allows him to gain permanent Ability Power (AP) through last-hitting minions with abilities or landing spells on enemy champions, leading to significant late-game damage potential. Baleful Strike (Q) serves as his primary poke and farming tool, enabling him to stack AP efficiently. Dark Matter (W) calls down a damaging meteor, providing strong area-of-effect damage. Event Horizon (E) creates a cage that stuns enemies who touch its edges, offering powerful zone control and setup for ganks. His ultimate, Primordial Burst (R), deals massive damage, scaling with the target’s missing health, making it an effective execute.

Veigar excels against champions with limited mobility, as his Event Horizon can effectively trap and stun opponents, setting up for high burst damage. However, he may struggle against high-mobility champions who can evade his abilities or engage on him before he can react. Overall, Veigar’s scaling damage and crowd control make him a potent choice for players seeking a mage ADC with strong late-game carry potential.

#3: Seraphine

Seraphine, the Starry-Eyed Songstress, has emerged as a formidable choice in the ADC role, offering exceptional poke, sustain, and crowd control. Her passive, Stage Presence, causes every third basic ability to echo, casting it again, and generates Notes when abilities are used near allies, enhancing her attack range and damage. High Note (Q) serves as her primary poke tool, dealing magic damage that increases with the target’s missing health. Surround Sound (W) provides a shield and movement speed to allies, with a heal if Seraphine is already shielded. Beat Drop (E) is a skill shot that slows enemies, and roots them if they are already slowed. Her ultimate, Encore (R), charms and damages enemies in a wide line, extending its range when it touches allies or enemies.

Seraphine excels against champions with limited engage potential, as her poke and sustain can whittle down opponents over time. However, she may struggle against high-burst or dive compositions that can exploit her relative immobility. Overall, Seraphine’s blend of poke, sustain, and crowd control makes her a strong choice for players seeking a mage ADC with significant team utility.

#2: Hwei

Hwei, the Visionary, is a versatile mage support champion who wields paint magic to confront Ionia’s criminals and comfort their victims. His abilities allow him to mark enemies with his passive, Signature of the Visionary, which primes them for a finishing touch that creates an explosion beneath them after a delay, dealing bonus magic damage to enemies in the area. 

Hwei was released on December 6, 2023, with Patch 13.24. As a relatively new champion, his performance metrics in the ADC role are still being evaluated. Players interested in utilizing Hwei as an ADC should focus on mastering his ability combinations and understanding his role within team compositions.

#1: Karthus

Karthus, the Deathsinger, is a potent mage who excels in the ADC role by delivering consistent area-of-effect damage and global presence. His passive, Death Defied, allows him to continue casting spells for a short duration after death, ensuring sustained damage output. Lay Waste (Q) serves as his primary poke and farming tool, dealing increased damage to isolated targets. Wall of Pain (W) creates a barrier that reduces enemy movement speed and magic resistance, aiding in both offense and defense. Defile (E) provides continuous area damage around Karthus, effective during close-quarters combat. His ultimate, Requiem (R), deals damage to all enemy champions globally, allowing for impactful plays across the map.

Karthus excels against compositions that lack hard engage, as his sustained damage can wear down opponents over time. However, he may struggle against high-mobility champions who can quickly close the gap and burst him down. Overall, Karthus’s consistent damage output and global presence make him a formidable choice for players seeking a mage ADC with high carry potential.

Conclusion

Mage ADCs have proven to be a powerful and versatile alternative to traditional marksmen, offering unique playstyles that capitalize on poke, area control, and high scaling. Champions like Karthus and Veigar bring devastating late-game power, while picks like Ziggs and Seraphine offer utility and consistent pressure throughout the match. Whether you prefer long-range bombardment or sustained damage in team fights, there’s a mage ADC to match your playstyle.

With the current meta favoring more adaptive and hybrid team compositions, incorporating mage ADCs into your gameplay can provide the edge needed to dominate the bot lane and beyond. Experiment with these champions, refine your strategies, and enjoy climbing the ranked ladder with these powerful mage picks!