Few roles in League of Legends have experienced as much transformation as the bot lane. Once defined by passive farming ADCs and babysitting supports, the duo lane has evolved into one of the most aggressive and strategically complex areas of the map.
In this article, we’ll explore The Evolution of Bot Lane in Pro Play, tracing how champion picks, metas, and pro strategies have changed over the years. From the early days of double Dorans to the current era of scaling hypercarries and roaming supports, bot lane tells the story of LoL esports itself.
Chapter 1: The Early Days (Season 1–2)
- Bot Lane Basics: The ADC + Support duo was first established in Season 1. ADCs like Ashe, Ezreal, and Corki focused on farming while supports like Soraka, Janna, and Sona provided sustain.
- Gameplay Style: Passive laning, with junglers deciding most of the action.
- Pro Scene: At Worlds Season 2, iconic duos like Taipei Assassins’ Bebe + MiSTakE showed how strong synergy could define a tournament.
Chapter 2: Korean Domination and Aggressive Supports (Season 3–5)
- Rise of Aggression: Korean teams revolutionized bot lane by picking kill lanes (Lucian + Thresh, Twitch + Leona).
- Famous Duos: Mata (Samsung White) and Uzi’s supports redefined the role with proactive play.
- Impact: Bot lane became a battleground rather than a farm lane, forcing teams to draft around early-game power.
Chapter 3: Utility ADCs and the Ardent Censer Meta (Season 6–7)
- ADC Shift: Picks like Sivir, Ashe, and Varus became staples for their utility rather than raw damage.
- Support Dominance: The Ardent Censer patch made enchanters like Lulu and Janna essential.
- Worlds 2017: RNG’s Uzi and SKT’s Bang showcased both utility and hypercarry styles.
Chapter 4: The Rise of Hypercarries (Season 8–10)
- Kai’Sa and Xayah Era: Champions with scaling, mobility, and strong late-game impact dominated.
- Supports Diversify: From enchanters to tanks like Alistar, Braum, and Tahm Kench.
- Meta Trends: Protect-the-carry comps thrived, making ADCs the center of teamfights.
Chapter 5: Roaming Supports and Map Impact (Season 11–12)
- Support Evolution: Champions like Leona, Nautilus, and Rakan shaped fights everywhere, not just in lane.
- ADC Role: Became more independent—ADCs had to survive alone during roams.
- Esports Impact: Games often swung on support roams, making the role arguably more influential than ADC.
Chapter 6: The Modern Era (Season 13–15)
- Scaling Carries: Jinx, Aphelios, and Zeri dominate with massive late-game impact.
- Support Flexibility: Both engage tanks (Nautilus, Rell) and enchanters (Milio, Yuumi) define drafts.
- Pro Strategies: Drafts now often revolve around bot lane priority, dragon stacking, and scaling win conditions.
- Current Trend: Bot lane is no longer just one role—it’s the focal point of the map.
Chapter 7: Legendary Bot Lane Duos
- Bang + Wolf (SKT): Consistency and synergy at the peak of SKT dominance.
- Uzi + Ming (RNG): Aggressive laning + mechanical brilliance.
- Deft + Mata (Samsung White / KT): One of the smartest bot lanes ever.
- Ruler + CoreJJ (Gen.G / Samsung Galaxy): Balance of safe play and clutch teamfights.
FAQs
Q1: Why has bot lane become so important in pro play?
Because of dragon stacking, scaling carries, and supports’ map-wide influence.
Q2: Who is the best ADC in LoL history?
Many argue Uzi, though Faker’s era of dominance means the debate includes Deft, Ruler, and JackeyLove.
Q3: What’s the most iconic bot lane champion in pro play?
Thresh—due to his versatility and history of legendary plays.
Q4: Will bot lane always be central in LoL esports?
As long as dragons remain win conditions, bot lane will remain key.
Conclusion
The Evolution of Bot Lane in Pro Play mirrors the growth of League of Legends itself. From passive farming lanes to the aggressive kill lanes of Korea, the utility-driven metas, and today’s hypercarry focus, bot lane continues to shape the game’s future.
Whether you admire the legendary duos of the past or the current dominance of scaling carries, one thing is certain: bot lane will always be the spotlight of competitive League of Legends.
