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Top 5 ADCs at Worlds 2025: Is Ruler Still the King?
The starts of Worlds 2025 is fast approaching, and the time has come for us to rank our top 5 AD carries coming in to the tournament.
As always, this list will be a reflection on these players' current form, capacity to perform under pressure, influence on their teams, champion pools, and Worlds meta affinity. Now without further ado, let's take a look at the best ADCs of Worlds 2025.
5. GALA (IG)
Simply put, Chen "GALA" Wei is the biggest reason Invictus Gaming are at Worlds to begin with. While a few other names on this list benefit from playing alongside some of the best solo laners on the planet, GALA has been forced to take matters into his own hands more often than not to secure wins for IG.
Over the course of the Split 3 Playoffs in the LPL, for instance, GALA put up a whopping 41.4% kill share throughout the event. Moreover, during the series that qualified IG to Worlds, GALA amassed a total of 25 kills; that is 11 more kills than Peyz over on the other side of the Rift.
As Invictus Gaming prepare to take on the reigning World Champions of T1 for a spot in the Swiss Stage, it may well take another God mode performance from GALA for the team to live to fight another day.
4. Elk (BLG)
Bilibili Gaming managed to level up right on time, and so did Zhao "Elk" Jia-Hao. Despite the team failing to live up to their previous heights throughout the year, their return to form saw them secure the #1 seed from the LPL at Worlds, and they mean to make it count.
After joining BLG for the 2023 season, Elk has helped power the team to three LPL titles in as many years. When it comes to the international stage, however, fate has not been so kind. Elk and BLG are yet to taste international glory after finishing in second place at three separate tournaments, including a tight runner-up finish at last year's Worlds (as well as MSI in 2023 and 2024).
Now, Elk and his partner ON will need to be on point against the best Bot Lanes in the world if they want to finally get across the finish line.
3. JackeyLove (TES)
Seven years after winning Worlds at the age of 17, Yu "JackeyLove" Wen-Bo's mechanics remain sharp as ever. The reigning LPL MVP continues to be one of the most dangerous ADCs on the planet due to his ability to take over games when given even the smallest of windows.
Throughout the LPL Playoffs leading up to Worlds, JackeyLove was able to put up higher damage per minute numbers (766.5) than Elk and GALA while working on a lower gold share (23.4%) that both of these players, demonstrating just how much of a threat he can really be.
Now, with the possibility of JackeyLove exiting the competitive scene after Worlds 2025 due to health issues, he will set out to do everything in his power to become a two-time World Champion.
2. Ruler (Gen.G)
Could Park "Ruler" Jae-hyuk have hoped for a better return story than the one he's living out this year so far? After bringing Ruler back into the squad for the 2025 season, Gen.G went on to earn back-to-back international trophies at MSI and the Esports World Cup, proving without a doubt that they are the best team in the world.
Aside from the obvious benefits of securing a world class ADC (and one that has already proven he can take a team to a Worlds title before), Ruler's experience, as well as the sheer solidity of his game, must have proven paramount in shaping Duro into one of the best Support players in the game in what is just his second year playing at this level. As a carry you can always rely on, Ruler's playstyle and Gen.G's gameplan compliment each other to perfection.
Realistically, Ruler could have easily finished number 1 on this list, but something must be said for how much easier the role of an ADC is bound to be when playing next to titans of their roles like Chovy and Kiin.
1. Viper (HLE)
Year in and year out, Park "Viper" Do-hyeon remains one of the very best ADCs to play the game. And yet, First Stand earlier this year proved to be Viper's first international trophy since he won Worlds in 2021 with EDward Gaming.
Now with a player as strong as Zeus on the team, Hanwha Life Esports may have their best shot yet at coming away with the title at Worlds. The team already demonstrated just how high their highs truly are when they clean-swept T1 in the LCK Playoffs; a series that Viper finished with a whopping 20/4/25 KDA.
When it comes to top-level ADCs, Viper is about as clean as it gets, seemingly always finding the right angles to deal as much damage as possible in fights. At the LCK Playoffs, Viper finished the tournament with an outstanding 940 damage per minute; more than 150 points higher than the second highest player in the role (Ruler), while also putting up a final KDA of 10.21, nearly doubling that of the second highest performer (Ruler again). Simply put, Viper is one of a kind.
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Featured image credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games
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