Overview
Choosing an AD carry in Teamfight Tactics is easier when you build around a composition that supports the champion, rather than picking a unit in isolation. For Set 18, the clearest carry recommendation in the current references is Draven, who is named as the carry in an S-tier Brawler Draven composition for patch 18.3. Patch 18.3b tier listings also put Lunar Rapidfire and Rivals Khazix (AP, not AD) in S tier, though they do not identify a specific carry for either lineup.
That distinction matters: a champion appearing in an S-tier comp is not proof that the champion itself is its main AD carry. The six picks below are therefore a practical shortlist, ordered by how clearly the available Set 18 information supports building around them. Treat the non-Draven picks as composition-dependent candidates, and check current game information before committing to a game plan.
Best Set 18 AD carry picks
1. Draven
Draven is the most straightforward choice on this list. The patch 18.3 composition reference specifically names him as the carry in Brawler Draven and rates that composition S tier. If you want one champion with direct support as a carry, start here.
Build toward the composition when your early game and available units point in that direction, rather than forcing it every match. Keep your team’s frontline and supporting units in mind as you develop the board; a carry recommendation is useful only when the rest of the composition can help it survive and deal damage.
2. Varus
Varus appears in the S-tier Lunar Rapidfire composition listed for patch 18.3b. That makes him a relevant AD-carry candidate to consider when you are assembling that lineup, but the tier listing does not call him the composition’s carry.
Use the comp’s overall direction as your guide. If your items and units are better suited to another champion in the lineup, do not assume Varus must hold your damage items simply because he is on the team list.
3. Kog’Maw
Kog’Maw is another champion included in the S-tier Lunar Rapidfire lineup. The available information does not distinguish him as its primary carry, so think of him as a possible damage focus rather than a guaranteed centerpiece.
Before settling on Kog’Maw, consider what your current board can support and which units you are actually finding. Staying flexible between the champions included in the composition is more reliable than deciding on a carry before you have a reason to do so.
4. Aphelios
Aphelios features in both S-tier team listings: Lunar Rapidfire and Rivals Khazix. That repeated presence makes him one of the more useful names to keep in mind when evaluating those two routes. Neither listing, however, identifies him as the main carry.
Choose Aphelios when the surrounding units and your available resources make the relevant composition a sensible fit. His appearance across two lineups is a reason to consider him—not a guarantee that he will be the best item holder in every lobby.
5. Kha’Zix (AP, not AD, but good to mention him here)
Kha’Zix is part of the S-tier Rivals Khazix composition in the patch 18.3b listing. The listing also includes Aphelios and Ezreal, but it does not state which champion is the carry. Kha’Zix is therefore a composition-based option, not a confirmed standalone carry recommendation.
If you take this route, evaluate the full team rather than treating the composition name as proof that Kha’Zix must receive every offensive resource. The strongest choice can depend on what your board develops into during that game.
6. Ezreal
Ezreal is also listed in Rivals Khazix, alongside Kha’Zix and Aphelios. As with those other units, the tier information supports the composition’s strength, but does not establish Ezreal as its primary carry.
Keep him on your shortlist if your units and items are lining up with that composition. If they are not, avoid forcing the pick solely because the overall lineup has an S-tier rating.
How to choose between them
For the most evidence-backed carry plan, prioritize Draven and look for the Brawler Draven direction. For Lunar Rapidfire or Rivals Khazix, the available rankings confirm that the compositions are highly rated, but leave the exact carry choice open. Use your actual units and resources to decide which listed champion should take the damage role.
These rankings reflect information checked against patches 18.3 and 18.3b, with a Set 18 champions reference updated on September 27, 2026. They do not provide individual champion win rates, item recommendations, or a definitive carry order within the latter two compositions. Stay adaptable: a strong composition is a useful plan, not a reason to ignore what the game gives you.
