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As shown by a growing body of research, language is a dynamic system and language development is a dynamic process characterized by variability (intra-individual changes) and variation (inter-individual differences). This implies that the development of linguistic complexity is an individually owned process and we should not assume a priori that generalization beyond the individual is possible. Therefore, if we want to explore common patterns in learners, it is best to trace development in individual cases. This paper explores which linguistic complexity measures most convincingly characterize development at advanced L2 stages. Study 1 is a single case study that explores which linguistic complexity measures capture overall development best for this individual and average word length and finite verb ratio are found to correlate strongly with both development over time and text ratings. Study 2 traces these two measures and dependent clauses in two other, similar learners. The three learners were indeed somewhat similar in the development of the two general measures, but not in the development of dependent clauses. A Hidden Markov Modeling analysis also showed that the learners developed in different stages, confirming the dynamic hypothesis of individually owned trajectories.