Matchup

Heavy AD damageSustained DPSHeavy poke

Build vs Smolder

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Doran's Shield
Health Potion

Core build

Trinity Force
1DPS
Ravenous Hydra
2DPS
Spear of Shojin
3Bruiser

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Death's Dance
5vs AD

Summoner spells

41473%
121413%

Anti AD

Plated Steelcaps
4vs AD
Death's Dance
5vs AD
Guardian Angel
vs AD

Anti AP

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC
Maw of Malmortius
5vs AP

DPS

Sundered Sky
Bruiser

Other options

Sterak's Gage
Survival
Executioner's Calling
100.0% WR1 games
ResolveResolve
Grasp of the UndyingGrasp of the Undying
Shield BashShield Bash
Bone PlatingBone Plating
UnflinchingUnflinching
InspirationInspiration
Magical FootwearMagical Footwear
Biscuit DeliveryBiscuit Delivery
Attack SpeedAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
CamilleCamille
SmolderSmolder
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral

Smolder's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Dragon Practice (P)

Hitting champions with Abilities and killing enemies with Super Scorcher Breath grants a stack of Dragon Practice. Stacks increase the damage of Smolders basic Abilities.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
35.5s14s24s
64.5s14s24s2m
93.5s13s24s2m
113.5s12s24s1m50
163.5s10s20s1m40
183.5s10s16s1m40

Playing against Smolder

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

1

Punish Smolder in the early game: he's very weak before his stacks and items. Force fights early.

2

Don't let the game go long: Smolder at 225 stacks is one of the strongest late game ADCs.

3

His R is global but has a delay: move laterally to dodge it.

4

He's immobile with no escape: assassins and engages punish him easily.

Source: op.gg + LTL Engine · Patch 16.9.1 · May 9, 2026