Kog'Maw vs Smolder

Kog'Maw
vs
Not enough games
Smolder
Heavy AD damageHigh burstHeavy pokeSustained DPS

You are stronger late game. Farm safe and avoid early trades.

Build vs Smolder

The champion's reference build, for lack of enough games in this matchup

Recommended items for Kog'Maw: Dusk and Dawn, Shadowflame, Rabadon's Deathcap, Sorcerer's Shoes, Luden's Echo, Dark Seal, Void Staff, Zhonya's Hourglass.

Starting items

Doran's Ring
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Dusk and Dawn
1
Shadowflame
2
Rabadon's Deathcap
3

Standard

Sorcerer's Shoes
4Magic pen
Luden's Echo
5

Summoner spells

FlashHaste54%
FlashTeleport31%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Luden's Echo
Dark Seal
Void Staff
Zhonya's Hourglass
Banshee's Veil
Stormsurge
SorcerySorcery
Stormraider's SurgeStormraider's Surge
Manaflow BandManaflow Band
Absolute FocusAbsolute Focus
Gathering StormGathering Storm
PrecisionPrecision
Presence of MindPresence of Mind
Cut DownCut Down
Adaptive ForceAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

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 as Kog'Maw

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Start with Caustic Spittle

    Start your trades with Caustic Spittle (Q): it reduces the target's armor and magic resist, and its ranks also give you permanent attack speed.

  2. Activate W before the fight

    Activate Bio-Arcane Barrage (W) right before the teamfight: it extends your attack range, and your autos deal damage based on the target's max health.

  3. Slow whoever charges you

    When an enemy runs at you, cast Void Ooze (E) between you and them: the trail of ooze slows everyone who crosses it.

  4. Save your R to finish

    Save Living Artillery (R) for targets below 40% health, where it deals its max damage: each shot fired in quick succession costs more mana.

Playing against Smolder

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Trade early

    Take your trades early: his basic spells only gain damage with the Dragon Practice (passive) stacks he builds over the game.

  2. Save your CC for his flight

    If you have hard CC, save it for Flap, Flap, Flap (E): it's his only way to escape, and hard CC interrupts his flight.

  3. Don't stay grouped

    Don't stay grouped with your allies against him: empowered, Super Scorcher Breath (Q) also damages around its target and behind it.

  4. Leave the center of the breath

    Get out of the center of MMOOOMMMM! (R): that's where the breath hits hardest and slows.

Patch 16.21.1