Mel vs Smolder

Mel
vs
51.4%

over 37 games

Smolder

Skill matchup

Heavy AD damageHigh burstHeavy pokeSustained DPS

Build vs Smolder

Build adapted to this matchup

Recommended items for Mel: Luden's Echo, Shadowflame, Zhonya's Hourglass, Sorcerer's Shoes, Rabadon's Deathcap, Blackfire Torch, Void Staff, Hextech Rocketbelt.

Starting items

Doran's Ring
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Luden's Echo
1
Shadowflame
2
Zhonya's Hourglass
3

Standard

Sorcerer's Shoes
4Magic pen
Rabadon's Deathcap
5

Summoner spells

FlashTeleport96%
ExhaustFlash2%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Rabadon's Deathcap
Blackfire Torch
Void Staff
Hextech Rocketbelt
Seraph's Embrace
Stormsurge
Mejai's Soulstealer
Liandry's Torment
Cosmic Drive
25.0% WR12 games
SorcerySorcery
Arcane CometArcane Comet
Manaflow BandManaflow Band
TranscendenceTranscendence
ScorchScorch
PrecisionPrecision
Presence of MindPresence of Mind
Coup de GraceCoup de Grace
Ability HasteAdaptive 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 Mel

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Poke from range with your volley

    Stay back and poke with Radiant Volley (Q): its projectiles explode in an area up to 950 range, and each hit applies Overwhelm.

  2. An auto after each spell

    Land an auto after each spell: Searing Brilliance (passive) adds three projectiles to it per spell cast, and enough Overwhelm executes the target.

  3. Reflect their projectiles

    Save Rebuttal (W) for a dangerous projectile: the barrier sends it back to its caster, and you gain a shield and move speed.

  4. Land your snare dead center

    Hit your target head-on with Solar Snare (E): only the core of the orb roots, the aura around it just slows and damages.

  5. Finish from range with your R

    Cast Golden Eclipse (R) to finish from range: it hits every enemy marked by Overwhelm, wherever they are, harder with each stack.

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