Matchup

Heavy AD damageSustained DPSHeavy poke

You are stronger late game — farm safe and avoid early trades.

Build vs Smolder

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Gustwalker Hatchling

Core build

Umbral Glaive
1vs Tank
Profane Hydra
2vs Tank
Lord Dominik's Regards
3vs Tank

Standard

Ionian Boots of Lucidity
4CDR
Edge of Night
5vs Tank

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Anti Tank

Edge of Night
5vs Tank
Serpent's Fang
vs Tank
Youmuu's Ghostblade
vs Tank

DPS

Infinity Edge
DPS
Fiendhunter Bolts
DPS

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
RengarRengar
SmolderSmolder
Aggressive
Neutral
Passive

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