Matchup

Heavy AD damageSustained DPSHeavy poke

Build vs Smolder

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Doran's Ring
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Rylai's Crystal Scepter
1Mage tank
Dead Man's Plate
2vs AD
Force of Nature
3vs AP

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Liandry's Torment
5Mage tank

Summoner spells

4654%
41423%

Anti AD

Plated Steelcaps
4vs AD
Jak'Sho, The Protean
5vs Hybride
Randuin's Omen
vs AD
Zhonya's Hourglass
vs AD
Frozen Heart
vs AD

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Anti Tank

Bloodletter's Curse
5vs Tank

DPS

Liandry's Torment
Mage tank
Riftmaker
Mage tank
Hextech Rocketbelt
Mage tank
Cosmic Drive
Mage tank

Other options

Protoplasm Harness
Survival
Mejai's Soulstealer
100.0% WR3 games
PrecisionPrecision
ConquerorConqueror
TriumphTriumph
Legend: AlacrityLegend: Alacrity
Last StandLast Stand
SorcerySorcery
CelerityCelerity
Nimbus CloakNimbus Cloak
Adaptive ForceMove SpeedHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
SingedSinged
SmolderSmolder
Favorable
Favorable
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