Smolder vs Galio
Skill matchup
You are stronger late game. Farm safe and avoid early trades.
Build vs Galio
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Smolder: Essence Reaver, Black Cleaver, Spear of Shojin, Ionian Boots of Lucidity, Rapid Firecannon, Infinity Edge, B. F. Sword, Lord Dominik's Regards.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Galio's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
Every few seconds, Galio's next basic attack deals bonus magic damage in an area.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 11s | 18s | 11s | – |
| 6 | 9s | 18s | 11s | 3m |
| 9 | 7s | 17s | 11s | 3m |
| 11 | 7s | 16s | 11s | 2m40 |
| 16 | 7s | 14s | 9s | 2m20 |
| 18 | 7s | 14s | 7s | 2m20 |
Playing as Smolder
Tips to maximize your impact
- Last-hit minions with your fireball
Last-hit minions with Super Scorcher Breath (Q): each kill with the spell gives you a Dragon Practice (passive) stack, which empowers your basic spells.
- Poke with your sneeze
Poke with Achooo! (W): the sneeze slows, explodes on champions hit, and each champion hit gives you a Dragon Practice stack.
- Aim for the final tier
Build enough stacks for the final tier of Super Scorcher Breath (Q): it burns its target, and kills a champion who drops below a health threshold.
- Take flight to escape
Escape or reposition with Flap, Flap, Flap (E): you fly over obstacles, bombarding the enemy with the lowest health.
- Call your mom from far away
Cast MMOOOMMMM! (R) to finish or slow from far away: the center of the breath hits harder and slows, and if it hits you, your mom heals you.
Playing against Galio
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Trade after his E
Take a trade after Justice Punch (E): it's his only dash, on an 11 to 7 second cooldown.
- Lean on physical damage
If you deal physical damage, lean on it in trades: the passive shield of Shield of Durand (W) only absorbs magic damage.
- Leave his taunt area
Leave the area while he charges Shield of Durand (W): the longer he charges, the longer and wider the taunt.
- Check where he is before a dive
Before diving one of his allies, check where Galio is: Hero's Entrance (R) flies him in from long range to an allied champion, and his landing is a knock-up.
Other Smolder matchups
Patch 16.21.1