Smolder vs Jhin

Smolder
vs
Not enough games
Jhin
Heavy AD damageHigh burstHeavy pokeHeavy CC

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

Build vs Jhin

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

Recommended items for Smolder: Essence Reaver, Black Cleaver, Spear of Shojin, Ionian Boots of Lucidity, Rapid Firecannon, Infinity Edge, Lord Dominik's Regards, Guardian Angel.

Starting items

Doran's Blade
Health Potion

Core build

Essence Reaver
1
Black Cleaver
2
Spear of Shojin
3

Standard

Ionian Boots of Lucidity
4CDR
Rapid Firecannon
5

Summoner spells

FlashTeleport75%
FlashHaste25%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Rapid Firecannon
Infinity Edge
Lord Dominik's Regards
Guardian Angel
Endless Hunger
SorcerySorcery
Deathfire TouchDeathfire Touch
Nimbus CloakNimbus Cloak
CelerityCelerity
Gathering StormGathering Storm
InspirationInspiration
Magical FootwearMagical Footwear
Cosmic InsightCosmic Insight
Adaptive ForceMove SpeedHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Jhin's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Whisper (P)

Jhin's hand cannon, Whisper, is a precise instrument designed to deal superior damage. It fires at a fixed rate and carries only four shots. Jhin imbues the final bullet with dark magics to critically strike and deal bonus execute damage. Whenever Whisper crits, it inspires Jhin with a burst of Move Speed.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
37s12s2s–
66s12s2s2m
95s12s2s2m
115s12s2s1m45
165s12s2s1m30
185s12s2s1m30

Playing as Smolder

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. Take flight to escape

    Escape or reposition with Flap, Flap, Flap (E): you fly over obstacles, bombarding the enemy with the lowest health.

  5. 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 Jhin

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Trade while he reloads

    Trade right after his 4th shot: Whisper (passive) then has to reload, and only his spells can hit you while he does.

  2. Respect his W after a hit

    After Jhin or his allies hit you, step out of the line of Deadly Flourish (W): it roots you if you were damaged in the last 4 seconds, and it has huge range.

  3. Punish his lack of mobility

    If you can engage, go for him when his support walks away: with no dash or leap, Jhin can only back off on foot.

  4. Interrupt his ult

    During Curtain Call (R), he stays in place to channel: if you have CC, interrupt him, otherwise flank him.

Patch 16.21.1