Smolder vs Kai'Sa

Smolder
vs
Not enough games
Kai'Sa
Sustained DPSHigh burstHeavy AP damageHeavy AD damage

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

Build vs Kai'Sa

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

Recommended items for Smolder: Essence Reaver, Black Cleaver, Spear of Shojin, Plated Steelcaps, Infinity Edge, Rapid Firecannon, 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

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Infinity Edge
5

Summoner spells

FlashTeleport75%
FlashBarrier25%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

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

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Kai'Sa's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Second Skin (P)

Kai'Sa's basic attacks stack Plasma, dealing increasing bonus magic damage. Allies' immobilizing effects help stack Plasma. Additionally, Kai'Sa's item purchases upgrade her basic spells to have more powerful properties.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
310s20s16s–
68s20s16s2m10
96s18.5s16s2m10
116s17s16s1m40
166s14s13s1m10
186s14s10s1m10

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 Kai'Sa

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Stay near your minions

    Stay near your minions: Icathian Rain (Q) splits its missiles between nearby enemies, and on your own, you take them all.

  2. Harass her before she evolves

    If your attack range beats her 525 units, harass her early: Second Skin (passive) only evolves her spells as she buys items.

  3. Dodge her Void Seeker

    Dodge Void Seeker (W): it marks you with Plasma and reveals you, which lets Killer Instinct (R) dash onto you from very far away.

Patch 16.21.1