Smolder vs Kalista

Smolder
vs
Not enough games
Kalista
Heavy AD damageSustained DPSHigh burstHeavy poke

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

Build vs Kalista

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, 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

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Rapid Firecannon
5

Summoner spells

FlashDot100%

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
Jack Of All TradesJack Of All Trades
Adaptive ForceMove SpeedHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Kalista's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Martial Poise (P)

Enter a movement command while winding up Kalista's basic attack or Pierce to lunge a short distance when she launches her attack.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
39s30s0s–
69s30s0s2m40
99s30s0s2m40
119s30s0s2m20
169s30s0s2m
189s30s0s2m

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 Kalista

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Back off so her spears drop

    After a trade, back off until her spears fall out: they stay stuck for 4 seconds, and Rend (E) deals more damage for each extra spear.

  2. Hit her as her auto starts

    Cast your spells as she starts an auto: she can't cancel the animation, and Martial Poise (passive) only makes her hop once the shot is out.

  3. Focus her Oathsworn

    Focus her Oathsworn when you can: without them, Fate's Call (R) has no one to throw, and Sentinel (W) loses its bonus damage.

  4. Spread out when her ally is in stasis

    When Fate's Call (R) pulls in her Oathsworn, spread out: they can launch within 4 seconds, stop at the first champion hit and knock back nearby enemies.

Patch 16.21.1