Smolder vs Malzahar

Smolder
vs
49.4%

over 2918 games

Malzahar

Skill matchup

Heavy CCHeavy AP damageCountered by stasisHigh burst

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

Build vs Malzahar

Build adapted to this matchup

Recommended items for Smolder: Essence Reaver, Black Cleaver, Spear of Shojin, Ionian Boots of Lucidity, Rapid Firecannon, Infinity Edge, Quicksilver Sash, Hubris.

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%
FlashBarrier16%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Rapid Firecannon
Infinity Edge
Quicksilver Sash
Hubris
Mercurial Scimitar
B. F. Sword
Endless Hunger
Lord Dominik's Regards
Guardian Angel
Mortal Reminder
Executioner's Calling
Muramana
Immortal Shieldbow
Maw of Malmortius
Bloodthirster
Trinity Force
Hexoptics C44
Serpent's Fang
Tear of the Goddess
Serrated Dirk
Edge of Night
Randuin's Omen
Zhonya's Hourglass
Liandry's Torment
Death's Dance
Stormrazor
Jak'Sho, The Protean
55.6% WR455 games
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

Malzahar's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Void Shift (P)

When he hasn't recently taken damage or been crowd controlled, Malzahar gains massive damage reduction and crowd control immunity, lingering for a short period after taking damage.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
36s8s11s–
66s8s11s2m20
96s8s11s2m20
116s8s11s1m50
166s8s9s1m20
186s8s7s1m20

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 Malzahar

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Get out of his portals

    Get out of the Call of the Void (Q) zone quickly: its two portals fire after a short delay, and their projectiles silence you.

  2. Break his Void Shift first

    If you have CC, hit him first with a cheap attack, then wait a moment: Void Shift (passive) still ignores CC right after the first damage.

  3. Avoid minions hit by his Visions

    Stay away from minions hit by Malefic Visions (E): if they die, the visions jump to the nearest enemy, and his Voidlings follow them.

  4. Trade before he hits 6

    Take your trades before he hits level 6: after that, Nether Grasp (R) can lock you down from range while his team hits you.

  5. Focus him during his Grasp

    When he casts Nether Grasp (R) on an ally, focus him: he channels in place, and any CC interrupts him and frees your ally.

Patch 16.21.1