Smolder vs Sylas

Smolder
vs
49.4%

over 322 games

Sylas

Skill matchup

Heavy AP damageHigh burstDive threatHigh sustain

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

Build vs Sylas

Build adapted to this matchup

Recommended items for Smolder: Essence Reaver, Black Cleaver, Spear of Shojin, Ionian Boots of Lucidity, Rapid Firecannon, Infinity Edge, Mortal Reminder, B. F. Sword.

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

FlashTeleport58%
FlashBarrier25%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Rapid Firecannon
Infinity Edge
Mortal Reminder
B. F. Sword
Lord Dominik's Regards
Hubris
Executioner's Calling
Endless Hunger
Guardian Angel
Muramana
Bloodthirster
Trinity Force
Chempunk Chainsword
Death's Dance
Serpent's Fang
Immortal Shieldbow
Hexoptics C44
Quicksilver Sash
Tear of the Goddess
Jak'Sho, The Protean
Serrated Dirk
Maw of Malmortius
57.6% WR33 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

Sylas's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Petricite Burst (P)

After casting a spell, Sylas stores a charge of Petricite Burst. Sylas's basic attacks will expend a charge and whirl his energized chains around him dealing bonus magic damage to enemies hit. While Sylas has a charge of Petricite Burst, he gains attack speed.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
310s12s13s–
68s12s13s1m20
96s10.5s13s1m20
116s9s13s55s
166s6s11s30s
186s6s9s30s

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 Sylas

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Keep minions between his chain and you

    Stay behind your minions after his Abscond (E): the Abduct (E) chain pulls him to the first enemy hit, and only that one takes the knock-up.

  2. Don't trust his low health

    Don't go all-in just because his health is low: Kingslayer (W) heals him more as he loses health.

  3. Back off after each of his spells

    Get out of his range as soon as he casts a spell: each spell charges Petricite Burst (passive), and his next auto hits around him with bonus magic damage.

  4. Fight when he can't steal from you

    Take the fight when Hijack (R) is on cooldown: he then can't copy your ult and turn it against your team.

Patch 16.21.1