Smolder vs Zeri

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

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

Build vs Zeri

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

Recommended items for Smolder: Essence Reaver, Black Cleaver, Spear of Shojin, Gluttonous Greaves, 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

Gluttonous Greaves
4
Rapid Firecannon
5

Summoner spells

FlashTeleport100%

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

Zeri's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Living Battery (P)

Zeri's Attacks deal magic damage and are treated as Abilities. Moving and casting Burst Fire stores up energy in Zeri's Sparkpack. When fully charged her next Attack deals bonus damage.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
30s12s24s–
60s12s24s1m20
90s11s24s1m20
110s10s24s1m15
160s8s21s1m10
180s8s18s1m10

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 Zeri

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Stay behind your minions

    Keep minions between you and her: Burst Fire (Q) stops on the first enemy hit, except during Spark Surge (E), when it pierces through them.

  2. Stay away from walls

    Don't fight near a wall against her: if Ultrashock Laser (W) hits it, it becomes an area laser that slows and critically strikes.

  3. Engage right after her dash

    If you can engage, go in right after Spark Surge (E): it's her only dash, and each of her hits lowers its cooldown, so don't wait.

  4. Break contact during her ult

    During Lightning Crash (R), back off out of her range: each hit she lands on a champion extends the effect and makes her faster.

Patch 16.21.1