Syndra vs Smolder

Syndra
vs
51.6%

over 95 games

Smolder

Skill matchup

Heavy AD damageHigh burstHeavy pokeSustained DPS

Build vs Smolder

Build adapted to this matchup

Recommended items for Syndra: Luden's Echo, Shadowflame, Rabadon's Deathcap, Sorcerer's Shoes, Blackfire Torch, Zhonya's Hourglass, Stormsurge, Dark Seal.

Starting items

Doran's Ring
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Luden's Echo
1
Shadowflame
2
Rabadon's Deathcap
3

Standard

Sorcerer's Shoes
4Magic pen
Blackfire Torch
5

Summoner spells

FlashTeleport86%
ExhaustFlash4%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Blackfire Torch
Zhonya's Hourglass
Stormsurge
Dark Seal
Cosmic Drive
Cryptbloom
Hextech Rocketbelt
Void Staff
Mejai's Soulstealer
Imperial Mandate
Liandry's Torment
Seeker's Armguard
Banshee's Veil
64.3% WR14 games
SorcerySorcery
Arcane CometArcane Comet
Manaflow BandManaflow Band
TranscendenceTranscendence
ScorchScorch
InspirationInspiration
Triple TonicTriple Tonic
Cosmic InsightCosmic Insight
Attack SpeedAdaptive ForceHealth

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Smolder's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Dragon Practice (P)

Hitting champions with Abilities and killing enemies with Super Scorcher Breath grants a stack of Dragon Practice. Stacks increase the damage of Smolders basic Abilities.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
35.5s14s24s–
64.5s14s24s2m
93.5s13s24s2m
113.5s12s24s1m50
163.5s10s20s1m40
183.5s10s16s1m40

Playing as Syndra

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. Push a sphere to stun

    Place Dark Sphere (Q) between you and your target, then cast Scatter the Weak (E): the sphere you push stuns the enemies it hits.

  2. Follow Force of Will with a sphere

    After landing Force of Will (W), follow up right away with Dark Sphere (Q): the target is slowed and has a hard time dodging it.

  3. Poke with Dark Sphere

    Poke with Dark Sphere (Q) from level 1: it has 800 range, its cooldown is only 7 seconds, and each rank of your ult lowers it further.

  4. Damage enemies to grow your spells

    Hit enemies whenever you can: Transcendent (passive) gives you Splinters of Wrath for every level and every hit, and each threshold upgrades one of your spells.

  5. Set up spheres before your ult

    Place several spheres before Unleashed Power (R): the ult launches the 3 orbiting you at your target, plus up to 4 more nearby.

Playing against Smolder

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

  1. Trade early

    Take your trades early: his basic spells only gain damage with the Dragon Practice (passive) stacks he builds over the game.

  2. Save your CC for his flight

    If you have hard CC, save it for Flap, Flap, Flap (E): it's his only way to escape, and hard CC interrupts his flight.

  3. Don't stay grouped

    Don't stay grouped with your allies against him: empowered, Super Scorcher Breath (Q) also damages around its target and behind it.

  4. Leave the center of the breath

    Get out of the center of MMOOOMMMM! (R): that's where the breath hits hardest and slows.

Patch 16.21.1