Matchup

Heavy AD damageSustained DPSHeavy poke

Build vs Smolder

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Doran's Ring
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Tear of the Goddess
1
Ravenous Hydra
2DPS
Dead Man's Plate
3vs AD

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Liandry's Torment
5Mage tank

Summoner spells

41454%
41225%

Anti AD

Plated Steelcaps
4vs AD
Frozen Heart
5vs AD
Unending Despair
vs AD
Randuin's Omen
vs AD

Anti AP

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC
Spirit Visage
5vs AP

DPS

Liandry's Torment
Mage tank
Hextech Rocketbelt
Mage tank
Malignance
Mage
Trinity Force
DPS
Hullbreaker
Bruiser
Riftmaker
Mage tank
Spear of Shojin
Bruiser
Rabadon's Deathcap
Mage
Cosmic Drive
Mage tank

Other options

Fimbulwinter
Survival
Jak'Sho, The Protean
vs Hybride
100.0% WR1 games
ResolveResolve
Grasp of the UndyingGrasp of the Undying
Shield BashShield Bash
Second WindSecond Wind
RevitalizeRevitalize
InspirationInspiration
Biscuit DeliveryBiscuit Delivery
Approach VelocityApproach Velocity
Adaptive ForceAdaptive ForceHealth

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
UdyrUdyr
SmolderSmolder
Favorable
Favorable
Passive

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 against Smolder

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

1

Punish Smolder in the early game: he's very weak before his stacks and items. Force fights early.

2

Don't let the game go long: Smolder at 225 stacks is one of the strongest late game ADCs.

3

His R is global but has a delay: move laterally to dodge it.

4

He's immobile with no escape: assassins and engages punish him easily.

Source: op.gg + LTL Engine · Patch 16.9.1 · May 9, 2026