Matchup

Velkoz
Velkoz
17%
83%

vs

60.3%

over 63 games

Smolder
Smolder
62%
38%
Heavy AD damageSustained DPSHeavy poke

Favorable matchup

Build vs Smolder

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Doran's Ring
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Luden's Echo
1Mage
Stormsurge
2vs Tank
Rabadon's Deathcap
3Mage

Standard

Sorcerer's Shoes
4Magic pen
Shadowflame
5vs Tank

Summoner spells

41255%
42133%

Anti AD

Plated Steelcaps
4vs AD
Zhonya's Hourglass
5vs AD

Anti Heal

Morellonomicon
6vs Heal

Anti AP

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC
Banshee's Veil
5vs AP

Anti Tank

Shadowflame
5vs Tank

DPS

Blackfire Torch
Mage
Liandry's Torment
Mage tank
Horizon Focus
Mage
Malignance
Mage

Other options

Mejai's Soulstealer
100.0% WR3 games
SorcerySorcery
Arcane CometArcane Comet
Manaflow BandManaflow Band
TranscendenceTranscendence
ScorchScorch
PrecisionPrecision
Cut DownCut Down
Legend: HasteLegend: Haste
Adaptive ForceAdaptive ForceHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
VelkozVelkoz
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 7, 2026