Zeri vs Smolder
Skill matchup
Build vs Smolder
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Zeri: Yun Tal Wildarrows, Runaan's Hurricane, Infinity Edge, Gluttonous Greaves, Lord Dominik's Regards, Stormrazor, B. F. Sword, Mortal Reminder.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Smolder's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
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
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 5.5s | 14s | 24s | – |
| 6 | 4.5s | 14s | 24s | 2m |
| 9 | 3.5s | 13s | 24s | 2m |
| 11 | 3.5s | 12s | 24s | 1m50 |
| 16 | 3.5s | 10s | 20s | 1m40 |
| 18 | 3.5s | 10s | 16s | 1m40 |
Playing as Zeri
Tips to maximize your impact
- Aim every Burst Fire
Aim each Burst Fire (Q): it's your main attack, reaching 700 range and hitting the first enemy in its line.
- Fire your laser at a wall
Aim Ultrashock Laser (W) at a wall: the pulse becomes an area laser that slows and critically strikes champions.
- Vault over walls
Aim Spark Surge (E) at a wall: you vault over it, much farther than with the dash alone, and your Burst Fire pierces for a few seconds afterward.
- Hit a champion, then back off
Cast Lightning Crash (R) near a champion: hitting them gives you attack speed and move speed, and each hit on a champion extends the effect. Attack while backing off.
Playing against Smolder
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Trade early
Take your trades early: his basic spells only gain damage with the Dragon Practice (passive) stacks he builds over the game.
- 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.
- 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.
- Leave the center of the breath
Get out of the center of MMOOOMMMM! (R): that's where the breath hits hardest and slows.
Other Zeri matchups
Patch 16.21.1