Zeri vs Smolder

Zeri
vs
51.4%

over 2162 games

Smolder

Skill matchup

Heavy AD damageHigh burstHeavy pokeSustained DPS

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

Doran's Bow
Health Potion
x2

Core build

Yun Tal Wildarrows
1
Runaan's Hurricane
2
Infinity Edge
3

Standard

Gluttonous Greaves
4
Lord Dominik's Regards
5

Summoner spells

FlashBarrier83%
FlashHaste7%

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

Other options

Lord Dominik's Regards
Stormrazor
B. F. Sword
Mortal Reminder
Guardian Angel
Fiendhunter Bolts
Bloodthirster
Immortal Shieldbow
Mercurial Scimitar
Hexoptics C44
Quicksilver Sash
Executioner's Calling
Experimental Hexplate
Phantom Dancer
Maw of Malmortius
Randuin's Omen
Statikk Shiv
Jak'Sho, The Protean
Zhonya's Hourglass
Kaenic Rookern
Death's Dance
Blade of The Ruined King
The Collector
Spirit Visage
Edge of Night
Hubris
Force of Nature
55.9% WR996 games
PrecisionPrecision
Lethal TempoLethal Tempo
TriumphTriumph
Legend: BloodlineLegend: Bloodline
Cut DownCut Down
InspirationInspiration
Triple TonicTriple Tonic
Cash BackCash Back
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 Zeri

Tips to maximize your impact

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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

  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