Ready to scorch your opponents? Say hello to this Smolder Build, the Fiery Fledgling, the 167th champion in League of Legends. This adorable baby dragon is here to melt hearts, combining irresistible cuteness with explosive firepower to deal massive damage in the bottom lane!
This guide will explain everything about Smolder, from his captivating backstory to his abilities and item build. We’ll even divulge a few top-tier gameplay tips and the best champion matchups so you can master this deathly cute dragon at every stage of the game.
Smolder Build
Who Is Smolder?
Ignacarious Gigantareno Rex Le Spes Offerentis—or just “Smolder”—is the 167th addition to the LoL champion roster and the first actual (young) dragon in the game. Designed as an ADC, Smolder brings a mix of charm and playfulness to the Rift, differentiating him from other serious carries.
According to his lore, Smolder hails from the mystical land of Camavor. His backstory involves being separated from his dragon mother and raised by a human named Marinos, who influenced his quirky mannerisms.
Smolder starts fairly weak, but his imperial dragon power grows stronger with consistent play over time. He features a powerful ability kit, including a fire breath and ultimate move, where he calls on his mom for help. Remember not to let his cuteness fool you, or you may just get burned!
What Was Smolder’s Release Date?
Smolder officially joined the champion roster in patch 14.2 on Jan. 23, 2024, along with his Heavenscale skin. However, players could only get hands-on access to him on the Rift from Jan. 31. Prior to his full release, Smolder was available to play in the Public Beta Environment (PBE) since Jan. 10.
What Are Smolder’s Abilities?
Smolder boasts an impressive ability kit in LoL, each centered on fire. Here’s a breakdown of every skill so you can dominate your games!
Dragon Practice (Passive)
This passive skill grants Smolder a Dragon Practice stack whenever he hits an enemy champion with any ability or when Super Scorcher Breath (his Q) kills a minion or monster. These stacks empower his basic skills, allowing him to inflict extra damage.
Super Scorcher Breath (Q)
Smolder’s Q shoots a fireball at an enemy, growing stronger based on the number of Dragon Practice stacks. At 25 stacks, it explodes on impact. At 125 stacks, it shoots extra fire bolts. At 225 stacks, it ignites enemies, dealing bonus true damage and insta-killing them if their HP is too low.
Achooo! (W)
Achooo! launches a fiery glob that deals physical damage and slows enemies. Hitting a champion triggers an explosion that inflicts extra damage to nearby enemy units, with reduced damage for subsequent blasts on the same target. It deals more damage to minions and monsters.
Pro Tip: Be mindful not to use Smolder’s W before the enemy has used their crowd control skills. Misjudging the timing could leave you vulnerable to enemy attacks while it recharges.
Flap, Flap, Flap (E)
Smolder’s E causes him to fly. While in the air, he becomes ghosted and gains bonus movement speed, unobstructed vision, and ignores terrain collision. He also shoots fiery bolts at nearby enemies, prioritizing champions with the lowest health. Flap, Flap, Flap ends if Smolder casts an ability or is immobilized.
MMOOOMMMM! (R)
Smolder’s ultimate ability calls upon his mother to unleash a fiery wave, providing vision and traveling a great distance. It also heals Smolder and damages enemies, inflicting extra damage and slowing those hit at the center.
Smolder Gameplay Strategy
Unlike traditional ADCs who rely on auto-attacks, Smolder is a caster marksman in League. His primary strength lies in his abilities doing most of the damage. That said, Smolder’s kit is heavily AD-focused with a large AoE, making him a formidable champ in the bot lane.
The best gameplay strategy for Smolder is to build and maintain his Dragon Practice stacks by using his abilities and landing hits on enemy champs as often as possible to boost his damage. For this reason, Smolder thrives in team fights. The more players he hits, the more lethal his skills become.
Overall, Smolder is strongest in the late game, making him an especially great pick in low ELO matches. By farming up and positioning carefully in skirmishes, he has the potential to deal serious damage, possibly turning the tides of battle.
Pro Tip: You can also build Smolder with some AP items (e.g., Zhonyas or Liandrys). This can be particularly effective if your team lacks AP damage, making Smolder more versatile and adaptive in team compositions. However, it’s a niche build and generally not recommended unless you’re confident and willing to risk being flamed if it fails.
Best Smolder Build and Items
Here are the best Smolder items and builds to maximize his potential in LoL:
Precision Runes
- Fleet of Footwork
- Presence of Mind
- Legend: Bloodline
- Cut Down
Inspiration Runes
- Magical Footwear
- Biscuit Delivery
Shards
- Offense: +10% Attack Speed
- Offense: +9 Adaptive Force
- Defense: +65 Health
Summoner Spells
- Flash
- Barrier
Ability Skill Order
- Levels 1-3: Q; W; E
- Levels 4-5: Q; Q
- Levels 7-10: Q; W; Q; W
- Levels 12-15: W; W; E; E
- Levels 17-18: E; E
The ability order for Smolder is to max Q, then W, and then E. Level his ultimate whenever it is available.
Starter Items
- Doran’s Blade
- Health Potions
Boots
- Ionian Boots of Lucidity
Core Items
- Essence Reaver
- Spear of Shojin
- Rapid Firecannon
- Trinity Force (situational alternative)
Situational Items
- Bloodthirster
- Lord Dominik’s Regards
- Immortal Shieldbow (situational alternative)
- Mercurial Scimitar (situational alternative)
- Liandry’s Torment (AP Smolder)
- Zhonya’s Hourglass (AP Smolder)
Pro Tip: Remember, the best Smolder build requires adaptation. Don’t be afraid to stray from these recommendations based on the unique conditions of your match.
Best Smolder Matchups
While you may feel indomitable picking Smolder in your League matches, you’ll be wise to learn how good (or badly) the Fiery Fledgling synergizes with certain champions. Here are a few of his strongest and weakest matchups.
Smolder is strong against:
- Corki
- Varus (Smolder is strongest against on-hit Varus but not a lethality Varus)
- Xayah
- Kalista
- Nilah
Smolder is weak against:
- Twitch
- Kog’Maw
- Ziggs
- Jinx
Start A Fire With this Smolder Build
Are you excited to play with this Smolder Build? You should be! To play this champion effectively, focus on stacking Dragon Practice and build items that increase his attack speed, critical strike chance, and survivability. Also, hold onto your R for team fights or to make your great escape.
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