Arcane Comet complements your poke-oriented early game strategy, providing additional power during the laning phase. To address early mana concerns, Manaflow Band proves invaluable, making the Sorcery tree a strong option. Scorch and Absolute Focus are my preferred selections for the remaining slots, offering consistent benefits.
Alternatively, Fleet Footwork synergizes with your Q ability, offering substantial sustain. While mana issues persist, starting with Doran's Ring and leveraging Presence of Mind can suffice until you acquire Essence Reaver, which further alleviates mana constraints. For secondary rune choices, Legend: Bloodline and Cut Down are versatile options, although other runes may excel in specific scenarios.
Choosing Inspiration as your secondary tree is a prudent strategy for saving gold and accelerating your progression toward the late game. Magical Footwear and Biscuit Delivery are particularly advantageous selections, irrespective of your primary rune path.
GAMEPLAY!
- Most Popular Build:
To embrace the most prevalent Smolder Bot setup, opt for Flash and Ghost as your Summoner Spells. Your rune setup should prioritize Arcane Comet as your keystone, accompanied by Manaflow Band, Absolute Focus, and Scorch in the primary tree, while Magical Footwear and Biscuit Delivery are ideal choices for the secondary tree. Adjust your rune shards based on the matchup, typically favoring Adaptive Force in both offense and flex, with Health in defense. Your core item progression should start with Essence Reaver, followed by Ionian Boots of Lucidity and Navori Quickblades. To round off your build, aim for Rapid Firecannon, Bloodthirster, and Guardian Angel. Stick to the skill order of Q - W - E. Presently, this configuration boasts a 50.5% win rate across 20,974 matches played.
- Alternative Build:
For those seeking variability, consider Flash and Ghost alongside Fleet Footwork as your keystone, complemented by Presence of Mind, Legend: Bloodline, and Coup de Grace in the primary rune tree. In the secondary tree, opt for Manaflow Band and Transcendence, and select Cooldown Reduction, Adaptive Force, and Health for your rune shards. Spear of Shojin initiates your item build, followed by Ionian Boots of Lucidity and Riftmaker. Conclude with Liandry's Torment, Rapid Firecannon, and Iceborn Gauntlet. Maintain the ability max order of Q - W - E. This build currently boasts a 53.6% win rate over 2,369 matches played.
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Off-Meta Build: For a departure from convention, experiment with Flash and Ghost as your Summoner Spells, coupled with Press the Attack, Presence of Mind, Legend: Bloodline, and Coup de Grace in the primary rune tree, and Manaflow Band with Transcendence in the secondary tree. Prioritize Attack Speed, Adaptive Force, and Health for your rune shards. Kick off your itemization with Essence Reaver, followed by Ionian Boots of Lucidity and Navori Quickblades. Conclude your build with Rapid Firecannon, Bloodthirster, and Guardian Angel. Adhere to the ability order of Q - W - E. As of the current patch, this build maintains a 47.7% win rate over 1,580 matches played.
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Situational Considerations:
Adapt your Smolder build according to the nuances of your game, including matchups and enemy compositions. Depending on the circumstances, explore situational items or rune choices. Evaluate your team composition, the enemy lineup, and the state of the game to tailor your strategy effectively. For instance, when selecting rune shards, prioritize either Armor or Magic Resist based on your anticipated lane opponent.
BEST MATCHUPS?
In Patch 14.3, Smolder Bot finds its best matchups against certain champions:
Xayah: With a win rate of 53.6% across 6,198 games. Aphelios: Shows a win rate of 53.2% over 10,413 games. Caitlyn: Displays a win rate of 52.1% across 27,720 games. Samira: Maintains a win rate of 52.0% over 20,916 games. Draven: Presents a win rate of 51.4% across 15,553 games. These statistics indicate favorable matchups for Smolder Bot. Consider picking Smolder into these matchups to enhance your chances of winning. These are the most popular Bot matchups currently favoring Smolder.
WORST MATCHUPS?
It's strongly advised to avoid selecting Smolder into the following Bot matchups in the current patch:
Seraphine: Exhibits a win rate of 44.9% across 6,646 games. Twitch: Shows a win rate of 46.6% over 15,816 games. Twisted Fate: Displays a win rate of 46.8% across 10,314 games. Senna: Maintains a win rate of 47.0% over 6,905 games. Vayne: Presents a win rate of 47.5% across 27,421 games. These champions are considered as counters to Smolder in the current patch. Opting for Smolder in these matchups may diminish your chances of winning a game.
PASSIVE - Innate: Smolder accumulates a stack of Dragon Practice with each successful ability strike against an enemy champion, or whenever Super Scorcher Breath eliminates a Minion or Monster. His basic abilities gain enhanced magic damage based on these stacks.
Super Scorcher Breath: Inflicts supplementary magic damage equivalent to 40% to 52% of Dragon Practice stacks, contingent on Smolder's critical strike chance.
Achooo!: The ensuing explosions yield added magic damage amounting to 55% of Smolder's Dragon Practice stacks.
Flap, Flap, Flap: Each strike carries augmented magic damage equal to 20% of Smolder's Dragon Practice stacks.
Q - Active: Smolder hurls a fireball at the designated enemy, dealing physical damage. The damage inflicted is augmented by 0% to 30% based on Smolder's critical strike chance. Additionally, the fireball applies on-hit and on-attack effects at full potency and provides life steal at 50% effectiveness.
At 25 stacks: Upon impact, the fireball detonates, dealing identical physical damage to nearby foes.
At 125 stacks: Upon impact, the fireball splits into 2 (+1 per 100 Dragon Practice stacks) bolts of fire, arcing outward. These bolts explode at maximum range, dealing 75% of the initial physical damage to enemies struck.
At 225 stacks: Enemies struck by the fireball are engulfed in flames for 3 seconds, suffering bonus true damage equivalent to 6.5% of their maximum health over the duration. This effect is capped at 300 against monsters. Additionally, if enemy champions are damaged to or below 2% (+1% per 40 Dragon Practice stacks) of their maximum health during this time, they are instantly executed.
W - Active: Smolder sneezes a fiery glob in the target direction that deals physical damage to enemies hit and slows them by 35% for 1.5 seconds, slowing down in missile speed after traveling 1200 units. Hitting an enemy champion creates an explosion that deals physical damage to nearby enemies, with subsequent explosions against the same target dealing 75% damage of the previous explosion's damage.
E - Active: Smolder ascends into flight for 1.25 seconds, experiencing a surge of 100% bonus movement speed along with unimpeded vision and the capability to pass through terrain without hindrance. During this aerial phase, he unleashes a volley of bolts, ranging from 5 to 10 (dependent on his current critical strike chance), aimed at the nearest and most injured visible enemy. Each bolt inflicts physical damage upon impact, with a preference for targeting enemy champions.
ULTIMATE R - Active: Smolder takes flight for 1.25 seconds, experiencing a surge of 100% bonus movement speed, gaining unobstructed vision, and the ability to phase through terrain. During this aerial maneuver, he automatically unleashes a barrage of bolts, ranging from 5 to 10 (depending on his current critical strike chance), targeting the nearest and most wounded visible enemy. Each bolt inflicts physical damage, with a priority on enemy champions.
Active: Smolder commands his maternal figure to assail from above, prompting her to release a fiery breath from behind him, directed towards the specified target area. This eruption grants vision of the surroundings as it travels. The fiery wave both restores Smolder's vitality and deals physical damage to enemies caught in its path. Those at the center of the conflagration suffer 30% amplified damage and endure a 40% deceleration for 2 seconds.
TIPS AND TRICKS!
★ Beware of using your W, especially if the enemy hasn’t used their CC tool as you may get caught out while it’s on cooldown.
★ Ensure you get level 2 first so you can trade with the enemy. Take E at level 2 to potentially look for an early all-in.
★ Make the most of your Ultimate: Smolder's R can be sidestepped easily, leaving him open to enemy assaults. Utilize it strategically by activating it when foes have depleted their mobility skills or are immobilized by your support, gaining the upper hand in combat.
★ To use of your Passive: try to attack the enemy as much as possible to upgrade your Q early on.
★ Another important aspect to consider with Smolder's combos is that activating his E ability (the flying ability) will cancel flight if you press any other ability. Therefore, during combat, it's optimal to use your other abilities before activating E to ensure uninterrupted flight.
★ Optimize Your Range: Maintain maximum distance by positioning a minion between yourself and the target you're aiming to attack.
★ The size and brightness of Smolders horns indicate the number of stacks he has accumulated: the larger and brighter the horns, the more stacks he possesses.
★ Master Super Scorching Breath: Smolder's Q ability can stack up, becoming a potent source of damage. Prioritize maxing out this ability first as it can significantly enhance your damage output. Focus on stacking for his passive, as it plays a crucial role in maximizing his effectiveness.
★ Smolder can execute a Q flash or W flash maneuver, where the Q will activate from the new position, but the W will not. However, attempting an R flash to alter the direction of your R is ineffective. Avoid wasting your flash attempting this maneuver.