Best Counters to Play Against Smolder in League of Legends

As an ADC (Attack Damage Carry), Smolder's power grows exponentially throughout the game. His ability to stack damage through spell hits and kills makes him a formidable late-game threat. Players facing Smolder need strategic approaches, involving both micro and macro gameplay, to prevent him from reaching his full potential.

This comprehensive guide arms you with:

• Detailed analysis of Smolder's abilities and weaknesses
• Effective counter-strategies for different game phases
• Top champion picks to shut down Smolder's scaling potential
• Tactical positioning tips for team fights
• Role-specific recommendations for supports, junglers, and laners

Whether you're a seasoned player or new to League of Legends, understanding how to counter Smolder is crucial for climbing the ranked ladder. We'll explore proven methods to disrupt his gameplay, from early-game aggression to late-game team fight positioning.

Let's dive into the specifics of neutralizing this baby dragon before he becomes an unstoppable force on the battlefield.

Understanding Smolder's Kit

Smolder's abilities create a unique ADC playstyle that rewards strategic spell usage and stack management. Let's break down each component of his kit to understand how to effectively counter his strengths.

Dragon Practice (Passive)

Smolder's passive ability allows him to accumulate stacks through spell damage and kills. Each stack enhances his basic ability damage, making him increasingly dangerous as the game progresses. This scaling mechanic means you'll face a significantly stronger opponent if you allow him to farm freely.

Super Scorcher Breath (Q)

This primary damage ability evolves with stacks, creating devastating AoE damage potential. The ability's range and area coverage make it particularly effective in:

• Dragon and Baron pit contests
• Minion wave clearing
• Team fight zoning

Achoo (W)

A deceptively powerful poke tool that:

1. Damages enemies in its path
2. Applies a slow effect
3. Creates space for Smolder to reposition
4. Sets up favorable trades in lane

Flap, Flap, Flap (E)

This mobility skill defines Smolder's aggressive playstyle:

1. Allows quick dashes toward low-health targets
2. Deals damage upon reaching the destination
3. Provides escape options when paired with Flash
4. Creates opportunities for unexpected engages

MMOOOMMMM (R)

Smolder's ultimate ability combines offensive and defensive elements:

1. Creates a large AoE damage zone
2. Provides healing within the affected area
3. Forces enemy teams to split or reposition
4. Excels in confined spaces and choke points

These abilities work together to create a champion that excels at sustained fights while maintaining the option to burst down priority targets. The key to his kit lies in the synergy between his passive stacking mechanism and the scaling potential of his basic abilities.

General Strategies to Counter Smolder

Disrupting Smolder's early game proves crucial for preventing his late-game dominance. Here are key strategies to counter this dragon champion effectively:

1. Early Game Pressure

• Push waves aggressively to deny farm
• Contest his CS attempts before level 3
• Force him to use abilities defensively rather than stacking
• Coordinate with your jungler for early ganks

2. Crowd Control Management

• Save hard CC for after he uses his E ability
• Layer CC abilities to maximize lockdown duration
• Position CC's abilities to cut off his escape routes
• Use point-and-click CC abilities when possible

3. Cooldown Tracking

• Watch for his W usage - it has a 12-second cooldown at rank 1
• Engage immediately after he uses E defensively
• Track his ultimate cooldown (120/100/80 seconds)
• Capitalize on moments when multiple abilities are down

4. Vision Control

• Deep ward his jungle paths to track roaming attempts
• Place control wards in river brushes
• Maintain vision on objectives where he might stack passive
• Use blue trinkets to spot potential flanks

5. Team Fight Positioning

• Spread out to minimize his Q and R effectiveness
• Stay away from walls where his E can provide quick escapes
• Force fights in open areas
• Keep track of low-health allies who might be E targets

Remember to adapt these strategies based on your team composition and role. A support player might focus on CC timing, while a jungler prioritizes early pressure and vision control.

Champion Selection Against Smolder

Selecting the right champion against Smolder can make a significant difference in your gameplay success. Your champion choice impacts lane dominance, team fight effectiveness, and your ability to shut down Smolder's scaling potential.

1. Caitlyn

Caitlyn stands out as a premier counter pick to Smolder, leveraging her superior range and zone control capabilities. Her base attack range of 650 units outclasses Smolder's 550, creating constant pressure through auto-attacks without risking retaliation.

Key Advantages:

• Range Dominance: Caitlyn's longer attack range allows her to harass Smolder while staying outside his ability ranges
• Trap Control: Strategic placement of Yordle Snap Traps denies Smolder access to farm and creates zones of control
• Trading Pattern: Caitlyn's Headshot passive enables powerful trades through:
• Auto-attacks from brush
• Landing abilities
• Trap activations

Trading Tips:

1. Place traps behind Smolder's minion wave to force him into uncomfortable positions
2. Use Piltover Peacemaker (Q) to push waves and harass simultaneously
3. Auto-attack Smolder when he attempts to last hit minions
4. Save 90 Caliber Net (E) for defensive purposes when Smolder uses his dash

Lane Management:

• Maintain wave control near your tower during early levels
• Push aggressively once you establish a level advantage
• Coordinate with your support to set up trap combinations
• Use brush control to maximize Headshot opportunities

The matchup becomes particularly favorable for Caitlyn after completing her first item, as her scaling allows her to maintain pressure throughout the game. Her ability to create space through traps and net makes it difficult for Smolder to stack his passive effectively.

2. Leona

Leona is a powerful counter to Smolder because of her ability to stun and control him while also being tanky. Her Solar Eclipse (W) ability gives her extra armor and magic resistance, allowing her to survive Smolder's burst damage and create opportunities for her team.

Understanding Leona's Ability Rotation

To make the most out of Leona's abilities, it's important to understand how they work together:

1. Shield of Daybreak (Q): This ability stuns Smolder and interrupts his mobility skill, Flap, Flap, Flap.
2. Zenith Blade (E): Use this ability to quickly close the distance between you and Smolder, rooting him in place.
3. Solar Flare (R): This ultimate ability creates a large area-of-effect stun zone, perfect for initiating team fights.

Coordinating with Jungle Ganks

Leona's crowd control potential becomes even more deadly when combined with jungle ganks. Here's how you can coordinate your abilities with your jungler:

1. Initiate the gank by using Zenith Blade to engage on Smolder.
2. Follow up with Shield of Daybreak to stun him.
3. Chain your crowd control effects with your jungler's abilities for extended lockdown.

Forcing Caution in Team Fights

During team fights, Leona's presence forces Smolder to play carefully. Here's how:

• Her ability to engage from different angles disrupts his positioning.
• This prevents him from effectively stacking his passive ability.
• The threat of her engagement creates areas where Smolder can't safely deal damage.

Waiting for the Right Moment

A strategic approach against Smolder involves waiting for him to use his mobility skill before engaging. Here's why:

• When he uses Flap, Flap, Flap, he won't have an escape option left.
• This gives your team a window of vulnerability to secure kills and objectives.

Finding a Suitable Ally

To increase your chances of success in these matchups, consider finding a suitable ally by using services like Turboboost. Turboboost can help you find the perfect LoL duo partner for victory.

With the right teammate by your side, you can climb the ladder faster and secure more wins.

3. Sejuani

Sejuani is a powerful counter to Smolder because she has great crowd control abilities and focuses on building tank items. Her skill to immobilize enemies makes her especially effective against agile ADCs like Smolder.

Key Strengths Against Smolder:

• Passive - Frost Armor: Provides extra durability against Smolder's burst damage attempts
• Arctic Assault: Creates pressure by closing gaps quickly, disrupting Smolder's positioning
• Winter's Wrath: Applies stacks for stunning while dealing consistent damage
• Permafrost: Enables guaranteed stuns when properly stacked, shutting down escape attempts

Sejuani's ability to surprise attack proves especially powerful against Smolder's presence in the lane. Her skill to initiate fights from different directions forces Smolder to play defensively, limiting his stack generation and scaling potential.

Effective Ganking Pattern:

1. Approach from behind or through the river
2. Lead with Arctic Assault
3. Apply Winter's Wrath stacks
4. Follow up with Permafrost for stun
5. Allow the team to capitalize on the lockdown

The champion excels at coordinating with teammates who can apply frost stacks, making her particularly deadly when paired with melee laners. Building items like Randuin's Omen and Dead Man's Plate enhances her ability to stick to Smolder while mitigating his damage output.

4. Zac

Zac's unique kit makes him a formidable counter to Smolder's mobility-focused playstyle. His Elastic Slingshot ability allows him to initiate fights from unexpected angles, catching Smolder off-guard before he can position himself safely.

The Secret Weapon's durability shines through his passive Cell Division, enabling him to sustain through Smolder's burst damage while maintaining pressure. When Smolder attempts to use Flap, Flap, Flap for escape, Zac's Stretching Strike can immediately follow and disrupt the dragon's movement.

Key advantages Zac holds against Smolder:

• Let's Bounce! ultimate creates chaos in team fights, displacing Smolder from safe positions
• High sustain through blob collection negates Smolder's poke damage
• Multiple crowd control abilities prevent Smolder from stacking his passive
• Flexible build paths allow adaptation to Smolder's damage output

Zac's engage potential forces Smolder to play defensively, limiting opportunities to stack his passive. The blob champion's ability to dive backlines makes him particularly effective at shutting down Smolder's attempts to scale into the late game. His percentage health damage ensures consistent threat levels regardless of Smolder's itemization choices.

For optimal results, build Sunfire Aegis into Demonic Embrace, maximizing both durability and damage output against Smolder's relatively immobile playstyle during teamfights.

5. Vayne

Vayne is a strong counter to Smolder, especially in long late-game battles. Her Silver Bolts ability deals true damage based on the target's maximum health, ensuring her damage remains effective regardless of Smolder's defensive item choices.

Advantages of Playing Vayne Against Smolder

• Tumble allows quick repositioning to dodge Smolder's skillshots
• Condemn can interrupt his Flap, Flap, Flap ability
• True damage bypasses any armor stacking
• Final Hour stealth mechanics help avoid Smolder's AoE abilities

This matchup requires careful positioning during the early game, as Vayne's shorter range makes her vulnerable to Smolder's poke. This is where LoL coaching could provide valuable insights and strategies to navigate these challenges. Your power spike begins at level 6, where you can:

• Use Final Hour to engage aggressively
• Stack Silver Bolts while staying mobile
• Force extended trades where your true damage excels

Building Blade of the Ruined King accelerates your scaling against Smolder's health-focused builds. Pair this with Kraken Slayer to maximize your damage output against his defensive options.

In the late game, you can effectively duel Smolder by:

• Maintaining distance until his key abilities are on cooldown
• Using Condemn to create space when he attempts to close in
• Leveraging your superior single-target damage in isolated fights

Tactical Engagements and Positioning Against Smolder

Smart positioning can make or break your matchup against Smolder. The key lies in understanding where and when to engage this dragon champion.

Open Space Advantages

• Wide areas allow better dodging of Smolder's AoE abilities
• Easier to maintain optimal range from his Super Scorcher Breath
• Multiple escape routes when his ultimate activates
• Better vision control to anticipate his movements

Danger Zones to Avoid

• Narrow jungle corridors
• Dragon and Baron pits
• Tight chokepoints near objectives
• Enclosed bush areas where his abilities can trap you

Your positioning should adapt based on Smolder's stack count. At low stacks, you can play more aggressively and contest space. Once he reaches higher stacks, maintain maximum effective range for your champion.

Essential Positioning Tips

• Stay behind minions to block his W ability
• Position perpendicular to his movement path to dodge E
• Track his ultimate cooldown and spread out when it's available
• Keep track of nearby terrain for potential escape routes

During team fights, bait out his mobility skill before committing to an all-in engagement. This creates a 12-second window where Smolder lacks escape options. You can also use this time to force him into unfavorable positions away from his team's protection.

Vision Control Strategy

• Place deep wards to track his roaming patterns
• Control river vision to prevent surprise engages
• Use blue trinkets to check bushes before face-checking
• Maintain vision on common gank paths to avoid his stack building opportunities

Conclusion: Mastering the Art of Countering Smolder

Countering Smolder requires a combination of strategic champion selection and smart gameplay execution. Your success against this dragon champion depends on:

• Early Game Pressure - Deny his stacking potential
• Smart Champion Picks - Utilize heroes with strong CC and range advantages
• Tactical Positioning - Fight in open areas where his AoE abilities are less effective
• Team Coordination - Focus on chain CC and synchronized engagements

Remember that each game presents unique challenges, and adapting your approach based on team compositions is crucial. Practice these counter strategies in different scenarios to build muscle memory and game awareness. The key to consistently shutting down Smolder lies in recognizing the right moments to engage and maintaining proper positioning throughout the match.

You now have the tools to effectively counter Smolder - put these strategies into practice, refine your approach, and watch your win rate climb against this formidable ADC.

Ready to test your new counter tactics? Jump into your next match and start implementing these strategies against Smolder.