Smolder ADC Build

Smolder ADC Guide | Patch 26.17

Smolder, the Fiery Fledgling, is a high-mobility ADC with explosive burst damage. Currently hovering at a 50.2% win rate, he thrives in coordinated teamfights and skirmishes where positioning and cooldown management decide fights.

How to play Smolder?

Smolder excels in extended fights thanks to his passive, Scorchclaws, which stacks with every ability and attack. Early game, focus on farming safely and poking with Piercing Flames (Q) to stack your passive and chunk enemies. Mid-game, look for opportunities to engage with Disintegrate (W), using its knockback to reposition or set up kills. Late game, prioritize positioning behind your frontline to unleash full combos without overextending. His ultimate, Inferno (R), is best used to secure picks or finish off low-health targets, as it deals massive AoE damage but has a long cooldown.

The highest-ranked ladder players who actually play Smolder: last 30 days. 11 OTPs in the ranking.

1. 1sundarian#EUWMASTER · 1224 LP11 games17% of their games
2. 2Kuzzzen#EUWOTPMASTER · 1203 LP27 games63% of their games
3. 3FlyingSaImon#4444MASTER · 1120 LP10 games20% of their games
4. 4Solana300#TrustMASTER · 1081 LP8 games7% of their games
5. 5Hatake Gojo#EUWMASTER · 897 LP10 games16% of their games

💡 Tips for Smolder

• 1.Stack your passive (Scorchclaws) aggressively by spamming abilities and auto-attacks in lane to maximize damage output.
• 2.Use Disintegrate (W) to knock enemies into your Piercing Flames (Q) or ultimate (Inferno) for extended combos.
• 3.Save your ultimate (Inferno) for teamfights or securing picks rather than using it on single targets early.
• 4.Position carefully in fights; Smolder’s low survivability means one bad engage can end the fight instantly.
• 5.Build defensive items like Zhonya’s Hourglass or Guardian Angel if the enemy team has heavy burst or dive compositions.

❓ Frequently asked questions about Smolder

📚 See also