Mid Matchup

Smolder vs Malzahar

Patch: 15.15 (25.15)
League: Platinum+
Smolder

Smolder

the Fiery Fledgling
Mid
Smolder Mid Overall Win Rate
46.34%

Matchup Win Rate

51.4%
Smolder vs Malzahar Wins
⚔
48.6%
Malzahar vs Smolder Wins
Malzahar

Malzahar

the Prophet of the Void
Mid
Malzahar Mid Overall Win Rate
51.42%

Smolder vs Malzahar - Mid Matchup Guide Patch 15.15 (25.15)

Smolder Mid vs Malzahar Mid - Who is stronger?

Smolder Mid has a slight edge over Malzahar (51.4% win rate) based on 1523 games. The matchup slightly favors Smolder.

View detailed statistics below: items, runes, and counter builds for Smolder Mid vs Malzahar Mid in patch 15.15 (25.15), including win rates and pick rates. With proper study, this can improve your chances of victory up to 78.0% in this matchup.

Statistical Matchup Analysis

While Smolder remains a niche pick (1.3% pick rate, 39th place out of 57 Mid champions), Malzahar dominates the current meta mid lane with 6.3% popularity. Mastering this matchup is crucial for Smolder players - you'll face Malzahar in the majority of your games. Silver lining: While Smolder's 46.3% overall win rate (57th among Mid) struggles in the current meta, this matchup against Malzahar offers a bright spot for dedicated players. Optimize for consistency: Grasp of the Undying paired with Demolish (60.1% win rate, 8.0% popularity) provides the stats you need, while the item sequence Essence Reaver > Spear of Shojin > Infinity Edge with Ionian Boots of Lucidity delivers 78.0% win rate against Malzahar.

Lane dominance: Smolder not only wins the matchup but crushes CS (7.82/min vs 7.62 for Malzahar). This 0.20 CS/min advantage generates significant gold leads that compound your already favorable position. Complete superiority: Smolder dominates both win rate (51.4%) and damage output (910 vs 775/min, 2nd among Mid). The 135 damage/min difference creates massive snowball potential. Intriguing anomaly: Smolder wins the matchup (51.4%) despite a lower KDA (2.00 vs 2.10). This suggests you win through macro influence and clutch plays in key moments rather than consistent individual performance.

Smolder vs Malzahar - Mid Stats Comparison

Smolder Mid
Smolder Mid		Versus
Malzahar Mid
Malzahar Mid
DTierS
51.4%Matchup Winrate48.6%
46.34%Role Winrate51.42%
#57Winrate Rank#17
1.3%Pickrate6.3%
2.0Average KDA2.1
434Gold per Minute424
7.82CS/Min7.62
0.34Wards per Minute0.33
910Damage per Minute775

How to Beat Malzahar as Smolder (Mid)

While statistically Smolder is slightly stronger than Malzahar in the mid lane, neither champion has an overwhelming advantage in this matchup. The winner is determined by player skill and understanding the intricacies of the confrontation. Studying this guide will improve your chances of success.

Except for rare builds, Smolder deals physical damage. Focus on eliminating enemy carries. Meanwhile, Malzahar deals primarily magic damage (93.48%), additional magic resistance may be required.

An important advantage of Smolder is higher farming statistics (ranked 2nd among role champions) (versus 5th for Malzahar), which provides a stable gold advantage in extended games and allows faster access to key items. Meanwhile, their higher KDA (2.1 versus 2.0) suggests they participate more effectively in team fights.

Key aspects of the Smolder Mid versus Malzahar Mid matchup

Despite the statistical advantage in the matchup, overconfidence can be the main mistake. It is important for the Smolder player to maintain constant pressure on Malzahar, not allowing the opponent to safely scale up, and actively use the advantage gained to help their team.

Smolder vs Malzahar: Mid Lane Summoner Spells

Most Popular

Flash
Flash Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Teleport
Teleport After a brief channel, become untargetable and travel to an allied unit. Upgrades into Unleashed Teleport, which significantly increases travel speed.
55.7% Win Rate93.6% Pick Rate

Highest Win Rate

Cleanse
Cleanse Removes all disables (excluding suppression and airborne) and summoner spell debuffs affecting your champion and gives Tenacity.
Flash
Flash Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
75.8% Win Rate0.7% Pick Rate

Smolder vs Malzahar: Mid Lane Runes

Most Frequent Runes

Primary Path
Precision
Fleet Footwork
Fleet Footwork Attacking and moving builds Energy stacks. At 100 stacks, your next attack is Energized

Energized attacks heal you for 10 - 130 (+0.1 Bonus AD, +0.05 AP) and grant 20% Move Speed for 1s.

For Ranged Champions, Healing is 60% effective and Move Speed is 75% effective. All healing is 15% effective against Minions.

Fleet Footwork

Attacking and moving builds Energy stacks. At 100 stacks, your next attack is EnergizedEn…

Presence of Mind
Presence of Mind Damaging an enemy champion restores 6-50 (80% for ranged) mana or 6 energy.

Takedowns restore 15% of your maximum mana or energy.

Cooldown for damage restoration: 8s

Presence of Mind

Damaging an enemy champion restores 6-50 (80% for ranged) mana or 6 energy.Take…

Legend: Haste
Legend: Haste Gain 1.5 basic ability haste for every Legend stack (max 10 stacks).

Earn progress toward Legend stacks for every champion takedown, epic monster takedown, large monster kill, and minion kill.

Legend: Haste

Gain 1.5 basic ability haste for every Legend stack (max 10 stacks).Earn progre…

Coup de Grace
Coup de Grace Deal 8% more damage to champions who have less than 40% health.

Coup de Grace

Deal 8% more damage to champions who have less than 40% health.

Secondary Path
Sorcery
Transcendence
Transcendence Gain bonuses upon reaching the following levels:
Level 5: +5 Ability Haste
Level 8: +5 Ability Haste
Level 11: On Champion takedown, reduce the remaining cooldown of basic abilities by 20%.

Transcendence

Gain bonuses upon reaching the following levels:Level 5: +5 Ability Haste Level…

Gathering Storm
Gathering Storm Every 10 min gain AP or AD, adaptive.

10 min: + 8 AP or 5 AD
20 min: + 24 AP or 14 AD
30 min: + 48 AP or 29 AD
40 min: + 80 AP or 48 AD
50 min: + 120 AP or 72 AD
60 min: + 168 AP or 101 AD
etc...

Gathering Storm

Every 10 min gain AP or AD, adaptive.10 min: + 8 AP or 5 AD 20 min: + 24 AP or …

Adaptive
Scaling Cooldown Reduction
Scaling Cooldown Reduction +8 Ability Haste

Scaling Cooldown Reduction

+8 Ability Haste

Adaptive Force
Adaptive Force Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

Adaptive Force

Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

+65 Health
+65 Health +65 Health

+65 Health

+65 Health

56.6% Win Rate57.8% Pick Rate

Best Win Rate Runes

Primary Path
Resolve
Grasp of the Undying
Grasp of the Undying Every 4s in combat, your next basic attack on a champion will:
  • Deal bonus magic damage equal to 3.5% of your max health
  • Heal you for 1.3% of your max health
  • Permanently increase your health by 5
    Ranged Champions: Damage, healing, and permanent health gained are 60% effective.

    • Grasp of the Undying

    Every 4s in combat, your next basic attack on a champion will:Deal bonus magic damage equ…

    Demolish
    Demolish Charge up a powerful attack against a tower over 3s, while within 600 range of it. The charged attack deals 100 (+35% of your max health) bonus physical damage.

    Cooldown: 45s

    Demolish

    Charge up a powerful attack against a tower over 3s, while within 600 range of …

    Bone Plating
    Bone Plating After taking damage from an enemy champion, the next 3 spells or attacks you receive from them deal 30-60 (based on level) less damage.

    Duration: 1.5s
    Cooldown: 55s

    Bone Plating

    After taking damage from an enemy champion, the next 3 spells or attacks you re…

    Overgrowth
    Overgrowth Absorb life essence from monsters or enemy minions that die near you, permanently gaining 3 maximum health for every 8.

    When you've absorbed 120 monsters or enemy minions, gain an additional 3.5% maximum health.

    Overgrowth

    Absorb life essence from monsters or enemy minions that die near you, permanent…

    Secondary Path
    Precision
    Presence of Mind
    Presence of Mind Damaging an enemy champion restores 6-50 (80% for ranged) mana or 6 energy.

    Takedowns restore 15% of your maximum mana or energy.

    Cooldown for damage restoration: 8s

    Presence of Mind

    Damaging an enemy champion restores 6-50 (80% for ranged) mana or 6 energy.Take…

    Legend: Haste
    Legend: Haste Gain 1.5 basic ability haste for every Legend stack (max 10 stacks).

    Earn progress toward Legend stacks for every champion takedown, epic monster takedown, large monster kill, and minion kill.

    Legend: Haste

    Gain 1.5 basic ability haste for every Legend stack (max 10 stacks).Earn progre…

    Adaptive
    Attack Speed
    Attack Speed Increases attack speed by 10%

    Attack Speed

    Increases attack speed by 10%

    Adaptive Force
    Adaptive Force Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

    Adaptive Force

    Grants 9 Attack Damage or 9 Ability Power

    +65 Health
    +65 Health +65 Health

    +65 Health

    +65 Health

    60.1% Win Rate8.0% Pick Rate

    Smolder vs Malzahar: Mid Lane Item Builds

    Most Popular Build

    Starting Items
    Stealth Ward
    Stealth Ward (0 gold) Active (210 - 120s, max 2 charges)
    Places an Invisible Stealth Ward that grants vision for 90-120 seconds.
    Doran's Blade
    Doran's Blade (450 gold) 10 Attack Damage
    80 Health
    3% Life Steal
    Health Potion
    Health Potion (50 gold) Consume
    Restores 120 Health over 15 seconds.
    58.9% Win Rate75.8% Pick Rate
    Popular Boots
    Ionian Boots of Lucidity
    Ionian Boots of Lucidity (900 gold) 10 Ability Haste
    45 Move Speed
    Ionian Insight
    Gain 10 Summoner Spell Haste.
    54.2% Win Rate65.6% Pick Rate
    Boots of Swiftness
    Boots of Swiftness (1000 gold) 60 Move Speed
    Fleetfooted
    Reduce the effectiveness of Slows by 25%.
    55.9% Win Rate22.9% Pick Rate
    Mercury's Treads
    Mercury's Treads (1250 gold) 20 Magic Resist
    45 Move Speed
    30% Tenacity
    62.2% Win Rate8.0% Pick Rate
    Core Build
    Caulfield's Warhammer
    Caulfield's Warhammer (1050 gold) 20 Attack Damage
    10 Ability Haste
    ->
    Essence Reaver
    Essence Reaver (2900 gold) 60 Attack Damage
    15 Ability Haste
    25% Critical Strike Chance
    Essence Drain
    Attacks grant ManaOn-Hit.
    Spear of Shojin
    Spear of Shojin (3100 gold) 45 Attack Damage
    450 Health
    Dragonforce
    Gain 25 Basic Ability Haste.
    Focused Will
    Dealing damage with Abilities increases your Champion's Ability and Passive damage by 3% for 6 seconds. (stacks 4 times).
    Rapid Firecannon
    Rapid Firecannon (2650 gold) 35% Attack Speed
    25% Critical Strike Chance
    4% Move Speed
    Sharpshooter
    Your Energized Attack deals 40 bonus magic damage and gains 35% bonus Attack Range.
    60.4% Win Rate20.1% Pick Rate
    Final Build
    Lord Dominik's Regards
    Lord Dominik's Regards (3100 gold) 35 Attack Damage
    40% Armor Penetration
    25% Critical Strike Chance
    62.4% Win Rate14.3% Pick Rate

    Best Win Rate Build

    Starting Items
    Stealth Ward
    Stealth Ward (0 gold) Active (210 - 120s, max 2 charges)
    Places an Invisible Stealth Ward that grants vision for 90-120 seconds.
    Doran's Ring
    Doran's Ring (400 gold) 18 Ability Power
    90 Health
    Restoration
    Restore 1.25 Mana every second. If you can't gain Mana, restore 0.55 Health instead.
    Helping Hand
    Attacks deal 5 bonus physical damage to minions.
    Health Potion
    Health Potion (50 gold) Consume
    Restores 120 Health over 15 seconds.
    61.3% Win Rate6.2% Pick Rate
    Highest Winrate Boots
    Mercury's Treads
    Mercury's Treads (1250 gold) 20 Magic Resist
    45 Move Speed
    30% Tenacity
    62.2% Win Rate8.0% Pick Rate
    Boots of Swiftness
    Boots of Swiftness (1000 gold) 60 Move Speed
    Fleetfooted
    Reduce the effectiveness of Slows by 25%.
    55.9% Win Rate22.9% Pick Rate
    Ionian Boots of Lucidity
    Ionian Boots of Lucidity (900 gold) 10 Ability Haste
    45 Move Speed
    Ionian Insight
    Gain 10 Summoner Spell Haste.
    54.2% Win Rate65.6% Pick Rate
    Core Build
    Pickaxe
    Pickaxe (875 gold) 25 Attack Damage
    ->
    Essence Reaver
    Essence Reaver (2900 gold) 60 Attack Damage
    15 Ability Haste
    25% Critical Strike Chance
    Essence Drain
    Attacks grant ManaOn-Hit.
    Spear of Shojin
    Spear of Shojin (3100 gold) 45 Attack Damage
    450 Health
    Dragonforce
    Gain 25 Basic Ability Haste.
    Focused Will
    Dealing damage with Abilities increases your Champion's Ability and Passive damage by 3% for 6 seconds. (stacks 4 times).
    Infinity Edge
    Infinity Edge (3450 gold) 65 Attack Damage
    25% Critical Strike Chance
    40% Critical Strike Damage
    78.0% Win Rate2.9% Pick Rate
    Final Build
    Zhonya's Hourglass
    Zhonya's Hourglass (3250 gold) 105 Ability Power
    50 Armor

    Time Stop
    Enter Stasis for 2.5 seconds.
    66.0% Win Rate1.3% Pick Rate
    Other Items
    Bloodthirster
    Bloodthirster (3400 gold) 80 Attack Damage
    15% Life Steal
    Ichorshield
    Convert excess healing from your Lifesteal to a Shield.
    57.9% Win Rate14.3% Pick Rate
    Mercurial Scimitar
    Mercurial Scimitar (3200 gold) 40 Attack Damage
    40 Magic Resist
    10% Life Steal

    ACTIVE
    Quicksilver
    Removes all crowd control debuffs (excluding Airborne) and grants Move Speed.
    47.7% Win Rate14.1% Pick Rate
    Guardian Angel
    Guardian Angel (3200 gold) 55 Attack Damage
    45 Armor
    Rebirth
    Upon taking lethal damage, restores 50% base Health and 100% max Mana after 4 seconds of Stasis.
    56.6% Win Rate12.8% Pick Rate
    Immortal Shieldbow
    Immortal Shieldbow (3000 gold) 55 Attack Damage
    25% Critical Strike Chance
    Lifeline
    Taking damage that would reduce your Health below 30% grants a Shield for 3 seconds.
    50.2% Win Rate11.2% Pick Rate
    Infinity Edge
    Infinity Edge (3450 gold) 65 Attack Damage
    25% Critical Strike Chance
    40% Critical Strike Damage
    67.2% Win Rate9.6% Pick Rate
    Mortal Reminder
    Mortal Reminder (3300 gold) 35 Attack Damage
    35% Armor Penetration
    25% Critical Strike Chance
    Grievous Wounds
    Dealing physical damage applies 40% Wounds to enemy champions for 3 seconds.
    54.5% Win Rate4.7% Pick Rate
    Trinity Force
    Trinity Force (3333 gold) 36 Attack Damage
    30% Attack Speed
    333 Health
    15 Ability Haste
    Spellblade
    After using an Ability, your next Attack deals bonus physical damageOn-Hit.

    Quicken
    Attacking grants 20 Move Speed for 2 seconds.
    65.5% Win Rate1.3% Pick Rate

    Smolder vs Malzahar: Mid Lane Skill (abilities) Orders

    Most Frequent Skill Order

    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10
    11
    12
    13
    14
    15
    16
    17
    18
    Q
    Q
    Super Scorcher Breath Smolder breathes fire on an enemy. As he gains more stacks, this ability becomes more powerful.
    Q
    Q
    Q
    Q
    Q
    W
    W
    Achooo! Smolder lets out an adorable flaming sneeze that explodes when hitting enemy champions.
    W
    W
    W
    W
    W
    E
    E
    Flap, Flap, Flap Smolder takes flight ignoring terrain and bombarding the lowest health enemy.
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    R
    R
    MMOOOMMMM! Smolder calls his mom to breath fire from above, dealing extra damage and slowing enemies in the center of her fire.
    R
    R
    R
    Max Order: Q > W > E
    54.6% Win Rate64.9% Pick Rate

    Highest Win % Skill Order

    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10
    11
    12
    13
    14
    15
    16
    17
    18
    R
    Q
    Super Scorcher Breath Smolder breathes fire on an enemy. As he gains more stacks, this ability becomes more powerful.
    Q
    Q
    Q
    Q
    Q
    R
    W
    Achooo! Smolder lets out an adorable flaming sneeze that explodes when hitting enemy champions.
    W
    W
    W
    W
    W
    R
    E
    Flap, Flap, Flap Smolder takes flight ignoring terrain and bombarding the lowest health enemy.
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    R
    R
    MMOOOMMMM! Smolder calls his mom to breath fire from above, dealing extra damage and slowing enemies in the center of her fire.
    R
    R
    R
    Max Order: Q > W > E
    56.5% Win Rate4.3% Pick Rate

    Smolder tips:

    • Smolder has a vulnerable early game. Focus on passive stacking and staying alive to become a strong dragon later!
    • Smolder relies on his team to keep him safe. Try to find allies who can help you against enemy threats.
    • Smolder can do a lot of damage to areas of enemies. Look for attack opportunities where the enemies are close together.

    Playing Against Malzahar

    • When Malzahar hits a spell on enemies affected by Malefic Visions, the Visions are refreshed.
    • Avoid minion waves that have been affected by Malefic Visions. You never know when they may die and pass the Visions onto you.
    • Malzahar is especially dangerous when he has built up his Void Swarm.

    Smolder Mid other Matchups

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