Mid Matchup

Smolder vs Malzahar

Patch: 15.24 (25.24)
League: Platinum+
Smolder

Smolder

the Fiery Fledgling
Mid
Smolder Mid Overall Win Rate
46.82%

Matchup Win Rate

51.8%
Smolder vs Malzahar Wins
⚔
48.2%
Malzahar vs Smolder Wins
Malzahar

Malzahar

the Prophet of the Void
Mid
Malzahar Mid Overall Win Rate
51.33%

Smolder vs Malzahar - Mid Matchup Guide Patch 15.24 (25.24)

Smolder Mid vs Malzahar Mid - Who is stronger?

Smolder Mid has an advantage against Malzahar (51.8% win rate) based on 1048 games. The matchup leans toward Smolder.

View detailed statistics below: items, runes, and counter builds for Smolder Mid vs Malzahar Mid in patch 15.24 (25.24), including win rates and pick rates. With proper study, this can improve your chances of victory up to 68.1% in this matchup.

Statistical Matchup Analysis

While Smolder remains a niche pick (1.7% pick rate, 41st place out of 58 Mid champions), Malzahar dominates the current meta mid lane with 6.6% popularity. Mastering this matchup is crucial for Smolder players - you'll face Malzahar in the majority of your games. Silver lining: While Smolder's 46.8% overall win rate (56th among Mid) struggles in the current meta, this matchup against Malzahar offers a bright spot for dedicated players. Optimize for consistency: Fleet Footwork paired with Presence of Mind (58.7% win rate, 3.3% popularity) provides the stats you need, while the item sequence Essence Reaver > Infinity Edge > Rapid Firecannon with Ionian Boots of Lucidity delivers 68.1% win rate against Malzahar.

Win through macro: Smolder takes the matchup (51.78%) despite falling behind in CS (7.12 vs 7.86/min). Your victories come through roaming, team fighting, and map pressure rather than 1v1 lane dominance. Complete superiority: Smolder dominates both win rate (51.8%) and damage output (871 vs 731/min, 2nd among Mid). The 140 damage/min difference creates massive snowball potential. Intriguing anomaly: Smolder wins the matchup (51.8%) 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
DTierA+
51.8%Matchup Winrate48.2%
46.82%Role Winrate51.33%
#56Winrate Rank#19
1.7%Pickrate6.6%
2.0Average KDA2.1
424Gold per Minute427
7.12CS/Min7.86
0.34Wards per Minute0.31
871Damage per Minute731

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 (95.35%), additional magic resistance may be required.

Consider the farming superiority demonstrated by Malzahar, ranking 2nd (versus 14th for Smolder) in farming efficiency among champions in this role. This means the opponent can build gold advantages more quickly. 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.
52.3% Win Rate93.4% Pick Rate

Highest Win Rate

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.
52.3% Win Rate93.4% 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

53.2% Win Rate56.9% Pick Rate

Best Win Rate 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
Resolve
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…

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

58.7% Win Rate3.3% 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.
51.5% Win Rate78.2% 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.
51.1% Win Rate65.1% Pick Rate
Boots of Swiftness
Boots of Swiftness (1000 gold) 60 Move Speed
Fleetfooted
Reduce the effectiveness of Slows by 25%.
52.7% Win Rate23.5% Pick Rate
Mercury's Treads
Mercury's Treads (1250 gold) 20 Magic Resist
45 Move Speed
30% Tenacity
53.8% Win Rate6.9% 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.
49.9% Win Rate17.6% Pick Rate
Final Build
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.
49.4% Win Rate18.7% 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.
Long Sword
Long Sword (350 gold) 10 Attack Damage
Refillable Potion
Refillable Potion (150 gold) Active (2 charges)
Restores 100 Health over 12 seconds.
Refills upon visiting the shop.
66.7% Win Rate1.7% Pick Rate
Highest Winrate Boots
Sorcerer's Shoes
Sorcerer's Shoes (1100 gold) 12 Magic Penetration
45 Move Speed
99.7% Win Rate0.1% Pick Rate
Plated Steelcaps
Plated Steelcaps (1200 gold) 25 Armor
45 Move Speed
Plating
Reduces incoming damage from Attacks by 10%.
60.6% Win Rate0.7% Pick Rate
Mercury's Treads
Mercury's Treads (1250 gold) 20 Magic Resist
45 Move Speed
30% Tenacity
53.8% Win Rate6.9% 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.
Infinity Edge
Infinity Edge (3450 gold) 65 Attack Damage
25% Critical Strike Chance
40% Critical Strike Damage
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.
68.1% Win Rate2.5% Pick Rate
Final Build
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.
100.0% Win Rate2.3% Pick Rate
Other Items
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.
68.6% Win Rate13.4% Pick Rate
Lord Dominik's Regards
Lord Dominik's Regards (3100 gold) 35 Attack Damage
40% Armor Penetration
25% Critical Strike Chance
67.6% Win Rate12.8% Pick Rate
Bloodthirster
Bloodthirster (3400 gold) 80 Attack Damage
15% Life Steal
Ichorshield
Convert excess healing from your Lifesteal to a Shield.
76.2% Win Rate12.2% Pick Rate
Infinity Edge
Infinity Edge (3450 gold) 65 Attack Damage
25% Critical Strike Chance
40% Critical Strike Damage
68.4% Win Rate9.2% 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.
53.3% Win Rate7.6% 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.
49.9% 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.
100.0% Win Rate2.3% 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
51.6% 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
85.7% Win Rate1.3% 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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