ADC Matchup

Smolder vs Varus

Patch: 15.15 (25.15)
League: Platinum+
Smolder

Smolder

the Fiery Fledgling
ADC
Smolder ADC Overall Win Rate
52.12%

Matchup Win Rate

52.5%
Smolder vs Varus Wins
47.5%
Varus vs Smolder Wins
Varus

Varus

the Arrow of Retribution
ADC
Varus ADC Overall Win Rate
47.51%

Smolder vs Varus - ADC Matchup Guide Patch 15.15 (25.15)

Smolder ADC vs Varus ADC - Who is stronger?

Smolder ADC has an advantage against Varus (52.5% win rate) based on 1348 games. The matchup leans toward Smolder.

View detailed statistics below: items, runes, and counter builds for Smolder ADC vs Varus ADC in patch 15.15 (25.15), including win rates and pick rates. With proper study, this can improve your chances of victory up to 65.7% in this matchup.

Statistical Matchup Analysis

Smolder dominates the meta (9th most popular, 9.1% pick rate) and regularly clashes with Varus (5.1% pick rate). Understanding this common matchup forms the foundation of consistent gameplay for one of bot lane's current powerhouses. Meta strength confirmed: Smolder's superior tier rating (S vs D) translates into a solid 52.5% matchup win rate. This performance explains why Smolder ranks 7th in win rate among ADC champions. Smolder shows excellent consistency, combining a strong 52.1% overall win rate with matchup success. Optimize for consistency: Fleet Footwork paired with Triumph (54.2% win rate, 1.5% popularity) provides the stats you need, while the item sequence Essence Reaver > Rapid Firecannon > Infinity Edge with Ionian Boots of Lucidity delivers 65.7% win rate against Varus.

Lane dominance: Smolder not only wins the matchup but crushes CS (6.89/min vs 6.23 for Varus). This 0.66 CS/min advantage generates significant gold leads that compound your already favorable position. Complete superiority: Smolder dominates both win rate (52.5%) and damage output (930 vs 744/min, 2nd among ADC). The 186 damage/min difference creates massive snowball potential. Statistical dominance: Smolder leads in both matchup win rate (52.5%) and KDA (2.50 vs 2.30) - complete superiority across all metrics.

Smolder vs Varus - ADC Stats Comparison

Smolder ADC
Smolder ADC
Versus
Varus ADC
Varus ADC
STierD
52.5%Matchup Winrate47.5%
52.12%Role Winrate47.51%
#7Winrate Rank#28
9.1%Pickrate5.1%
2.5Average KDA2.3
443Gold per Minute401
6.89CS/Min6.23
0.28Wards per Minute0.30
930Damage per Minute744

How to Beat Varus as Smolder (ADC)

The Smolder versus Varus matchup as ADC is favorable with proper positioning. Use your statistical advantage and prevent the opponent from realizing their potential.

Except for rare builds, Smolder deals physical damage. Focus on eliminating enemy carries. Varus deals mainly physical damage (70.35%), additional items against this damage type may be required against snowballing or aggressive play.

An important advantage of Smolder is higher farming statistics (ranked 15th among role champions) (versus 27th for Varus), which provides a stable gold advantage in extended games and allows faster access to key items. Meanwhile, their lower KDA (2.3 versus 2.5) suggests they are less effective in team fights.

Key aspects of the Smolder ADC versus Varus ADC 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 Varus, not allowing the opponent to safely scale up, and actively use the advantage gained to help their team.

Smolder vs Varus: ADC Summoner Spells

Most Popular

Flash
Flash Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Barrier
Barrier Gain a brief Shield.
51.3% Win Rate73.8% Pick Rate

Highest Win Rate

Flash
Flash Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Barrier
Barrier Gain a brief Shield.
51.3% Win Rate73.8% Pick Rate

Smolder vs Varus: ADC 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: Bloodline
Legend: Bloodline Gain 0.35% Life Steal for every Legend stack (max 15 stacks). At maximum Legend stacks, gain 85 max health.

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

Legend: Bloodline

Gain 0.35% Life Steal for every Legend stack (max 15 stacks). At maximum Legend…

Cut Down
Cut Down Deal 8% more damage to champions who have more than 60% health.

Cut Down

Deal 8% more damage to champions who have more than 60% health.

Secondary Path
Inspiration
Magical Footwear
Magical Footwear You get free Slightly Magical Footwear at 12 min, but you cannot buy boots before then. For each takedown you acquire the boots 45s sooner.

Slightly Magical Footwear grants you an additional 10 Move Speed.

Magical Footwear

You get free Slightly Magical Footwear at 12 min, but you cannot buy boots befo…

Biscuit Delivery
Biscuit Delivery Biscuit Delivery: Gain a Total Biscuit of Everlasting Will every 2 mins, until 6 min.

Biscuits restore 12% of your missing health. Consuming or selling a Biscuit permanently increases your max health by 30.

Biscuit Delivery

Biscuit Delivery: Gain a Total Biscuit of Everlasting Will every 2 mins, until …

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

51.3% Win Rate53.0% 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…

Triumph
Triumph Takedowns restore 5% of your missing health, 2.5% of your max health, and grant an additional 20 gold.



'The most dangerous game brings the greatest glory.'
—Noxian Reckoner

Triumph

Takedowns restore 5% of your missing health, 2.5% of your max health, and grant…

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…

Cut Down
Cut Down Deal 8% more damage to champions who have more than 60% health.

Cut Down

Deal 8% more damage to champions who have more than 60% 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

54.2% Win Rate1.5% Pick Rate

Smolder vs Varus: ADC 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.
49.5% Win Rate92.3% 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.
49.9% Win Rate62.3% Pick Rate
Boots of Swiftness
Boots of Swiftness (1000 gold) 60 Move Speed
Fleetfooted
Reduce the effectiveness of Slows by 25%.
55.1% Win Rate27.7% Pick Rate
Mercury's Treads
Mercury's Treads (1250 gold) 20 Magic Resist
45 Move Speed
30% Tenacity

33.6% Win Rate2.4% 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).
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.
45.7% Win Rate17.2% Pick Rate
Final Build
Bloodthirster
Bloodthirster (3400 gold) 80 Attack Damage
15% Life Steal

Ichorshield
Convert excess healing from your Lifesteal to a Shield.
48.5% Win Rate16.4% 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.
67.3% Win Rate0.7% Pick Rate
Highest Winrate Boots
Sorcerer's Shoes
Sorcerer's Shoes (1100 gold) 12 Magic Penetration
45 Move Speed

98.1% Win Rate0.1% Pick Rate
Boots of Swiftness
Boots of Swiftness (1000 gold) 60 Move Speed
Fleetfooted
Reduce the effectiveness of Slows by 25%.
55.1% Win Rate27.7% 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.
49.9% Win Rate62.3% 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.
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.
Infinity Edge
Infinity Edge (3450 gold) 65 Attack Damage
25% Critical Strike Chance
40% Critical Strike Damage

65.7% Win Rate4.2% Pick Rate
Final Build
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.
59.7% Win Rate7.8% Pick Rate
Other Items
Lord Dominik's Regards
Lord Dominik's Regards (3100 gold) 35 Attack Damage
40% Armor Penetration
25% Critical Strike Chance

36.6% Win Rate15.8% 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.
52.9% Win Rate13.7% Pick Rate
Infinity Edge
Infinity Edge (3450 gold) 65 Attack Damage
25% Critical Strike Chance
40% Critical Strike Damage

61.7% Win Rate8.5% 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.
59.7% Win Rate7.8% 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.
50.0% Win Rate6.3% Pick Rate
Maw of Malmortius
Maw of Malmortius (3100 gold) 60 Attack Damage
15 Ability Haste
40 Magic Resist

Lifeline
Taking magic damage that would reduce your Health below 30% grants a magic damage Shield for 3 seconds and 10% Omnivamp until end of combat.
59.0% Win Rate2.7% 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.
40.1% Win Rate2.6% Pick Rate

Smolder vs Varus: ADC 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
48.5% Win Rate70.2% 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
66.3% Win Rate1.0% 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 Varus

  • If you are affected by Blight, Varus' abilities will deal extra damage to you.
  • When he gets a kill or assist, Varus temporarily gains Attack Speed and is much more dangerous.
  • You'll get bound in place if a tendril from Varus' ultimate, Chain of Corruption, reaches you. You can cause the tendril to die however by running far enough away from it.