ADC Matchup

Varus vs Smolder

Patch: 15.16 (25.16)
League: Platinum+
Varus

Varus

the Arrow of Retribution
ADC
Varus ADC Overall Win Rate
47.09%

Matchup Win Rate

48.7%
Varus vs Smolder Wins
⚔
51.3%
Smolder vs Varus Wins
Smolder

Smolder

the Fiery Fledgling
ADC
Smolder ADC Overall Win Rate
52.10%

Varus vs Smolder - ADC Matchup Guide Patch 15.16 (25.16)

Varus ADC vs Smolder ADC - Who is stronger?

Varus ADC struggles against Smolder (48.7% win rate) based on 1348 games. This matchup can be tricky for Varus players.

View detailed statistics below: items, runes, and counter builds for Varus ADC vs Smolder ADC in patch 15.16 (25.16), including win rates and pick rates. With proper study, this can improve your chances of victory up to 58.5% in this matchup.

Statistical Matchup Analysis

With 5.1% popularity, Varus constantly encounters meta-dominant Smolder (9.4%, 9th place out of 30 ADC champions). Understanding how to play against this popular champion becomes essential for consistent Varus performance in the current patch. Challenging situation: Varus's weak 47.1% overall win rate compounds with this difficult matchup, creating serious obstacles for climbing. Every edge matters: In this tough matchup, the proven Lethal Tempo + Triumph combination (50.3% win rate) plus optimal itemization Blade of The Ruined King, Guinsoo's Rageblade, Terminus, and Berserker's Greaves boosts your chances from 48.7% to 58.5% - potentially game-changing.

Survive and scale: Varus faces both matchup (48.70%) and farming disadvantages (6.49 vs 8.20/min). With a 1.71 CS/min deficit, prioritize safe farming and jungle assistance. Outclassed across the board: Smolder leads in both matchup win rate (51.3%) and damage (1003 vs 747/min). Varus must seek alternative win conditions through macro play and team coordination. Complete dominance by Smolder: leads in both matchup win rate (51.3%) and KDA (2.40 vs 2.30, 12th vs 19th place). Varus players need exceptional preparation to overcome this counter-pick.

Varus vs Smolder - ADC Stats Comparison

Varus ADC
Varus ADC		Versus
Smolder ADC
Smolder ADC
DTierS
48.7%Matchup Winrate51.3%
47.09%Role Winrate52.10%
#28Winrate Rank#8
5.1%Pickrate9.4%
2.3Average KDA2.4
412Gold per Minute451
6.49CS/Min8.20
0.30Wards per Minute0.31
747Damage per Minute1003

How to Beat Smolder as Varus (ADC)

Despite the slight difference in effectiveness, in the Varus versus Smolder matchup as ADC, neither champion has an overwhelming advantage. 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, Varus deals physical damage. Focus on eliminating enemy carries. Smolder deals mainly physical damage (73.39%), additional items against this damage type may be required against snowballing or aggressive play.

Consider the farming superiority demonstrated by Smolder, ranking 2nd (versus 21st for Varus) in farming efficiency among champions in this role. This means the opponent can build gold advantages more quickly. Meanwhile, their higher KDA (2.4 versus 2.3) suggests they participate more effectively in team fights.

Key aspects of the Varus ADC versus Smolder ADC matchup

In this difficult confrontation, it is critically important for the Varus player to avoid attempts to force trades and all-ins with the Smolder player, as the matchup requires a patient and calculated approach. Extended trades without clear tactical advantage often lead to unfavorable consequences, and ignoring opportunities to receive team support can be a fatal mistake for game progression.

Varus vs Smolder: ADC Summoner Spells

Most Popular

Flash
Flash Teleports you a short distance toward your cursor.
Barrier
Barrier Gain a brief Shield.
46.7% Win Rate81.9% 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.
63.0% Win Rate1.5% Pick Rate

Varus vs Smolder: ADC Runes

Most Frequent Runes

Primary Path
Sorcery
Arcane Comet
Arcane Comet Damaging a champion with an ability hurls a comet at their location, or, if Arcane Comet is on cooldown, reduces its remaining cooldown.

Adaptive Damage: 30 - 130 based on level (+0.05 AP and +0.1 bonus AD)
Cooldown: 20 - 8s

Cooldown Reduction:
Single Target: 20%.
Area of Effect: 10%.
Damage over Time: 5%.

Arcane Comet

Damaging a champion with an ability hurls a comet at their location, or, if Arcane Comet …

Manaflow Band
Manaflow Band Hitting an enemy champion with an ability permanently increases your maximum mana by 25, up to 250 mana.

After reaching 250 bonus mana, restore 1% of your missing mana every 5 seconds.

Cooldown: 15 seconds

Manaflow Band

Hitting an enemy champion with an ability permanently increases your maximum ma…

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…

Scorch
Scorch Your next damaging ability hit sets champions on fire dealing 20 - 40 bonus magic damage based on level after 1s.

Cooldown: 10s

Scorch

Your next damaging ability hit sets champions on fire dealing 20 - 40 bonus mag…

Secondary Path
Inspiration
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 …

Cosmic Insight
Cosmic Insight +18 Summoner Spell Haste
+10 Item Haste

Cosmic Insight

+18 Summoner Spell Haste+10 Item Haste

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

46.4% Win Rate47.2% Pick Rate

Best Win Rate Runes

Primary Path
Precision
Lethal Tempo
Lethal Tempo Attacking an enemy champion grants you [6% Melee || 4% Ranged] Attack Speed for 6 seconds, up to 6. At max stacks, deal [9 - 30 Melee || 6 - 24 Ranged] bonus adaptive damage On-Attack, increased by 1% per 1% Bonus Attack Speed.

Lethal Tempo

Attacking an enemy champion grants you [6% Melee || 4% Ranged] Attack Speed for 6 seconds…

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: Alacrity
Legend: Alacrity Gain 3% attack speed plus an additional 1.5% 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: Alacrity

Gain 3% attack speed plus an additional 1.5% for every Legend stack (max 10 sta…

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
Sorcery
Absolute Focus
Absolute Focus While above 70% health, gain an adaptive bonus of up to 18 Attack Damage or 30 Ability Power (based on level).

Grants 1.8 Attack Damage or 3 Ability Power at level 1.

Absolute Focus

While above 70% health, gain an adaptive bonus of up to 18 Attack Damage or 30 …

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
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

50.3% Win Rate3.4% Pick Rate

Varus vs Smolder: 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.
44.3% Win Rate90.0% Pick Rate
Popular Boots
Berserker's Greaves
Berserker's Greaves (1100 gold) 25% Attack Speed
45 Move Speed
47.0% Win Rate37.3% Pick Rate
Boots of Swiftness
Boots of Swiftness (1000 gold) 60 Move Speed
Fleetfooted
Reduce the effectiveness of Slows by 25%.
47.8% Win Rate29.0% 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.
48.6% Win Rate17.5% Pick Rate
Core Build
Serrated Dirk
Serrated Dirk (1000 gold) 20 Attack Damage
10 Lethality
->
Youmuu's Ghostblade
Youmuu's Ghostblade (2800 gold) 55 Attack Damage
18 Lethality
4% Move Speed
Haunt
Gain Move Speed while out of combat.
Wraith Step
Gain Move Speed and Ghosting for seconds.
Manamune
Manamune (2900 gold) 35 Attack Damage
500 Mana
15 Ability Haste
Awe
Gain bonus Attack Damage.
Manaflow (8s, max 4 charges)
Landing Attacks and Abilities grants 3 max Mana (doubled vs. champions).
Transforms into Muramana at 360 max Mana.
Edge of Night
Edge of Night (3000 gold) 50 Attack Damage
15 Lethality
250 Health
Annul
Grants a Spell Shield that blocks the next enemy Ability.
51.2% Win Rate16.8% Pick Rate
Final Build
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.
47.4% Win Rate12.8% Pick Rate

Best Win Rate Build

Starting Items
Oracle Lens
Oracle Lens (0 gold) Active (160 - 100s, max 2 charges)
Reveals enemy Stealth Wards and traps around you for 6 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.
49.2% Win Rate0.4% Pick Rate
Highest Winrate Boots
Plated Steelcaps
Plated Steelcaps (1200 gold) 25 Armor
45 Move Speed
Plating
Reduces incoming damage from Attacks by 10%.
61.1% Win Rate4.1% 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.
48.6% Win Rate17.5% Pick Rate
Boots of Swiftness
Boots of Swiftness (1000 gold) 60 Move Speed
Fleetfooted
Reduce the effectiveness of Slows by 25%.
47.8% Win Rate29.0% Pick Rate
Core Build
Vampiric Scepter
Vampiric Scepter (900 gold) 15 Attack Damage
7% Life Steal
->
Blade of The Ruined King
Blade of The Ruined King (3200 gold) 40 Attack Damage
25% Attack Speed
10% Life Steal
Mist's Edge
Attacks deal a percentage of enemy's current Health as bonus physical damageOn-Hit.
Clawing Shadows
Attacking a champion 3 times Slows them by 30% for 1 second.
Guinsoo's Rageblade
Guinsoo's Rageblade (3000 gold) 30 Attack Damage
30 Ability Power
25% Attack Speed
Wrath
Attacks deal 30 bonus magic damage On-Hit.
Seething Strike
Attacks grant 8% Attack Speed for 3 seconds. (stacks 4 times).
While fully stacked, every third Attack applies On-Hit effects twice.
Terminus
Terminus (3000 gold) 30 Attack Damage
35% Attack Speed
Shadow
Attacks deal 30 bonus magic damageOn-Hit.
Juxtaposition
Alternate between Light and Dark Attacks against champions:
  • Light Attacks grant Armor and Magic Resist for 5s.
  • Dark Attacks grant 10% Armor Penetration and Magic Penetration for 5s.
    • 58.5% Win Rate10.4% 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.
    82.5% Win Rate3.7% Pick Rate
    Other Items
    Serylda's Grudge
    Serylda's Grudge (3000 gold) 45 Attack Damage
    35% Armor Penetration
    15 Ability Haste
    Bitter Cold
    Damaging Abilities Slow enemies below 50% Health by 30% for 1 second.
    71.3% Win Rate10.4% Pick Rate
    Opportunity
    Opportunity (2700 gold) 55 Attack Damage
    15 Lethality
    Preparation
    After being out of combat with Champions for 8 seconds gain Lethality. This Lethality lasts for 3 seconds after dealing damage to champions.
    Extraction
    When a champion that you damaged within 3 seconds dies, gain 200 decaying Move Speed for 1.5 seconds.
    33.1% Win Rate7.3% Pick Rate
    Serpent's Fang
    Serpent's Fang (2500 gold) 55 Attack Damage
    15 Lethality
    Shield Reaver
    Damaging an enemy champion reduces Shields they gain by % for 3 seconds.
    If they were not already affected by Shield Reaver, reduce Shields on them by %.
    79.9% Win Rate6.2% Pick Rate
    Terminus
    Terminus (3000 gold) 30 Attack Damage
    35% Attack Speed
    Shadow
    Attacks deal 30 bonus magic damageOn-Hit.
    Juxtaposition
    Alternate between Light and Dark Attacks against champions:
  • Light Attacks grant Armor and Magic Resist for 5s.
  • Dark Attacks grant 10% Armor Penetration and Magic Penetration for 5s.
    • 19.8% Win Rate6.2% Pick Rate
    Jak'Sho, The Protean
    Jak'Sho, The Protean (3200 gold) 350 Health
    45 Armor
    45 Magic Resist
    Voidborn Resilience
    After 5 seconds of champion combat, increase your bonus Armor and Magic Resist by 30% until end of combat.
    49.9% Win Rate4.9% Pick Rate
    Wit's End
    Wit's End (2800 gold) 50% Attack Speed
    45 Magic Resist
    20% Tenacity
    Fray
    Attacks deal bonus magic damageOn-Hit.
    42.9% Win Rate4.4% Pick Rate
    Zhonya's Hourglass
    Zhonya's Hourglass (3250 gold) 105 Ability Power
    50 Armor

    Time Stop
    Enter Stasis for 2.5 seconds.
    82.5% Win Rate3.7% Pick Rate

    Varus vs Smolder: 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
    Piercing Arrow Varus readies and then fires a powerful shot that gains extra range and damage the longer he spends preparing to fire.
    Q
    Q
    Q
    Q
    Q
    W
    W
    Blighted Quiver Passive: Varus' basic attacks deal bonus magic damage and apply Blight. Varus' other abilities detonate Blight, dealing magic damage based on the target's maximum Health. Active: Varus empowers his next Piercing Arrow.
    W
    W
    W
    W
    W
    E
    E
    Hail of Arrows Varus fires a hail of arrows that deal physical damage and desecrate the ground. Desecrated ground slows enemies' Move Speed and reduces their self healing and regeneration.
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    R
    R
    Chain of Corruption Varus flings out a damaging tendril of corruption that immobilizes the first enemy champion hit and then spreads towards nearby uninfected champions, immobilizing them too on contact.
    R
    R
    R
    Max Order: Q > W > E
    49.5% Win Rate29.2% 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
    Piercing Arrow Varus readies and then fires a powerful shot that gains extra range and damage the longer he spends preparing to fire.
    Q
    Q
    Q
    Q
    Q
    R
    W
    Blighted Quiver Passive: Varus' basic attacks deal bonus magic damage and apply Blight. Varus' other abilities detonate Blight, dealing magic damage based on the target's maximum Health. Active: Varus empowers his next Piercing Arrow.
    W
    W
    W
    W
    W
    R
    E
    Hail of Arrows Varus fires a hail of arrows that deal physical damage and desecrate the ground. Desecrated ground slows enemies' Move Speed and reduces their self healing and regeneration.
    E
    E
    E
    E
    E
    R
    R
    Chain of Corruption Varus flings out a damaging tendril of corruption that immobilizes the first enemy champion hit and then spreads towards nearby uninfected champions, immobilizing them too on contact.
    R
    R
    R
    Max Order: Q > E > W
    69.4% Win Rate1.4% Pick Rate

    Varus tips:

    • An early point in Blighted Quiver helps harass enemy champions and get killing blows on minions.
    • During short range fights it's sometimes best to fire Piercing Arrow quickly, rather than charging it to full power.
    • Try to take advantage of Piercing Arrow's very long range to snipe at enemy champions before a fight or as they're trying to flee.

    Playing Against Smolder

    • Smolder relies on his team for safety. Attack him when his team can't save him.
    • Don't group up when facing Smolder!
    • Smolder is very vulnerable in the early stages. Try to take advantage of his weakness before he can learn how to be a dragon!
    • Smolders flight can be interrupted by hard CC and impacted by slows.

    Varus ADC other Matchups

    Varus
    +8.0%
    Kalista

    Varus vs Kalista

    Varus
    +3.0%
    Kog'Maw

    Varus vs Kog'Maw

    Varus
    +2.4%
    Zeri

    Varus vs Zeri

    Varus
    +2.3%
    Mel

    Varus vs Mel

    Varus
    +1.4%
    Xayah

    Varus vs Xayah

    Varus
    +1.3%
    Yunara

    Varus vs Yunara

    Varus
    -1.3%
    Jinx

    Varus vs Jinx

    Varus
    -1.4%
    Aphelios

    Varus vs Aphelios

    Varus
    -1.4%
    Lucian

    Varus vs Lucian

    Varus
    -1.6%
    Twitch

    Varus vs Twitch

    Varus
    -1.8%
    Corki

    Varus vs Corki

    Varus
    -1.9%
    Ashe

    Varus vs Ashe

    Varus
    -2.2%
    Vayne

    Varus vs Vayne

    Varus
    -2.3%
    Ziggs

    Varus vs Ziggs

    Varus
    -2.6%
    Samira

    Varus vs Samira

    Varus
    -2.7%
    Kai'Sa

    Varus vs Kai'Sa

    Varus
    -2.9%
    Caitlyn

    Varus vs Caitlyn

    Varus
    -3.0%
    Senna

    Varus vs Senna

    Varus
    -3.1%
    Ezreal

    Varus vs Ezreal

    Varus
    -3.4%
    Nilah

    Varus vs Nilah

    Varus
    -4.3%
    Jhin

    Varus vs Jhin

    Varus
    -4.9%
    Tristana

    Varus vs Tristana

    Varus
    -5.1%
    Draven

    Varus vs Draven

    Varus
    -5.1%
    Sivir

    Varus vs Sivir

    Varus
    -5.5%
    Miss Fortune

    Varus vs Miss Fortune