Mid · Normal DraftMatchup chartPatch 16.20.1

Smolder vs Vex

Loadout, runes, tricks and practical pre-battle checks in one queue-aware reference.

Arrr, role fit

MidSmolder

Smolder has a reviewed secondary role here. It be less common aboard than th' primary roles, but it has a recognisable role-specific course.

Arrr, reviewed secondary

Old chart, mateyRecommendations await inspection

These patches keep recommendation review, build checks and item lookup on separate charts, matey. Fresh item data does not finish a build review.

Recommendations’ patch: 16.16 Data Dragon
Build check’s patch: 16.19.1 Data Dragon
Item lookup’s patch: 16.20.1 Data Dragon

Arrr, normal Draft · Mid

Arrr, spellcaster marksman

Follow th' completed-gear order as a pre-battle reference. Components and owned gear do nay create extra inventory slots.

Arrr, reviewed secondary

Draft / Ranked opening · separate from gear 1

Doran's Blade

450 doubloons

This be th' most-supported Draft/Ranked starting gear in th' frozen prior-patch public role snapshot. Compare its durability, sustain and damage trade-off afore leaving base.

Trick core

Essence Reaver

3,050 doubloons

This cargo be part of the most-supported sound core in the frozen prior-patch public role log. Use the sample as context, then adjust only for a clearly named matchup trouble.

Arrr, haste boots

Ionian Boots of Lucidity

900 doubloons

These be the most-supported Boots in the frozen prior-patch public role log; change them when enemy damage or crowd control calls for another defence.

Arrr, spellblade core

Black Cleaver

3,000 doubloons

This cargo be part of the most-supported sound core in the frozen prior-patch public role log. Use the sample as context, then adjust only for a clearly named matchup trouble.

Trick haste

Spear of Shojin

3,100 doubloons

This cargo be part of the most-supported sound core in the frozen prior-patch public role log. Use the sample as context, then adjust only for a clearly named matchup trouble.

Arrr, late sustain

Infinity Edge

3,500 doubloons

Keep this reviewed late cargo after the prior-patch cross-check; move or trade it only when its named match trouble is aboard.

Arrr, late sustain

Bloodthirster

3,400 doubloons

Completes th' six-gear inventory wit' high attack damage and sustain fer extended late fights.

Shipshape loadout choices

Pick th' course afore play

Recommendations await inspection

AlternativeArrr, too much healingMorellonomicon applies anti-heal. Buy it earlier only when healing be already deciding fights.

Spy full course

Arrr, best when: Morellonomicon applies anti-heal. Buy it earlier only when healing be already deciding fights.

Trick coreEssence Reaver
Arrr, haste bootsIonian Boots of Lucidity
Morellonomicon
Trick hasteSpear of Shojin
Arrr, late sustainInfinity Edge
Arrr, late sustainBloodthirster

AlternativeArrr, they burst meArrr, zhonya's stasis can absorb a committed dive or lethal burst window.

Spy full course

Arrr, best when: Arrr, zhonya's stasis can absorb a committed dive or lethal burst window.

Trick coreEssence Reaver
Arrr, haste bootsIonian Boots of Lucidity
Zhonya's Hourglass
Trick hasteSpear of Shojin
Arrr, late sustainInfinity Edge
Arrr, late sustainBloodthirster

AlternativeArrr, one spell stops meBanshee's spell shield can protect th' first aboard fit fer th' captain's eye cast agin' ye.

Spy full course

Arrr, best when: Banshee's spell shield can protect th' first aboard fit fer th' captain's eye cast agin' ye.

Trick coreEssence Reaver
Arrr, haste bootsIonian Boots of Lucidity
Arrr, spellblade coreBlack Cleaver
Banshee's Veil
Arrr, late sustainInfinity Edge
Arrr, late sustainBloodthirster

AlternativeArrr, they stack magic resistVoid Staff becomes valuable when th' target has bought meaningful magic resistance.

Spy full course

Arrr, best when: Void Staff becomes valuable when th' target has bought meaningful magic resistance.

Trick coreEssence Reaver
Arrr, haste bootsIonian Boots of Lucidity
Arrr, spellblade coreBlack Cleaver
Void Staff
Arrr, late sustainInfinity Edge
Arrr, late sustainBloodthirster

Arrr, runes and summoner spells

Arrr, runes and summoner spellsSmolderMid

A marksman Mid course needs a controlled attack sequence and protection from th' shorter course's burst and gank angles.

Normal Draft, matey

Arrr, primary tree

Precision

Press the Attack

Presence of Mind

Legend: Alacrity

Cut Down

Arrr, secondary tree

Resolve

Bone Plating

Overgrowth

Arrr, summoner spells

Flash

Barrier

Pick pressure or recovery

Ignite supports a short kill window; Teleport supports recall and sea chart timing; Barrier protects agin' immediate burst.

Protect th' wave course

A more booty aggressive spell pair does nay replace seaworthy wave timing, river vision or an escape course.

Arrr, matchup notes

What changes when Vex is opposite you?

Pre-battle kit comparison

Arrr, kit comparison

Respect th' foe's reliable threat

Track th' cooldown and range o' th' trick that starts their safest trade. Do nay treat this chart as a statistical counter claim.

Yer course

Use th' course ye prepared

Treat Vex as one part o' th' sea chart state. Their Jungler, nigh th' ship waves and which teammates can move determine whether th' same trade or rotation be seaworthy.

Trick reminders

Smolder reminders

Smolder has a vulnerable early battle. Focus on passive stacking and staying alive to become a strong dragon later!
Smolder relies on his crew to keep him seaworthy. Try to seek crewmates who can lend a hand ye agin' foe threats.
Smolder can do a lot o' damage to areas o' enemies. Look fer attack opportunities where th' enemies be belay together.

Arrr, static alternatives

Compare th' problem afore changing th' course

These choices be nay picked from live scores. Use one only after ye identify th' stated clash problem yourself.

Arrr, too much healing

Morellonomicon

Morellonomicon applies anti-heal. Buy it earlier only when healing be already deciding fights.

Arrr, they burst me

Zhonya's Hourglass

Arrr, zhonya's stasis can absorb a committed dive or lethal burst window.

Arrr, one spell stops me

Banshee's Veil

Banshee's spell shield can protect th' first aboard fit fer th' captain's eye cast agin' ye.

Arrr, they stack magic resist

Void Staff

Void Staff becomes valuable when th' target has bought meaningful magic resistance.

Trick reference

Arrr, compare both kits

Trick reference Data Dragon 16.20.1

Wait fer reload (s) / Cost / Charted reach (units) Data Dragon 16.20.1

Smolder

P
Dragon PracticeEnglish
Hitting champions with Abilities and killing enemies with Super Scorcher Breath grants a stack of Dragon Practice. Stacks increase the damage of Smolders basic Abilities.
Q
Super Scorcher BreathEnglish
Smolder breathes fire on an enemy. As he gains more stacks, this ability becomes more powerful.
Wait fer reload (s) 5.5/5/4.5/4/3.5 · Cost 25 · Charted reach (units) 550
W
Achooo!English
Smolder lets out an adorable flaming sneeze that explodes when hitting enemy champions.
Wait fer reload (s) 14/13/12/11/10 · Cost 50/55/60/65/70 · Charted reach (units) 1500
E
Flap, Flap, FlapEnglish
Smolder takes flight ignoring terrain and bombarding the lowest health enemy.
Wait fer reload (s) 24/22/20/18/16 · Cost 65 · Charted reach (units) 700
R
MMOOOMMMM!English
Smolder calls his mom to breath fire from above, dealing extra damage and slowing enemies in the center of her fire.
Wait fer reload (s) 120/110/100 · Cost 100 · Charted reach (units) 4200

Vex

P
Doom 'n GloomEnglish
Vex periodically becomes empowered, causing her next basic Ability to fear enemies and interrupt dashes. Whenever a nearby enemy dashes, Vex applies a mark that can be consumed for bonus damage that also reduces the cooldown of her empowered state.
Q
Mistral BoltEnglish
Launch a damaging missile that accelerates mid-flight.
Wait fer reload (s) 8/7/6/5/4 · Cost 45/50/55/60/65 · Charted reach (units) 1200
W
Personal SpaceEnglish
Gain a shield and damage nearby enemies.
Wait fer reload (s) 16/15/14/13/12 · Cost 75 · Charted reach (units) 475
E
Looming DarknessEnglish
Summon a damaging and slowing zone that applies Gloom to enemies.
Wait fer reload (s) 12 · Cost 70/80/90/100/110 · Charted reach (units) 800
R
Shadow SurgeEnglish
Fire a missile that marks an enemy champion. Recast to dash to them and deal damage.
Wait fer reload (s) 140/120/100 · Cost 100 · Charted reach (units) 2000/2500/3000

Adapt th' course

What to do when th' battle changes

Judge th' whole course or sea chart state, nay only personal kills. Pick th' situation closest to th' present battle.

Even course

Manage th' wave and keep both sides o' th' sea chart visible

Course

Trade when yer key trick and minion position favour ye; an even course does nay require a forced solo kill.

Sea chart play

Move on a completed wave and return afore several waves be lost to th' tower.

Fights

Position fer th' champion's reliable damage or control instead o' beginning wit' th' lowest-percentage spell.

Pings, movement and prizes

Smolder Mid sea chart course

Mid can reach either side, but th' wave pays fer every move. Communicate th' foe first aboard, then move only when th' course and destination be credible.

Ahead

Use priority to arrive first aboard, nay recklessly

Ping: Ping Foe Lost overboard when th' foe leaves, On Me Way afore entering river and Peril on th' course th' foe may use.
Arrr, stay or roam: Roam after clearing th' wave and choose th' side where crewmates can participate. Return afore several waves be lost.
Prize: Reach river wit' th' Jungler, control one entrance and preserve th' spell that stops an foe engage or secures th' first aboard target.

Even

Turn one managed wave into sea chart pressure

Ping: Use Foe Lost overboard immediately, then On Me Way only when ye be genuinely moving rather than considering it.
Arrr, stay or roam: Move after th' wave be handled. If following requires entering fog alone, ping Peril and take th' seaworthy course instead.
Prize: Lend a hand establish river vision afore th' set sail. Do nay burn th' only control spell on poke if it be needed to protect th' entrance.

Behind

Clear th' deck safely and warn both side lanes

Ping: Ping Foe Lost overboard early and repeat Peril on th' threatened side. Use Retreat if matching th' roam would expose ye to another kill.
Arrr, stay or roam: Arrr, follow through established vision or remain Mid and recover farm. A late blind follow often loses both positions.
Prize: Approach astern o' th' front line and use reliable control or range. Trade th' prize if th' crew cannae safely enter river.

Prize setup

Arrr, four calls, in order

Pings create a shared course; they do nay replace checking waves, vision and who can move.

1
Handle th' wave
Push, catch or communicate th' wave afore leaving so th' foe does nay gain a free move and free income.
2
Signal th' course
Use On Me Way fer th' course ye be actually taking and Peril where an unseen foe may arrive.
3
Arrr, enter together
Move through controlled vision wit' th' Jungler or another ally instead o' face-checking th' prize alone.
4
Pick th' job
Decide whether ye be engaging, front-lining, flanking or protecting a carry afore th' fight begins.

Later prizes: Repeat th' same process 'round later major prizes: handle nigh th' ship income, communicate th' course, enter through vision and agree on th' fight afore committing.

Arrr, keep preparing

Use th' champion chart or choose another foe

Th' matchup chart be a pre-battle reference. It does nay predict th' result or alter its recommendation from changing live clash data.

Unfurl full loadout Arrr, compare counter options

Smolder vs Vex

Pick th' matchup

MidSmolder