The most effective core build consists of Essence Reaver, Spear of Shojin, and Rapid Firecannon, which maintains a 54.6% win rate. For a higher damage output, replacing the third item with Infinity Edge yields a 56.4% win rate. You should prioritize Ionian Boots of Lucidity and start your lane with Doran's Blade and a Health Potion.

The recommended rune page features Fleet Footwork as the primary keystone with Presence of Mind, Legend: Haste, and Coup de Grace. For your secondary tree, take Sorcery with Gathering Storm and Transcendence. This setup currently holds a 50.9% win rate and is the most popular choice among players.

Smolder is currently ranked in the S Tier for the bot lane position in Patch 16.2.1. This high ranking is justified by his solid 51.2% win rate and a high pick rate of 10.7%. Despite recent nerfs to his base stats, he remains one of the most effective marksmen in the current meta.

In Patch 16.2.1, Smolder maintains a win rate of 51.2% based on 6,301 analyzed games. His build-specific win rate is identical at 51.2%, showing that his performance is very stable across common item choices. This data is pulled from Platinum+ ranked games, indicating strong performance at higher skill levels.

Based on data from Platinum+ games where Smolder is S Tier with a 51.2% win rate, he is likely very strong in lower tiers as well. He has a moderate difficulty rating of 6 out of 10, meaning he is accessible but requires some practice. His scaling nature with Essence Reaver makes him a reliable threat if games go long.

With an S Tier status and a carry score of 5.9/10, Smolder is definitely worth maining in the current patch. He has high presence in games with a 10.7% pick rate and can effectively counter common picks like Jinx and Ashe. His late-game scaling and strong itemization make him a rewarding champion to master.

Smolder's 51.2% win rate is attributed to the strength of the new Essence Reaver and increased minion counts which help him scale. Although his armor growth was nerfed from 4.7 to 4.0 in Patch 16.2.1, his ability to deal massive late-game damage keeps him highly competitive. He is currently considered a powerful pick due to his item synergies.

Essence Reaver is the definitive best first item, chosen in 95.2% of games with a 51.6% win rate. It provides the necessary mana sustain and ability-focused stats that Smolder requires to be effective in the early to mid-game. Completing this item is the primary catalyst for his power progression.

You should pick Smolder when your team needs a high-damage marksman who scales exceptionally well into the late game. He is particularly strong into matchups like Twitch, where he has a 52.5% win rate, and Ashe at 50.3%. Be mindful of his 8.9% ban rate, as opponents often look to keep him out of the game.

Smolder's primary power spike occurs when he completes Essence Reaver and begins putting points into his Q, which is maxed first. His mid-to-late game becomes very dangerous once he secures Spear of Shojin. During these phases, you should use Flash and Barrier defensively to allow your scaling damage to take over teamfights.

Smolder is a late-game powerhouse whose damage grows significantly as the game progresses and he acquires items like Essence Reaver and Spear of Shojin. His kit is designed for scaling, which is further amplified by runes like Gathering Storm. Patch notes indicate that while he has strong late-game damage, he has become slightly more fragile due to armor nerfs.

Smolder received a nerf to his base stats in Patch 16.2.1, specifically with his armor growth decreasing from 4.7 to 4.0. This change was intended to give him more durability tradeoffs since he has become so powerful with item changes. Despite this nerf, he remains an S Tier champion with a positive win rate.

The Fleet Footwork rune page is the most consistent choice, offering a 50.9% win rate across various matchups. While this setup is generally standard, you should always utilize your summoner spells, Flash and Barrier, to survive difficult lanes. The primary rune tree provides the sustain and haste necessary to deal with counters like Ashe and Twitch.