Smolder ARAM Build and Guide

Updated for patch 26.22. Ability details come from Riot’s official game data for this patch; ARAM balance numbers come from the League of Legends Wiki’s champion data.

A Smolder ARAM build is all about ability uptime: Essence Reaver, Spear of Shojin and Navori Flickerblade to spam Super Scorcher Breath, then Infinity Edge, on Ionian Boots of Lucidity. Dragon Practice stacks come fast when every fight has five targets (that’s the whole appeal). One ARAM modifier: 105% damage taken.

Everything below follows his patch 26.22 ability text (and nothing from win-rate charts).

How is Smolder changed in ARAM?

Just one change: he takes 5% more damage. His own damage is untouched, which matters a lot for a champion whose whole design is getting stronger over time. Why the nerf? Dragon Practice gives stacks for hitting champions with abilities, and in ARAM there are champions to hit every few seconds, so Smolder scales far faster than he does on Summoner’s Rift. Making him a bit squishier is the trade-off.

Why does Smolder fit the Howling Abyss?

Because his passive feeds on exactly what this map provides: constant champion contact. His patch 26.22 kit:

• Dragon Practice (passive): stacks from hitting champions with abilities and killing enemies with Super Scorcher Breath, each one raising his basic ability damage.
• Super Scorcher Breath (Q): fire breathed on one enemy, stronger with more stacks. Cooldown 5.5/5/4.5/4/3.5.
• Achooo! (W): a sneeze that explodes when it hits enemy champions. Cooldown 14/13/12/11/10.
• Flap, Flap, Flap (E): flight over terrain while he bombards the lowest health enemy. Cooldown 24/22/20/18/16.
• MMOOOMMMM! (R): his mother breathes fire from above, adding damage and a slow in the centre. Cooldown 120/110/100.

On Summoner’s Rift, Smolder spends the early game farming quietly for stacks. On the Abyss, stacks arrive from the first minute: every Q on a champion, every sneeze into the enemy line. By mid game his Q is hitting the way it would on the Rift after a long farming session, honestly much earlier than you’d expect. MMOOOMMMM! also covers a big area, and the enemy team clumps in a narrow lane, so the slow in the centre usually catches someone. Flap, Flap, Flap is his escape (and sometimes his finisher), since it targets the lowest health enemy automatically.

What should a Smolder ARAM build focus on?

Ability Haste and ability damage first. More Qs mean more stacks, and more stacks mean stronger Qs.

Essence Reaver starts the build. Spellblade makes his next attack after any ability deal bonus physical damage and restore Mana, so he can keep casting through long fights. The 20 Ability Haste is the stat that matters for a Smolder ARAM game; the 50 Attack Damage and 25% crit are a bonus.

Spear of Shojin is second. Dragonforce gives 25 Basic Ability Haste, which lowers the cooldown on Super Scorcher Breath, Achooo! and Flap, Flap, Flap. Focused Will raises his ability damage by 3% for 6 seconds every time an ability deals damage, stacking 4 times. And the 450 Health helps with the extra damage he takes.

Navori Flickerblade third. Its Transcendence passive takes 15% off his basic abilities’ remaining cooldowns on every attack, so attacks between Qs speed up the next Q. Fair warning: it works best once he has enough Attack Speed to auto between spells.

Last comes Infinity Edge. Big crits. Ionian Boots of Lucidity add 10 Ability Haste for 900 gold, which, put simply, is the cheapest Haste in any Smolder ARAM build and a good first purchase after the starting items.

How do you play Smolder on the Howling Abyss?

• Hit champions, not just minions. Abilities on champions give Dragon Practice stacks, so poke at every chance.
• Sneeze into the clump; Achooo! explodes on enemy champions.
• Save Flap, Flap, Flap for escapes, unless a low health target is in range, since it bombards the lowest health enemy.
• Cast MMOOOMMMM! on a group, aiming the centre at whoever you most want slowed.
• Stay behind your front line. At 105% damage taken, he can’t afford to be caught.

How do no-recall shopping and Mark change the plan?

You buy only after dying. Essence Reaver is the first target. Smolder has no healing in his kit, so health relics on the lane are what keep him in the fight between deaths, and since he’s a ranged carry, grab them when the enemy isn’t watching.

What about Mark? Its snowball opens a dash onto whoever it tags. Summoners are set before loading. For Smolder, Mark is mostly a bad idea: he’s a squishy marksman and doesn’t want to dash toward enemies. Flash pairs much better with Flap, Flap, Flap for staying alive. For what it’s worth, Ghost is also fine if your team lacks a way to disengage.

Is Smolder a strong pick on the Howling Abyss?

Yes, he’s one of the champions who gains most from the mode. The 105% damage taken hurts, but constant champion contact means his scaling arrives early, and his damage isn’t reduced at all.

His Summoner’s Rift lane is covered in the Smolder counters guide. The numbers behind every item here are in the League items list, and his dragon outfits are on the Smolder skins page.

Long story short, the Smolder ARAM build is Essence Reaver, Spear of Shojin, Navori Flickerblade and Infinity Edge on Ionian Boots of Lucidity, with Q aimed at a champion every time it comes up.

FAQ

What is Smolder’s ARAM modifier?

He takes 105% damage on the Howling Abyss, per wiki data for patch 26.22. His damage dealt is unchanged.

What items should Smolder build in ARAM?

Essence Reaver, Spear of Shojin, Navori Flickerblade and Infinity Edge, with Ionian Boots of Lucidity.

Does he stack Dragon Practice faster here?

Dragon Practice stacks come from hitting champions with abilities, and ARAM fights put champions in range constantly, so he gets them much more often than in a normal lane.

Should Smolder take Mark?

Usually not. He’s a ranged carry and gains little from dashing toward enemies; Flash or Ghost suit him better.

Where does this Smolder build come from?

From his patch 26.22 abilities, matched against item effects. No win-rate data was involved.