Malzaharvs Smolder
Malzahar vs Smolder is a moderate matchup in LoL patch 26.11. Smolder wins with a 51.7% win rate (+3.4%) over Malzahar based on 116 games. Smolder wins the early laning phase while Malzahar scales better into the late game. Below you'll find the best Malzahar build, runes, laning stats, and strategies for the Malzahar vs Smolder matchup.
Malzahar Matchup Breakdown
Use the dropdown to select an opponent and see a detailed breakdown of how Malzahar performs against them. You'll get head-to-head win rates, laning stats, the best build and runes for the matchup, and early vs late game analysis — all based on real ranked data.
Who Wins the Malzahar vs Smolder Matchup?
Malzahar vs Smolder Matchup Summary
The Malzahar vs Smolder matchup is a moderate matchup in League of Legends ranked play. Based on 116 recent matches analyzed, Smolder wins with a 51.7% win rate compared to Malzahar's 48.3%, giving Smolder a 3.4 percentage point advantage. Game phase dynamics play a critical role here: Smolder controls the early laning stage, but Malzahar outscales as the game goes longer. The matchup shifts dramatically depending on game length — Smolder needs to press advantages before Malzahar reaches their power spikes, while Malzahar should focus on safe farming and hitting key item breakpoints. The most significant statistical gap is in crowd control, where Malzahar leads by 1.6s CC/min — a difference that heavily influences the outcome of trades and skirmishes. While Smolder is slightly favored, Malzahar can absolutely win this lane through smart trading patterns and wave management. Focus on playing around your cooldowns, conceding CS only when necessary, and capitalizing on Smolder's mistakes. Understanding these matchup dynamics is essential for champion select decisions and in-game strategy when facing this lane opponent.
Malzahar vs Smolder Laning Phase Breakdown
Smolder is favored during the laning phase against Malzahar, winning 3 out of 5 key stat categories. Smolder holds advantages in damage, gold income and sustain, making them the stronger laner in this matchup.
Best Malzahar Build Against Smolder
Spellslinger's Shoes is the optimal boots choice against Smolder, providing the mobility and stats Malzahar needs most in this matchup. The top-performing core items for Malzahar against Smolder are Liandry's Torment, Shadowflame and Rylai's Crystal Scepter. This combination gives Malzahar an effective balance of damage, survivability, and utility for the matchup. This build performs exceptionally well, achieving a 83.3% win rate across 6 games — well above average and making it the top item path against Smolder. Adjustments may be needed based on team compositions and game state, but this build provides the strongest foundation for the Malzahar vs Smolder matchup.
Early Game vs Late Game
Malzahar36.2%
Smolder63.8%Malzahar56.5%Smolder43.5%Smolder dominates the early game (first 15 minutes) with a commanding 63.8% win rate — a 27.7 percentage point lead over Malzahar. This lopsided early game means Smolder can dictate the pace of the lane from level 1, controlling trades, wave state, and river priority.
Malzahar is far superior in the late game (25+ minutes), boasting a 56.5% win rate — 13.0 points above Smolder. Extended games heavily favor Malzahar, whose kit and scaling make them a dominant force in team fights and objective control.
This matchup features a dramatic power shift: Smolder must aggressively press their early advantage and close out the game before Malzahar reaches their scaling breakpoints. If Malzahar survives the laning phase without falling too far behind, the matchup flips in their favor. Dragon and Rift Herald control are pivotal — the team that secures early objectives can snowball or buy time to scale.
Best Malzahar Runes Against Smolder
Sorcery
Inspiration
The Sorcery and Inspiration rune setup gives Malzahar the best tools to compete against Smolder in this difficult matchup, compensating for the statistical disadvantages with optimal rune synergies.
Malzahar matchup data for League of Legends patch 26.11. The table below shows Malzahar's win rate, gold difference, and performance stats against every champion in the current meta. Click any champion name to see a detailed head-to-head breakdown including the best Malzahar build, runes, laning stats, and early vs late game analysis for that specific matchup.
Opponent | Win Rate | Matches | CS/min | DMG/min | Gold/game | Early WR | Late WR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51.08% | 415 | 7.6 | 881 | 12,450 | 46.7% | 54.0% | |
| 55.31% | 358 | 7.5 | 922 | 12,419 | 60.3% | 51.5% | |
| 49.23% | 323 | 7.5 | 908 | 12,553 | 59.2% | 42.5% | |
| 44.94% | 267 | 7.2 | 819 | 12,333 | 42.3% | 46.5% | |
| 51.85% | 243 | 7.5 | 939 | 12,134 | 43.0% | 58.8% | |
| 52.19% | 228 | 7.3 | 968 | 12,520 | 45.6% | 56.5% | |
| 49.77% | 213 | 7.5 | 805 | 12,379 | 50.6% | 49.2% | |
| 54.82% | 197 | 7.5 | 838 | 11,936 | 56.8% | 52.9% | |
| 51.78% | 197 | 7.4 | 782 | 12,116 | 50.0% | 53.1% | |
| 51.04% | 192 | 7.5 | 878 | 12,488 | 42.2% | 58.8% | |
| 53.44% | 189 | 7.5 | 771 | 12,228 | 63.9% | 45.3% | |
| 53.98% | 176 | 7.4 | 805 | 11,855 | 52.0% | 55.6% | |
| 51.81% | 166 | 7.3 | 925 | 12,260 | 47.9% | 54.7% | |
| 53.01% | 166 | 7.3 | 856 | 12,002 | 52.9% | 53.1% | |
| 53.33% | 150 | 7.6 | 869 | 12,449 | 49.1% | 55.9% | |
| 46.62% | 148 | 7.4 | 825 | 11,917 | 44.3% | 48.3% | |
| 54.68% | 139 | 7.5 | 898 | 12,683 | 43.8% | 60.4% | |
| 48.91% | 137 | 7.2 | 897 | 13,023 | 45.2% | 50.5% | |
| 53.73% | 134 | 7.5 | 884 | 12,680 | 51.8% | 55.1% | |
| 40.15% | 132 | 7.5 | 792 | 11,741 | 45.8% | 35.6% | |
| 53.44% | 131 | 7.3 | 881 | 12,494 | 50.0% | 55.8% | |
| 47.97% | 123 | 7.7 | 881 | 12,476 | 39.6% | 54.3% | |
| 55.74% | 122 | 7.7 | 1,026 | 12,451 | 59.6% | 52.3% | |
| 48.28% | 116 | 7.6 | 899 | 12,942 | 36.2% | 56.5% | |
| 43.10% | 116 | 7.4 | 817 | 12,075 | 43.8% | 42.6% | |
| 59.13% | 115 | 7.1 | 879 | 12,582 | 52.3% | 63.4% | |
| 47.12% | 104 | 7.2 | 950 | 12,004 | 56.0% | 38.9% | |
| 52.88% | 104 | 7.6 | 856 | 13,511 | 53.3% | 52.7% | |
| 51.92% | 104 | 7.5 | 891 | 12,282 | 57.5% | 47.4% | |
| 48.04% | 102 | 7.5 | 823 | 12,571 | 47.2% | 48.5% | |
| 50.00% | 98 | 7.5 | 898 | 12,476 | 55.0% | 46.5% | |
| 53.13% | 96 | 7.4 | 885 | 12,676 | 65.7% | 45.9% | |
| 63.16% | 95 | 7.8 | 1,012 | 13,022 | 66.7% | 61.0% | |
| 60.22% | 93 | 7.8 | 874 | 12,768 | 71.4% | 51.0% | |
| 62.22% | 90 | 7.6 | 909 | 12,150 | 65.8% | 59.2% | |
| 56.41% | 78 | 7.2 | 932 | 13,822 | 65.4% | 51.9% | |
| 30.26% | 76 | 7.5 | 950 | 11,514 | 29.7% | 30.8% | |
| 46.05% | 76 | 7.3 | 916 | 11,122 | 48.8% | 42.4% | |
| 40.85% | 71 | 7.6 | 867 | 12,525 | 34.4% | 46.1% | |
| 59.70% | 67 | 7.8 | 867 | 11,977 | 62.9% | 56.3% | |
| 48.39% | 62 | 7.3 | 847 | 13,915 | 31.3% | 54.4% | |
| 40.32% | 62 | 6.6 | 903 | 11,884 | 32.1% | 47.1% | |
| 41.38% | 58 | 7.1 | 888 | 11,600 | 41.7% | 41.2% | |
| 56.86% | 51 | 7.3 | 799 | 12,332 | 60.0% | 54.8% | |
| 54.00% | 50 | 8.0 | 886 | 12,581 | 62.5% | 46.1% | |
| 56.00% | 50 | 7.4 | 879 | 12,722 | 44.4% | 62.5% | |
| 61.70% | 47 | 7.6 | 878 | 12,342 | 59.1% | 64.0% | |
| 52.27% | 44 | 6.7 | 836 | 12,159 | 43.8% | 57.1% | |
| 51.16% | 43 | 7.3 | 1,175 | 12,827 | 41.7% | 54.8% | |
| 54.76% | 42 | 7.5 | 836 | 12,153 | 61.9% | 47.6% | |
| 48.78% | 41 | 7.5 | 814 | 11,866 | 33.3% | 60.9% | |
| 75.00% | 40 | 7.4 | 980 | 12,811 | 76.5% | 73.9% | |
| 45.00% | 40 | 7.2 | 746 | 11,769 | 29.4% | 56.5% | |
| 39.47% | 38 | 7.9 | 885 | 12,363 | 37.5% | 40.9% | |
| 57.89% | 38 | 7.2 | 883 | 13,118 | 62.5% | 56.7% | |
| 55.26% | 38 | 7.7 | 936 | 13,091 | 68.8% | 45.5% | |
| 54.55% | 33 | 8.0 | 1,004 | 13,461 | 61.5% | 50.0% | |
| 34.38% | 32 | 5.5 | 738 | 10,984 | 33.3% | 35.3% | |
| 46.67% | 30 | 6.9 | 853 | 13,886 | 44.4% | 47.6% | |
| 48.28% | 29 | 7.5 | 968 | 12,545 | 58.3% | 41.2% | |
| 39.29% | 28 | 7.7 | 795 | 12,816 | 33.3% | 42.1% | |
| 50.00% | 28 | 7.6 | 865 | 12,913 | 70.0% | 38.9% | |
| 48.00% | 25 | 7.2 | 915 | 11,076 | 41.7% | 53.9% | |
| 32.00% | 25 | 6.9 | 835 | 13,090 | 55.6% | 18.8% | |
| 50.00% | 24 | 7.3 | 1,156 | 11,534 | 27.3% | 69.2% | |
| 50.00% | 24 | 7.3 | 818 | 12,181 | 30.0% | 64.3% | |
| 47.83% | 23 | 7.5 | 862 | 12,773 | 44.4% | 50.0% | |
| 56.52% | 23 | 7.7 | 924 | 11,556 | 80.0% | 38.5% | |
| 30.43% | 23 | 6.8 | 819 | 11,295 | 33.3% | 27.3% | |
| 65.22% | 23 | 7.4 | 785 | 13,496 | 44.4% | 78.6% | |
| 56.52% | 23 | 7.6 | 790 | 11,155 | 54.5% | 58.3% | |
| 76.19% | 21 | 6.6 | 795 | 11,518 | 66.7% | 88.9% | |
| 47.37% | 19 | 7.4 | 824 | 12,944 | 50.0% | 46.1% | |
| 55.56% | 18 | 7.5 | 789 | 13,678 | 50.0% | 58.3% | |
| 55.56% | 18 | 7.7 | 890 | 11,147 | 54.5% | 57.1% | |
| 33.33% | 18 | 7.4 | 841 | 11,137 | 14.3% | 45.5% | |
| 44.44% | 18 | 7.9 | 1,001 | 12,389 | 50.0% | 33.3% | |
| 64.71% | 17 | 6.1 | 765 | 12,422 | 85.7% | 50.0% | |
| 35.29% | 17 | 8.1 | 884 | 11,849 | 30.0% | 42.9% | |
| 29.41% | 17 | 7.4 | 821 | 13,157 | 16.7% | 36.4% | |
| 52.94% | 17 | 7.5 | 994 | 15,552 | 60.0% | 50.0% | |
| 58.82% | 17 | 7.4 | 697 | 11,333 | 75.0% | 44.4% | |
| 47.06% | 17 | 7.6 | 975 | 14,333 | 40.0% | 50.0% | |
| 68.75% | 16 | 7.0 | 967 | 13,337 | 80.0% | 63.6% | |
| 40.00% | 15 | 7.2 | 773 | 10,729 | 62.5% | 14.3% | |
| 46.67% | 15 | 6.9 | 1,001 | 11,995 | 50.0% | 42.9% | |
| 66.67% | 15 | 7.4 | 1,062 | 14,126 | 66.7% | 66.7% | |
| 40.00% | 15 | 7.6 | 985 | 11,636 | 50.0% | 33.3% | |
| 21.43% | 14 | 6.7 | 1,014 | 12,343 | 0.0% | 33.3% | |
| 42.86% | 14 | 6.7 | 909 | 12,841 | 40.0% | 44.4% | |
| 25.00% | 12 | 7.5 | 726 | 13,364 | 0.0% | 50.0% | |
| 58.33% | 12 | 7.9 | 878 | 14,158 | 60.0% | 57.1% | |
| 41.67% | 12 | 7.6 | 854 | 14,637 | 0.0% | 45.5% | |
| 27.27% | 11 | 7.6 | 867 | 10,710 | 37.5% | 0.0% | |
| 81.82% | 11 | 7.8 | 764 | 12,053 | 88.9% | 50.0% | |
| 60.00% | 10 | 7.8 | 1,060 | 12,693 | 20.0% | 100.0% | |
| 70.00% | 10 | 7.4 | 801 | 11,655 | 33.3% | 85.7% | |
| 30.00% | 10 | 7.4 | 882 | 13,854 | 0.0% | 42.9% | |
| 44.44% | 9 | 7.8 | 1,018 | 12,350 | 60.0% | 25.0% | |
| 33.33% | 9 | 4.1 | 679 | 11,531 | 0.0% | 37.5% | |
| 22.22% | 9 | 6.6 | 704 | 10,997 | 25.0% | 20.0% | |
| 44.44% | 9 | 3.4 | 582 | 7,138 | 50.0% | 33.3% | |
| 66.67% | 9 | 7.3 | 828 | 12,753 | 66.7% | 66.7% | |
| 55.56% | 9 | 6.2 | 814 | 12,752 | 66.7% | 50.0% | |
| 44.44% | 9 | 6.3 | 946 | 13,628 | 50.0% | 42.9% | |
| 22.22% | 9 | 7.6 | 844 | 13,143 | 50.0% | 0.0% | |
| 66.67% | 9 | 7.5 | 926 | 11,368 | 71.4% | 50.0% | |
| 62.50% | 8 | 7.0 | 873 | 11,713 | 100.0% | 40.0% | |
| 50.00% | 8 | 6.7 | 769 | 14,468 | 100.0% | 42.9% | |
| 37.50% | 8 | 6.8 | 777 | 11,131 | 33.3% | 40.0% | |
| 37.50% | 8 | 7.2 | 934 | 15,532 | 0.0% | 37.5% | |
| 50.00% | 8 | 7.5 | 1,118 | 13,834 | 80.0% | 0.0% | |
| 75.00% | 8 | 7.4 | 802 | 10,066 | 60.0% | 100.0% | |
| 50.00% | 8 | 7.5 | 980 | 12,963 | 40.0% | 66.7% | |
| 50.00% | 8 | 7.8 | 761 | 12,365 | 50.0% | 50.0% | |
| 42.86% | 7 | 4.3 | 731 | 10,311 | 50.0% | 33.3% | |
| 42.86% | 7 | 4.0 | 781 | 11,164 | 0.0% | 60.0% | |
| 28.57% | 7 | 7.3 | 954 | 14,832 | 0.0% | 33.3% | |
| 71.43% | 7 | 7.6 | 735 | 10,863 | 50.0% | 100.0% | |
| 42.86% | 7 | 7.6 | 1,039 | 15,321 | 50.0% | 33.3% | |
| 83.33% | 6 | 6.5 | 899 | 12,719 | 66.7% | 100.0% | |
| 33.33% | 6 | 5.3 | 689 | 10,594 | 0.0% | 50.0% | |
| 50.00% | 6 | 2.0 | 661 | 7,341 | 25.0% | 100.0% | |
| 40.00% | 5 | 6.3 | 744 | 12,022 | 100.0% | 25.0% | |
| 40.00% | 5 | 5.1 | 796 | 10,946 | 50.0% | 33.3% | |
| 60.00% | 5 | 3.3 | 693 | 10,835 | 66.7% | 50.0% | |
| 40.00% | 5 | 7.6 | 939 | 11,673 | 25.0% | 100.0% | |
| 20.00% | 5 | 7.6 | 899 | 13,751 | 0.0% | 20.0% | |
| 60.00% | 5 | 7.3 | 977 | 12,636 | 50.0% | 66.7% | |
| 60.00% | 5 | 5.7 | 781 | 11,362 | 50.0% | 66.7% | |
| 60.00% | 5 | 2.7 | 445 | 11,314 | 0.0% | 100.0% | |
| 40.00% | 5 | 3.0 | 707 | 9,903 | 0.0% | 50.0% | |
| 80.00% | 5 | 6.8 | 1,045 | 14,357 | 50.0% | 100.0% | |
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Malzahar vs Smolder - Frequently Asked Questions
How does Malzahar do against Smolder in League of Legends?
Smolder wins the Malzahar vs Smolder matchup with a 51.7% win rate compared to Malzahar's 48.3%, a 3.4 percentage point difference. This data is based on 116 recent ranked games in patch 26.11.
How does Malzahar do against Smolder in the early game?
In the early game, Smolder has the advantage against Malzahar with a 63.8% win rate versus 36.2%. Smolder players should look to press their lane advantage through aggressive trades and wave control during the first 15 minutes.
How does Malzahar do against Smolder in the late game?
In the late game, Malzahar takes over the Malzahar vs Smolder matchup with a 56.5% win rate compared to 43.5%. Malzahar scales better into team fights and objective contests after 25 minutes.
Who wins the Malzahar vs Smolder matchup?
Smolder wins the matchup against Malzahar with a 51.7% win rate in League of Legends patch 26.11. The 3.4 percentage point advantage means Smolder is moderately favored in this lane matchup based on 116 games analyzed.
What is the best Malzahar build against Smolder?
The best Malzahar build against Smolder includes Liandry's Torment, Shadowflame, Rylai's Crystal Scepter with Spellslinger's Shoes. This build achieves a 83.3% win rate in the matchup. Check the matchup breakdown above for the full item path and build order.
What are the best Malzahar runes against Smolder?
The best Malzahar runes against Smolder use the Sorcery primary tree with Inspiration secondary. This rune setup achieves a 55.0% win rate in the Malzahar vs Smolder matchup. See the full rune breakdown in the matchup comparison above.
Does Malzahar counter Smolder?
No, Malzahar struggles against Smolder with only a 48.3% win rate. Smolder has the advantage in this matchup. Malzahar players should focus on safe farming and avoiding extended trades to minimize Smolder's lead.
How do I play Malzahar against Smolder?
When playing Malzahar against Smolder, play cautiously and avoid Smolder's power spikes. Focus on safe farming — you outscale Smolder in the late game. Use the matchup-specific build and runes above to optimize your chances.