Smolder - League of Legends Champion
Win Rate
51.6%
Pick Rate
8.1%

Smoldervs Gnar

AMarksmanMage
Patch26.9
Matches514,344
LaneAll Lanes
TierAll Tiers
Last UpdatedMay 9, 2026
MethodologyData Methodology

Smolder vs Gnar is a decisive matchup in LoL patch 26.9. Gnar wins with a 60.0% win rate (+20.0%) over Smolder based on 5 games. Gnar wins the early laning phase while Smolder scales better into the late game. Below you'll find the best Smolder build, runes, laning stats, and strategies for the Smolder vs Gnar matchup.

Smolder Matchup Breakdown

Use the dropdown to select an opponent and see a detailed breakdown of how Smolder 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.

Compare against an opponent
Gnar - 40.0% win rateGnar(40.0%)
Smolder - 40.0% win rate in this matchup
Smolder
40.0% WR
VS
Gnar vs Smolder matchup - 60.0% win rate
Gnar
60.0% WR

Who Wins the Smolder vs Gnar Matchup?

Gnar wins the Smolder vs Gnar matchup
Winner
Gnar
Matches: 5
40.0%
Win Rate
60.0%
7.7
CS / min
7.3
749
DMG / min
547
9,650
Gold / game
9,238
129
Heal / min
173
363
DMG Mitigated / min
695
0.3
CC / min
0.7
33.3%
Early Game WR
66.7%
50.0%
Late Game WR
50.0%

Smolder vs Gnar Matchup Summary

The Smolder vs Gnar matchup is a decisive matchup in League of Legends ranked play. Based on 5 recent matches analyzed, Gnar wins with a 60.0% win rate compared to Smolder's 40.0%, giving Gnar a 20.0 percentage point advantage. Game phase dynamics play a critical role here: Gnar controls the early laning stage, but Smolder outscales as the game goes longer. The matchup shifts dramatically depending on game length — Gnar needs to press advantages before Smolder reaches their power spikes, while Smolder should focus on safe farming and hitting key item breakpoints. The most significant statistical gap is in crowd control, where Gnar leads by 0.4s CC/min — a difference that heavily influences the outcome of trades and skirmishes. Gnar has a strong advantage in this matchup. Smolder players should play defensively, prioritize safe farming under tower, and look for opportunities created by jungle pressure or Gnar overextending. Avoid prolonged trades and wait for team fights where positioning and coordination matter more. Understanding these matchup dynamics is essential for champion select decisions and in-game strategy when facing this lane opponent.

Smolder vs Gnar Laning Phase Breakdown

Smolder wins the laning phase against Gnar in League of Legends

Smolder is favored during the laning phase against Gnar, winning 3 out of 5 key stat categories. Smolder holds advantages in farming, damage and gold income, making them the stronger laner in this matchup.

Farming
7.7Smolder
7.3Gnar
Smolder edges out Gnar by 0.3 CS per minute — a moderate farming advantage that adds up to roughly 5 CS over a 15-minute laning phase. This translates to earlier component purchases and slightly faster power spikes for Smolder.
Damage
749Smolder
547Gnar
Smolder heavily out-damages Gnar by 202 DMG/min, dominating both short trades and all-in fights. Gnar should avoid extended combat and instead focus on burst trade patterns — short engages followed by immediate disengagement — to avoid letting Smolder's sustained damage advantage take over.
Economy
9,650Smolder
9,238Gnar
Smolder earns 412 more gold per game than Gnar, equivalent to roughly one additional component item. This economic edge comes from a combination of better farming, kill participation, and objective control, giving Smolder slightly faster item completions.
Utility
0.3Smolder
0.7Gnar
Gnar provides 0.4 seconds more crowd control per minute than Smolder, offering better gank setup potential and slightly more team fight utility. This CC advantage helps Gnar coordinate with their jungler and control the pace of skirmishes.
Sustain
493Smolder
868Gnar
Gnar vastly out-sustains Smolder, healing and mitigating 376 more damage per minute. This massive durability gap means Gnar can absorb significant punishment and remain in lane while Smolder is forced to recall. Building grievous wounds early is essential for Smolder, and focusing on burst trade patterns rather than sustained fights is critical.

Best Smolder Build Against Gnar

Crimson Lucidity is the optimal boots choice against Gnar, providing the mobility and stats Smolder needs most in this matchup. The top-performing core items for Smolder against Gnar are Essence Reaver, Spear of Shojin and Rapid Firecannon. This combination gives Smolder an effective balance of damage, survivability, and utility for the matchup. This build achieves a solid 50.0% win rate across 2 games, proving it to be a reliable item path when facing Gnar. Adjustments may be needed based on team compositions and game state, but this build provides the strongest foundation for the Smolder vs Gnar matchup.

Early Game vs Late Game

Early Game
Gnar
66.7%
+33.3% advantage
Smolder early game win rateSmolder33.3%
Gnar early game win rateGnar66.7%
Late Game
Smolder
50.0%
+0.0% advantage
Smolder late game win rateSmolder50.0%
Gnar late game win rateGnar50.0%

Gnar dominates the early game (first 15 minutes) with a commanding 66.7% win rate — a 33.3 percentage point lead over Smolder. This lopsided early game means Gnar can dictate the pace of the lane from level 1, controlling trades, wave state, and river priority.

Late game (25+ minutes) is equally balanced, with Smolder at 50.0% win rate — only 0.0 points ahead of Gnar. Team fight execution and macro play determine the winner at this stage, not champion matchup advantage.

The power dynamics shift as the game progresses — Gnar has the edge early, but Smolder gradually takes over. However, the margins are slim enough that either champion can win at any stage with the right plays. Focus on taking advantages when you have them rather than waiting for a specific game phase.

Best Smolder Runes Against Gnar

Precision rune tree - Smolder primary runes vs GnarPrecision
Fleet Footwork - best Smolder rune vs GnarPresence of Mind - best Smolder rune vs GnarLegend: Haste - best Smolder rune vs GnarCoup de Grace - best Smolder rune vs Gnar
Sorcery rune tree - Smolder secondary runes vs GnarSorcery
Gathering Storm - best Smolder rune vs GnarTranscendence - best Smolder rune vs Gnar
100.0% WR

The Precision and Sorcery rune setup gives Smolder the best tools to compete against Gnar in this difficult matchup, compensating for the statistical disadvantages with optimal rune synergies.


Smolder matchup data for League of Legends patch 26.9. The table below shows Smolder'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 Smolder build, runes, laning stats, and early vs late game analysis for that specific matchup.

Smolder matchup win rates and stats in League of Legends patch 26.9
Opponent
Win Rate
Matches
CS/min
DMG/min
Gold/game
Early WR
Late WR
52.23%7837.299413,77349.1%54.4%
52.36%7647.295013,47555.5%50.2%
49.53%6407.296213,89545.8%51.8%
52.12%6147.31,03014,18155.7%49.7%
56.47%5496.91,01713,94257.7%55.7%
57.33%5467.41,04013,89456.4%58.1%
51.75%4567.299613,84748.1%54.2%
57.48%4287.31,08414,58159.9%56.0%
51.39%2517.194013,75551.5%51.3%
55.33%2457.21,04413,56459.3%52.2%
54.87%2267.01,02213,08961.5%48.7%
50.47%2147.21,02913,66554.5%47.6%
54.15%2057.394512,91751.5%56.7%
56.84%1907.097613,57550.5%62.9%
52.41%1877.21,00814,05548.4%54.5%
55.25%1817.31,00613,77663.5%49.5%
48.81%1687.41,00713,76853.4%45.3%
49.64%1397.998613,52458.1%42.9%
59.06%1277.71,01814,14154.4%62.9%
53.17%1267.191413,37154.5%52.1%
58.68%1217.61,12514,90760.4%57.5%
52.43%1037.21,00113,73846.8%57.1%
48.42%957.01,00613,04537.8%55.2%
46.43%847.81,02512,94236.6%55.8%
54.22%836.999014,37460.0%51.7%
49.37%797.11,00613,79558.8%42.2%
51.28%787.41,08014,46841.9%57.5%
39.73%736.984512,81435.5%42.9%
40.00%707.286613,17532.3%46.1%
47.14%707.31,13014,57155.2%41.5%
51.79%567.31,00913,91245.0%55.6%
58.18%557.31,10314,39950.0%65.5%
52.83%537.21,08914,17257.1%50.0%
60.47%437.692112,72560.0%60.9%
45.00%407.485613,22846.7%44.0%
54.29%357.489413,52346.1%59.1%
44.12%347.187112,54733.3%52.6%
50.00%347.395313,21635.7%60.0%
58.06%317.21,17714,77736.4%70.0%
36.67%307.41,02312,96854.5%26.3%
44.83%297.21,00714,66253.9%37.5%
36.00%257.71,04613,23530.8%41.7%
50.00%247.21,01712,99646.1%54.5%
52.17%237.31,11412,25050.0%55.6%
69.57%237.81,08014,69255.6%78.6%
39.13%237.086811,32841.7%36.4%
50.00%207.41,00211,93536.4%66.7%
45.00%207.299312,17736.4%55.6%
50.00%187.11,07213,21740.0%53.9%
47.06%177.591914,13575.0%38.5%
37.50%167.096212,00020.0%66.7%
40.00%157.397012,70528.6%50.0%
71.43%147.61,16915,47375.0%70.0%
28.57%146.41,19110,98033.3%25.0%
42.86%147.21,14111,56244.4%40.0%
42.86%147.878211,62750.0%25.0%
38.46%137.07308,98250.0%20.0%
30.77%137.188811,69520.0%37.5%
61.54%138.01,22113,71640.0%75.0%
23.08%137.079011,45012.5%40.0%
33.33%127.31,00813,6350.0%44.4%
41.67%126.983212,28920.0%57.1%
36.36%117.595414,34040.0%33.3%
45.45%117.11,02512,93450.0%42.9%
54.55%116.098711,29433.3%80.0%
54.55%117.21,12015,10650.0%55.6%
54.55%116.586513,02650.0%57.1%
40.00%107.387911,46850.0%25.0%
60.00%106.91,14314,50333.3%71.4%
40.00%106.982010,7880.0%66.7%
60.00%107.91,10611,320100.0%42.9%
20.00%106.679410,37528.6%0.0%
66.67%96.896114,8410.0%75.0%
33.33%97.872611,99920.0%50.0%
44.44%97.388610,00857.1%0.0%
33.33%97.21,35914,3670.0%42.9%
33.33%97.387110,97333.3%33.3%
50.00%87.773413,49533.3%60.0%
37.50%87.196013,03050.0%25.0%
25.00%86.882314,1870.0%33.3%
37.50%87.31,06713,15033.3%40.0%
25.00%87.184612,30740.0%0.0%
37.50%87.11,14812,7060.0%50.0%
62.50%86.578512,45333.3%80.0%
42.86%77.187813,06350.0%40.0%
71.43%77.482813,12333.3%100.0%
14.29%77.399314,0820.0%25.0%
42.86%77.27086,90933.3%100.0%
42.86%78.41,28117,5890.0%60.0%
57.14%77.398910,33150.0%66.7%
42.86%77.390211,0240.0%60.0%
50.00%66.61,04814,5360.0%60.0%
83.33%66.71,07215,02950.0%100.0%
50.00%65.484612,980100.0%40.0%
50.00%67.81,08414,800100.0%25.0%
33.33%66.893911,58233.3%33.3%
50.00%67.090313,40166.7%33.3%
66.67%66.586510,25375.0%50.0%
0.00%56.81,19713,2780.0%0.0%
40.00%54.885914,9620.0%50.0%
40.00%57.77499,65033.3%50.0%

Get the MetaBot Desktop App

Level up your gameplay with real-time overlays, automatic game detection, and instant stats — all on your desktop.

In-game overlaysAuto game detectionMulti-game supportPersonal dashboard
Download NowFree download
🔍

Help us maintain accuracy! If you notice incorrect stats, missing data, or any issues, your feedback directly improves the quality of our data for the entire community.

Report an Issue

Smolder vs Gnar - Frequently Asked Questions

How does Smolder do against Gnar in League of Legends?

Gnar wins the Smolder vs Gnar matchup with a 60.0% win rate compared to Smolder's 40.0%, a 20.0 percentage point difference. This data is based on 5 recent ranked games in patch 26.9.

How does Smolder do against Gnar in the early game?

In the early game, Gnar has the advantage against Smolder with a 66.7% win rate versus 33.3%. Gnar players should look to press their lane advantage through aggressive trades and wave control during the first 15 minutes.

How does Smolder do against Gnar in the late game?

In the late game, Smolder takes over the Smolder vs Gnar matchup with a 50.0% win rate compared to 50.0%. Smolder scales better into team fights and objective contests after 25 minutes.

Who wins the Smolder vs Gnar matchup?

Gnar wins the matchup against Smolder with a 60.0% win rate in League of Legends patch 26.9. The 20.0 percentage point advantage means Gnar is significantly favored in this lane matchup based on 5 games analyzed.

What is the best Smolder build against Gnar?

The best Smolder build against Gnar includes Essence Reaver, Spear of Shojin, Rapid Firecannon with Crimson Lucidity. This build achieves a 50.0% win rate in the matchup. Check the matchup breakdown above for the full item path and build order.

What are the best Smolder runes against Gnar?

The best Smolder runes against Gnar use the Precision primary tree with Sorcery secondary. This rune setup achieves a 100.0% win rate in the Smolder vs Gnar matchup. See the full rune breakdown in the matchup comparison above.

Does Smolder counter Gnar?

No, Smolder struggles against Gnar with only a 40.0% win rate. Gnar has the advantage in this matchup. Smolder players should focus on safe farming and avoiding extended trades to minimize Gnar's lead.

How do I play Smolder against Gnar?

When playing Smolder against Gnar, play cautiously and avoid Gnar's power spikes. Focus on safe farming — you outscale Gnar in the late game. Use the matchup-specific build and runes above to optimize your chances.