Smolder - League of Legends Champion
Win Rate
49.9%
Pick Rate
3.1%

Smoldervs Kai'Sa

CMarksmanMage
Patch26.14
Matches491,560
LaneAll Lanes
TierAll Tiers
Last UpdatedJul 23, 2026
MethodologyData Methodology

Smolder vs Kai'Sa is a decisive matchup in LoL patch 26.14. Kai'Sa wins with a 52.7% win rate (+5.4%) over Smolder based on 112 games. Kai'Sa holds the advantage in both the early and late game. Below you'll find the best Smolder build, runes, laning stats, and strategies for the Smolder vs Kai'Sa matchup.

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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
Smolder - 47.3% win rate in this matchup
Smolder
47.3% WR
VS
Kai'Sa vs Smolder matchup - 52.7% win rate
Kai'Sa
52.7% WR

Who Wins the Smolder vs Kai'Sa Matchup?

Kai'Sa wins the Smolder vs Kai'Sa matchup
Winner
Kai'Sa
Matches: 112
47.3%
Win Rate
52.7%
7.0
CS / min
7.1
985
DMG / min
1,003
13,713
Gold / game
14,866
191
Heal / min
190
427
DMG Mitigated / min
596
0.4
CC / min
0.1
46.5%
Early Game WR
53.5%
47.8%
Late Game WR
52.2%

Smolder vs Kai'Sa Matchup Summary

The Smolder vs Kai'Sa matchup is a moderate matchup in League of Legends ranked play. Based on 112 recent matches analyzed, Kai'Sa wins with a 52.7% win rate compared to Smolder's 47.3%, giving Kai'Sa a 5.4 percentage point advantage. Kai'Sa dominates at every stage — from early laning through late game team fights. This consistent advantage makes it difficult for Smolder players to find favorable windows, so team-dependent strategies and avoiding solo confrontations are essential. The most significant statistical gap is in crowd control, where Smolder leads by 0.3s CC/min — a difference that heavily influences the outcome of trades and skirmishes. While Kai'Sa is slightly favored, Smolder 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 Kai'Sa's mistakes. Understanding these matchup dynamics is essential for champion select decisions and in-game strategy when facing this lane opponent.

Smolder vs Kai'Sa Laning Phase Breakdown

Kai'Sa wins the laning phase against Smolder in League of Legends

Kai'Sa is favored during the laning phase against Smolder, winning 4 out of 5 key stat categories. Kai'Sa holds advantages in farming, damage, gold income and sustain, making them the stronger laner in this matchup.

Farming
7.0Smolder
7.1Kai'Sa
Smolder and Kai'Sa farm at nearly identical rates in this matchup, with only a 0.0 CS/min difference. Neither champion holds a meaningful farming advantage, so lane dominance will come from trading and jungle interaction rather than CS leads.
Damage
985Smolder
1,003Kai'Sa
Damage output is virtually even between Smolder and Kai'Sa, with only 18 DMG/min separating them. Fights in this matchup are decided more by ability timing and positioning than raw damage numbers, making mechanical skill the deciding factor in trades.
Economy
13,713Smolder
14,866Kai'Sa
Kai'Sa generates a commanding 1,153 more gold per game than Smolder. This substantial economic advantage means Kai'Sa consistently reaches key item breakpoints earlier, creating a compounding lead that grows throughout the game. Smolder should focus on cost-effective item choices and avoid unnecessary deaths to prevent falling further behind.
Utility
0.4Smolder
0.1Kai'Sa
Smolder provides 0.3 seconds more crowd control per minute than Kai'Sa, offering better gank setup potential and slightly more team fight utility. This CC advantage helps Smolder coordinate with their jungler and control the pace of skirmishes.
Sustain
618Smolder
786Kai'Sa
Kai'Sa vastly out-sustains Smolder, healing and mitigating 168 more damage per minute. This massive durability gap means Kai'Sa 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.

Early Game vs Late Game

Early Game
Kai'Sa
53.5%
+7.0% advantage
Smolder early game win rateSmolder46.5%
Kai'Sa early game win rateKai'Sa53.5%
Late Game
Kai'Sa
52.2%
+4.3% advantage
Smolder late game win rateSmolder47.8%
Kai'Sa late game win rateKai'Sa52.2%

Kai'Sa dominates the early game (first 15 minutes) with a commanding 53.5% win rate — a 7.0 percentage point lead over Smolder. This lopsided early game means Kai'Sa can dictate the pace of the lane from level 1, controlling trades, wave state, and river priority.

In the late game (25+ minutes), Kai'Sa takes over with a 52.2% win rate, leading Smolder by 4.3 percentage points. Kai'Sa scales more effectively into team fights and objective contests.

Kai'Sa holds the advantage at every stage of the game, making this a consistently favorable matchup from lane through late game team fights. Smolder players should look for outplays, team-dependent strategies, and picks rather than relying on scaling to win this matchup.

Best Smolder Runes Against Kai'Sa

Sorcery rune tree - Smolder primary runes vs Kai'SaSorcery
Deathfire Touch - best Smolder rune vs Kai'SaNimbus Cloak - best Smolder rune vs Kai'SaCelerity - best Smolder rune vs Kai'SaGathering Storm - best Smolder rune vs Kai'Sa
Inspiration rune tree - Smolder secondary runes vs Kai'SaInspiration
Cosmic Insight - best Smolder rune vs Kai'SaMagical Footwear - best Smolder rune vs Kai'Sa
57.7% WR

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


Smolder matchup data for League of Legends patch 26.14. 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 26.14
Opponent
Win Rate
Matches
CS/min
DMG/min
Gold/game
Early WR
Late WR
49.65%2886.897913,46949.5%49.7%
39.43%2796.587511,84643.1%36.8%
53.59%2096.589712,47548.0%56.6%
52.98%1686.91,02113,39352.2%53.5%
51.70%1476.692312,59346.4%55.0%
55.20%1256.999613,39739.1%64.6%
47.32%1127.098513,71346.5%47.8%
46.79%1096.793812,44740.4%51.6%
53.77%1066.81,01212,43355.6%52.5%
46.53%1016.386212,36250.0%44.3%
51.00%1006.91,00413,36854.3%49.2%
55.56%816.688612,16659.4%53.1%
45.71%706.898012,31148.6%42.9%
40.30%676.81,01414,25838.9%40.8%
50.00%667.493413,15747.8%51.2%
62.30%616.71,00013,44660.0%63.4%
62.50%566.393912,25860.0%63.9%
50.00%547.01,02815,10136.4%53.5%
56.52%466.686613,07637.5%66.7%
61.36%446.687311,59337.5%75.0%
55.00%406.991812,85638.5%63.0%
37.14%356.788411,44921.4%47.6%
44.12%346.996013,15445.5%43.5%
50.00%346.71,07013,17357.1%45.0%
37.50%327.11,12911,52040.0%35.3%
48.28%296.989313,75944.4%50.0%
67.86%286.71,16913,39572.7%64.7%
65.38%267.191613,54755.6%70.6%
52.00%256.782412,77555.6%50.0%
41.67%246.91,05915,67116.7%50.0%
54.17%247.091513,33750.0%55.6%
55.00%207.51,07812,51770.0%40.0%
17.65%176.978510,78016.7%18.2%
56.25%167.095213,49416.7%80.0%
75.00%166.51,15512,06685.7%66.7%
40.00%156.973812,44540.0%40.0%
26.67%156.61,04411,9290.0%44.4%
41.67%124.75276,59644.4%33.3%
58.33%127.21,32118,7930.0%63.6%
27.27%116.987712,16533.3%25.0%
40.00%106.91,01613,78350.0%33.3%
70.00%106.01,21111,78875.0%66.7%
50.00%107.090711,84360.0%40.0%
55.56%96.06618,91560.0%50.0%
33.33%96.798612,4550.0%42.9%
66.67%96.994912,13760.0%75.0%
100.00%86.897912,095100.0%100.0%
25.00%86.791912,9240.0%33.3%
50.00%87.01,23112,95166.7%40.0%
50.00%86.996713,4390.0%80.0%
75.00%86.41,03111,28075.0%75.0%
50.00%86.51,08712,781100.0%42.9%
62.50%86.579411,40775.0%50.0%
57.14%76.494310,68960.0%50.0%
57.14%78.392511,51533.3%75.0%
71.43%77.01,04812,59350.0%80.0%
28.57%76.181210,92366.7%0.0%
16.67%66.685912,4460.0%16.7%
0.00%67.61,10915,1130.0%0.0%
66.67%67.21,05713,839100.0%60.0%
0.00%66.293512,3810.0%0.0%
50.00%66.071912,5600.0%50.0%
16.67%67.31,08814,8150.0%25.0%
66.67%66.51,1969,24250.0%100.0%
66.67%67.397712,730100.0%50.0%
0.00%56.11,13712,5920.0%0.0%
20.00%56.290713,6010.0%33.3%
40.00%57.89009,57450.0%33.3%
60.00%56.599010,64233.3%100.0%
60.00%57.779712,5560.0%75.0%
0.00%56.31,02913,2490.0%0.0%
80.00%57.81,26517,09650.0%100.0%
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Smolder vs Kai'Sa - Frequently Asked Questions

How does Smolder do against Kai'Sa in League of Legends?

Kai'Sa wins the Smolder vs Kai'Sa matchup with a 52.7% win rate compared to Smolder's 47.3%, a 5.4 percentage point difference. This data is based on 112 recent ranked games in patch 26.14.

How does Smolder do against Kai'Sa in the early game?

In the early game, Kai'Sa has the advantage against Smolder with a 53.5% win rate versus 46.5%. Kai'Sa players should look to press their lane advantage through aggressive trades and wave control during the first 15 minutes.

How does Smolder do against Kai'Sa in the late game?

In the late game, Kai'Sa takes over the Smolder vs Kai'Sa matchup with a 52.2% win rate compared to 47.8%. Kai'Sa scales better into team fights and objective contests after 25 minutes.

Who wins the Smolder vs Kai'Sa matchup?

Kai'Sa wins the matchup against Smolder with a 52.7% win rate in League of Legends patch 26.14. The 5.4 percentage point advantage means Kai'Sa is significantly favored in this lane matchup based on 112 games analyzed.

What is the best Smolder build against Kai'Sa?

The best Smolder build against Kai'Sa includes optimized core items. Check the matchup breakdown above for the full item path and build order.

What are the best Smolder runes against Kai'Sa?

The best Smolder runes against Kai'Sa use the Sorcery primary tree with Inspiration secondary. This rune setup achieves a 57.7% win rate in the Smolder vs Kai'Sa matchup. See the full rune breakdown in the matchup comparison above.

Does Smolder counter Kai'Sa?

No, Smolder struggles against Kai'Sa with only a 47.3% win rate. Kai'Sa has the advantage in this matchup. Smolder players should focus on safe farming and avoiding extended trades to minimize Kai'Sa's lead.

How do I play Smolder against Kai'Sa?

When playing Smolder against Kai'Sa, play cautiously and avoid Kai'Sa's power spikes. Look for jungle assistance and team-dependent plays since Kai'Sa has the statistical advantage at most stages. Use the matchup-specific build and runes above to optimize your chances.