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

Smoldervs Xin Zhao

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

Smolder vs Xin Zhao is a decisive matchup in LoL patch 26.9. Smolder wins with a 54.5% win rate (+9.1%) over Xin Zhao based on 11 games. Xin Zhao 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 Xin Zhao 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
Xin Zhao - 54.5% win rateXin Zhao(54.5%)
Smolder - 54.5% win rate in this matchup
Smolder
54.5% WR
VS
Xin Zhao vs Smolder matchup - 45.5% win rate
Xin Zhao
45.5% WR

Who Wins the Smolder vs Xin Zhao Matchup?

Smolder wins the Smolder vs Xin Zhao matchup
Winner
Smolder
Matches: 11
54.5%
Win Rate
45.5%
6.0
CS / min
5.7
987
DMG / min
1,102
11,294
Gold / game
12,947
176
Heal / min
783
418
DMG Mitigated / min
895
0.4
CC / min
0.9
33.3%
Early Game WR
66.7%
80.0%
Late Game WR
20.0%

Smolder vs Xin Zhao Matchup Summary

The Smolder vs Xin Zhao matchup is a decisive matchup in League of Legends ranked play. Based on 11 recent matches analyzed, Smolder wins with a 54.5% win rate compared to Xin Zhao's 45.5%, giving Smolder a 9.1 percentage point advantage. Game phase dynamics play a critical role here: Xin Zhao controls the early laning stage, but Smolder outscales as the game goes longer. The matchup shifts dramatically depending on game length — Xin Zhao 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 sustain, where Xin Zhao leads by 1,084 HP/min — a difference that heavily influences the outcome of trades and skirmishes. Smolder players can confidently pick into Xin Zhao and play aggressively from level 1. Look to establish lane dominance early through favorable trades and zone Xin Zhao away from CS whenever possible. Understanding these matchup dynamics is essential for champion select decisions and in-game strategy when facing this lane opponent.

Smolder vs Xin Zhao Laning Phase Breakdown

Xin Zhao wins the laning phase against Smolder in League of Legends

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

Farming
6.0Smolder
5.7Xin Zhao
Smolder and Xin Zhao farm at nearly identical rates in this matchup, with only a 0.3 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
987Smolder
1,102Xin Zhao
Xin Zhao heavily out-damages Smolder by 116 DMG/min, dominating both short trades and all-in fights. Smolder should avoid extended combat and instead focus on burst trade patterns — short engages followed by immediate disengagement — to avoid letting Xin Zhao's sustained damage advantage take over.
Economy
11,294Smolder
12,947Xin Zhao
Xin Zhao generates a commanding 1,653 more gold per game than Smolder. This substantial economic advantage means Xin Zhao 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
0.9Xin Zhao
Xin Zhao provides 0.5 seconds more crowd control per minute than Smolder, offering better gank setup potential and slightly more team fight utility. This CC advantage helps Xin Zhao coordinate with their jungler and control the pace of skirmishes.
Sustain
594Smolder
1,678Xin Zhao
Xin Zhao vastly out-sustains Smolder, healing and mitigating 1,084 more damage per minute. This massive durability gap means Xin Zhao 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 Xin Zhao

Immortal Path is the optimal boots choice against Xin Zhao, providing the mobility and stats Smolder needs most in this matchup. The top-performing core items for Smolder against Xin Zhao are Essence Reaver, Spear of Shojin and Maw of Malmortius. This combination gives Smolder an effective balance of damage, survivability, and utility for the matchup. This build performs exceptionally well, achieving a 100.0% win rate across 1 games — well above average and making it the top item path against Xin Zhao. Adjustments may be needed based on team compositions and game state, but this build provides the strongest foundation for the Smolder vs Xin Zhao matchup.

Early Game vs Late Game

Early Game
Xin Zhao
66.7%
+33.3% advantage
Smolder early game win rateSmolder33.3%
Xin Zhao early game win rateXin Zhao66.7%
Late Game
Smolder
80.0%
+60.0% advantage
Smolder late game win rateSmolder80.0%
Xin Zhao late game win rateXin Zhao20.0%

Xin Zhao 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 Xin Zhao can dictate the pace of the lane from level 1, controlling trades, wave state, and river priority.

Smolder is far superior in the late game (25+ minutes), boasting a 80.0% win rate — 60.0 points above Xin Zhao. Extended games heavily favor Smolder, whose kit and scaling make them a dominant force in team fights and objective control.

This matchup features a dramatic power shift: Xin Zhao must aggressively press their early advantage and close out the game before Smolder reaches their scaling breakpoints. If Smolder 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 Smolder Runes Against Xin Zhao

Sorcery rune tree - Smolder primary runes vs Xin ZhaoSorcery
Deathfire Touch - best Smolder rune vs Xin ZhaoManaflow Band - best Smolder rune vs Xin ZhaoAbsolute Focus - best Smolder rune vs Xin ZhaoScorch - best Smolder rune vs Xin Zhao
Inspiration rune tree - Smolder secondary runes vs Xin ZhaoInspiration
Biscuit Delivery - best Smolder rune vs Xin ZhaoMagical Footwear - best Smolder rune vs Xin Zhao
100.0% WR

Running Sorcery primary with Inspiration secondary allows Smolder to press their advantage against Xin Zhao, amplifying the strengths that make this a favorable matchup.


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%

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Smolder vs Xin Zhao - Frequently Asked Questions

How does Smolder do against Xin Zhao in League of Legends?

Smolder wins the Smolder vs Xin Zhao matchup with a 54.5% win rate compared to Xin Zhao's 45.5%, a 9.1 percentage point difference. This data is based on 11 recent ranked games in patch 26.9.

How does Smolder do against Xin Zhao in the early game?

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

How does Smolder do against Xin Zhao in the late game?

In the late game, Smolder takes over the Smolder vs Xin Zhao matchup with a 80.0% win rate compared to 20.0%. Smolder scales better into team fights and objective contests after 25 minutes.

Who wins the Smolder vs Xin Zhao matchup?

Smolder wins the matchup against Xin Zhao with a 54.5% win rate in League of Legends patch 26.9. The 9.1 percentage point advantage means Smolder is significantly favored in this lane matchup based on 11 games analyzed.

What is the best Smolder build against Xin Zhao?

The best Smolder build against Xin Zhao includes Essence Reaver, Spear of Shojin, Maw of Malmortius with Immortal Path. This build achieves a 100.0% 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 Xin Zhao?

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

Does Smolder counter Xin Zhao?

Yes, Smolder has a favorable matchup against Xin Zhao with a 54.5% win rate. Smolder strongly counters Xin Zhao in lane based on current patch 26.9 data.

How do I play Smolder against Xin Zhao?

When playing Smolder against Xin Zhao, leverage your statistical advantages by trading aggressively during favorable windows. Play safe early and scale into your power spikes where you outperform Xin Zhao. Build the recommended items and runes for this specific matchup for the best results.