Smolder - League of Legends Champion
Win Rate
53.7%
Pick Rate
12.3%

Smoldervs Zilean

SMarksmanMage
Patch26.10
Matches788,689
LaneAll Lanes
TierAll Tiers
Last UpdatedMay 18, 2026
MethodologyData Methodology

Smolder vs Zilean is a decisive matchup in LoL patch 26.10. Smolder wins with a 83.3% win rate (+66.7%) over Zilean based on 6 games. Smolder 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 Zilean 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
Zilean - 83.3% win rateZilean(83.3%)
Smolder - 83.3% win rate in this matchup
Smolder
83.3% WR
VS
Zilean vs Smolder matchup - 16.7% win rate
Zilean
16.7% WR

Who Wins the Smolder vs Zilean Matchup?

Smolder wins the Smolder vs Zilean matchup
Winner
Smolder
Matches: 6
83.3%
Win Rate
16.7%
7.5
CS / min
6.3
789
DMG / min
468
12,466
Gold / game
10,068
158
Heal / min
273
286
DMG Mitigated / min
462
0.5
CC / min
0.7
100.0%
Early Game WR
0.0%
50.0%
Late Game WR
50.0%

Smolder vs Zilean Matchup Summary

The Smolder vs Zilean matchup is a decisive matchup in League of Legends ranked play. Based on 6 recent matches analyzed, Smolder wins with a 83.3% win rate compared to Zilean's 16.7%, giving Smolder a 66.7 percentage point advantage. Smolder dominates at every stage — from early laning through late game team fights. This consistent advantage makes it difficult for Zilean players to find favorable windows, so team-dependent strategies and avoiding solo confrontations are essential. The most significant statistical gap is in damage output, where Smolder leads by 321 DMG/min — a difference that heavily influences the outcome of trades and skirmishes. Smolder players can confidently pick into Zilean and play aggressively from level 1. Look to establish lane dominance early through favorable trades and zone Zilean 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 Zilean Laning Phase Breakdown

Smolder wins the laning phase against Zilean in League of Legends

Smolder is favored during the laning phase against Zilean, 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
7.5Smolder
6.3Zilean
Smolder significantly out-farms Zilean by 1.2 CS per minute, accumulating an estimated 18 CS lead by mid game. This substantial farming gap gives Smolder a major gold advantage and earlier item completions. Zilean players should prioritize wave management techniques like freezing near tower and using abilities efficiently to minimize the deficit.
Damage
789Smolder
468Zilean
Smolder heavily out-damages Zilean by 321 DMG/min, dominating both short trades and all-in fights. Zilean 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
12,466Smolder
10,068Zilean
Smolder generates a commanding 2,398 more gold per game than Zilean. This substantial economic advantage means Smolder consistently reaches key item breakpoints earlier, creating a compounding lead that grows throughout the game. Zilean should focus on cost-effective item choices and avoid unnecessary deaths to prevent falling further behind.
Utility
0.5Smolder
0.7Zilean
Both Smolder and Zilean provide similar amounts of crowd control (0.2s/min difference), meaning neither has a significant advantage in locking down opponents for ganks or team fights. Lane ganks are equally effective for both sides.
Sustain
444Smolder
735Zilean
Zilean vastly out-sustains Smolder, healing and mitigating 291 more damage per minute. This massive durability gap means Zilean 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
Smolder
100.0%
+100.0% advantage
Smolder early game win rateSmolder100.0%
Zilean early game win rateZilean0.0%
Late Game
Smolder
50.0%
+0.0% advantage
Smolder late game win rateSmolder50.0%
Zilean late game win rateZilean50.0%

Smolder dominates the early game (first 15 minutes) with a commanding 100.0% win rate — a 100.0 percentage point lead over Zilean. This lopsided early game means Smolder 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 Zilean. Team fight execution and macro play determine the winner at this stage, not champion matchup advantage.

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

Best Smolder Runes Against Zilean

Sorcery rune tree - Smolder primary runes vs ZileanSorcery
Deathfire Touch - best Smolder rune vs ZileanNimbus Cloak - best Smolder rune vs ZileanCelerity - best Smolder rune vs ZileanGathering Storm - best Smolder rune vs Zilean
Inspiration rune tree - Smolder secondary runes vs ZileanInspiration
Jack Of All Trades - best Smolder rune vs ZileanMagical Footwear - best Smolder rune vs Zilean
100.0% WR

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


Smolder matchup data for League of Legends patch 26.10. 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 26.10
Opponent
Win Rate
Matches
CS/min
DMG/min
Gold/game
Early WR
Late WR
53.52%1,9306.895413,18652.4%54.3%
53.17%1,6876.998013,74748.0%56.5%
52.86%1,4666.896813,40951.3%53.8%
57.31%1,3896.996213,44953.6%59.8%
52.96%1,3847.098813,48352.0%53.6%
57.28%9417.01,02813,72954.7%58.9%
56.55%7257.01,01314,01454.0%58.2%
56.86%7076.91,03513,92856.2%57.3%
51.13%6656.889113,10753.1%49.6%
51.27%5506.798713,42148.3%53.5%
53.24%4796.793313,31052.1%54.0%
55.44%4786.997513,46248.5%60.2%
54.83%4456.896213,15156.6%53.2%
50.35%4236.91,02213,53952.1%49.2%
55.31%4056.997613,33055.0%55.6%
45.27%3386.91,01413,71141.7%47.3%
53.27%3216.890913,10445.1%59.0%
52.77%3087.21,01813,74744.5%58.0%
56.27%2957.199213,96359.5%54.4%
56.13%2697.098213,37454.7%57.1%
57.87%2356.91,01513,35756.5%58.7%
51.20%2096.991913,17748.8%52.8%
50.00%2026.91,03913,82939.1%58.3%
54.01%1877.31,02713,96247.3%58.4%
51.40%1797.093513,69247.8%53.6%
59.04%1667.197213,10250.0%66.3%
48.92%1396.786312,98647.3%50.0%
57.81%1287.51,02013,79358.7%57.3%
54.55%1217.088312,97448.8%57.7%
50.41%1217.21,04513,82059.6%43.5%
52.73%1106.989613,58442.9%58.8%
51.40%1076.81,03913,93335.0%61.2%
61.62%997.01,02614,10561.5%61.7%
51.52%996.788112,82050.0%52.6%
55.56%817.31,08913,63565.6%49.0%
56.00%756.81,01513,44053.3%57.8%
33.78%746.984212,42322.2%40.4%
47.83%696.51,23813,38843.8%51.4%
68.25%636.984812,92566.7%70.0%
56.45%627.21,12913,05755.6%57.1%
48.33%607.01,05114,58850.0%47.2%
40.00%506.81,02411,42935.0%43.3%
38.78%497.21,01412,86740.9%37.0%
54.76%426.995212,94652.9%56.0%
50.00%426.690313,63435.7%57.1%
37.50%407.098912,30941.2%34.8%
58.82%347.21,04013,32042.9%70.0%
60.61%337.41,02914,60980.0%52.2%
60.61%336.81,38814,79940.0%69.6%
42.42%336.794911,54631.6%57.1%
59.38%326.786111,78941.7%70.0%
21.88%327.481112,38721.4%22.2%
43.75%326.796313,41846.1%42.1%
50.00%326.888812,07450.0%50.0%
53.33%307.387711,95653.9%52.9%
44.83%296.690111,51056.3%30.8%
60.00%256.81,06513,78144.4%68.8%
64.00%257.188613,10450.0%73.3%
62.50%247.51,13913,86962.5%62.5%
54.17%247.180310,15446.7%66.7%
50.00%246.88939,98442.9%60.0%
50.00%227.41,11113,74071.4%40.0%
50.00%227.393411,47440.0%58.3%
52.38%217.41,01714,56983.3%40.0%
55.00%205.91,13213,06357.1%53.9%
55.00%207.099011,44740.0%70.0%
55.00%207.389211,65455.6%54.5%
60.00%207.41,10713,38150.0%66.7%
55.00%206.61,14913,83166.7%50.0%
52.63%196.790011,36444.4%60.0%
63.16%197.61,14514,78066.7%61.5%
66.67%187.31,54612,37275.0%60.0%
50.00%187.495012,91950.0%50.0%
55.56%187.41,07614,37842.9%63.6%
72.22%186.996712,07080.0%62.5%
41.18%177.11,04113,64750.0%38.5%
52.94%176.397412,75228.6%70.0%
50.00%166.794312,03942.9%55.6%
43.75%167.11,28112,38533.3%50.0%
37.50%167.21,04914,22666.7%30.8%
73.33%157.289312,76366.7%77.8%
53.33%157.81,08314,24550.0%53.9%
46.67%156.895211,68616.7%66.7%
21.43%146.998413,39820.0%22.2%
42.86%147.197112,31333.3%50.0%
50.00%147.786910,32114.3%85.7%
28.57%147.21,07510,33433.3%25.0%
53.85%136.780610,12855.6%50.0%
46.15%136.31,08212,51533.3%57.1%
38.46%137.397613,50025.0%44.4%
38.46%136.81,01811,46437.5%40.0%
46.15%136.780812,47840.0%50.0%
53.85%136.81,23314,75075.0%44.4%
66.67%126.21,13811,62820.0%100.0%
66.67%127.998415,06950.0%75.0%
45.45%116.278012,79150.0%44.4%
45.45%116.81,24615,55550.0%42.9%
45.45%117.190812,58025.0%57.1%
50.00%107.198211,09140.0%60.0%
40.00%106.288012,52640.0%40.0%
44.44%96.984912,61266.7%33.3%
50.00%86.194313,04850.0%50.0%
62.50%87.497213,31050.0%66.7%
50.00%87.21,07713,23450.0%50.0%
37.50%87.71,05512,37333.3%40.0%
42.86%76.81,08315,85250.0%40.0%
57.14%77.61,02811,18625.0%100.0%
57.14%76.91,05015,10750.0%60.0%
57.14%76.71,02412,25033.3%75.0%
57.14%77.21,34113,99050.0%60.0%
57.14%76.681111,88460.0%50.0%
57.14%75.895012,61950.0%60.0%
57.14%77.976514,3660.0%66.7%
42.86%77.176811,06050.0%33.3%
83.33%67.578912,466100.0%50.0%
50.00%66.993611,29466.7%33.3%
50.00%66.575612,986100.0%40.0%
50.00%67.31,17514,00533.3%66.7%
83.33%65.579610,61050.0%100.0%
66.67%65.966610,439100.0%33.3%
60.00%57.41,01315,753100.0%50.0%
60.00%55.79779,29450.0%66.7%
20.00%56.01,05212,00733.3%0.0%

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 Zilean - Frequently Asked Questions

How does Smolder do against Zilean in League of Legends?

Smolder wins the Smolder vs Zilean matchup with a 83.3% win rate compared to Zilean's 16.7%, a 66.7 percentage point difference. This data is based on 6 recent ranked games in patch 26.10.

How does Smolder do against Zilean in the early game?

In the early game, Smolder has the advantage against Zilean with a 100.0% win rate versus 0.0%. Smolder players should look to press their lane advantage through aggressive trades and wave control during the first 15 minutes.

How does Smolder do against Zilean in the late game?

In the late game, Smolder takes over the Smolder vs Zilean 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 Zilean matchup?

Smolder wins the matchup against Zilean with a 83.3% win rate in League of Legends patch 26.10. The 66.7 percentage point advantage means Smolder is significantly favored in this lane matchup based on 6 games analyzed.

What is the best Smolder build against Zilean?

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

What are the best Smolder runes against Zilean?

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

Does Smolder counter Zilean?

Yes, Smolder has a favorable matchup against Zilean with a 83.3% win rate. Smolder strongly counters Zilean in lane based on current patch 26.10 data.

How do I play Smolder against Zilean?

When playing Smolder against Zilean, leverage your statistical advantages by trading aggressively during favorable windows. You have early game priority — look for kills and zone control before first recall. Build the recommended items and runes for this specific matchup for the best results.