Win Rate
47.5%
Pick Rate
1.6%
Varusvs Smolder
Patch26.17
Matches543,090
LaneAll Lanes
TierAll Tiers
Last UpdatedAug 29, 2026 UTC
MethodologyData Methodology
AuthorDakota Chinnick
Varus vs Smolder is a decisive matchup in LoL patch 26.17. Smolder wins with a 56.4% win rate (+12.8%) over Varus based on 39 games. Varus wins the early laning phase while Smolder scales better into the late game. Below you'll find the best Varus build, runes, laning stats, and strategies for the Varus vs Smolder matchup.
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Varus Matchup Breakdown
Use the dropdown to select an opponent and see a detailed breakdown of how Varus 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
Varus
43.6% WR
VS
Smolder
56.4% WR
Who Wins the Varus vs Smolder Matchup?
Winner
Smolder
Matches: 39
43.6%
56.4%
6.6
6.8
862
909
14,647
14,267
179
164
447
393
0.9
0.4
64.3%
35.7%
32.0%
68.0%
Varus vs Smolder Matchup Summary
The Varus vs Smolder matchup is a decisive matchup in League of Legends ranked play. Based on 39 recent matches analyzed, Smolder wins with a 56.4% win rate compared to Varus's 43.6%, giving Smolder a 12.8 percentage point advantage. Game phase dynamics play a critical role here: Varus controls the early laning stage, but Smolder outscales as the game goes longer. The matchup shifts dramatically depending on game length — Varus 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 Varus leads by 0.6s CC/min — a difference that heavily influences the outcome of trades and skirmishes. Smolder has a strong advantage in this matchup. Varus players should play defensively, prioritize safe farming under tower, and look for opportunities created by jungle pressure or Smolder 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.
Varus vs Smolder Laning Phase Breakdown
Varus is favored during the laning phase against Smolder, winning 3 out of 5 key stat categories. Varus holds advantages in gold income, crowd control and sustain, making them the stronger laner in this matchup.
Farming
6.6Varus
6.8Smolder
Varus and Smolder farm at nearly identical rates in this matchup, with only a 0.2 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
862Varus
909Smolder
Smolder deals 48 more champion damage per minute than Varus. While noticeable in extended trades, this gap can be offset by Varus choosing favorable fight windows, such as engaging when Smolder's key abilities are on cooldown or trading immediately after dodging a skillshot.Economy
14,647Varus
14,267Smolder
Varus earns 380 more gold per game than Smolder, equivalent to roughly one additional component item. This economic edge comes from a combination of better farming, kill participation, and objective control, giving Varus slightly faster item completions.Utility
0.9Varus
0.4Smolder
Varus provides 0.6 seconds more crowd control per minute than Smolder, offering better gank setup potential and slightly more team fight utility. This CC advantage helps Varus coordinate with their jungler and control the pace of skirmishes.Sustain
626Varus
557Smolder
Varus heals and mitigates 69 more damage per minute than Smolder, providing moderate extra durability. This sustain edge allows Varus to stay in lane longer between recalls and gradually win extended wars of attrition. Consider building early grievous wounds if playing Smolder.Early Game vs Late Game
⚔
Early Game
Varus
64.3%
+28.6% advantage
Varus64.3%
Smolder35.7%♕
Late Game
Smolder
68.0%
+36.0% advantage
Varus32.0%Smolder68.0%Varus dominates the early game (first 15 minutes) with a commanding 64.3% win rate — a 28.6 percentage point lead over Smolder. This lopsided early game means Varus 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 68.0% win rate — 36.0 points above Varus. 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: Varus 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 Varus Runes Against Smolder
Precision
Inspiration
57.1% WR
The Precision and Inspiration rune setup gives Varus the best tools to compete against Smolder in this difficult matchup, compensating for the statistical disadvantages with optimal rune synergies.
Varus matchup data for League of Legends patch 26.17. The table below shows Varus'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 Varus 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41.54% | 130 | 6.5 | 802 | 12,955 | 45.8% | 38.0% | |
| 53.33% | 120 | 6.7 | 872 | 13,344 | 53.6% | 53.1% | |
| 46.32% | 95 | 6.0 | 798 | 12,452 | 48.8% | 44.2% | |
| 52.75% | 91 | 6.7 | 873 | 13,810 | 52.4% | 53.1% | |
| 54.95% | 91 | 6.5 | 807 | 13,923 | 75.0% | 41.8% | |
| 40.30% | 67 | 6.7 | 858 | 13,489 | 50.0% | 32.4% | |
| 45.76% | 59 | 6.5 | 861 | 14,550 | 48.0% | 44.1% | |
| 46.30% | 54 | 6.8 | 872 | 13,412 | 40.0% | 51.7% | |
| 50.98% | 51 | 6.5 | 814 | 13,632 | 50.0% | 51.9% | |
| 38.64% | 44 | 6.2 | 829 | 13,186 | 30.0% | 45.8% | |
| 43.59% | 39 | 6.6 | 862 | 14,647 | 64.3% | 32.0% | |
| 63.89% | 36 | 7.0 | 933 | 14,521 | 66.7% | 61.1% | |
| 50.00% | 36 | 6.3 | 818 | 14,248 | 57.1% | 45.5% | |
| 46.15% | 26 | 6.0 | 848 | 12,875 | 40.0% | 50.0% | |
| 76.92% | 26 | 6.2 | 943 | 14,922 | 87.5% | 72.2% | |
| 32.00% | 25 | 6.5 | 832 | 14,017 | 45.5% | 21.4% | |
| 38.10% | 21 | 6.9 | 638 | 10,287 | 35.7% | 42.9% | |
| 60.00% | 20 | 6.6 | 986 | 14,860 | 60.0% | 60.0% | |
| 26.32% | 19 | 7.0 | 831 | 14,381 | 20.0% | 28.6% | |
| 55.56% | 18 | 6.8 | 904 | 15,918 | 57.1% | 54.5% | |
| 50.00% | 18 | 6.6 | 960 | 16,938 | 100.0% | 35.7% | |
| 35.29% | 17 | 6.4 | 787 | 12,563 | 45.5% | 16.7% | |
| 41.18% | 17 | 6.8 | 1,051 | 10,975 | 45.5% | 33.3% | |
| 50.00% | 16 | 6.1 | 690 | 11,946 | 28.6% | 66.7% | |
| 53.33% | 15 | 6.7 | 781 | 12,175 | 60.0% | 40.0% | |
| 66.67% | 15 | 5.9 | 852 | 14,450 | 71.4% | 62.5% | |
| 20.00% | 15 | 6.2 | 648 | 11,087 | 40.0% | 10.0% | |
| 53.85% | 13 | 5.5 | 876 | 9,404 | 50.0% | 60.0% | |
| 61.54% | 13 | 6.7 | 856 | 9,962 | 42.9% | 83.3% | |
| 46.15% | 13 | 6.0 | 764 | 13,525 | 40.0% | 50.0% | |
| 38.46% | 13 | 5.9 | 680 | 11,724 | 75.0% | 22.2% | |
| 66.67% | 12 | 5.8 | 809 | 12,065 | 50.0% | 100.0% | |
| 18.18% | 11 | 6.7 | 863 | 11,283 | 20.0% | 16.7% | |
| 45.45% | 11 | 6.4 | 976 | 13,251 | 60.0% | 33.3% | |
| 54.55% | 11 | 6.3 | 791 | 11,402 | 75.0% | 42.9% | |
| 54.55% | 11 | 6.0 | 1,013 | 11,478 | 66.7% | 40.0% | |
| 50.00% | 10 | 6.8 | 986 | 13,840 | 57.1% | 33.3% | |
| 30.00% | 10 | 6.6 | 950 | 12,720 | 42.9% | 0.0% | |
| 40.00% | 10 | 6.1 | 1,135 | 12,185 | 40.0% | 40.0% | |
| 30.00% | 10 | 5.8 | 774 | 11,267 | 50.0% | 0.0% | |
| 40.00% | 10 | 6.1 | 692 | 11,883 | 33.3% | 42.9% | |
| 30.00% | 10 | 6.3 | 828 | 14,103 | 50.0% | 16.7% | |
| 22.22% | 9 | 6.8 | 1,208 | 15,081 | 25.0% | 20.0% | |
| 55.56% | 9 | 7.2 | 797 | 12,903 | 60.0% | 50.0% | |
| 50.00% | 8 | 4.9 | 812 | 11,827 | 33.3% | 60.0% | |
| 37.50% | 8 | 6.5 | 600 | 7,902 | 50.0% | 0.0% | |
| 57.14% | 7 | 6.5 | 837 | 12,698 | 60.0% | 50.0% | |
| 42.86% | 7 | 6.1 | 724 | 10,264 | 20.0% | 100.0% | |
| 42.86% | 7 | 6.1 | 1,032 | 12,874 | 50.0% | 40.0% | |
| 28.57% | 7 | 4.7 | 634 | 10,220 | 50.0% | 0.0% | |
| 57.14% | 7 | 6.7 | 862 | 12,591 | 50.0% | 66.7% | |
| 33.33% | 6 | 6.3 | 870 | 12,230 | 40.0% | 0.0% | |
| 16.67% | 6 | 6.5 | 1,040 | 15,574 | 0.0% | 25.0% | |
| 50.00% | 6 | 5.3 | 925 | 14,179 | 50.0% | 50.0% | |
| 50.00% | 6 | 6.9 | 799 | 14,430 | 0.0% | 60.0% | |
| 50.00% | 6 | 6.2 | 1,055 | 11,294 | 66.7% | 33.3% | |
| 50.00% | 6 | 6.7 | 738 | 11,055 | 75.0% | 0.0% | |
| 66.67% | 6 | 6.2 | 1,692 | 11,376 | 75.0% | 50.0% | |
| 40.00% | 5 | 4.6 | 664 | 10,454 | 0.0% | 66.7% | |
| 60.00% | 5 | 6.2 | 848 | 15,210 | 100.0% | 50.0% | |
| 40.00% | 5 | 7.1 | 946 | 12,923 | 50.0% | 33.3% | |
| 60.00% | 5 | 6.0 | 890 | 10,232 | 33.3% | 100.0% | |
| 60.00% | 5 | 7.1 | 832 | 17,104 | 0.0% | 60.0% | |
| 60.00% | 5 | 5.5 | 955 | 14,715 | 100.0% | 50.0% | |
| 80.00% | 5 | 7.2 | 939 | 14,255 | 100.0% | 66.7% | |
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Varus vs Smolder - Frequently Asked Questions
How does Varus do against Smolder in League of Legends?
Smolder wins the Varus vs Smolder matchup with a 56.4% win rate compared to Varus's 43.6%, a 12.8 percentage point difference. This data is based on 39 recent ranked games in patch 26.17.
How does Varus do against Smolder in the early game?
In the early game, Varus has the advantage against Smolder with a 64.3% win rate versus 35.7%. Varus players should look to press their lane advantage through aggressive trades and wave control during the first 15 minutes.
How does Varus do against Smolder in the late game?
In the late game, Smolder takes over the Varus vs Smolder matchup with a 68.0% win rate compared to 32.0%. Smolder scales better into team fights and objective contests after 25 minutes.
Who wins the Varus vs Smolder matchup?
Smolder wins the matchup against Varus with a 56.4% win rate in League of Legends patch 26.17. The 12.8 percentage point advantage means Smolder is significantly favored in this lane matchup based on 39 games analyzed.
What is the best Varus build against Smolder?
The best Varus build against Smolder includes optimized core items. Check the matchup breakdown above for the full item path and build order.
What are the best Varus runes against Smolder?
The best Varus runes against Smolder use the Precision primary tree with Inspiration secondary. This rune setup achieves a 57.1% win rate in the Varus vs Smolder matchup. See the full rune breakdown in the matchup comparison above.
Does Varus counter Smolder?
No, Varus struggles against Smolder with only a 43.6% win rate. Smolder has the advantage in this matchup. Varus players should focus on safe farming and avoiding extended trades to minimize Smolder's lead.
How do I play Varus against Smolder?
When playing Varus against Smolder, play cautiously and avoid Smolder's power spikes. Look for jungle assistance and team-dependent plays since Smolder has the statistical advantage at most stages. Use the matchup-specific build and runes above to optimize your chances.
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