HOW TO PLAY SMOLDER MID LANE (SECRET OP)

[@Alexcbecker]

The one and only guy holding the entire OCE server is back with another banger!

[@fabiangraf3555]

I'm hearing everyone flaming on Smolder and the low win rate. But I really like playing him. Not sure about ADC but as mid AD pick he is funny :)

[@danielzilouh]

Thanks for going back to the standard format for this kind of content instead of the one used for viktor regardless of the season ending

[@ShokLeague]

It's the exact same format...

[@danielzilouh]

ahah it was ironic

[@neku2160]

What're your feelings on tear/manamune? Is it ever good? And if you everr build it do you just still go shojin rfc after?

[@ShokLeague]

Yea I talked about tear triforce manamune in the video, you skip shojin in this build most of the time until later

[@idkidc395]

Do you think that Comet is ever a viable rune on Smolder? I know you've said that Hubris+Comet relies too much on snowballing, but I thought that one could also just build Essence Reaver, even with Comet. My thought was that maybe it would be better than other rune options if the enemy is very high range but you still don't need the MS from Fleet. An example in my mind would be Lux or Azir. If comet isn't it in these Matchups, what would you recommend going?

[@gutoiumihai5973]

Hi, nice content, I got one question, what is the reason behind playing on oce server?

[@ShokLeague]

Sorry buddy I live here

[@autist1cvoice]

I play aurora and wanted to take smolder in pool, but is there a difference between their matchups? Cuz as i understand they are both good vs melees and bad vs long range mages. PS. Whats the programm for replays? Looks very useful

[@ShokLeague]

The program is OutPlayed. I think the difference would be in Aurora's case some matchups can be swung with your gank setup whereas Smolder doesn't have this. Smolder can itemize a bit more defensively tho (hexdrinker or boneplating or whatever)

[@autist1cvoice]

ty

[@azateq2876]

love your work, why do you play minimap left? because it helps in midlane dont overlap jungle ganks?

[@ShokLeague]

Nah I just came from starcraft which had map on the left!

[@sweetshoez]

This is actually good and useful. Most guides are just runes and items which you can easily look up. This describes the gameplay and game plan. Would you not rush tabis vs zed like you do mercs for mages? And would you start tear if you’re going tear?

[@alvarofernandes6769]

I don't know his exact opinion but zed only autos you once maybe in his combo, so tabis are not very efficient versus him, it's better to just sit on the cloth armour. as for tear start, you just lose way too much pressure in the early levels, and smolder is fairly strong 1-3

[@ShokLeague]

Yeah imo no tabi vs Zed, just sit on a cloth armor. And no, don't start tear. You will complete it 2nd item anyway so you want early power instead

[@tikon2610]

Thanks for the awesome guide shok! I struggle laning against zed as smolder. I try to build up a big wave early, harass him under tower hoping not to get Lvl3 ganked and take an early base before 6 when he chunks my hp bar with this electrocute combo. But no matter what I do, I get oneshotted with his R ignite unless I'm full HP or I flash his Qs. It feels so unrewarding and unfair. Do you have any tips against him?

[@ShokLeague]

I think go grasp + boneplating, try pressure a bit early and play tear triforce for extra HP, this is a hard matchup tho so you will probably struggle no matter what. Save E to dodge his Qs

[@tatamigalaxy-i5r]

I'm playing Smolder on a second account because of you. I like the idea of being able to win early, but also having the lategame, kind of like my other main Syndra. Honestly, I'm still struggling with using fleet correctly. I think I'm supposed to just wiggle back and forth in their range and bait out skillshots, yes? Another issue I had was balancing between farming and trading. I kind of feel pressured to make the enemy stuck in lane and get them low. But then I die for stupid reasons. I don't know when I have to go even and when I have to win lane. Also, when trading, should I do 100:0 trades, or can I use my sustain advantage to go for more psychotic trades? Probably matchup dependent... When it comes to wave management, I always push into ranged champions. Against melees, I let them push into me and then I try to keep the wave in front of my turret. I've been doing this into Yasuo, Akali and Sylas. I also feel like I'm using my ultimate way too much. Like, I use it for tempo resets and just to chunk them. In teamfights, I always try to use it before the fight happens. But I will try to hold it for grub fights more often. Btw. pushing into Akshan as Smolder sounds crazy to me. I will try it next time.

[@ShokLeague]

Yes, bait out skillshots with fleet ideally. Don't feel too pressured to force your opponent out of lane, if you can only do one prioritize your farming. You don't have to only go for 100:0 trades, trading with grasp/boneplating for example can tip the balance in your favor.

[@hercegati5889]

Hi cool and Informative video thanks for it. I have been practicing smolder and i found that you can not only buy maw or qss (maybe GA) as a defensive item, i think you can go for tankier ones like randuin or raenic rookern etc. if the criterias are met or am i completly lost ? xD Further more do you have any tips playing against irelia mid ? I am having a hard time against her also with smolder and with mages

[@mrmangbro6842]

Irelia hard counters you, Q evolve forces wave to push basically and she 1 shots you. You need to buy AD now because they made him not go "225 win go full tank" type stuff.

[@ShokLeague]

Yes you can build actual tank items if you need. Irelia is hard in lane but if you go even should be fine, just take grasp + boneplating, play defensively, rush tabi and it'll be alright

[@reedparkinson1833]

been waiting on this 🙏

[@kaeshy]

are you planing or doing videos how to counter certain champions?

[@ShokLeague]

Probably not, I don't think they would get many views tbh

[@jes_pr5237]

im so confused, each time I play him- I feel so afraid to do anything cause~ it feels like I'm useless and do 0 dmg! What am I doing wrong???!? ('m pretty sure I have runes/build correctly)

[@ShokLeague]

Maybe not weaving enough autos early or getting ahead enough in your 1v1? Or falling behind in CS in midgame maybe

[@jes_pr5237]

@@ShokLeague I'm currently diamond 1 on NA servers for background mate!! I'm just gen confused on how anyone can seriously utilize him legit in any team fight?? I feel like I'm doing 0 dmg but perhaps his kit just feels clunky to me

[@TribeJames]

Completely off topic but does anyone have any tips to stop me getting rolled by LB? Have been taking bone plating but still losing

[@ShokLeague]

As Smolder? Rush hexdrinker before anything else

[@zurgu]

I remember you mentioning Reptile9's Hubris Comet build is only good botlane. Why is that? Wouldn't it be a good build versus specific champions that you can just poke down?

[@sweetshoez]

He said why in the video. It’s hard to snowball a lot of mid matchups because there’s a lot of ability to neutralize the lane

[@ShokLeague]

TLDR easier to neutralize in mid + TP exists so its harder to poke people out

[@NekoKatto]

All I'm seeing is Shok trying to justify his addiction for this goddamn baby dragon. Now he'll come in stream saying "guys I'm not addicted I'm researching" :(

[@ShokLeague]

CAUGHT

[@eebbaa5560]

can you make a video about the state of mid lane as a role for like a year in review? i feel like mid has changed a lot this season (for the worse imo) and i've been thinking about switching to top, but i feel like i don't have enough knowledge to make an informed decision. i just don't feel like i'm learning what i want to be learning and doing what i want to be doing when i play mid anymore, but i still enjoy the champion pool. on the other hand, i feel like top lane is more focused on the aspects of solo laning that i enjoy and the champions are still cool there. anyway, i'm interested to hear your thoughts as a high elo mid laner, especially after your experience playing in korea. cool guide btw smolder is one of the few ad mid laners who actually looks approachable for adding to a pool. hopefully riot has got all of the buffing and nerfing and reworking out of their system for him though lol

[@ShokLeague]

What specifically do you think has changed about mid this season? There's definitely a lot of things I don't like about mid e.g. how gankable you are, strength of sustain, itemization etc but these new to this season. Interested to hear your thoughts!

[@LunariumU]

Does this work top?

[@TheLastCity417]

Top matchups are too unforgiving, you have very little waveclear before 25, your W/R basically don't clear waves anymore and are prone to towerdives Mid is a better lane for him bc it's easy to neutralize

[@malmro2216]

its a good counterpick vs tanks and garen and sht

[@LunariumU]

Thanks for the replies guys

[@thepanable5004]

@@malmro2216 smolder loses into garen

[@ShokLeague]

As a counter to certain tanks yes but you have to be very careful picking it

[@severe_back-pain9804]

first

[@lovekairos]

i’m sorry but smolder is so much fun to play but the most dogshit champ to play

[@ShokLeague]

To watch?

[@lovekairos]

@ no like he just sucks ass in this patch. they need to revert him back to hybrid/ap ratios to bring back the burn build