Viktor vs Smolder Counter Pick

The sample is small: 190 games on patch 16.13.1 is a thin base, yet it puts Viktor at a 58.4% win rate. The reasoning holds up at this size, since Smolder deals physical damage while Viktor deals magic damage, which pushes the two toward different itemisation routes. Viktor’s base armor of 23 is a genuine weak point, though one that is inexpensive to patch over.

Dragon Practice accounts for the rest. Smolder builds stacks whenever he hits a champion with an ability and whenever Super Scorcher Breath finishes off an enemy, and each stack adds to his damage, so his power spike comes later on purpose. Glorious Evolution is tied to kills rather than hits: every 100 Hex Fragments it permanently strengthens an ability, which pays off most when Smolder has the least means of answering pressure. Head to head, Viktor is the tankier of the two, with 600 health rising to 2,300 at level 18 against Smolder’s 575 and 2,275, and 97.8 armor against 92. Smolder has the longer reach at 550, a 25-unit advantage. Flap, Flap, Flap passes over terrain while bombarding the lowest health enemy, and MMOOOMMMM! slows everything caught in its middle. Achooo! detonates on contact with a champion, and with 330 move speed to Viktor’s 335, Smolder struggles to disengage once he commits. Gravity Field punishes him for camping in one spot long enough to build stacks. Difficulty ratings are 9 for Smolder and 6 for Viktor. Kits: Viktor, Smolder.