The latest addition to League of Legends, Smolder, has stirred quite a debate among players due to his remarkable late-game prowess. Originally intended as a standard attack-focused champion, the champion has turned out to be quite unconventional, with players experimenting with various builds, including turning him into a tank.
Smolder is becoming quite a problem in League of Legends
What sets Smolder apart is his extraordinary late-game potential, particularly when he amasses a significant number of passive stacks. Upon reaching 225 stacks, his Q ability gains a burn-and-execute effect, making it exceptionally powerful in late-game team battles.
“the execute is the most annoying part about the champ, it can be that while not being his biggest “problem”
The concern arises from Smolder’s ability to deal substantial damage to targets from a considerable distance with his Q ability, unlike other late-game champions such as Vayne or Jinx, who rely more on sustained damage. His capability to spread damage across multiple enemies, sometimes even securing kills by targeting minions, has led to discussions about his balance.
Suggestions for addressing Smolder’s dominance vary. Some propose modifying his Q ability so that the additional bolts it releases do not apply the burn or execute effects. Others suggest separating the execute effect from the burn and increasing the stack threshold required to unlock it.
“IMO, those bolts should never apply the burn, and especially not the execute. I think that’s a genuine balance problem that will make him really hard to balance, and would require him to be really weak elsewhere to make up for it.”
However, there’s a worry that altering Smolder too drastically might compromise the enjoyment of playing as or against him.
In essence, the community is exploring ways to maintain Smolder’s strength while ensuring he remains balanced and engaging for all players involved. Finding the right balance is crucial to preserving the integrity of gameplay in League of Legends.