Following a series of patches where Smolder enjoyed dominance in the meta, he has finally been subjected to significant nerfs, resulting in a dramatic decline in his win rate, making him the worst ADC in the game.
The once-mighty Smolder faced the brunt of the nerf hammer in patch 14.6, effectively curtailing his late-game hyper-scaling prowess that had propelled him to the forefront of gameplay.
This adjustment was deemed necessary as Smolder had asserted his dominance across all tiers of play, from the Bronze ranks to the professional competition, even achieving Pentakill records in the process.
The nerfs inflicted upon himwere far-reaching and impactful, drastically reducing his effectiveness in scaling late into the game. The severity of these adjustments has left players astonished at the extent of his decline.
At present, his win rate languishes at the bottom of the charts, marking a stark transformation from being arguably the most formidable champion in the ADC role to one of the weakest, all within the span of a single patch.
Previously, Smolder had carved a path of destruction, boasting an unparalleled record of 24 pro play Pentakills achieved three times faster than his closest competitor, Zeri. His prowess on the battlefield necessitated intervention, marking him as one of the most potent champions ever introduced to League of Legends.
The eve before the patch rollout witnessed a gripping showdown between the underdog Nongshim RedForce and the reigning World Champions, T1, with Smolder’s presence nearly tipping the scales in favor of the underdogs. Such was the magnitude of Smolder’s influence in the previous patch.
Despite these adjustments, Smolder remains a force to be reckoned with in leagues still operating on patch 14.5, such as the LCK, LPL, and LEC. However, players in the LCS and those on the live client can now breathe a sigh of relief, free from the looming shadow of his dominance.
Smolder’s nerf in patch 14.6:
Q: Super Scorcher Breath
- Base execute threshold reduced: 1.25% max HP >>> 1%
- Execute threshold per 100 reduced: 2.5% >>> 1.5%
W: Achooo!
- Width reduced: 125 >>> 115
E: Flap, Flap, Flap
- Speed reduced: 100% >>> 75%
Furthermore, the subsequent tweaks to his abilities, such as the increased stack requirement for the third evolution of his Q, indicate that the initial nerfs were only a precursor to his dethronement. From a pinnacle win rate of 55% to a dismal low of 45%, Smolder’s descent has been nothing short of cataclysmic, solidifying his status as the weakest ADC in the game.