Smolder Scaling: Grade S
Yes. Smolder is one of the strongest late-game champions in the game. Grade S, Best late, in The Scaling Codex.
Reviewed for League of Legends Season 16 (2026).
Verdict. Infinite scaling on his damage. One of the best scaling champions in the game, similar to Senna.
- Infinite scaling
Why Smolder gets an S
His damage is stacked rather than bought, so it keeps climbing after every item slot is full. Champions who scale off items eventually plateau and fight roughly even. Smolder does not, once the accumulation is far enough ahead.
That changes how the late game goes. Every fight he delays is a fight he takes with a larger number than he had before.
The stacks only arrive if he collects them
Skipping the accumulation to chase early skirmishes means arriving at the deciding fight with a small number and no way to fix it. The growth has to be protected all game, which means his team has to give him the time to do it.
Protect the stacking all game. A fight that risks it is rarely worth what it pays.
Common questions about Smolder scaling
Does Smolder scale well into the late game?
Yes. Smolder is one of the strongest late-game champions in the game. Grade S, Best late, in The Scaling Codex.
What holds Smolder back?
Skipping the accumulation to chase early skirmishes means arriving at the deciding fight with a small number and no way to fix it. The growth has to be protected all game, which means his team has to give him the time to do it.
Does Smolder scale infinitely?
Smolder carries a permanent stacking mechanic with no cap, so the numbers keep growing after the build is finished. His damage is stacked rather than bought, so it keeps climbing after every item slot is full.
What is the late-game rule for Smolder?
Protect the stacking all game. A fight that risks it is rarely worth what it pays.
How this grade was judged
The grade weighs range, target access, sustained and burst damage, crowd control, mobility, durability, healing and shielding, resets, cooldown structure, objective and formation control, split pressure, and how well the champion survives a long fight. Builds and forms that scale differently are graded separately. This is Vambient's gameplay evaluation of coordinated late-game fights, not a win-rate calculation. Full methodology.
Related champions
- Aurelion Sol also scales infinitely
- Bel'Veth also scales infinitely
- Kindred also scales infinitely
- Senna also scales infinitely
- Other champions that share this: infinite scaling
- See the full Grade S tier
The grade measures one thing: how much a champion can influence a coordinated late-game objective fight once both teams reach full builds. It does not measure early strength, snowballing, or win rate. A weak late-game champion still wins by ending the game first, which is what the rest of the library teaches. How the grades are decided.