Smolder vs Zed Counter Pick

Energy, not mana, sets the terms. Zed spends Energy that refills on its own and gains more through Living Shadow whenever he and a shadow strike with the same ability, so his poke has no cost Smolder can wait out. Over 117 games on patch 16.13.1 the mid lane returns 33.3% for Smolder, one of the sharper deficits a ranged champion can post against a 125-range assassin. Both of Smolder’s poke tools cost Mana, a bar he has to watch while Zed does not.

The gap opens in three places. Zed starts sturdier than most assassins at 654 health and 32 armor against 575 and 24, moves at 345 against 330, and finishes on 2,337 health and 111.9 armor against 2,275 and 92. Razor Shuriken lets him and his shadows throw at once, a ranged trade he wins without approaching. Death Mark then makes him untargetable, dashes him in, marks the target and repeats a portion of the damage he deals afterwards, which is more than enough against a champion with no defensive ability. Shadow Slash slows anything caught by a shadow’s version of the strike, closing the window Flap, Flap, Flap would otherwise open. Contempt for the Weak adds bonus magic damage to attacks on low health enemies. The realistic goal for Smolder is reaching two items on even farm rather than contesting anything before it.