Trying to understand smite top

npbeisbol·Apr 28, 2015·1 votes·900 views

So just trying to get a grasp on this whole cinderhulk thing...

You take smite top and use it to counter-jungle? Seems to me players are more likely to use it in their own jungle which i feel hurts their own jungler....

Also, does cinderhulk only work with inherently tanky champs? I keep seeing shyvana or hec thrown around. Or could it be run on a champ like Lissandra, who still would have an escape without flash and could still run teleport with a smite?

Would appreciate some more experienced thoughts on the matter.

Thanks in advance!

12 Comments

GroundRuleDoubleApr 28, 20154 votes

First of all, i would only use smite in the top lane on a champ that can use cinderhulk (shyvana, hec, malphite, maybe even Jax?).

Second of all, smite is not used properly in the top lane in low elo solo queue. They use it exactly how you described it...to steal farm from your jungler. The proper way to use it is push the lane to the enemy turret, go into the enemy jg and take their krugs or gromp (depending on what side you're ) on, and go back to lane.

Also, the double smite can be coordinated with your jungler to secure dragon and baron easier. Add up the total of your two smites and if the total is 800, tell your jungler, "smite at 800." Then you both smite and 800 and it doesn't give the enemy a chance to steal it since you kill it instantly.

Also, along with Cinderhulk (which is insane), you also get Skirmisher's Sabre which greatly increases your dualing potental. That makes it very easy to win top lane since it's mostly dualing.

npbeisbolApr 28, 20151 votes

So what makes a champ capable of using cinderhulk correctly? Sorry im newish to league...they have to be a tank? Like i was asking in my post, would it be stupid to put on Liss?

I guess you need to have a champ with pretty good wave clear in order to keep your lane pushed like that.

yeah i didnt even think about the double smite. thanks for your post man, gave me a bunch to think about

GroundRuleDoubleApr 28, 20153 votes

Cinderhulk's damage ramps up over time. So you want someone that will stay in a fight for more than ten seconds (since it gets to max damage at 10 seconds). For example, a burst mage would be a bad idea. Sure the HP is nice, but you're losing out on a lot of stats.

Typically, you want someone that you would normally build HP on, since the more HP items you buy, the more gold effecient Cinderhulk is.

General rule of thumb: Someone tanky, sustain damage, and can clear jungle creeps. That's who smite could be okay on.

However, i do NOT recommend taking smite on top lane into ranked without A LOT of practice. Make sure you know how to get the most out of it before you acutally do it since it can make your early game weak.

npbeisbolApr 28, 20151 votes

Thanks a lot for the info, really appreciate it

TeemoJenkinsApr 28, 20153 votes

http://boards.na.leagueoflegends.com/en/c/gameplay-balance/NWrvOoyP-why-i-take-smite-top-lane

npbeisbolApr 28, 20151 votes

care if i add you in-game? i may spectate a game of you playing it if thats alright

Skia AsteriApr 28, 20151 votes

item 3717

In a 1v1, red smite favors champions with a large HP pool if both have it. And the only other jungle item that is not a lesser version of something else that you do not need smite for is Devourer. These two reason are the why of Cinderhulk and tanks. Also, since usually flash is left out to take smite champions with good escapes are preferred. Furthermore, in order to get a chance to get jungle farm you need good wave clear and possibly the ability to proxy the wave behind the enemy turret without too much creep damage.

The goal is to generate a lot of map pressure top lane to draw as many enemies up there as possible so your team has a numbers advantage everywhere else. Even if you are killed, if your team can get turrets / free dragon elsewhere it is worth while. Just be sure your team is ready to go when you over extend to take advantage of the enemy response. At low levels people usually are unable to coordinate that kind of thing.

If the other team ignores you, then things will get out of hand and the enemy top laner will become an easy kill even under turret due to your level and farm advantage gained from taking the enemy jungle.

Commit SudokuApr 28, 20151 votes

You take smite so you can,

Get cinderhulk and outscale your enemy.
When you shove lane you get more gold from clearing enemy or ally camps (that your jungler doesn't farm often) or scuttle.
Allows you to get skirmishers smite making dueling an enemy incredibly easier.

You should only run smite top on champions that would get a lot out of cinderhulk because the item to broken.

item 3717 rito plz nerf summoner 11 top is freelo

GroundRuleDoubleApr 28, 20151 votes

I would love to see a win % on Gold and lower of people that take smite top lane. I can almost guarantee it's below 40% (maybe even below 30%). No one uses it properly. All it does is create a terrible early game for you.

Commit SudokuApr 28, 20151 votes

I have 100% winrate with it granted only did it 4 times but I carried those games, at least when you shyvana you shove lane and then go take a jungle camp no risk of getting ganked trying to last hit minions deep on enemy top.

GroundRuleDoubleApr 28, 20151 votes

If that's the case, you are one of the few people doing it right.

TeemoJenkinsApr 28, 20151 votes

{quoted}

I would love to see a win % on Gold and lower of people that take smite top lane. I can almost guarantee it's below 40% (maybe even below 30%). No one uses it properly. All it does is create a terrible early game for you.

I can guarantee you my win rate top lane is over 60%. I've only played four games top lane smite though, with a 100% win rate.