2020 was pretty universally regarded as a bad year. With everything going on in the world, many people had plenty of free time to play games they had never tried. Branching out to try different genres can provide a refreshing change of pace, although MOBAs tend to be harder to get into than most games.
Hi-Rez Studios’ take on the genre, Smite, stood out because of its familiar third-person perspective and crossplay capability. But none of my group knew what we were getting into, how much there was to learn, or how addictive it would be. While by no means a seasoned player, at this point in time I have just under 100 hours logged; therefore, here are some tips that should be useful for new players looking to jump into Smite or other MOBAs.
10 Try As Many Gods As You Can
While at first, it is extremely overwhelming to look through the list of (currently) 112 gods and decide which one to pick, it’s worth trying them all (or at least a good portion of them).
Every god has strengths and weaknesses that might work well for others but not for you. Even if you think you’ve found your “main,” there are probably others you’ll enjoy just as much, and it’s useful to expand your options.
9 Patience Is Important
Adapting to the slow early game was possibly one of the hardest things to get used to at first. At the start of each match, you have to remind yourself that you aren’t as powerful as you were at the end of the previous contest – a concept that will be new for plenty of players not familiar with Smite.
Learning to be patient, and not putting yourself in danger to secure a kill, particularly early on, is a valuable lesson to learn. This will ensure that you don’t miss out on early-game farm, which is crucial so that the enemy does not get an early lead on you.
8 Play As Different Gods To Learn How To Counter Them
If you are constantly getting bullied by a particular god and can’t figure out how to beat them, it is best to just play as them in the next game. Learn how their abilities work and combo together so you can avoid being hit by them.
It’s also a great way to learn their weaknesses by taking note of the areas you’re struggling in while playing as them. Who knows, you might even decide you like using them and decide to stick with them for a while.
7 Learn How To Build
Most first-person shooters offer a choice of weapons and attachments, but it generally doesn’t go much deeper than personal preference. The number of items in Smite and the effect they have on the game can be hard to wrap your head around at first, and you might dismiss the idea of “10% Physical Power” making any real difference.
Quickly, you will learn the importance of items and the complexity of building – items that work with your god or your team or countering the enemy team’s composition. Understanding the impact that items make (especially passive effects) is vital to getting a proper grasp of the game.
6 Watch YouTube Guides
Smite, and other MOBAs have been around for a long time. That means that if you’re coming into it as a new player, someone else has already been there, done that, and the best methods and tactics have most likely been worked out already. While this might seem like a bad thing for a new player who is seven years behind, luckily there are some wonderful people out there who love sharing their knowledge.
High-level players like Incon and Inters3ct have videos on every god, item, and strategy you can think of and are great at explaining why they do particular things. This guide from pros Fineokay and Frost is highly recommended for any new players as well. Keep in mind that the game is constantly changing and updating, so look for the most recent videos where possible.
5 Ask The Community
It may seem daunting to come into a new community, not knowing anything about the game or how it works, and being afraid to ask a question in case it seems “dumb.” From personal experience, Smite’s Reddit community has been super helpful and seems to be very welcoming and helpful to new players.
Any time you have a question, ask the Reddit community, and a few members might even offer to play some matches with you to give some tips. There are likely Discord, Facebook, and other communities to look into as well, but the Reddit community is a great place to start.
4 Learn The Language
This is one of the things that can make a big difference in actually learning the game early on. If you’re watching a guide and they start saying things like “farm,” “HP5,” and “ADC,” the whole point of the video may be lost on you. If you hear a term you aren’t familiar with, take a minute and Google it, because it will greatly increase your understanding of any guides you might watch or read.
If you’re coming from other team-based games, you’re probably familiar with some terms. If you’re coming from another MOBA, you’re probably familiar with almost all of the terms, so this may not be an issue for you.
3 Use The Training Modes
Smite will make you do a tutorial the first time you start up the game. While it is useful for getting the hang of the controls, it isn’t the best training as it only covers the Arena mode and a single god. Each mode has a training option of either a single-player vs. bots or co-op vs. bots that you should start in until you get the hang of it.
The bots aren’t perfect. Early on, the easy bots will seem far too easy and the jump to medium way too difficult, but it’s a particularly good way to learn how your god’s abilities work, try out different builds, and – if you have some friends online – testing different team compositions and synergies.
2 Teamwork, Teamwork, Teamwork
This probably seems like a silly point to include, but it is so, so important. BE A TEAM PLAYER. You cannot win on your own. Even if one player on a team seems to be carrying on 20+ kills, it is likely the result of good support and teamwork. If you find yourself charging in to meet your death over and over again, you’re giving the enemy team free XP, and letting them get ahead in levels.
Use voice chat or text channels and ask for help if you need it. In most cases, you’ll have one or two more experienced players on your team willing to help you out if you need it. If not, just try your best and take note of what the enemy is doing, and how you could overcome it in future games.
1 It Takes A Long Time To Get Good
Smite is a very complex game with many, many factors influencing the game at any moment. With 112 playable gods, that alone is a lot to learn in terms of abilities, passive effects, counters, and playstyles. Add to the mix a plethora of items that influence those abilities and the tactics that go into the different game modes, and you have a lot to learn as a new player.
Some of these things can be actively learned, like item effects or making your way through all of the gods and learning how to play them. Some things will come naturally over time, like map knowledge and situational awareness. All of these things will take time to learn, and an even longer time to master. Be patient, stick with it, and enjoy yourself along the way.
NEXT: 10 Best Skins In Smite, Ranked
