This is the original SMITE, the third person MOBA Hi-Rez and Titan Forge launched out of beta on 25 March 2014 and later put on Steam. Its roster closed at 130 gods, finishing with the Egyptian sky goddess Nut in Year 11, after which all new content moved to SMITE 2. The servers are still up and matches still fill, but the game sits in maintenance mode, so what follows describes a settled game rather than a moving one.
Picking the right build determines how your experience plays out. These builds are ranked by overall effectiveness, factoring in damage, survivability, gear requirements, and how well they scale into endgame. New to the game? Start with our beginner's guide first.
Quick Rankings
| Build | Tier | Playstyle | Core Gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mage | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Hunter | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Warrior | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Guardian | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Assassin | A | Balanced | Best available |
For detailed meta rankings, see our SMITE tier list.
A-Tier: Mage
Mage is a top-performing option in SMITE.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Qin's Sais | A physical item whose passive adds damage on every basic attack based on a share of the target's maximum health, scaling further against high health targets. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Physical and Magical Power | SMITE 1 splits damage into Physical Power and Magical Power, each with its own penetration and its own protection stat. |
How to Play Mage
Mage focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Qin's Sais does the damage and Physical and Magical Power keeps it running, which is why this sits at the top of the list. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Highest overall performance
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Popular pick, resources may be contested
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Hunter
Hunter is a strong option in SMITE.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Jotunn's Wrath | Physical Power, flat penetration, cooldown reduction and mana in one mid priced item. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Relics as free actives | Relics are free active abilities on their own cooldowns, held separately from your six item slots. |
How to Play Hunter
Hunter focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Pair Jotunn's Wrath with Relics as free actives and the build stops depending on a good start, so it holds up across most content. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Most versatile option
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Lower peak damage than S-tier
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Warrior
Warrior is a strong option in SMITE.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Titan's Bane | Percentage based physical penetration, which cuts through protections rather than inflating your own number. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Third person aiming | The camera sits over your god's shoulder, so most abilities are aimed by hand and every projectile has travel time. |
How to Play Warrior
Warrior focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Third person aiming covers the gap Titan's Bane leaves open, so the build stays usable even when a fight goes badly. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Best survivability
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Slower clear speeds
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Guardian
Guardian is a specialized option in SMITE.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Book of Thoth | A stacking magical item that turns maximum mana into Magical Power and gains stacks from kills and assists. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Conquest objectives | Conquest runs three lanes plus a jungle, with Gold Fury on the long lane side and Fire Giant on the short lane side. |
How to Play Guardian
Guardian focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: This one leans on Conquest objectives rather than raw numbers, and Book of Thoth is what makes that trade pay off. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Strong in group/team content
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- Weaker solo performance
- Requires deep game knowledge
A-Tier: Assassin
Assassin is a specialized option in SMITE.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Sovereignty | An aura item granting physical protection and health to allies standing near you. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Maintenance mode and the SMITE 2 handover | Nut was the 130th and last god added here. |
How to Play Assassin
Assassin focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Sovereignty and Maintenance mode and the SMITE 2 handover pull in the same direction here, which separates this from the safer picks above. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Unique, rewarding playstyle
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- High skill floor, punishing when misplayed
- Requires deep game knowledge
Build Progression Path
- Start with Hunter: the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Mage once you understand core mechanics and have access to Qin's Sais
- Keep a Warrior setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try Assassin for a fresh experience once you've mastered the basics
Follow our walkthrough for the optimal progression path through each area.
Gearing Tips
- Invest in your primary equipment first, since it gives the biggest power spike. See our weapons guide for rankings.
- Buy your second relic the moment you hit level 12. It costs nothing, it sits on a cooldown separate from your items, and forgetting it removes an entire defensive option for the whole mid game.
- Purification Beads clear crowd control and grant a short immunity window, while Aegis Amulet gives 1.5 seconds of invulnerability during which you cannot act. Take Beads first against a stun heavy line up and Aegis first against burst damage.
- Don't spread upgrade resources across multiple builds until endgame
More SMITE Guides
- SMITE SMITE Overview
- SMITE Tier List
- SMITE Walkthrough
- SMITE Beginner's Guide
- SMITE Tips & Tricks
- SMITE Weapons Guide
- SMITE Combat Guide
- SMITE Boss Guide
- SMITE Maps & Locations
- SMITE Crafting Guide
- SMITE Classes & Characters
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- SMITE 2 Builds: moba game with similar mechanics
