Key Takeaways for Smite Defensive Builds
- Guardians benefit the most from these kinds of builds
- There are 2 damage types in Smite, Physical and Magical, build protection for the corresponding damage type
- Defensive items tend to grant great passives as well
Table of Contents
Now, when talking about Smite defensive builds, it’s important to understand the difference between Physical and Magical defense. Physical defense will protect you from Gods that deal Physical damage, while Magical defense will protect you from Gods that deal Magical damage.
It’s pretty self-explanatory, I know, however, don’t mix up damage from basic attacks with damage from abilities. Lots of new players seem to think that basic attacks always deal Physical damage, this is simply not true. Take Ao Kuang for example, Ao Kuang is a melee mage that benefits greatly from attack speed builds. If you build Physical protection items expecting to counter his basic attacks, you’re making a grave mistake, as even his basic attacks scale off of Magical Power.
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The Best Defensive Items
Gauntlet of Thebes
The Gauntlet of Thebes is probably the best all-around defensive item in Smite. It checks every box of what a defensive item should do, it gives you health, health regen, and it gives you both Physical and Magical protection.
Gauntlet of Thebes gives you +250 Health, and +15 HP5. Its passive gives you +1 Physical and Magical protection for minion kills or assists, and +5 protection for God kills. At maximum stacks this item also evolves, granting a +10 PP, and + 10 MP aura.
It’s a smart idea to start off any defensive build with this item, as you’ll need some time to acquire the stacks for it to evolve. Once it’s evolved, however, it’s smooth sailing from there on onward.
Mail of Renewal
Another MVP of defensive builds is the Mail of Renewal. It gives you health, health regen, protection from both damage types, and an incredibly useful passive.
Mail of Renewal gives you +350 Health, + 20HP5, +20 PP, and +20 MP. Its passive also heals you for a set percentage after acquiring a certain amount of stacks. The stacks are acquired each time you take damage from an enemy God’s attacks.
If you get this item, your teammates will love you. Not only does it benefit you greatly, but it will also benefit your allies as well if it activates during a team fight. A great item for any Smite defensive build.
Spectral Armor
The Spectral Armor is the best anti-Crit build measure. It doesn’t completely negate enemy crits, it just makes them sting a little bit less than normal.
Spectral Armor gives you +60 PP, + 200 Health, + 300 Mana, and +10 MP5. Its passive also reduces the bonus damage from Physical Critical Strikes by 40%. Additionally, each time you are hit by a critical strike, an aura is created that gives each teammate around you additional protection against crits.
Seriously, this is the best item to counter enemy glass cannons *cough* Hunters *cough*. The only downside to this item is that it doesn’t give you Magical Protection. But, that isn’t much of a bother as you probably already have other items for that.
Spirit Robe
Ahh, Spirit Robe. A jack of all trades, but a master of none.
Spirit Robe gives you +40 PP, +40 MP, +10% Cooldown Reduction, and +20% CCR. Its passive also gives you an additional 15% damage mitigation whenever you’re hit by a hard Crown Control ability.
There’s no reason why you shouldn’t get this item, as it gives you a bit of everything.
The Perfect Defensive Build in Smite
Here’s the perfect defensive build in Smite:
- Gauntlet of Thebes
- Relic Dagger
- Mail of Renewal
- Spirit Robe
- Oni Hunter’s Garb
- Prophetic Cloak
The Gauntlet of Thebes should be the first item you get, that way, you have more than enough time to acquire the stacks. Relic Dagger is great for Guardians as they rely heavily on Relics, so, any reduction in their cooldown is welcomed.
From there, get the Mail of Renewal, Spirit Robe, the Oni Hunter’s Garb, and finish off with the Prophetic Cloak. With all these items combined, not only will you have a decent amount of Physical Protection and Magical Protection, but you’ll also have a lot of CCR.
