New Smite Update, the Destroyer, Brings a New God to the Battleground

Shiva, the destroyer, comes to India Smite and brings peace to an era of feuding gods — available now for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.

Shiva, our first Hindu God since Ganesha’s release in 2017, is an exciting addition to our roster of mythological legends. We took great care when creating Shiva as we tried to keep true to historical depictions and texts. This is because the deity has been worshiped daily by thousands of Hindus. To ensure accuracy, we brought on an expert on Hinduism to consult on each asset of Shiva’s release which includes everything from his kit, cinematic, art, and more. Alongside our consultant, the team conducted thorough research to make sure that we were accurate and respectful in Shiva’s portrayal in Smite. We were thrilled to announce his first release during the Hi-Rez Showcase, January.

We always use mythology to help us develop gods. But for Shiva it served as the guiding principle in every stage of our development. The trident known as the Trishula is held by Shiva. It also has the damaru (drum) attached to it. The Trishula is a symbol of Shiva’s three roles of the creator, the preserver, and the destroyer, and the damaru symbolizes the music that Shiva’s famous dances would be accompanied by. Two other symbols are found around his neck, the serpent as well as the dark blue-shaded throat. Other important details in Shiva’s look is the sacred flame in his hand, his blue skin symbolizing infinite power and mystery of the sky or the ocean. There’s more to Shiva’s visual design – are you able to name them all?

His kit was a tanky, difficult-to-take down creation. We explored many classes to match the intricate themes in his backstory when we first did our kit design research. In the end, we felt him fitting best in our Warrior class but don’t be surprised to see him be flexed into our roles in different game modes.

Shiva is a master of both creation and destruction, opposites that make up Shiva’s character. The core concept of Shiva’s kit design was to cycle between two distinct buff states. Shiva’s ability to cycle through Destruction and Bliss forms while he fights will give him passive bonuses, and secondary effects. The Ultimate ability of Shiva Tandava is one I’d like to mention. Shiva’s Tandava is a sacred dance which offers CC immunity as well as damage mitigation. There are also different effects depending upon the steps taken during the dance. It is amazing to see the Titan Forge team make this dance sound authentic and strong.  For a complete overview of his kit, be sure to check out the 9.2 update notes on smitegame.com/news. You can purchase the smitegame.com/news to instantly unlock Shiva and his voice pack, as well as a limited ascending skin. SmiteSeason Pass 2022. The pass unlocks incredible content all year long for each new Season 9 God.

Just before I sign off I want to point out what is going on in the update. All-new skins, including Oni Huntress Artemis, will continue the Dharmic Era Event. And we can’t forget about the community requested favorite: Big Gun Khepri will be available as the Viewer Pass Bundle skin. I hope to see everyone in the battleground and can’t wait to see the amazing Shiva plays in Smite!

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The Battleground of Gods is your opportunity

Join 35+ million players in SMITE, the world’s most popular action multiplayer online battle arena. You can now play for free in the Battleground of the Gods to become a legend of the myth!

Over 100 gods
Unleash each deity’s unique strategies, legendary weapons, and earth-shattering powers. Zeus can rain lightning upon your enemies, while Loki assassinates from the shadows, and Sun Wukong as the Monkey King transforms your foes. Choose which God would you prefer?

Unique Perspective
Like other MOBAs SMITE places you on the battlefield from a third-person perspective. There are many strategic choices available, including blind-side and targeted shots.

Become Godlike
You’ve never played in a fight arena. Don’t worry. You can jump into the MOBA glory with auto-buy and auto-level. Want to be a professional? You could also be a SMITE World Champion if you climb the ranks and join a team.

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