Ares Guide: Smite ─ A Comprehensive Overview (Season 11/Smite 2)
Dive into the world of Smite with this detailed Ares guide, covering builds, strategies, and techniques for both Season 11 and the Smite 2 open beta!
Ares, the Greek God of War, embodies brutal force and relentless aggression within the Smite battlefield. Unlike many gods seeking glory, Ares thrives on conflict itself, a tormented figure often disliked even by his own pantheon. He’s a melee magical god, specializing in lockdown and disruption, making him a formidable presence in team fights.
Players can expect a high-impact, in-your-face playstyle. Ares isn’t about finesse; it’s about overwhelming opponents with raw power and chaining crowd control. This guide will explore how to master this god, from understanding his abilities to crafting effective builds for various game modes, ensuring victory through calculated aggression.
Ares’ Role and Playstyle
Ares primarily functions as a Support or Solo laner, excelling at initiating fights and locking down key targets. His role revolves around disrupting enemy positioning and creating opportunities for his team. He isn’t a traditional damage dealer; instead, he’s a powerful engager and protector.
Ares’ playstyle is aggressively proactive. Players should constantly look for opportunities to engage with Spartan Charge or Binding Chains. Effective Ares players master chaining crowd control, rendering enemies helpless. He thrives in chaotic team fights, utilizing his abilities to control the flow of battle and secure objectives.
Ares’ Abilities Breakdown
Ares’ kit is centered around disruption and control. His abilities focus on initiating fights and locking down opponents. Understanding each ability’s function is crucial for maximizing his effectiveness. He’s a melee magical god, relying on close-range engagements and strategic ability usage.
From the impactful Stamina passive to the game-changing Chains of Hades ultimate, each ability contributes to his role as a formidable frontline presence. Mastering the timing and synergy of these abilities is key to dominating the battlefield as the Greek God of War.
Stamina
Ares’ passive, Stamina, is a core component of his playstyle. It grants him increased damage reduction and movement speed when below 30% health. This encourages aggressive plays and allows him to stay in the fight longer.
Effectively utilizing Stamina requires careful health management. Ares players should learn to recognize opportunities to engage when low health, capitalizing on the defensive benefits. It’s a powerful tool for turning unfavorable situations into advantageous ones, making him surprisingly resilient.
Spartan Charge
Spartan Charge is Ares’ primary mobility and initiation ability; He dashes forward in a straight line, dealing moderate damage and knocking up enemies hit. Mastering this ability is crucial for engaging fights and securing crucial crowd control.
The charge can be used offensively to close the gap on enemies or defensively to escape dangerous situations. Skilled players will learn to predict enemy movement and aim the charge effectively. Remember, it has a relatively long cooldown, so use it wisely!
Shockwave
Shockwave is a powerful area-of-effect ability for Ares, sending out a damaging shockwave in a target direction. This ability is excellent for clearing minion waves, poking enemies from a distance, and setting up combos with his other abilities.
The shockwave travels in a straight line, so positioning is key to maximizing its impact. It deals moderate damage and slows enemies, providing valuable control during team fights. Combine it with Binding Chains for devastating lockdown potential!
Binding Chains
Binding Chains is a crucial ability in Ares’ kit, offering significant crowd control. He throws chains that root enemies in place, preventing movement and allowing for follow-up attacks from Ares or his team. Mastering the range and timing of this ability is paramount to playing Ares effectively.
Successfully landing Binding Chains can completely change the course of a fight. It’s especially potent when combined with Shockwave, creating a reliable chain CC combo. Utilize it to peel for allies or isolate key targets!
Ultimate: Chains of Hades
Chains of Hades is Ares’ devastating ultimate ability. He summons chains from the underworld, pulling enemies towards him, creating a concentrated area for massive damage and follow-up crowd control. This ability is a game-changer in team fights, disrupting enemy formations and setting up opportunities.
Effective use requires careful positioning and timing. Aim to catch multiple enemies, maximizing its impact. Combine it with Shockwave and Binding Chains for a prolonged lockdown. Remember, enemies pulled closer are vulnerable to your attacks and those of your allies!
Ares Builds for Different Game Modes
Ares’ build flexibility allows adaptation to various Smite game modes. Conquest demands a durable build focused on lane dominance and team fight presence, prioritizing survivability and consistent CC. Joust benefits from an aggressive build, maximizing early-game pressure and kill potential with items enhancing mobility and burst damage.
Arena requires a team fight-centric build, emphasizing crowd control and disruption. Consider items that amplify Chains of Hades’ effectiveness. Remember, adapting your build based on the game mode and enemy composition is crucial for maximizing Ares’ impact and securing victory.
Conquest Build ─ Standard Lane/Solo
For a standard Conquest lane or solo build, prioritize survivability and consistent crowd control. Start with items like Boots of Focusing and Breastplate of Valor for magical resistance and protection. Core items include Hide of the Urchin for mobility and mitigation, and Bulwark of Hope to shield allies.
Consider Spirit Guardian for cooldown reduction and protection. This build allows Ares to effectively disrupt enemies, initiate fights, and survive extended engagements. Focus on securing early advantages and transitioning into a team fight presence;
Joust Build ─ Aggressive Play
Ares in Joust thrives on aggressive plays and quick rotations. Begin with Boots of Swiftness for enhanced mobility and Soul Shroud for sustain. Core items should include Mail of Renewal for healing and protection, alongside Brawler’s Glove to amplify basic attack damage.
Titan’s Choker is crucial for cooldown reduction, enabling frequent ability usage. This build maximizes Ares’s ability to lock down opponents and secure kills. Prioritize early-game dominance and capitalize on 1v1 opportunities to control the Joust field.
Arena Build ─ Team Fight Focus
For Arena, Ares excels as a team fight initiator and disruptor. Focus on building tankiness and crowd control. Boots of Swiftness remain valuable for positioning. Core items include Mail of Renewal for sustain, Bulwark of Hope for team protection, and Guardian Helm to mitigate burst damage.
Titan’s Choker is essential for frequent ability rotations. Prioritize engaging team fights and locking down key targets with Chains of Hades. Effective coordination with your team is vital to maximize Ares’s impact in the chaotic Arena environment.
Itemization Guide for Ares
Ares’s itemization revolves around maximizing his survivability and enhancing his crowd control capabilities. Core builds prioritize defensive stats and cooldown reduction. Boots of Swiftness offer crucial mobility for initiating fights. Mail of Renewal provides sustain, while Bulwark of Hope boosts team protection. Guardian Helm is vital against burst damage.
Consider Titan’s Choker for increased ability frequency. Situational items like Negation Aura counter magical damage, and Spirit Visage amplifies healing. Adapt your build based on the enemy team composition and game state.
Core Items
Essential for any Ares build, these items amplify his strengths as an initiator and protector. Boots of Swiftness are paramount, granting the mobility needed to engage effectively. Mail of Renewal provides crucial sustain in prolonged fights, keeping Ares healthy. Bulwark of Hope is a team-focused item, shielding allies from incoming damage.
Guardian Helm offers significant protection against burst damage, vital for a front-line god. These items collectively enhance Ares’s ability to disrupt enemies and survive engagements.
Situational Items
Adapt your build to counter the enemy team with these flexible choices. Negation Aura is invaluable against teams with heavy magical damage, reducing incoming burst. Spirit Visage boosts healing received, synergizing with Ares’s sustain and team support. Winged Sandals offer additional mobility for aggressive plays and rotations.
Titan’s Resolve provides a substantial cooldown reduction, allowing for more frequent ability usage. Consider Genji’s Godkiller against gods with high defense, and Masamune for added damage output.
Ares’ Strengths and Weaknesses
Ares excels at initiating team fights and locking down key targets with his potent crowd control. His survivability is surprisingly high due to damage mitigation and sustain. He thrives in close-quarters combat, disrupting enemy formations. However, Ares struggles against highly mobile gods who can evade his chains.
He’s vulnerable to poke damage and lacks reliable long-range options. Ares’s effectiveness diminishes if his ultimate is countered or if enemies can quickly peel for their carries. Positioning is crucial; a poorly timed engagement can leave him exposed.
Ares’ Synergies and Counters
Ares synergizes well with gods offering follow-up crowd control, like Athena or Khepri, maximizing lockdown potential. He benefits from supports who can enhance his durability, such as Geb or Ymir. Gods providing damage amplification, like Discordia, further boost his team fight impact.
Ares struggles against mobile gods – Susanoo, Loki, and Ratatoskr – who can easily dodge his abilities. Gods with strong cleanse abilities, like Mercury or Sobek, can negate his chains. High-damage carries who can burst him down quickly also pose a significant threat.
Gods Ares Works Well With
Athena provides crucial follow-up CC, capitalizing on Ares’ initial engagements. Khepri’s ultimate synergizes perfectly, securing kills within Ares’ chained area. Geb offers frontline protection, enabling Ares to aggressively engage. Discordia amplifies damage output, making Ares’ combos devastating.
Ymir’s frost armor enhances Ares’ survivability, while Sif’s shield provides additional protection. Hel’s damage mitigation complements Ares’ tanky playstyle. These gods amplify Ares’ strengths – lockdown, initiation, and team fight control – creating formidable compositions.
Gods Ares Struggles Against
Susano’s incredible mobility and damage output allow him to consistently evade Ares’ chains and punish overextensions. Camazotz’s dive potential and untargetability make him difficult to lock down. Loki’s teleportation and trickery disrupt Ares’ engagements. Thanatos’ ultimate bypasses Ares’ defenses, posing a significant threat.
Neith’s range and rapid-fire attacks can outdamage Ares’ sustain. Gods with strong peel, like Kumbhakarna, can protect carries from Ares’ initiation. These matchups require careful positioning and strategic itemization to mitigate their counters.
Advanced Ares Techniques
Mastering Ares involves chaining crowd control effectively. Utilize Spartan Charge to initiate, immediately followed by Binding Chains for a prolonged root. Then, land a Shockwave to disrupt positioning and set up for further attacks. Practice predicting enemy movement to maximize chain accuracy.
Effective Spartan Charge usage is crucial. Aim for angles that allow for easy follow-up with other abilities. Don’t be afraid to use it defensively to escape or reposition. Combine it with items like Titan’s Resolve for increased survivability during initiation.
Chain CC Combos
Ares excels at locking down targets with relentless crowd control. The core combo begins with a well-aimed Spartan Charge, instantly followed by Binding Chains to root the enemy. Immediately after, deploy Shockwave to displace and further disrupt their positioning. This creates a window for your team to capitalize on.
For advanced players, anticipate enemy dashes or movement abilities. Utilize Shockwave to counter these, maintaining the chain. Finally, unleash Chains of Hades during the combo for maximum impact and area control, securing kills and objectives.
Effective Use of Spartan Charge
Mastering Spartan Charge is crucial for successful Ares gameplay. Don’t simply charge forward blindly; use it strategically for initiation, gap closing, or escaping dangerous situations. Aim to hit multiple enemies with the charge for maximum impact and disruption.
Consider the terrain – charging through walls can be a game-changer. Practice predicting enemy movement to land impactful charges. Combine it with Binding Chains for immediate follow-up CC. Remember, a missed charge leaves you vulnerable, so timing and precision are key!
Ares in Smite 2 ⎼ Open Beta Considerations
The transition to Smite 2 brings subtle but important changes to Ares. While his core kit remains largely intact in the open beta, adjustments to itemization and overall game speed necessitate build adaptations. Expect a potential shift towards more impactful early-game aggression due to faster rotations.
Focus on maximizing chain CC potential, as team fights are likely to be more frequent and decisive. Experiment with new item combinations to optimize for both durability and crowd control. Keep an eye on patch notes for balance updates affecting Ares’ effectiveness.
Ares Solo Lane Strategy (Season 11)
Ares in the solo lane thrives on aggressive plays and early dominance. Prioritize securing early kills with Spartan Charge and Binding Chains, disrupting the enemy’s farm and establishing lane control. Utilize Shockwave for wave clear and peel.
Focus on building items that enhance your sustain and lockdown capabilities. Be mindful of ganks and position yourself to effectively utilize your ultimate, Chains of Hades, during team fights or to secure objective control. Punish overextensions and capitalize on enemy mistakes.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Playing Ares
Many Ares players mismanage their stamina, leading to failed engages and vulnerability. Avoid overextending with Spartan Charge without considering escape routes. Failing to coordinate Chains of Hades with teammates diminishes its impact.
Don’t neglect wave clear; getting pushed under tower limits your aggressive potential. Ignoring itemization for specific matchups can leave you vulnerable. Finally, avoid tunnel vision – always be aware of the minimap and potential ganks, as Ares lacks strong mobility outside of his charge.
Resources and Further Learning
For in-depth Ares gameplay analysis, explore Smite Shorts on YouTube, offering concise guides and strategies. Websites dedicated to SMITE builds, like those covering Patch 12.1 and the Smite 2 Open Beta 28, provide current itemization options.
Reddit’s SMITE community is a valuable resource for asking questions and discussing advanced techniques. Utilize the SMITE Wiki for detailed ability information and lore. Remember to check for updated guides as Season 11 evolves and Smite 2 progresses, ensuring your knowledge remains current.