SMITE 2 News

If you missed Titan Talk today, there was a ton of stuff covered including a Blink combat test and a look at the upcoming Susano Prism! We've summarized everything for you below!

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[h2]1. Flash Tests (PTS) for OB6[/h2]

• 
  Two Rounds of Flash Testing
  
  • Round 1: Happened yesterday, provided initial feedback on OB6.
  • Round 2: Taking place today, 2 PM – 4 PM ETon the PTS.
    • Conquest Queue will be live during those two hours.
    • Additional skins should be enabled, including previews of new OB6 cosmetics.
• 
  Overnight Server Availability
  
  • After 4 PM ET, the Conquest Queue ends, but custom matches and jungle practice remain available all night.
  • This extended uptime helps players who can’t join the short test window (e. g. due to work or school).
  • Feedback is welcomed via Discord forums (look for the dedicated bug-reporting and feedback channels).

[h2]2. Yemoja Aspect Changes[/h2]

• Improved Bounce Mechanics
  • Emjoji’s “bubble” (her 2) now bounces to enemies for damage.
  • If there’s no additional target to bounce to, it will bounce back to the original enemy at least once, guaranteeing two damage instances even in a 1v1 scenario.
• Continued Adjustments
  • There is still ongoing discussion about whether spending 3 Omi on this ability is worthwhile.
  • The team wants to ensure it feels fun and strong; your feedback during the flash test is critical.

[h2]3. Live “Combat Blink” Test (A.K.A. the “Blink Test”)[/h2]

• Temporary Disabling of Combat Blink
  • Combat Blink is being turned off in live matches for a few days to gather data.
  • The goal is to see how removing this relic affects pacing, engages, and team fights.
• Community Feedback & Survey
  • A formal survey will be released later this week—after players have time to feel the difference in real matches.
  • Devs are exploring if combat blink should return in its current form, revert to the Smite 1 style, become a hybrid relic, or something entirely new.

[h2]4. Matchmaking Improvements[/h2]

• Significant Improvements Noted
  • Recent background adjustments aim to provide more balanced teams in both casual and ranked modes.
  • One standout statistic:
    • On March 12, only 40% of ranked matches were within a 100 SR difference per team.
    • By March 18, that rose to 80% of matches meeting that standard.
• Continued Tuning
  • More changes are being tested and refined.
  • Expect additional data insights (with handy graphs!) in upcoming dev communications.

[h2]5. Movement Overhaul & Upcoming Tests[/h2]

• Core Movement Code Rework
  • The team is actively rebuilding core movement systems to feel snappier and more responsive.
  • Internal playtests show this new approach feels “tremendously better” about 90% of the time.
• Potential Flash Test Soon
  • These changes will likely be tested on a separate branch of the game (meaning not on the main PTS right away) to avoid breaking other areas.
  • Exact timing is TBD, but players can expect an upcoming focus test to gather real-world feedback.

[h2]6. New Susano Skin: “Stumble Blade”[/h2]

• Cartoon-Themed Aesthetics
  • Susano’s new skin has a fun, toon-inspired style, especially noticeable in his wind-based abilities.
• Prism Color Variations
  • Multiple “Prism” color swaps (e.g., Amethyst, Crimson, Copper) let you change the ability FX color scheme on the same skin.
• In-Game Preview During Flash Test
  • Susano’s new skin (and other OB6 skins) should be available in the PTS so you can see it before it goes live.

[h2]7. Full Patch Notes & Merlin’s Release[/h2]

• Patch Notes on Friday
  • Tune into Titan Talk (Friday) for the full patch notes breakdown.
  • Pond will be detailing balance changes and other updates.
• OB6 Goes Live on Monday
  • The new update (including Merlin as the latest god) arrives to live servers on Monday.
  • Expect additional content and features highlighted in Friday’s patch notes reveal.

[h2]8. Additional Community Q&A Highlights[/h2]

• Next Gods & Future Releases
  • Following Merlin, upcoming gods include Cerberus, Guan Yu, Kali, Aphrodite, and Apollo.
  • King Arthur remains on the radar, but his unique technical challenges are slowing the process.
• Movement & Mobility Discussions
  • Ongoing conversation about CC buffering and leaps, plus balancing the abundant mobility in SMITE 2.
  • Disabling Combat Blink is one of many steps to test how movement/fight flow changes when certain tools are removed or retooled.
• Focus on Feature Completeness
  • The dev team continues balancing how quickly they release new gods versus implementing core features (e.g., better matchmaking, improved HUD/editor, new systems like “Prisms,” etc.).
• Community Merch License
  • Soon, there will be a community licensing option allowing fans to create and sell limited-run SMITE 2 merchandise without legal complications, as long as it meets certain guidelines and earning thresholds.

[h3]How to Provide Feedback[/h3]

1. Play in the PTS (2 PM – 4 PM ET Conquest queues, or custom matches overnight).
2. Try Live Matches Without Combat Blink and share how it feels.
3. Join Official Discord: Use the dedicated feedback and bug-report channels.
4. Keep an Eye on Socials & Reddit: Surveys will be posted to gather large-scale input on the Blink changes.

If you missed the magic in today's Titan Talk, we've got a wrap-up for you! Merlin, Yemoja Aspect, and a ton more below!



[h2]Merlin Arrives in OB6[/h2][h3]Overview[/h3]

• Long-Awaited Mage: Merlin is one of the most requested mages yet to appear in Smite 2, now joining the roster in OB6.
• Core Kit: Retains his triple-stance playstyle (Arcane, Fire, Ice) from Smite 1, with slight “plus-one” twists in Smite 2.

[h3]Notable Changes & “Plus Ones”[/h3]

• 
  Enhanced Flicker
  
  • Arcane Flicker: Heals Merlin based on recent damage taken.
  • Fire Flicker: Briefly applies a Radiate DoT (damage-over-time) to enemies.
  • Ice Flicker: Reduces Merlin’s ability cooldowns by 5 seconds.
• 
  Fire Stance Radiate
  
  • Radiate (1) now applies a burn DoT that also spreads via Merlin’s other fire abilities (the Dragonfire center, ultimate transitions, etc.).

[h3]Merlin’s Ascension Pass[/h3]

• Colorful Progression: Unlock multiple recolors (Shadow, Onyx, Opal, Radiant) as you level up Merlin.
• New Emotes & Trackers: Includes a “Ponder the Elements” global emote, mastery emote, kill trackers, and more.

[h3]Merlin’s Aspect: Pandemonium][/h3]

• Randomized Stance Swap: Each time Merlin uses his ultimate (Elemental Mastery), it randomly selects a stance and two “primary” abilities (1 and 2).
• Shorter Ultimate Cooldown: Enables faster stance-cycling and more frequent casting—but at the cost of randomness.
• Intelligence Buff: Each stance swap grants temporary INT, boosting Merlin’s power.
• Release Timing: This Aspect will drop a short while after OB6 goes live (not on Day 1).

[h2]Yemoja’s New Aspect: Downpour[/h2]

• Offensive Twist: Shifts Yemoja’s healing-based kit into a damage focus.
• Mending Waters (2): No longer heals allies. Instead, it bounces among enemy gods, dealing damage and building Yemoja’s INT (power) stacks.
• Moonstrike (B01): Gains higher scaling for more damage but loses its stun on enemy gods (it still stuns towers).
• Availability: Scheduled to appear about a week after OB6 launches.

[h2]Skin Highlights[/h2][h3]Classic Skins Returning[/h3]

1. Bass Cannon Neith (EDM-style skin)
2. Heavens Rave Zeus (another EDM/music theme)
3. High Honor Mulan (inspired by the Immortal skin style)
4. Dawn Spirit Yemoja (a popular, ethereal-looking Yemoja skin)

[h3]All-New Toon Tech: StumbleBlade Susano[/h3]

• Cel-Shaded Look: Built using fresh Unreal Engine 5 tech for a true “toon” effect.
• Colorful, Bold Visuals: Stands apart from the rest of the map in a fun, animated style.

[h3]Introducing “Prisms”[/h3]

• Extra Recolors: Special alternate color variants for selected skins (starting with StumbleBlade Susano).
• Custom-Tailored Effects: These recolors also change the skill VFX.
• Supporter Premiere: Prisms cost diamonds with no legacy-gem discounts. The base Susano skin still supports legacy gems at 50%.

[h2]New Items Arriving in OB6[/h2]

1. 
   Vampiric Shroud
   
   • Starter for Bruiser Mages: Provides health, intelligence, and sustain.
   • Bloodsoaked Shroud Upgrade: Increases healing and adds %healing on damage.
2. 
   Runeforge Hammer
   
   • Strength + Max Health: Ideal hybrid item for bruisers or guardians.
   • Polynomicon-Style Passive: Hard-CC an enemy to mark them, then your next basic attack deals extra magical damage based on your protections.
   • Reduced Cooldown via CC: More crowd-control = faster rune resets.
3. 
   Enchile
   
   • Anti-Magic Bruiser Item: Grants magic protection, max health, and reduced damage from basic attacks.
   • Silence Effect: Taking hits builds up a charge; activate to make your next ability silence enemies for 1.5s.

[h2]Conquest Map Art Updates[/h2]

• Buff Camp Landmarks: Three buff areas receive major visual overhauls for clarity and theme:
  • Blue Buff: Frog-like idols and watery details.
  • Red Buff: Sharp spikes, skulls, and sinister structures.
  • Purple Buff: Arcane trees and eerie purplish lighting.
• Better Navigation: Each buff camp is instantly recognizable by color and shape.

[h2]Ongoing Work & Future Plans[/h2]

• Movement & Netcode Overhaul: Dev team is actively refining the underlying movement code to address jittery body-blocks, odd pulls (e.g., Khepri’s), and overall pacing.
• Combat Blink Discussion: Evaluating the impact and whether it encourages too much unpredictability or easy escapes.
• Early-Game Snowball: Looking into ways to reduce extreme early leads in Conquest without heavy-handed comeback mechanics.
• Godbuilder System: In development to let players share and browse community-made builds and item tips in-game.

[h2]Q&A Highlights[/h2]

• “Had Fun?” Button: The thumbs-up/down at match end is used internally to gauge overall match enjoyment.
• Auto-Build vs. Advanced Builds: Auto-build remains a “no-thought” option, while the future Godbuilder aims to help intermediate players learn more advanced item choices.
• Legacy “Divine” Skins: Currently remain rewards for Smite 1 veterans, but the team may revisit how to offer them in the future.

[h2]Wrap-Up[/h2]
OB6 is packed with exciting changes: Merlin’s grand debut, new Aspects for Merlin and Yemoja, vibrant skins (including toon-tech Susano), fresh items, and improved buff-camp visuals. Keep an eye out for the first OB6 Flash Test announcements to jump in early and try it all.

St. Patrick's Day is almost here and you can celebrate with an event in SMITE 2!

Now through Monday March 17, play 3 games as a ""Green God/Skin"" to unlock the Celtic Music Pack. Good luck on the Battleground!

The following changes have been made to SMITE 2 this morning. PC clients will see these immediately and consoles follow a bit later today. 

• 
  Artemis trap no longer causes attacks to miss targets 
  
• 
  Reduced the volume for the default ambient background music
  
• 
  Fixed an issue where the Silent Strike chest ownership count was broken 
  
• 
  Fixed a sorting issue with chest bundles
  
• 
  Fix an issue where chest screen purchase clicks would sometimes fail
  
• 
  Awilix Nerf
  
  • 
    Summon Suku (1)
    
    • 
      Decreased Base Damage from 80/135/190/245/300 to 70/120/170/220/270
      
    • 
      Decreased Scaling from 80% Strength to 70% Strength
      
  • 
    Moonlight Charge (3)
    
    • 
      Decreased Scaling from 80% Strength to 70% Strength
      
  • 
    Gravity Surge (4)
    
    • 
      Increased Cooldown from 90/85/80/75/70 to 90s at all ranks.
      
• 
  Aphrodite Nerf
  
  • 
    Center Of Attention (P)
    
    • 
      Decreased Protections from 4 per stack to 3 per stack.
      
  • 
    Back Off! (2)
    
    • 
      Decreased Ally Damage Scaling from 70% to 50%.
      
    • 
      Bonus Damage decreased from 21.25% to 15%.
      
• 
  Thor Nerf
  
  • 
    Mjolnir’s Attunement (1)
    
    • 
      Increased Cooldown from 13s at all ranks to 14s at all ranks.
      
  • 
    Berserker’s Barrage (3)
    
    • 
      Decreased Spin Scaling from 40% Strength to 35% Strength
      
• 
  Mordred Nerf
  
  • 
    Shoulder Charge (Passive)
    
    • 
      Decreased Base Damage from 15 to 12.
      
    • 
      Decreased Per Level Damage from 4 to 3.
      
  • 
    Aspect Of Rage
    
    • 
      Shoulder Charge (Passive)
      
      • Decreased Bonus Damage for recent god hits from 10 to 7.

Did you miss Titan Talk yesterday! No worries, here is a summary!




Special Guest: Kellen

• 
  Audio Manager at Titan Forge, working on Smite for almost 11 years
  
• 
  Oversees and directs audio/music for the game
  
• 
  Collaborates with various departments to ensure seamless audio integration
  

Kellen joined the show to discuss the ongoing work on Smite’s music and audio systems, along with the team’s approach to bug fixes and upcoming improvements.
[h2]Housekeeping & Recent Bug Fixes[/h2]

• 
  Hot Fixes Deployed:
  
  1. 
     Fixed an issue where minions dealt no damage to familiars or pets.
     
  2. 
     Further potential fix for the mini map overlay bug appearing in the store.
     
  3. 
     Resolved an issue with the Health Chalice not refilling on respawn if it had zero charges upon player death.
     
  4. 
     Fixed an audio bug causing the “ally has left the game” sound to play in post-match lobbies.
     
  5. 
     Restored music packs functionality in Assault mode.
     
  6. 
     Updated Aladdin’s lamp inventory behavior to prevent despawning other active items.
     
  7. 
     Fixed Zeus’s ultimate hit sound on his T5 (and base) skin so it now plays the correct effect.
     
  8. 
     Modified Bari’s Sacred Bell projectile and warning circle visuals to be more clear.
     
• 
  Known Issues & Ongoing Work:
  
  • 
    Pele’s Pyroclast Return: Investigating a bug with Pele’s pyroclast projectiles not returning properly.
    
  • 
    Silent Wish Chest Ghost Rolls: Working on a fix for ghost roll issues—players will not lose any currency in the meantime.
    
  • 
    Several other bug fixes mentioned by the dev team, including:
    
    • 
      Ymir Wall & Yemoja 3 incorrectly breaking Magi’s.
      
    • 
      Bari’s Mystic Surge incorrectly tracking minion/jungle camp kills.
      
    • 
      Match audio persisting into the end-of-match lobby.
      

[h2]Music & Audio in Smite 2[/h2]
[h3]Music Packs Overview[/h3]
New in Smite 2: Music packs have finally been introduced in Open Beta 5. These allow players to customize their in-game music, from the fountain-lobby intro track to epic kill streak pieces.

• 
  Why Music Packs?
  
  • 
    Adds new layers of personalization and immersion.
    
  • 
    Dynamic music triggers for taking down objectives, kills, and more.
    
  • 
    A broad range of musical styles from calm lofi to heavy metal.
    

[h3]Top 10 Most-Equipped Music Packs (from Smite 1)[/h3]

1. 
   Jetpack Fighter – Surprising #1 pick with an energetic, futuristic vibe.
   
2. 
   Ruby (Licensed)
   
3. 
   Slushy (Licensed)
   
4. 
   Cyber Tokyo – Dark synthwave inspiration.
   
5. 
   From the Nether – Spooky, ominous undertones.
   
6. 
   Spirit Guide – Epic orchestral adventure feel.
   
7. 
   Senpai – Anime-inspired, lively track.
   
8. 
   Hellfire Syndicate – Metal-meets-hip-hop for a demonic/fashion vibe.
   
9. 
   Heavenly Hymns – Ethereal and classic Smite orchestral.
   
10. 
    Pirate – An adventurous pirate-themed rock mix.
    

Note: Some licensed packs cannot be carried forward into Smite 2.
[h3]Kellen’s Personal Favorites[/h3]
Kellen, who oversees much of the audio direction, listed his top picks:

1. 
   Worlds Collide – A unique fusion of lofi and metal elements.
   
2. 
   Season of Souls – Dark and intense metal reminiscent of fast-paced action games.
   
3. 
   Chibi Mech – High-energy and upbeat EDM/trance blend.
   
4. 
   Sea Shanty – Features actual Hi-Rez employees singing a jaunty pirate tune.
   
5. 
   Arcane Purity – Magical orchestral vibe ideal for a wizardly or mystical mood.
   
6. 
   Divine Uprising – Classic, epic orchestral theme.
   
7. 
   Bollywood – Vibrant, culturally-inspired track that’s a hidden gem.
   
8. 
   Lo-Fi – Perfect for chill gaming sessions.
   
9. 
   Prism of Soul – Epic, slightly tragic orchestral piece.
   

Each pack was created by partnering with a range of composers, followed by feedback and iteration rounds. Some highlight collaborations have been done with producers like Andrea Bellucci, as well as artists from the metal band Hath.
[h2]Behind the Scenes: Audio Direction[/h2][h3]How Audio Themes Are Crafted[/h3]

• 
  Collaboration with God Designers: Kellen meets with design teams to understand a character’s abilities, tone, and needs.
  
• 
  Sound Palettes: Each god or theme receives a “sound palette” to set cohesive elements and textures across all abilities.
  
• 
  Iterative Development: Feedback is crucial—multiple revisions happen before finalizing a set of sounds.
  
• 
  Challenges: Avoiding overly literal sounds (e.g., barking bunnies) and ensuring variety among thematically similar gods.
  

[h3]Dynamic Mixing & Future Audio Improvements[/h3]

• 
  Dynamic Mixing: Adjusts volume and intensity of different sounds (e.g. hits, global events) in real-time.
  
• 
  Potential Upcoming Tech: Expanding dynamic mixing for better hit feedback, better positional audio, and more.
  
• 
  Music Packs: Kellen teases an idea to create a possible “music pack playlist” system, letting players select and randomize segments from their owned packs.
  

[h3]Working on Licensed Music & Projects[/h3]

• 
  Slipknot Collaboration: A huge highlight, culminating in exclusive Slipknot crossover packs & skins. Kellen recounts meeting the band and how important authenticity is in such high-profile partnerships.
  
• 
  Monster Cat & Other Collaborations: Deeper behind-the-scenes look at how new partnerships evolve and factor into Smite’s audio identity.
  

[h2]Community Q&A Highlights[/h2]

• 
  Announcer Packs: The team is looking into bringing them to Smite 2. This includes the beloved Cthulhu and Lorelady versions, plus potential new ones.
  
• 
  Zeus T5 Audio Issue: Recently addressed so T5 Zeus’s ultimate & hit sounds now match the intended design.
  
• 
  DJ Skins Playing Music Together: Formerly a complicated system in Smite 1, but it may be easier in UE5. The team is investigating ways to bring back group-synced music.
  
• 
  Sun Wukong/Guan Yu Drums: Classic requests to restore old, iconic drum sounds and themes. It’s under consideration for the future.
  
• 
  Upcoming Gods & Audio Teaser: Next god’s name starts with an H — and yes, they have a voice.
  

[h2]Key Dates & Events[/h2]

• 
  Pele Pyroclast Fix: Ongoing investigation to ensure return projectiles function properly.
  
• 
  Silent Wish Chest Issue: Being resolved so ghost rolls no longer occur.
  
• 
  Community Tournaments: Nika and Hazer are hosting the Smite 2 Euros. Catch the drafts and matches this week.
  
• 
  St. Patrick’s Day Event (Starting Friday): Complete matches to unlock the Celtic Music Pack for free.
  

[h2]Final Takeaways[/h2]

• 
  Continuous Updates: The Smite 2 team is rapidly tackling bugs, performance improvements, and community feedback.
  
• 
  Ever-Evolving Audio: Music packs add flavor; new dynamic mixing systems are on the horizon, with Kellen constantly refining the in-game soundscape.
  
• 
  Stay Connected: More shows coming, including Monday’s “Merlin” reveal episode. Don’t miss the daily news on bug fixes, new features, and Q&A!
  

[h3]Here are the items that have been hotfixed in the last 24 hours:[/h3]

• Fixed an issue where Bari could get an extra enhanced ability
  
• Fixed an issue with Pele’s Pyroclast where return charges were not properly registering
  
• Fixed an issue with Thanatos Ultimate where he would retain his speed buff after respawn
  
• Fixed an issue where Bari’s foot was twitching in the lobby
  
• Made it easier for gamepad players to lock in gods for Assault
  
• Bari’s audio will no longer loop at start
  
• Ragnarok Force X now plays the correct music