SMITE 2 News

Princess Bari

The Divine Mudang

Pantheon : Korean

Gameplay Specializations:

• Ranged
• Magical Damage
• Strength & Intelligence Hybrid
• Explosive Moments of Power
• Death Prevention

“When all others turn away, the abandoned child carries hope on her shoulders.”
[h2] Who is Princess Bari? [/h2]
Born as the seventh daughter to a king who longed only for a male heir, Princess Bari was cast aside at birth—deemed unworthy by her own family. When her father fell gravely ill, however, it was Bari who journeyed across mortal and spirit realms to obtain the divine waters needed to restore his life. 

This act of profound selflessness not only healed her father but also bestowed Bari with divine power. Now a powerful shaman, she stands as a guiding light between the living and the dead. She harnesses her gifts to protect the vulnerable and uphold the delicate balance of both realms.

In SMITE 2, Princess Bari uses her ever-growing reservoir of spiritual energy to amplify her abilities. Each strike or ability she lands builds up her Spirit, fueling a cycle of enhanced attacks and spells that demonstrate her merciful but resolute nature.

[h2] New Pantheon – Korean [/h2]

With the arrival of Princess Bari, SMITE proudly welcomes the Korean Pantheon. While there were countless figures we could have introduced, Princess Bari stands out as one of the most iconic and universally cherished characters in Korean mythology.  With her introduction we pay homage to her enduring legacy in Korean mythology and shine a light on a story of deep compassion, resilience, and divine miracles that still captures many to this day.

[h2] Core Themes [/h2]

Edge of Life and Death
As a spiritual shaman, Princess Bari treads the fine line between both realms. Her kit revolves around collecting Spirit and entering an enhanced Spiritual State, mirroring her role as a soul guide and caretaker.

[h2] Supporting Themes [/h2]

Altruistic Protector
Although she can deal formidable damage, Bari also stands as a protective figure who can spare allies from death and tip the scales of battle in her team’s favor.

Bell Magic & Ritual Dances
Iconic bells and graceful ritual dances form the heart of Princess Bari’s combat style. She conjures bells on the battlefield, then sends them forward at her foes. Her rituals bring not only strong protective capabilities but enhance her own strength, giving her clear moments of power unique to her.

[h2] Artistic Process [/h2]

For Princess Bari, we wanted to highlight her deep connection to Korean Shamanistic traditions. Her color palette draws heavily from the Sam-Taegeuk symbol, a core emblem in many shamanic practices. We emphasized key ritual items—her hat, fan, and bangul (a bell-bearing staff)—both in her visual design and her gameplay mechanics.





Animation-wise, our goal was to make her movements fluid and graceful, as though she were dancing across the battlefield. Wherever possible, we aimed to display this grace—be it in her idle animations, recalling sequences, or core combat abilities.





Princess Bari stands between the realms of life and death, and her abilities reflect this duality. In her normal state, they feel more physical and incorporate gold and blue hues. However, when she enters her Spiritual state, the palette shifts to a ghostly blend of blue, white, and negative space. We wanted this transformation to be dramatic and easily recognizable, so we built up a visual crescendo before she bursts into her Spiritual form, as shown below.



[h2] Gameplay [/h2]

Princess Bari’s gameplay centers on Spirit—she does not use Mana, but instead accumulates Spirit with each successful hit or ability cast. Upon reaching the Spirit threshold, Princess Bari surges with power, amplifying her damage, enhancing her abilities, and granting special effects to her basic attacks.

Princess Bari conjures bells, tossing them into the fray to damage and disrupt her enemies. She sweeps them forward with a graceful fan flourish, weaving each strike into a fluid combo that builds her Spirit. Drawing on protective rituals, Princess Bari protects allies from lethal harm while fueling her own surge of power. She enters a heightened state that amplifies her next attack, choosing the right one for the situation.

Unique Gameplay Features

• Princess Bari is a Hybrid god, excelling at the traditional carry role through Strength while being a more flexible caster with Intelligence.
• Combo-centric kit, with a variety of ways to approach each fight depending on her current Spirit and her goals in the fight
• Ebb and Flow of Power. Princess Bari excels at transitioning from her Physical and Spiritual forms, gaining access to extra cooldown usages and powerful bonuses.
• Teamwide Death Immunity, allies simply need to be part of her Ritual to gain this potent effect.

[h2] Closing [/h2]

Whether you’re conjuring bells to zone out enemies or safeguarding your teammates with life-saving rituals, Bari’s skill ceiling rewards ingenuity and careful Spirit management. Guide your allies from harm’s edge, and stand as Princess Bari—the guide between realms.

​Awilix, the Goddess of the Moon, joins the battleground of the gods in SMITE 2, bringing her unique combat style and lunar prowess to the fray. Accompanied by her loyal panther, Suku, Awilix offers players a dynamic and strategic gameplay experience.​

Reimagined for SMITE 2 – A Refined Awilix

​In SMITE 2, Awilix, the Goddess of the Moon, has been reimagined with a striking visual design. Her updated model features intricate details, including tattoos with jaguar spot patterns and an enhanced color scheme, reflecting her deep connection to the night and her panther companion, Suku


Passive – Initiative

If you have not taken or dealt damage in the last 5 seconds, gain 30% increased Basic Attack power and Strength for 4 seconds if you strike an enemy first.

The buff is extended by 2 seconds if triggered by the leap from Summon Suku

Ability 1 – Summon Suku

Mount your Panther Suku, gaining movement speed but decreased strafe speed. You may Leap off Suku to deal Physical Damage in the target area.

Ability 2 – Feather Step

Flip over the last enemy you hit within 1.5 seconds, Rooting, Crippling, and dealing Physical Damage. The damage increases by 50% based on the next attack in her Basic Attack progression.

If the next attack is her third, she also hits all enemies in the area around the target. ​

Ability 3 – Moonlight Charge
Suku comes to Awilix's aid, rushing forward dealing Physical Damage to aill enemites. If hit from the side or behind, enemies are also Knocked Up.

This ability can be used while riding Suku

Ultimate – Gravity Surge

Pulls the closest enemy god who is either Knocked Up or Leaping. The target god takes Physical Damage and Stunned when they land.

You are then bathed in moonlight, gaining bonus Attack Speed, Attack Power, and Strength, as well as protection against Roots, Slows, and Knockbacks for 6 seconds.

Beware the Darkness

With enhanced agility, refined precision, and the triumphant return of her signature lunar strikes, Awilix in SMITE 2 emerges as a swift and deadly huntress, ruling the night with unmatched prowess!
Mount Suku. Command the moonlight. And let your enemies fall beneath the silent fury of Awilix.

[h2]Technical Updates & Hotfixes[/h2]
Hotfixes That Went Live

• Double Worshippers Event: Talked about an issue affecting the event but this has been resolved.
  
• Recent Bug Fixes
  • Assault Bench Issue: Resolved a problem where initial picks were getting incorrectly added to the bench.
    
  • Auto Build Upgrades: Starter item upgrades now functioning as intended.
    
  • Spirit of Desolation / Jotun’s Revenge: Will no longer proc on clones.
    
• Prophetic Cloak Reactivation: Prophetic Cloak was turned back on after the devs ironed out some unexpected behaviors.
  
• Typhon’s Fang Disabled: Temporarily removed because buying and selling it retained its passive permanently. A fix is on the way.
  

[h2]God Release Roadmap[/h2]
Overview

• 
  The SMITE 2 team is moving toward a new God release schedule: one God every two weeks rather than every week. This begins with the next new God, Princess Bari, on March 10.
  
• Additional Weekly Content: Though God releases switch to bi-weekly, there will still be new aspects, items, and other exciting gameplay content every week.
  
• 
  The new schedule: five classic Gods followed by an all-new God, ensuring a steady stream of beloved favorites and fresh faces.
  

Upcoming God Dates (Subject to Change)

1. Princess Bari – March 10 (OB 5)
   
2. Merlin – March 24 (OB 6)
   
3. Cerberus – April 7
   
4. Kali – April 21
   
5. Guan Yu – May 5
   
6. Apollo – May 19
   
7. New God (H) – June 2
   

Why the Change?

• Quality & Pace: The dev team wants to ensure each God has the level of polish and testing required for a stellar release.
  
• Production Realities: After recent team restructuring, it’s important to maintain a sustainable production cadence.
  
• Community Feedback: Many players requested more time to adapt to each new God, so this schedule supports that.
  

[h2]Art Deep Dive: Upcoming Gods[/h2]
Art Director Ben walked through the unique challenges of bringing each God into SMITE 2’s upgraded engine:
[h3]1. Princess Bari[/h3]

• Pantheon: The first Korean deity in SMITE 2, inspired by Korean shamanistic tradition.
  
• Design Elements:
  • 
    Traditional garb (including a culturally-accurate tall hat) and bright pops of color.
    
  • 
    Elaborate bells that tie into her in-game abilities.
    
• Ben’s Notes:
  • 
    The team did in-depth cultural research and collaborated with Korean staff to ensure authenticity.
    
  • 
    Vibrant materials show off SMITE 2’s new rendering capabilities.
    

[h3]2. Merlin[/h3]

• Release Date: March 24
  
• Famous for: Multi-stance magic (Arcane, Fire, Ice).
  
• Art Challenges:
  • 
    Essentially three separate effects sets for each stance, making it a more complex project.
    
  • 
    Cloth materials and magical accents are enhanced with next-gen PBR (Physically Based Rendering) materials.
    
• Ben’s Notes:
  • 
    The original Merlin design was well-received in SMITE 1, so the focus is on polishing visuals and materials.
    
  • 
    Effects teams are creating stand-out animations for each elemental stance.
    

[h3]3. Cerberus[/h3]

• Release Date: April 7
  
• Key Feature: Three-headed design requires specialized rigging.
  
• Art Upgrades:
  • 
    Adjusted the snout/head ratio to feel more dog-like and balanced.
    
  • 
    Upgraded materials for more realistic and menacing texture details.
    
• Ben’s Notes:
  • 
    Each head moves independently, which increases animation complexity.
    
  • 
    Cerberus has unique rigging to handle multi-head behaviors.
    

[h3]4. Kali[/h3]

• Release Date: April 21
  
• Notable Update: Received a bigger visual overhaul compared to her SMITE 1 design.
  
• Art Changes:
  • 
    No more high-heeled armor; a more culturally resonant mid-ground between classic and modern styles.
    
  • 
    Added a skull garland to highlight her lore roots.
    
• Ben’s Notes:
  • 
    The team aims to respect the spirit of Kali’s mythology while balancing modernization.
    
  • 
    Extra arms, new cloth physics, and potential future touches (like a signature tongue cameo) are under consideration.
    

[h3]5. Guan Yu[/h3]

• Release Date: May 5
  
• Core Theme: Legendary Chinese general vibe intact, with signature armor and horse.
  
• Visual Tweaks:
  • 
    Updates to his horse’s proportions (less “buff,” more realistic form).
    
  • 
    Polished materials to capture the PBR advantages.
    
• Ben’s Notes:
  • 
    No major design overhaul; Guan Yu’s stylized look is iconic.
    
  • 
    Might subtly adjust proportions (hand size, etc.) if tech allows.
    

[h3]6. Apollo[/h3]

• Release Date: May 19
  
• Rework Approach: Largely retains his known SMITE 1 revamp, upgraded with SMITE 2’s advanced materials.
  
• Ben’s Notes:
  • 
    Key goal is to emphasize his golden details and skin rendering.
    
  • 
    Adding subtle finishing touches to ensure cloth, gold, and hair all shine.
    

[h3]7. Mystery “H” God[/h3]

• Release Date: June 2
  
• All-New God: Expect fresh lore, visuals, and kit design. More details soon!
  

[h2]Q&A Highlights[/h2]
During the show, Kilgoon and Ben fielded community questions on art, design philosophies, and future content:

1. Why Bi-Weekly God Releases?
   • Quality control is the main focus. The SMITE 2 team wants every God to feel polished and well-tested.
     
2. Collaboration Skins:
   • 
     Potential crossover skins are still on the table for the future, but the team is balancing new productions with community priorities.
     
3. Revamping Older Designs:
   • 
     The devs aim to maintain each God’s iconic identity while applying a next-gen art pass to materials, lighting, and proportions.
     
4. Community Concept Submissions:
   • 
     The team loves seeing fan-made concepts. If the community responds well, there’s a chance those ideas can become official.
     
5. Art & Lore Balance:
   • 
     While the team respects the pantheons and their lore, practical gameplay needs can shift certain design elements.
     
   • 
     Ultimately, the goal is fun, with a nod to authenticity whenever possible.
     

[h2]Closing Thoughts[/h2]

• SMITE 2 continues to evolve and refine its gods, giving both veterans and newcomers something to be excited about.
  
• Community Feedback: The devs are actively reading and incorporating suggestions, so keep sharing your thoughts.
  
• Upcoming Streams: Look out for more Titan Talks and dev shows where they’ll dive deeper into Princess Bari’s kit, new feature reveals, and eSports updates.
  

Stay tuned for more Titan Talk episodes as SMITE 2 marches forward with a new content schedule, improved visuals, and community-driven improvements!

Thank you for reading, and we’ll see you on the Battleground of the Gods! Remember to follow our official channels for the latest news and patch updates:

 
[h2]Hotfix March 1st[/h2]

• A few bugfixes that the team wanted to push out this morning include:
  
  Fixed a specific type of crash involving game modes
• Potential fix to an issue in the draft lobby where the UI would not show teams
• Fixed an issue where the HUD would not operate as expected during announcements like "Player X got a double kill"

Double Worshippers begins right now! For a limited time through March 3rd, earn 2X Worshippers in every match during this event. It's the perfect time to jump in the Battleground, try out a new god or dig in to your favorite this weekend.

Here is what you may have missed over the last 24 hours. First up a quick summary of yesterday's Titan Talk where Isiah and Kilgoon went over a ton of in development and upcoming features and content!
Upcoming Events & Developer Roadmap

• Friday (Feb 28): A roadmap update featuring the next wave of God releases and content cadence.
  
• Monday (Mar 3): Full reveal of Princess Bari, including a kit breakdown by Pon.
  
• Future Guest Appearances: Upcoming episodes will feature Kellen and Ben discussing art and game direction.
  

Recent Hotfixes & Bug Fixes
Multiple patches have been rolled out over the last 48 hours, addressing key issues:

• General Fixes:
  • 
    Aladdin’s AO2 canceling consistency improved.
    
  • Bloodforge re-added to the item shop.
    
  • 
    Fix in progress for Prophetic Cloak (previously exploitable for infinite protections).
    
  • 
    Purchase button restored for store/featured page skins.
    
  • 
    Map pinging while moving no longer halts movement.
    
  • 
    Gods on rotation now correctly sort at the top of the Gods page.
    
  • 
    Fix for persistent Trade Blocked status in draft lobbies.
    
  • 
    Missing descriptions for recent balance changes added.
    
  • Meditation relic now functions correctly in Assault.
    
  • 
    Artemis’s non-aspect traps now stack correctly.
    
  • Xbox crash fix deployed based on player reports.
    
  • Thor’s Health War Hammer missing VFX issue is under investigation.
    

Community Q&A Highlights

• VGS Issues: Developers are investigating recent issues with the VGS system. Additional player reports are welcome.
  
• Classic Skin Pricing: Classic skins were previously at a sale price. The new pricing reflects intended long-term value.
  
• Wandering Market Expansion: Unlikely to exceed four pages due to balance between value and pricing.
  
• God Token Adjustments: More God tokens will be added as the roster expands beyond level 50.
  
• Co-op AI Enhancements:
  • 
    Easy AI is being tuned for new players.
    
  • 
    Medium and Hard difficulties are in development.
    
• Godbuilder: Not included in the next update but remains a work in progress.
  
• Item Store UI Improvements:
  • 
    Upcoming update will make consumables easier to access.
    
  • 
    Rebuilding items will be faster with improved UI recall features.
    
• Role Assignment Feedback: Developers are reviewing the matchmaking algorithm to ensure fair distribution of primary role preferences.
  
• Ward Placement Incentives: The team is considering adding gold rewards or other incentives for warding.
  
• Ascension Pass Changes: No immediate plans to extend beyond level 10, but future updates may re-evaluate this system.
  

Game Mechanics & Balance Discussions

• Magi’s Cloak: Fix incoming for unintended activations (e.g., Ymir’s Rocket Jump breaking his own bubble).
  
• Anti-Proxy Tech: Developers are collecting feedback on potential adjustments after the initial wave of changes.
  
• Displacement Interactions: Awilix’s interactions with CC and knockups are under review.
  
• Denying Minions (Dota-style): The team believes this mechanic does not align with Smite 2’s action-oriented gameplay.
  
• Polymorph Abilities: More gods with polymorph mechanics could be introduced in the future.
  
• Death Animations Visibility: The idea of showing death animations only to the defeated player is under consideration.
  

Technical & Quality of Life Updates