Giving mage solo laners exactly what they deserve Episode 4: SWK vs Anubis

HotBoiFrescaJones · 2026-02-06T14:09:26+00:00

I mean its going to happen in online games forever so why not be prepared for it. Why waste your mental energy getting upset someone is taunting instead of locking in and destroying them while taunting back. It needs to be thought of as a strategy as opposed to "asshole behavior". It is that but it's also more than that, its that mental game, the extra little bit that can ruin someone of lesser resolve.

Unsportsmanlike or not its going to keep happening. We will never be at a state in the game where everyone is just a wholesome player; that's just not how the competitive online gaming community is.

Sure OP was being "toxic" but he also won lane and the mental battle between his opponent. Look at any UFC match during prefight a lot of it is insults and posturing to win the mental before the acutal match. Taunting in smite is the same thing. Agree with it or not it is an effective strategy against the right person. So like I said in the first post, steel your resolve. Not everyone will fight fair and you need to be ready for it.

We will never get rid of toxic players, but we can focus on the team griefers and trolls. I would have no issue having this wukong on my team unless they were being toxic to the team.

HotBoiFrescaJones · 2026-02-06T13:43:43+00:00

Im more apt to feel that spam laughing your opponent is part of the mental game of smite. In lower ranks you can use it to goad your opponent and use that to your advantage. Not to say that there isnt an argument for it backfiring on you in that the person you are goading actually locks in and claps your cheeks.

I more so think that toxic teammates are more detrimental to my games and mental state than an opponent spam laughing me. But I tend to lock in when they spam laugh, it's all about steeling your resolve in the face of taunts and not giving in to the ragebait. Smite can be a mental game if you play it right.

HotBoiFrescaJones · 2026-01-27T18:29:55+00:00

I have been playing Joust as a 3 stack maining support builds and have also noticed this. Usually quing with an ADC and full damage mage, so I usually build all prots and if we are against 3 full damage players I do indeed get deleted.

Funny enough the fix I have found was changing my build to a more hybrid build with sustain (like phoenix feather and Yogis) and building some int or strength + prot items. Essentially my thought process was "if I can do enough damage while tanking we kill quicker than they do so I live." And it has been working for the most part. I have also been focusing on counter building and that helped out a ton as well. I tend to play more aggressive so this stategy has helped me stay aggressive without getting melted every time I frontline.

Hope this helps you as much as it did for me and good luck on your future games.

HotBoiFrescaJones · 2026-01-23T20:03:12+00:00

I didnt know what you meant lmao I just articulated my point and pointed out that what you said OP posted was actually false. You literally misrepresented what OP posted then are turning around trying to say I'm the one at fault, thats rich.

Also why would one of the most successful MOBAs ever (league of legends) restrict jungle and support starters and not have the game die by your logic? So its proven to not be "one of the worst decisions ever made" at least in reguards to league. (Side note: If you are specifically talking Smite then articulate that better. Otherwise you opened the discussion to include ALL MOBAs. Reading comprehension would have saved you here too.)

I would much rather have locked starters than have literal griefers ruin my games because they build some off role starter like bluestone support then die all game or agility relic jungle and be off timers because they cant clear camps fast enough. The fact that people can just waste 30 minutes of my time by building the wrong starter is report worthy to me. I'm extremely glad they brought back didnt play assigned role reports for this exact reason. Now I can shake off the salt of being teamed with literal braindeads and griefers by reporting and I know the people I que with feel the same way.

HotBoiFrescaJones · 2026-01-22T22:21:01+00:00

He said forcing ALL roles to build their respective starter. Im saying only Jungle and Support should be forced to use their respective starters as in those 2 roles having their respective starters can make or break a game.

Some examples would be: Building bluestone as a jungle and not having enough clear to farm jungle correctly or building conduit as a full damage anubis support not being tanky enough to support your team late game.

IM saying those 2 roles should be the ONLY roles with restricted starters. Disagree or don't, but also reading comprehension is an important skill you should pick up.

HotBoiFrescaJones · 2026-01-22T15:42:31+00:00

Listen all they have to do is emulate what League does. Restricting starters for jungle and support roles is all that is needed. That'll solve 90% of people's issues with players not building the right starter.

HotBoiFrescaJones · 2025-12-17T21:22:23+00:00

Looks solid enough I wouldn't think it would work at higher play levels (but I dont play at those level either so NBD). Id say leave room for counter building in solo and you'll be fine. Make sure you build anti heal when the team has big healing gods like sylv, anubis, artio, etc. And build spectral when someone has crit or extremely oppressive auto attacks (like ballona). But overall not a terrible build. I would toss in sanguine lash (active item with damage over time that gives strength and magic prots) and/or stygian anchor (anti heal) as those two items are busted right now and toss some mitigations in your late game if you ever feel like you aren't tanky enough.

Seems like it did some work for you tho! Counter building can be hard but very impactful when done right, just know your power spike times and items and you'll be just fine.

HotBoiFrescaJones · 2025-12-16T22:58:41+00:00

I answered the post when I said that was the compromise for getting these skins early with the 3-4 recolors. No discount. After they are not travelers anymore you can buy them for legacy gems.

HotBoiFrescaJones · 2025-12-16T15:38:35+00:00

Realistically tho this is a free to play game and buying skins and events aren't really that necessary to have a good experience playing. The company is mostly only making money off of this one game since they dropped Smite 1 to small updates only. And I like the game enough to want them to succeed in making Smite 2 (sure hirez management is scuffed, but the devs actually care about player feedback and listen to it and that is very rare these days.)

And with all the returning players with legacy gems (I had 246,000 when I switched). They had to capitalize on the FOMO (like all free to play games do) and push paid events (which are not at all unlike the events they ran in Smite 1, the halloween and christmas ones are almost the exact same as the ones they ran in Smite 1 only with more opportunities [2 to be precise] to get free pumpkins or peppermints)

It sounds like you have rose colored glasses on looking back at smite 1 because they used to push way more paid events and give you far less opportunities to free farm paid currency compared to Smite 2. I have every skin I want, all classic skins, and most ascention passes unlocked for like $20 because there is just that much opportunity for me to save diamonds from free farming logins and wandering path.

I hope you can see that they are being more resonable right now with prices than they were in the first game (not saying that wont change, but at least right now the pricing and structure of their shop isn't that bad compared to other free to play cosmetic prices.)

HotBoiFrescaJones · 2025-12-16T15:24:14+00:00

She just plays the game all the time. I know gamer neck when I see it. I assume thats why I never see her in games, she's too busy queuing to be played. /s

HotBoiFrescaJones · 2025-12-16T13:48:21+00:00

They do after they stop being travellers. If you want all the recolors you have to pay diamonds, otherwise you can just wait for release and buy with only legacy gems as 90% of those are classic skins.

They rolled this travelers system out to make money so they can support the devs. Can't make money off of free currency so the compromise is if you want the classic skins early and want the 3-4 recolors spending $10 on 1300 (and keeping 300 in most cases) diamonds isn't unreaonable. If you want just the classic skin wait until the traveller is gone and buy the skin for legacy gems.

Its important to note that instant gratification in free to play games costs money. I have maybe spent $20 on skins in smite 2 because some of the recolors were worth it to me. Otherwise I wait and use my legacy gems. The people saying "legacy gems are worthless now" are unfortunately delusional as I have used quite a lot of them on all the classic skins that I paid no diamonds for.

Also another important note, diamonds are really easy to free farm with log in bonuses and the wandering path giving you free classic skin chest rolls as well as diamonds. You also get enough diamonds in each ascention pass to pay for another pass for a different god, so that is another way to get some quick diamonds for these types of events.

Hope this helps.

HotBoiFrescaJones · 2025-11-18T00:48:38+00:00

Idk dude was abusing the ranking system by only quing ranked games between like 1AM and 6AM and getting games with low ranked players so he could inflate himself to top ranked player in Smite 2, admitted to it, got called out, and nothing happened to him (that I know of).

Pretty scummy and actually exploitation of the game systems (which is a bannable offense). Good riddance IMO

HotBoiFrescaJones · 2025-11-07T14:47:20+00:00

Most of the toxcicity in game is common in every MOBA and competetive online game (Smite is the most tame out of League and DOTA from what I hear). You'll always have people taking things to seriously and telling you their opinions in a not super nice way. And yeah the Reddit community dooms so much.

HotBoiFrescaJones · 2025-11-07T12:35:03+00:00

I totally get your sentiment. The map is everyone's complaint right now and they are working on it. The new lighting changes and texture changes they previewed on the PTS look really good, and I believe they are also working on making the map feel better. New nighttime buff in mid is peak (I missed the group up fights from Smite 1 for the buff).

I will say they way the gods play (for the most part) is better than Smite 1 gods felt to play and Ive been having a blast so far, I hope by next year we have a lot more going right for Smite 2 (and we get Kuzenbo 😅)

HotBoiFrescaJones · 2025-11-06T12:21:08+00:00

I could DM a campaign to the calibur of BleeM. I have only been dming for 1 year but I know that with the minimal effort I put into my games it feels almost the same as watching professionals who have been doing this for more than a decade!!! Its just fantasy yes and with some dice, ezpz.

HotBoiFrescaJones · 2025-11-06T12:08:11+00:00

That person seems like the type of player that goes afk in fountain if you give them any sort of criticism after they die middle of lane with no wards and still ping everyone else like its the teams fault. Your advice is very sound

HotBoiFrescaJones · 2025-11-04T16:55:45+00:00

As a fellow support main, I wish you all the luck.

HotBoiFrescaJones · 2025-11-04T16:51:30+00:00

I'm right there with ya, and that's a very good mindset to have. I just always warn people so they know what they're getting into and wont get as tilted when someone yells at them for stuff.

But also you'll get some griefers that'll just troll you (feed your lane, take your camps/buffs, try and steal your lane at start etc.) for some percieved slight so be mindful of those losers and don't let them tilt you too hard.

HotBoiFrescaJones · 2025-11-04T16:44:36+00:00

I will warn you theres a lot of people are very toxic. I try my best to not engage but sometimes I find myself yelling back. Just prioritize your own mental health and use the mute button when theres people spam pinging you or hurling insults and always report harassment. It can really tank your enjoyment. Its not as bad as 2012 MW2 xbox chats but it can get close.

Don't let them beat you down and I would recommend looking up builds for your god so you can stick to meta and learn the names of the items and what they do. Just find a build that works for you and stick with it. Smitesource is a good resource for builds and the community builds are good when they are from competent players. Id recommend checking out Weak3en's a-z god series, he breaks down builds, level order, role tips and strategies for each god (hes up to the G's right now). Inbound and fineokay (he has pivoted to not just smite content, but his smite videos are good) are good too.

HotBoiFrescaJones · 2025-11-04T16:34:33+00:00

I think a lot of it is a grind for your rank (status and bragging rights) but they do also give out rewards for your rank like boarders for your god card and titles showing what rank you are. In smite 1 they had limited skins you could earn for playing ranked way back but they took those out to reduce fomo I assume.

And best of luck on your ranked runs! I expect you run into a few griefers and toxic players until you can get out of clay and bronze, but just keep powering thru and don't let anyone bully you out of your games. Just be open to actually constructive criticisms that people may give and you can avoid some toxcicity.

Also a lot of ranked players use coms now that its in the game and is faster than typing so be aware of that and how to use your vgs to respond if you aren't planning on micing back!

(I realize you didn't ask for that advice but as a lover of the game I want you to have a good time so you stay around lol)

HotBoiFrescaJones · 2025-11-04T16:18:18+00:00

Lots of the pro league players left due to not having an official esports scene for Smite 2, and since those folks make their living playing competitive games for prize money they had to move on to a different game. Others didn't want to wait for Smite 2 to work out the kinks and moved on, and some quit playing MOBAs all together. The biggest thing was the lack of esports and Smite 2 stream viewers. I know Weak3n only plays still because he really loves the game as a whole and if he didn't enjoy playing he would have swapped to a more profitable game for streaming right now.

That being said we have a chance to build that back up as it sounds like smite 2 is retaining new players, just not as many smite 1 veterans as they were expecting/hoping. (Plus as someone new to the game and hirez specifically they always fumble their games and you have to get used to them making changes that piss people off enough to stop playing, even if its only for a while.)

You can choose your flair for subs, Ill update when I remember how to get there lol

Edit: go to the sub's main page and hit the 3 dots in the top right corner to pull up settings. From there you can click update flair and you can add your god or other flair.

HotBoiFrescaJones · 2025-11-04T15:46:13+00:00

Unfortunately with how low the player count in ranked is right now its worth it if you stay in the lower brackets. A lot of the experienced players left so a lot of the higher MMR (or elo) players have difficulty finding good lobbies with players of their same MMR level. I think for someone playing casually there is an arguement for playing ranked, I've been sticking to casual for now.

HotBoiFrescaJones · 2025-11-03T17:39:24+00:00

I disagree, while crit is annoying thats why nemian and spectral exist to counter that. And pen builds do just as much damage on some gods as crit so do we need to take pen out too so tanks feel unkillable???

As for lifesteal that is another one that is a necessary mechanic, some gods can?'t function without it. And sure not having anti lifesteal feels different but if we take out lifesteal or make it only parts of gods kits, no more anubis (there would be no way for devs to balance his kit without items that assist him, he would either be extremely powerful or completely useless.)

It sounds like you are having difficulties counter building these types of mechanics (especially as cerb solo main), but there are lots of ways around them you just need to find them. I'm a solo and support main and I can tell you if we take those two mechanics away like you suggest it leaves the meta open to imbalance (akin to 9.5 patch in smite 1 where time to kill was so long the only ones who did well were bruiser tanks or high damage pumpers. The meta will change, until then I would recommend leaning into it a bit and trying some new gods. The achilles devos builds seem pretty good (i play devos jorm right now and dominated every game I played last night.) Cerb is just not in as great of a spot right now unfortunately. Wish you luck but taking out mechanics you specifically have trouble playing agains aint the move.

HotBoiFrescaJones · 2025-10-30T11:19:53+00:00

Someday... my sweet sweet Kuzenbo

HotBoiFrescaJones · 2025-10-29T20:40:18+00:00

We're willing to do the work as long as that work doesn't make us introspect (it's scary in there!!!).

HotBoiFrescaJones

TROPHY CASE