The latest update for SMITE 2, known as the Messenger of the Gods Update or OB13, is now live. It introduces Mercury, the fastest god in the game, alongside a fresh Quick Play Arena mode and a major upgrade to Unreal Engine 5.5. This patch also brings new skins, gameplay tweaks, and several quality of life improvements that players will want to check out.
Mercury arrives with his signature speed and flashy abilities designed to keep players constantly on the move. The new Quick Play Arena offers fast-paced, roughly 10-minute matches with roguelike item choices and a dodge mechanic, adding a new twist to the SMITE experience. Meanwhile, the Unreal Engine 5.5 upgrade improves visuals and performance, particularly on Xbox. Let’s take a closer look at what this update entails…
New God: Mercury
Mercury brings his melee physical attacks and strength scaling to SMITE 2. His passive, Fastest God Alive, increases his damage based on distance traveled and grants extra strength from movement speed. His abilities include:
- Made You Look: A quick area attack that can critically hit and applies item effects.
- Maximum Velocity: Passively increases movement speed; actively boosts attack speed and grants immunity to slows.
- Special Delivery: Dashes forward, knocking aside minions, grabbing the first enemy god hit and spinning them while dealing damage.
- Sonic Boom (Ultimate): Charges a dash that deals damage and spins enemies, with increasing range and speed based on charge time.
New Travelers and Skins
The update adds two new Wandering Market Travelers:
- Beach Girl Traveler: A swimsuit-themed collection featuring Beach Babe Aphrodite and several prisms and badges.
- Chef’s Special Traveler: Khepri dons a chef outfit with new prisms, badges, and a title.
Also included is the cross-gen Trash Goblin Scylla skin with punk-style prisms, plus a variety of new announcer packs and the Independence Day event’s GG in Freedom Colors emote.
Quick Play Arena Mode
This new mode aims for quicker, more action-packed matches lasting about 10 minutes. It features:
- Roguelike Item Building: Players choose from three playstyles and tier 3 items instead of the traditional shop system, simplifying item choices for faster fun.
- Dodge Button: A new dodge mechanic allows quick repositioning without immunity, adding a fresh layer of skill.
- Faster Projectiles and Pacing: Ranged attacks travel faster, and match flow is accelerated with adjusted gold, XP, and ticket systems.
- Action Cam 2.0: An alternate camera mode inspired by third-person shooters, locking crosshairs center screen for easier eager. This mode is available in all queues.
Quick Play Joust and Conquest will be added later.
Quality of Life Improvements
- SMITE 2 now runs on Unreal Engine 5.5, boosting performance and visuals, especially on Xbox.
- The Play Button and Queue Screen visuals have been refreshed for clarity.
- Hit markers and kill markers provide visual feedback on attacks, with options to customize reticle color, thickness, and visibility.
- God models have been recentered in the lobby for better viewing.
- Audio improvements include rebalanced volumes and redesigned sounds for some attacks like Ymir’s basic attack.
- Targeted enemies now have a red outline instead of a full fill, improving model visibility.
- New hit reaction coloration briefly flashes enemies white when hit, with an option to disable.
- Friend login notifications and easier messaging through Steam overlay were added.
- Party invites can now be sent from the post-match scoreboard menu.
- Damage numbers got placement and scaling improvements for gameplay clarity.
- Two new bots, Medusa and Ganesha, are now available for co-op and AI modes.
- Skin purchase buttons now clearly indicate currency and discounts.
- Home screen navigation has been enhanced with bigger arrows and selection indicators.
- Close buttons added to acquisition pop-ups and daily login screens.
Gameplay Updates
Nu Wa’s upcoming “Aspect of Shining Mist” release on July 8 offers stealthy changes: her Mysterious Fog now travels before stopping, allowing basic attacks while stealthed. Fire Shards scale with basic attack power and can crit, while Strength of Fire grants attack speed.
Mode Changes
- Arena: Siege Minotaurs now spawn simultaneously for both teams every 3 minutes.
- Conquest: Side teleporters start disabled and activate at the 10-minute mark.
God Balance Highlights
Some recent hotfixes and upcoming changes include:
- Princess Bari no longer applies a slow with Spirit’s Cadence.
- Hun Batz’s Somersault now deals damage on leap start and landing.
- Kali’s Incense buffs to strength and intelligence were decreased.
- Ganesha’s Ohm protections buff removed; movement speed and damage reduced.
- Agni’s Combustion damage multiplier lowered; Rain of Fire cooldown reverted to 18s.
- Buffs for Achilles, Bellona, Cerberus, Danzaburou, Geb, Hercules, Hua Mulan, Kukulkan, Nemesis, and Scylla with various adjustments to damage, cooldowns, and healing.
Item Balance
In hotfixes, Circe’s Hexstone cost increased with cooldown changes; Heartseeker’s damage scaling reverted. Spirit Robe healing bug fixed.
Upcoming buffs include:
- Berserker’s Shield physical protection increased.
- Contagion health regen and cooldown reduction buffed.
- Genji’s Guard magical protection increased and passive cooldown decreased.
- Gladiator’s Shield bonus damage formula changed.
- Lifebinder and Runeforged recipe costs reduced.
- Shogun’s Ofuda magical protection and attack speed buffed.
Bug Fixes
- Nu Wa’s minion dash VFX no longer lingers indefinitely.
- Some gods’ footstep VFX now spawn correctly after first death.
What do you think of Mercury’s arrival and the Quick Play Arena mode? Will the Unreal Engine 5.5 upgrade improve your gameplay experience? Drop your thoughts below—I’m eager to hear what you all think!
