Ares, the Greek God of War, is a powerful melee guardian in SMITE, known for his aggressive playstyle and exceptional lockdown potential. His ability to control enemies and protect allies makes him a versatile pick in competitive play. Mastering Ares requires balancing offensive and defensive strategies, making him a rewarding god for players seeking a challenging yet impactful role in team compositions.
1.1 Overview of Ares as a God in SMITE
Ares, the Greek God of War, is a formidable guardian in SMITE, excelling in aggressive playstyles and lockdown strategies. His versatility allows him to thrive in various roles, including solo, jungle, and support. Ares is known for his strong crowd control abilities, making him a valuable asset in competitive play. His aggressive yet strategic approach requires players to balance offensive and defensive tactics, making him a challenging yet rewarding god to master. As a frontline guardian, Ares excels at engaging enemies and protecting allies, often serving as the backbone of team compositions. His effectiveness in different game modes and ability to control key objectives solidify his popularity among players seeking impactful roles.
1.2 Importance of Ares in Different Game Modes
Ares is a versatile god whose impact shines across various SMITE game modes. In Conquest, his crowd control and lockdown abilities make him crucial for securing objectives like the Phoenix and Titan. Arena mode benefits from his aggressive playstyle, where his chain and ultimate can dominate team fights. Joust mode sees Ares excel due to his mobility and ability to quickly close gaps, making him a formidable opponent in one-on-one engagements. His adaptability and strong early-game presence ensure he remains a valuable pick in competitive play. Whether in solo, jungle, or support roles, Ares consistently delivers, making him a key asset for any team seeking to control the battlefield and dictate the pace of the game.
1.3 Purpose of the Guide
This guide is designed to help players master Ares in SMITE by providing comprehensive strategies, builds, and tips. Whether you’re a new player or an experienced one, this guide covers everything from basic gameplay mechanics to advanced techniques. Learn how to maximize Ares’ potential in different game modes, understand his ability synergies, and adapt to various playstyles. The guide also includes insights into optimal itemization, ability usage, and teamfight strategies, ensuring you can dominate the battlefield. By the end of this guide, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge to play Ares effectively and elevate your gameplay to the next level in any competitive or casual setting.
Ares Builds in SMITE
Explore the best builds for Ares in SMITE, tailored for Conquest, Arena, and Joust. Discover optimal item combinations and situational picks to dominate every game mode effectively.
2.1 Best Conquest Builds for Ares
In Conquest, Ares excels as a tanky guardian with strong lockdown potential. Start with Soul Eater for sustain and Boots for mobility. Core items include Caduceus Shield for utility and Pestilence for crowd control and damage. Mid-game, build Heartseeker for additional burst and penetration. Late-game, consider Manticore or Shifter’s Hammer for situational needs. For counter-building, swap Pestilence for Oni Hunter’s Garb against heal-heavy teams or Genji’s Guard for magical protection. Pair these items with skill prioritization on Chain and Ultimate for maximum impact in team fights and objective takes.
2.2 Arena and Joust Builds for Ares
In Arena and Joust, Ares thrives with a focus on burst damage and mobility. Start with Soul Eater for sustain and Boots for quick rotations. Core items include Caduceus Shield for utility and Pestilence for enhanced lockdown. For burst potential, build Heartseeker and Manticore to maximize damage output. In Joust, prioritize Genji’s Guard for magical defense and Shifter’s Hammer for late-game power. For Arena, consider Oni Hunter’s Garb against heal-heavy teams. Focus on chaining enemies with your abilities and using your ultimate to secure kills in fast-paced team fights. These builds emphasize aggressive play while maintaining defensive capabilities, making Ares a formidable pick in both modes.
2.3 Jungle and Support Builds for Ares
In the jungle, Ares excels as a tanky bruiser, utilizing his chain to secure kills and gank effectively. Start with Guardian’s Boots and Bluestone Pendant for sustain and mobility. Build Genji’s Guard for early tankiness and Void Stone for magical defense. Transition into Heartseeker for damage and Manticore for burst potential. For a support role, prioritize Guardian’s Boots and Sentinel’s Embrace for protection and crowd control. Add Lotus Crown for survivability and Mail of Renewal for aura benefits. Late-game, consider Shogun’s Kusazuri for enhanced tankiness. Focus on using your chain to lock down enemies and protect allies, making you a pivotal figure in team fights and objective takes.
2.4 Situational Items and Flex Picks
Ares’ flexibility allows for situational items to adapt to different matchups. For heavy magical threats, consider Purification Beads or Magi’s Cloak to mitigate crowd control. Against physical damage, Genji’s Guard or Shogun’s Kusazuri provide strong protection. For offensive needs, Titan’s Bane enhances burst potential, while Void Stone offers penetration against tanky enemies. Flex picks like Spirit Robe or Mail of Renewal can be swapped based on the game’s progression. These items allow Ares to pivot between tanky and aggressive playstyles, ensuring he remains effective in various scenarios. Always prioritize items that counter the enemy team while aligning with your playstyle and the game’s flow.
Ares Abilities and Skills
Ares uses a chain to pull enemies, a flaming path that slows, and an ultimate that silences, making him a formidable tank with lockdown abilities.
3.1 Overview of Ares’ Abilities
Ares is a formidable warrior with abilities designed for crowd control and lockdown. His Chain pulls enemies, initiating fights or securing kills. Flaming Path creates a slowing trail, zoning foes. Searing Flesh deals damage over time, while his Ultimate, No Escape, silences and imprisons enemies. These tools make Ares a tank with strong lockdown, excelling at controlling teamfights and protecting allies. His abilities synergize to dominate the battlefield, making him a versatile pick in competitive play. Properly timing these skills is key to maximizing impact and ensuring team success.
3.2 Tips for Using Ares’ Ultimate Ability
Ares’ ultimate ability, No Escape, is a game-changer in team fights, providing exceptional lockdown and crowd control. Use it to silence and imprison multiple enemies simultaneously, disrupting their positioning and allowing your team to capitalize on the chaos. Timing is crucial—deploy it after initiating with your Chain or during a Flaming Path to prevent counterattacks. Aim to trap high-priority targets like carries or healers to maximize impact. Additionally, use No Escape defensively to protect allies from dives or focus fire. Always coordinate with your team to follow up with damage during the imprisonment phase. Proper use of this ability can turn the tide of any engagement in your favor.
3.3 Ability Scaling and Damage Potential
Ares’ abilities scale effectively with power and cooldown reduction, making him a formidable tank with surprising damage output. His Chain ability deals consistent damage and scales well into the late game, while Flaming Path provides area-of-effect damage and a damage-over-time component. Ares’ damage potential is often underestimated, as his primary role is crowd control and protection. However, with proper itemization, he can contribute significantly to team fights. Focus on building both defensive and offensive items to maximize his scaling; While not an assassin, Ares can punish overextended enemies with his abilities, making him a versatile pick in competitive play. His damage output is most effective when paired with his lockdown potential.
Ares Strategies in SMITE
Ares excels at controlling team fights with his chain and taunt, making him a key initiator despite his melee vulnerability. Proper positioning is crucial.
4.1 Early Game Strategies for Ares
In the early game, Ares should focus on laning phase dominance and aggressive harassment. Use your chain to pull enemies into your tower or allies for quick kills. Secure jungle camps efficiently to maximize gold and XP. Ward key areas to prevent ganks and ensure safe rotations. Ares’ early game strength lies in his ability to lock down targets, so prioritize chaining enemies to disrupt their farm and pressure them constantly. Avoid overextending without vision, as your melee range makes you vulnerable to counter-ganks. Focus on building an early lead through consistent harassment and smart rotations to set up for mid-game dominance.
4.2 Mid Game Strategies for Ares
In the mid game, Ares excels at controlling team fights and securing key objectives. Use your ultimate, No Escape, to initiate engagements and lock down high-priority targets. Focus on protecting your carries and disabling enemy assassins or mages with your chain and abilities. Rotate effectively between lanes and the jungle to pressure enemy structures and secure buffs. Ares’ defensive capabilities shine in teamfights, so position yourself to absorb damage and create opportunities for your team to counterattack. Prioritize taking the Gold Fury and Fire Giant to gain a significant power spike. Maintain map awareness to anticipate enemy rotations and counter their strategies with aggressive positioning and ability usage.
4.3 Late Game Strategies for Ares
In the late game, Ares becomes a pivotal figure in deciding team fights and securing victory. Focus on protecting your team’s high-damage dealers while initiating engagements with your ultimate, No Escape. Position yourself to block enemy escapes and lock down key targets with your chain. Prioritize taking the Titan to seal the win, and use your abilities to zone enemies away from objectives. Ares’ defensive capabilities are crucial in late-game clashes, so ensure you’re positioned to absorb damage and create opportunities for your team to counterattack. Maintain relentless pressure on enemy structures while safeguarding your own. Use Searing Flesh to weaken enemies and Shackles to disrupt their formations, ensuring your team maintains control of the battlefield.
Tips and Tricks for Playing Ares
Ares excels at controlling fights and protecting allies. Use your chain to pull enemies into your team, and apply Searing Flesh early to weaken foes. Position yourself between enemies and your team to absorb damage, and save your ultimate for locking down multiple targets. Always stay mobile and avoid overextending without vision. Timing your abilities perfectly can turn the tide of any engagement, making Ares a formidable force on the battlefield when played strategically.
5.1 Positioning and Map Awareness
Positioning is crucial for Ares, as his melee range requires him to be in the thick of battles. Always stay aware of your surroundings and avoid overextending without vision. Use your chain to pull enemies into unfavorable positions or to escape dangerous situations. When engaging, aim to flank enemies to avoid taking unnecessary damage from their frontliners. Stay between the enemy team and your carries to protect them while dealing damage. Map awareness is key—track enemy movements and rotate to high-value objectives like Oracle Harpies or the Fire Giant. Proper positioning allows Ares to maximize his lockdown potential and protect his team effectively.
5.2 Effective Use of Ares’ Chain Ability
Ares’ chain ability, Chain Gang, is his most iconic and versatile tool. Use it to pull enemies into your ultimate or allies’ abilities for devastating combos. Always aim to chain high-value targets like mages or carries to disrupt the enemy team. When chasing, use your chain to close gaps or secure kills. In lane, chain enemies into your own minions to harass safely. For wave clearing, chain minions to quickly stack and clear waves. Defensively, use your chain to pull enemies away from your carries or to escape ganks. Practice timing your chain to counter enemy dashes or jumps, ensuring maximum impact in teamfights and skirmishes. Proper chain usage can single-handedly turn the tide of battles in your favor.
5.3 Combining Abilities for Maximum Impact
Maximizing Ares’ impact requires seamless ability synergy. Start by using Chain Gang to pull enemies into your ultimate, No Escape, ensuring they remain trapped and vulnerable. Follow up with Bolts of Torment to deal consistent damage while enemies are locked down. Pre-fight, activate Flaming Flesh to amplify your damage output and apply a damage-over-time effect. When initiating, chain a key target, then immediately use your ultimate to create a zone of control. Coordinate with allies to unleash their abilities during the lockdown for maximum burst damage. Always prioritize chaining enemies into your team’s damage sources, making Ares’ ability combo a deadly setup for any teamfight or skirmish.
5.4 Defensive Techniques for Ares
While Ares is an aggressive god, proper defensive techniques are crucial to survive in fights. Use Flaming Flesh to gain a shield when upgraded, providing temporary protection against burst damage. Positioning is key—stay behind minions or allies to avoid taking unnecessary damage. Ares’ Chain Gang can also be used defensively to pull enemies away from squishy targets or reposition yourself to safety. Timing your defensive items like Purification Beads or Aegis Amulet during enemy ultimates can save you from devastating combos. Always be mindful of your surroundings and use your abilities to protect yourself and your team, ensuring you remain a formidable presence in battles.
Countering Ares in SMITE
Ares can be countered by gods with strong crowd control, like Athena or Ymir, and items that mitigate his lockdown potential, ensuring he struggles to dominate fights.
6.1 Gods That Counter Ares
Several gods excel at countering Ares due to their ability to neutralize his aggressive playstyle. Athena and Ymir are top picks, as their powerful crowd control can lock down Ares before he acts. Gods like Zeus and Anubis, with strong escapes or cleanses, can evade Ares’ chains and ultimate. Additionally, high-damage assassins such as Loki or Mercury thrive against Ares, as they can burst him down before he secures lockdown. Gods with strong healing or protections, like Hel or Orlando, also counter Ares by mitigating his damage and disrupting his teamfight presence. Properly utilizing these counters can significantly limit Ares’ impact in any match.
6.2 Items That Counter Ares
Specific items can effectively counter Ares by mitigating his crowd control and damage output. Purification Beads and Aegis Amulet are excellent picks, as they provide immunity to his chain and ultimate, allowing players to escape his lockdown. Genji’s Guard and Shifter’s Shield also counter Ares by reducing physical damage and increasing survivability. Additionally, Magi’s Cloak offers protection against his ultimate, while Heartseeker helps assassins burst him down quickly. These items, when combined with proper positioning, can significantly weaken Ares’ impact in teamfights and allow your team to outplay his aggressive strategies effectively.
6.3 Strategies to Outplay Ares
To effectively outplay Ares, focus on avoiding his chain and ultimate. Stay at a distance to prevent being caught by his Chain Lasso, and use mobility or invisibility abilities to escape his lockdown. Prioritize magical damage to bypass his high physical defense, and coordinate with your team to burst him down quickly during his vulnerable moments. Bait out his ultimate, No Escape, and punish him afterward. Additionally, focusing on picking off isolated targets and pressuring his jungle can disrupt his early-game influence. Proper positioning and communication are key to minimizing Ares’ impact and turning teamfights in your favor.
Advanced Techniques for Ares
Mastering Ares’ chain mobility and ability chaining is crucial. Use Searing Flesh to clear waves quickly and Shackles to lock down key targets. Combine abilities like Chain Lasso and No Escape for devastating teamfight setups. Always prioritize hitting chains for enhanced mobility and damage output. Additionally, timing your ultimate to follow up with allies’ abilities ensures maximum impact and Secures multi-kills effectively in late-game scenarios.
7.1 Chain Combos and Movement
Ares’ chain ability is his most powerful tool, enabling aggressive engages and fluid movement. Start by using Chain Lasso to hook enemies, then quickly dash to them with Chain Lasso again to close gaps. Combine this with Searing Flesh to deal immediate damage upon arrival. For advanced combos, use Shackles after pulling enemies to lock them down, allowing your team to follow up with burst damage. Practice chaining multiple enemies together to disrupt team fights. Additionally, use your chain to escape unfavorable situations by pulling to allies or objectives. Mastering these chain combos and movement techniques transforms Ares into an unstoppable force on the battlefield.
7.2 Wave Clearing and Farming
Ares excels at wave clearing and farming due to his strong early-game presence and ability to secure minions efficiently. Start by using Searing Flesh to deal consistent damage to waves, ensuring quick clears. Use Shackles to lock down enemy minions, preventing them from escaping and allowing your auto-attacks to finish them off. When farming, prioritize last-hitting minions to gain gold and experience. Ares’ chain can also be used to pull camps, making it easier to secure jungle buffs. Focus on balancing farming with ganking, as Ares’ impact is maximized in team fights; Use items like Heartseeker or The Crusher to enhance your wave clear and farming efficiency, ensuring a strong gold and XP lead.
7.3 Teamfight Tactics with Ares
Ares shines in teamfights as a frontline guardian, capable of initiating and controlling engagements. Use Shackles to lock down high-priority targets, ensuring your team can focus them down. Position yourself to protect allies while dealing damage, utilizing Searing Flesh to apply consistent pressure. Ares’ ultimate, No Escape, is a game-changer in teamfights, as it pulls in enemies and sets up easy kills. Coordinate with your team to follow up with ultimate abilities after using No Escape. Focus on timing your abilities to counter enemy initiations and protect your carries. Ares’ aggressive playstyle thrives in chaotic teamfights, making him a powerful asset when played strategically.
Pro Tips for Ares
Master Ares by focusing on aggressive initiations with Shackles and using No Escape to zone enemies. Prioritize locking down high-value targets and coordinating with your team for maximum impact in fights.
8.1 Skill Prioritization
Maximizing Ares’ effectiveness requires strategic skill prioritization. Focus on leveling Shackles first to enhance your ability to initiate and lock down enemies. Next, prioritize Searing Flesh to improve wave clear and consistent damage output. Bolster Defense should be maxed last, as its utility, while valuable, is less critical in the early game. Always upgrade your ultimate, No Escape, as soon as possible to dominate teamfights. This build path ensures Ares excels at controlling battles and protecting allies, making him a formidable force in any matchup. Proper skill progression is key to unlocking Ares’ full potential in both competitive and casual play.
8.2 Itemization Tips from Pro Players
Pro players emphasize the importance of adaptive itemization for Ares, balancing offensive and defensive stats. Core items include Soul Eater for sustain and Titans Bane to shred tanky enemies. Start with Bumba’s Mask for early aggression, then transition into Soul Eater for lifesteal and damage. Situational picks like The Crusher or Midgardian Mail are recommended against healing-heavy or assassin compositions. Don’t forget Pestilence for added crowd control and damage over time. Pros also highlight the importance of Heartseeker for enhanced burst potential. Always adapt your build based on the enemy team’s composition to maximize impact in teamfights and ensure Ares remains a formidable force throughout the match.
8.3 Game Sense and Decision-Making
Developing strong game sense and decision-making is crucial for mastering Ares. Learn to read the enemy team’s composition and prioritize objectives like the Oracle, Firebase, and Juggernaut. Timing your ultimate ability, No Escape, is key—use it to lock down high-priority targets during teamfights. Always be aware of your surroundings and avoid overextending without vision or support. Practice map awareness to secure strategic points and rotate effectively. Adapt your playstyle based on the game’s progression, focusing on defensive plays in the early game and transitioning to aggressive initiations in the late game. Lastly, study replays to identify mistakes and improve decision-making under pressure.
Mastery of Ares requires practice, patience, and a deep understanding of his abilities. By focusing on game sense, positioning, and itemization, players can unlock his full potential and dominate the battlefield. Continuous improvement and adaptability are key to excelling with this powerful god. Keep refining your skills to become a formidable force in SMITE.
9.1 Final Thoughts on Playing Ares
9.2 Encouragement to Practice and Improve
Mastering Ares requires patience and dedication, but the rewards are well worth the effort. Embrace the learning curve and focus on improving your positioning, ability timing, and decision-making. Experiment with different builds and strategies to find what suits your playstyle best. Consistent practice will help you unlock Ares’ full potential and elevate your gameplay. Stay persistent, analyze your matches, and incorporate feedback from experienced players. The SMITE community offers countless resources, including pro guides and replays, to help you refine your skills. With time and effort, you’ll become a formidable force on the battlefield, leading your team to victory as the unstoppable God of War.