Beads or Magi’s Blessing would
being a melee mage. While most
Storm will not cover the entire
be good items to purchase if you
mages can be seen in the mid or
wave and sustain from his passive
expect to be in team fights a lot.
solo lane, Ao Kuang tends to be
only kicks in when he runs out of
It would only take a 1 second
more often played with success
mana. During that time, it may be
stun to take you out due to your
in the jungle like the typical
too late to provide anything useful
low health and also the fear of
assassin. With Wild Storm under
to the table at all. The mid lane
the current state of Ao Kuang.
a short cooldown, Ao Kuang
would provide the same problems
However, do not forget that he also
should face no particularly tough
to Ao Kuang if not worse. Heavily
has great escape potentials from
problems while clearing jungle
pushing gods will be present here
his 1st ability and his ultimate
camps. Water Illusion also allows
and Ao Kuang will get outpushed.
(if used when enemy is under
him to traverse relatively quickly
Health and mana pots as well as
the threshold) so don’t be too
between lanes through the jungle.
Hand of the Gods may provide
afraid of entering a team fight.
The only situation where I would
invaluable assistance here.
use Water Illusion as an initiator
ROLE
Now go. Go and once again
SMITE, a ranged, magical god
strike fear into the hearts of
ganking which will present itself
When we think of a mage in
would be during the situation of
those who dared oppose Ao
quite often as the team jungler.
Kuang. It is time to shed all
Playing Ao Kuang in the solo
past embarrassments and
first comes to mind. With this new
lane would also be possible but
show them the true form of
patch though, Ao Kuang becomes
he may face difficulties early on
the Dragon of the Eastern Sea.
one of the few exceptions to this
in the game due to the lack of
Where is that boy, Ne Zha? ■
rule similar to the case of Freya,
a wave clear. The cone on Wild
The SMITE Community Magazine Issue #9
By Timothy Tian
The GameOn Magazine 25