A new god is coming to the battleground in Smite this February. Shiva the Destroyer will be the first God in Season 9. As the third aspect of divine Brahman, he can offer blessed bliss for allies while striking enemies with righteous destruction.
Shiva is actually one of the most requested gods by players. His arrival means the return of the Hindu pantheon to the game, something that hasn't happened in quite some time. Alex Cantatore at Hi-Rez Studios revealed that they worked closely with Hindu specialists and consultants to make sure that Shiva is represented faithfully as well as sensitively. Cantatore added that they hope that the game version of Shiva is something Hindus would be proud of.
In addition to Shiva, Smite is set to introduce five more playable gods this year. You can get an idea of who they are in the teaser trailer below:
By the way, players don't need to wait until February to experience the Dharmic Era. That's because Shiva’s impacts are going to be felt on the Conquest map once Season 9 begins sometime later this month. His influence also adds Hindu aesthetics to the core game mode while introducing a new gameplay feature, The Obelisk of Indra’s Scepter.
New Mode
Speaking of Season 9, players can look forward to a new game mode called Slash. Available this month, it combines two of the game’s beloved game modes - Siege and Clash. This Maya and Egyptian-inspired map offers a summonable Juggernaut mixed with nonstop 5v5 action.
New DLC
The new season also means the introduction of the Season Pass 2022. Priced at $39.99, it contains these items:
- 1,000 Gems
- Space Scoundrel Danzaburou – Limited
- Space Scoundrel Loading Screen – Limited
- “Most Wanted” Title
The Season Pass 2022 has these pieces of content as well for each new God to be released this year:
- Unlocks the Gods for gameplay (for those who do not own the Ultimate God Pack)
- Base Recolor Skin
- New Limited Recolor Skin
- Voice Pack
- Wave & Clap Emotes
Smite is a free-to-play and third-person multiplayer online battle arena game where players control a mythological figure and join in team-based combat. The game is available on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
