A new Smite patch is upon us with the usual tweaks and fixes for small issues. Some of the more noticeable updates include sizable balancing for a handful of gods, upgrades to the game's spectator mode, and a brand new look for Bakasura, the Hindu demon with a taste for human flesh.
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According to developer Hi-Rez Studios' character modelers, the reason for Bakasura's new look is simply that his existing character model was older, and he was due for a tune-up. The new Bakasura has much more of a human look to him, now having a visible face and actual hands. As one of Smite's modelers pointed out, Bakasura's new toothy grin and wrist-bound blades give him a striking resemblance to Mortal Kombat's Baraka, prompting the unofficial nickname "Barakasura" for this new model.
Though Bakasura looks different, his kit remains the same apart a few bug fixes. Many gods, however, received their fair share of nerfs for the sake of balance. Apollo's Serenade ability now no longer provides protection from magical attacks, allowing his opponents to create a more effective counter for him if he becomes too powerful in a match. The knockback on his The Moves ability was also reduced.
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Freya's ranged abilities were taken down a bit as her Valkyrie's Discretion ability lost range and radius. Finally, the new god Sylvanus was better balanced following his debut. His Verdant Growth ability will now keep opponents stationary for a shorter amount of time, and his Wisps are now less effective at healing and on a greater cooldown.
Finally, the update improved the spectator experience for Smite matches. As Smite tries more and more to become a respected eSport, the developers decided to make the spectator UI more helpful than ever. Now, players simply watching a game will have easy access to all kinds of information regarding the match and its combatants.
For more details, you can check out the full patch notes.
Smite is free to play on PC.