Of all God Classes amongst Smite and its roster of mythical creatures, Assassins dominate in terms of speed and sheer attack speed. Unlike the damage-dealer Warriors and the damage-reliant Hunters, players can build Assassins precisely to eliminate elite creatures and even Gods themselves. However, this power also makes Assassins one of the hardest Classes to master in Conquest Mode.
Essentially, Hi-Rez's MOBA forces Assassins to always think on their feet. As they roam the Jungle, they need to know exactly where to strike and when to strike. After all, Assassins can easily get some of the highest attack speed and damage in the game. However, when left behind, they can almost always cost the team the win. In turn, what are some mistakes Assassins should always be on the lookout for?
10 Don't Make This A First Class
Due to the specialized nature of Assassins, players shouldn't pick Assassins as a first Class. If possible, players should familiarize themselves with the intricacies of other Classes before picking an Assassin. Remember, unlike other Classes, Assassins gear themselves towards being the Anti-God Class. As such, players who intuitively know how most Classes work can help their Assassins build reliable counter-attacks against most heroes they face.
Ideally, people should try to get comfortable with at least five Assassin Gods to build their roster. That way, they can tap into various Assassin playstyles to their advantage. For instance, Thor's kit helps him be more of a fast-and-loose frontline Assassin. Meanwhile, Bakasura heavily relies on stealthy attacks to secure the advantage.
9 Don't Build For Pure Damage
As an Anti-God Class, players often think that Assassins should have the highest damage in a match. However, this perspective is flawed. Most Gods secure a level balance by the time they reach the 15-minute mark, and it's only at the beginning that Assassins can best secure the early-game lead. In turn, it's impractical for Assassins to sacrifice mobility and defense for the sake of pure damage.
Instead, Assassins should capitalize on builds that help them strengthen speed, counter defenses, and get lifesteal. It's not about dealing the highest damage to kill Elites and Gods. Rather, it's building damage high enough that it can kill enemies or help other teammates finish the job.
8 Don't Forget The Target
Perhaps most importantly, Assassins shouldn't forget that their performance relies on building damage output as fast as possible. Most, if not all, Assassins work best against a single target – not necessarily an entire team. In turn, Assassins should choose a target carefully whenever they want to engage or join a teamfight.
Ideally, an Assassin should take care of the back damage dealer as they're often weaker – Hunters and Mages. Likewise, Assassins can also threaten the enemy's frontlines, such as the Guardian, to force enemies to retreat.
7 Don't Forget Positioning
Assassins should utilize their movement speed potential to reach their targets as soon as possible. That way, Assassins can dish out their rotations, be it as an initiator, a follow-up, or a clean-up. Consequently, Assassins need to pay attention to their abilities that help them close the gap with their targets.
For instance, Thor works as a great initiator thanks to Mjolnir's Attunement (S1). Essentially, Thor can throw his hammer for a neat poke, and then trigger it again for a teleport that lets him begin the battle. Meanwhile, Hun Batz has Somersault (S1) that enables him to leap past Jungle walls to pursue enemies quickly.
6 Don't Neglect Their Defense
An Assassin's brutal assault becomes useless for enemies that have their defenses lined up. If an Assassin wants to guarantee a kill on an engagement, they need to take into account the enemy's defenses as well. Firstly, Assassins should force their targets to trigger their Relics as soon as possible. These include poking (e.g., Thor and Thanatos) to force enemies to retreat and activate their Aegis Amulet and Meditation Cloaks. That way, enemies lose their first line of defense.
Second, Assassins should take note of Gods that can counter their movement speed. For instance, Anubis has Plague of Locusts (S1) that can stun Assassins long enough for the enemy to dive in for the kill. The earlier Assassins force enemies to use these abilities, the easier their chase becomes.
5 Don't Engage Without An Exit
Despite an Assassin's viciousness when chasing enemies, a target can easily kill their pursuer if they survive their onslaught long enough. To avoid this, Assassins not only need to learn when to exit, but they also need to make sure they can leave as soon as the situation calls for it. Ideally, Assassins should build rotations that give them their blink abilities quickly, that way, they always have the means to escape. For instance, a Thor who just lost his teammates can use his Anvil of Dawn (Ult) to fly up and get a neat exit.
However, a lot of Assassins often forget that their Runes can help them acquire a speedy exit. For example, Aegis Amulet and its 2-second invulnerability can make the difference between life and death.
4 Don't Neglect Timing
Depending on the God used, an Assassin can excel in combat if they engage first, midway, or last. Remember, an Assassin's rotation should capitalize on either killing a target as quickly as possible or damaging them enough so that their team can finish the fight.
Case in point, Susano's enemy-seeking abilities become a great fit for high-intensity teamfights that allow players to stack damage to multiple enemies in one go as soon as the battle begins. Alternatively, Da Ji's Paolao (Ult) serves as a great way to dash last to a team fight and yank escaping enemies to an unfavorable position, which is perfect for a last-minute dive before an exit. Both these setups let Assassins kill targets in one go or leave enemies weak enough for the team to eliminate.
3 Don't Overextend
An Assassin overextends when they stay too long in a fight that an enemy kills them as soon as they lose their CDs. A kill like this can easily put an Assassin behind the rest of the team. To avoid overextending, an Assassin should always remember to focus on their exit as soon as they engage an opponent.
An Assassin should exit the battle as soon as they exhaust their CDs towards their target, regardless if they killed them or not. Moreover, they should also exit as soon as their team members use their damage-dealing CDs. Assassins should avoid chasing an enemy as much as possible, especially if they don't have an exit in mind.
2 Don't Group All The Time
It's common knowledge for teammates to give support, especially in intense teamfights. However, players who use Assassins should remember that while Smite is a team game, everyone should carry their weight. In their case, they shouldn't group with others all of the time.
Despite sounding counterintuitive, Assassins have a good reason to skip unnecessary fights. Remember, this Class relies on the Jungle and opportune ganks to farm experience and build their kit faster than enemies. It's when they get ahead that Assassins can contribute the best in battles. In turn, Assassins en route to specific objectives should prioritize building their strength first instead of helping a Tower that's a lost cause or instead of helping a gank that can escape anyway.
1 Don't Put All Attention To Teammates
Assassins shouldn't pay too much attention to teammates that give them grief via the game's chat interface. For instance, imposing players in Solo might pester Assassins who can't help them clear waves and ganks in the early game. In these situations, Assassins should very well ignore them. These Gods have specific tasks tied to their roles, and player Assassins most likely serve as Jungles that need to reserve their strength for the endgame.
Assassins need to choose their battles carefully, especially in terms of early-game fights. As much as possible, Assassins should focus on their Jungle rotations and offer assistance only if they're near a particular lane.