Smite 2 Vs League Of Legends: Which Game Is Better?

The first Smite carved out a niche for itself as the first fully 3D MOBA game. While Smite never reached the dominance of League of Legends in terms of popularity or as an e-sport, it was a welcome addition to the MOBA community. Smite 2 has borrowed some ideas from League of Legends, such as adding a teleporter and incorporating tall grass for stealth play, but it largely remains similar to the original Smite.

The question of which game is better is difficult to answer. Ultimately, one leans more toward action, while the other is more strategic. Smite 2 and League of Legends are both strong entries in the MOBA genre, each striving to achieve different goals within the space.

8

Player Base

League of Legends

Not only is League of Legends the most popular MOBA, but it is also among the most popular games of all time. It has millions of active players across every continent. The player base for League of Legends is relatively competitive compared to Smite 2. Its matchmaking and ladder system are highly functional, ensuring you’ll never run out of people to play with or against.

Smite 2, on the other hand, has a smaller, more close-knit community. At any given moment, a few thousand people are playing it on Steam. A significant percentage of those players may stop playing once Smite 2 moves beyond its “new game” phase. Compared to League of Legends, Smite 2 has a more casual player base. However, its smaller community allows for easier communication with the developers, enabling faster implementation of balance changes.

7

Roster Size

League Of Legends

League of Legends, which debuted in 2009, has amassed a vast roster of champions. It currently features roughly 170 playable characters, compared to Smite 2’s 50. The original Smite also had a smaller roster than League of Legends, with only 130, so it is unlikely that Smite 2’s roster will ever catch up to that of League of Legends.

Smite 2 plans to adapt all the gods from the first Smite. While this is promising, it likely means there will be very few original characters introduced to the Smite series. Meanwhile, League of Legends continues to expand its roster with new champions featuring innovative mechanics.

6

Creep Waves

Tie

The minion wave is critically important in MOBA games. It influences the tempo, controls the map, and determines how characters grow stronger. League of Legends is a farm-heavy MOBA where you only generate gold by landing the final blow on a minion. Much of the skill in League of Legends revolves around achieving the highest creep score.

Smite 2, on the other hand, awards gold as long as your god is near a slain minion. While last hitting is present, it only provides a 25 percent gold bonus. In Smite 2, pushing lanes is a far more effective strategy, making wave clearing generally more valuable than focusing on farming for bonus gold.​​​​​​​

5

Skill Shots

Smite 2

Even compared to traditional MOBAs, League of Legends is relatively light on skill shots. Typically, you can cast spells directly on enemies, and the spells will hit with 100 percent accuracy. In contrast, Smite 2’s third-person perspective places a heavy emphasis on aiming your shots.

Much like in third-person shooters, Smite 2 demands a good deal of dexterity, anticipation, and accuracy. While there are skill shot-heavy characters in League of Legends, such as Ezreal and Blitzcrank, they are not nearly as challenging to play as a character like Yemoja.​​​​​​​

4

Camera

League Of Legends

The third-person perspective is likely the most obvious difference between Smite 2 and League of Legends. Like most MOBAs, League of Legends uses a top-down perspective similar to an RTS. In contrast, Smite 2’s camera is positioned over the shoulder of your god, making it play more like a third-person shooter.

This perspective not only changes the level of immersion in each game but also affects gameplay mechanics like team fights and ganking. In Smite 2, the inability to see behind you makes it easier to be ganked compared to League of Legends. The top-down view in League of Legends provides greater situational awareness, helping players better anticipate enemy movements and decide which spells to use during a team fight.​​​​​​​

3

Monetization

Smite 2

One of the most expensive aspects of League of Legends is the need to buy runes. Runes provide small buffs to your character’s health, defense, and damage. While they can be purchased with free currency, equipping them requires rune pages, which cost real money. Although the gap between a champion with no runes and one with runes isn’t enormous, it is still a noticeable handicap.

Smite 2 has no such mechanic. There is a system similar to League of Legends’ mastery system, which can slightly affect stats, but overall, runes represent a cost-prohibitive barrier that Smite 2 avoids entirely.

2

E-Sports

League Of Legends

League of Legends has been at the forefront of esports for several years. Riot Games has organized season-long events with massive tournaments across various regions, culminating in a world final. The money and glamour surrounding League of Legends are beginning to rival those of traditional sports. Smite 2, on the other hand, has almost no competitive support in East Asia, and its esports scene in North America is expected to fade quickly.

Smite 2 generally caters to a more casual audience. Its players are not as competitive as those in League of Legends. Additionally, Smite 2’s third-person perspective is less spectator-friendly, which limits its potential as a major esport.​​​​​​​

1

The Winner

League Of Legends

Smite 2 is primarily an engine upgrade over the first Smite. Many of its improvements seem to borrow from aspects of League of Legends, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but Smite 2 still doesn’t feel much like a true sequel.

League of Legends offers a larger roster, more fan service, a bigger esports scene, and a significantly larger player base. Smite 2, however, appeals to players with its twitch-based shooting mechanics, 3D graphics, and a less aggressive community. While both League of Legends and Smite 2 excel at different aspects of the MOBA genre, League of Legends ultimately provides a more comprehensive experience.