SMITE 2 - Developer Deep Dive: New God, Hecate

Tartarus calls for you!
Join the team for a Deep Dive on the creation of the first Goddess designed specifically in SMITE 2: Hecate!
#smite2 #hecate
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[@peepgravy1905]

I see that there's two big reasons they decided to upgrade to UE5's physics engine.

[@WingXCustom]

"Physics"

[@jamisonberg3439]

I’m not the only one that saw that she has nipples right, check 2:17

[@l.a.1477]

2:14-2:16 mte

[@Stargeek06]

"Just look at those cloak phys- oh"

[@DJ-fb9cf]

@@l.a.1477That's amazing

[@ahmarcamacho8404]

She shouldn't have a regular jump animation, looks odd. Just let her do levitating acrobatics

[@FuhqEwe]

Oh, you think they care what you think? 🤣

[@joacoconut]

@@FuhqEwe he spittin' facts tho

[@FuhqEwe]

@@joacoconut So am I.

[@joacoconut]

@@FuhqEwe i dont think so, smite 2 is being developed and launching a closed alpha soon precisely because they care what we think

[@FuhqEwe]

@@joacoconut No, they don’t care what you think. “They’re making a Smite 2” isn’t an example of them caring, in fact, it only damages the point you’re fumbling to make. HiRez doesn’t care what you think.

[@CS-zb7hx]

I'm still disappointed by her design, she looks like such a generic fantasy mage when she has such cool imagery in her myths. No dogs? No ghosts? But the cloth physics are gorgeous

[@kristandelacruz4118]

Ikr? No torches or her symbolism of crossroads

[@mydragon122]

Yeah I was really trying to have hope for them but she looks terrible and I don't like her abilities either And Hecate is one of my favorite greek deities😢

[@TheAKD56]

Like her kit

[@blueeyeswhitekarin3267]

Can’t please everyone

[@missyOJ]

IMO the Greek gods usually have the weakest designs compared to the other pantheons.

[@demeterstidbits7146]

I really thought HECATE of all newer releases would be the one to have several abilities to really showcase being THE GODDESS OF WITCHCRAFT or at least have a super interactive kit with several combo routes. (Tiamat and Merlin vibes) The ult is the most disappointing part it’s just Morgan ult or as others have said Nike 1 lol. The 3 looks like just Kuku 2 also. I get this is their first on Unreal 5 but like damn really got my hopes up for this one lol just feels like another standard mage. Her visuals are stunning though like appearance wise she looks phenomenal Another cool thing they could have done was when using her 3, her other abilities could have been amplified or turned into another kit for the duration. Or at least for the ult since she’s really lacking that triple goddess aspect .

[@Darkensed]

They can always rework her kit later to make it more complex when they get the hang of it.

[@sylphephilippe449]

Her physical appearance looks nothing like Hecate depiction. Where are the 3 faces ?

[@demeterstidbits7146]

@@sylphephilippe449 yeah she definitely should have had 3 bodies connected in one dress. They slapped masks on her waist and called it a day lol

[@LikeADerp99]

This gives off more of a Circe design

[@LYRADdl]

Even though she looks beautiful. I will say its a little disappointing that she lacks alot of Hecate's iconography. Where's her three-fold/triple aspect? Her snakes or dogs? Moon? They only have her torch. I wish Hi-Rez would add more mythological accuracy as opposed to generic fantasy character traits.

[@bufalo3885]

They have shown that they take a lot of creative liberties when creating characters. Chernobog is a perfect example of this. Hecte has everything you mentioned but for reference, for example he has two masks, one on each side of his body, which refers to his triple form and he has two rings, one in the shape of a snake and one in the shape of a serpent. snake head a wolf. You can see it better in the minute 0:28

[@jamieeddolls5605]

​@bufalo3885 Cherno was a little disappointing tbh, he should have been large and menacing not a handsome anime monster

[@LYRADdl]

@@bufalo3885 Fair. But I wish it was ingrained into her game design as a feature, not just minuscule details like that. That's something you're not going to immediately notice or even see. Like Ishtar. Again beautiful design, but where in her kit is her Bull of Heaven. Her Lion steed? Her million blades? Her Star? Instead, we get a Neith lookalike (both gameplay and visual) with an accent.

[@regulardudeguy]

​@@jamieeddolls5605chernobog shouldn't be large. He is a old human man in a robe.

[@RD-cc9nk]

I’ve been looking forward to this god for years and I’m so disappointed… “we didn’t want her to be a witch” she’s literally the goddess of the witches??? And all of her animations are just purple lasers? No reference to her three faces/phases of the moons smh. She could literally be any goddess

[@TheHornedKing]

Looks really good! All though, she looks very... space themed? It's not out of place, she does have some association with the stars and the moon (especially the moon), but she seems to have stronger associations with spirits and the underworld. Some times Hecate even got these demonic servants called Empousa, who act a lot like vampires and succubi. The art for the old Ring of Hecate item was more the vibe I was expecting.

[@danieltalebi1040]

Seriously this is disappointing, this is not a good expression of Hecate. And her abilities are not befitting either. Please take the time to work on her again. There needs to be a LOT more black, dark purple, and hints of gold or silver. "Ethereal" shouldn't overpower her "darkness." Needs to have more moon aspects, dogs, three faces, apparitions. None of which is well represented here. The sky change was done well, I give props for that but the abilities themselves need a lot of work and changes. The first god for Smite 2 should be done properly, I have played smite since 2016, this was one of the gods I really looked forward to. Hope this feedback is considered.

[@haddixjr1267]

You people are so ungrateful it disgust me. If they just chose to not make her. Would that be better? You can try look into just how hard it is to make such models, its better than nothing you piece of sh**

[@NexusEntertainment-fy4jb]

Hecate's ultimate looks uninspired and really badly animated. I get that this is pre-Alpha but even then something like Ymir 2 or.. really Anhur's entire kit looks more fluid than that. Her entire kit is rather unpolished animation wise, but her ultimate is definitely the worst and imo it's probably the worst animated ability I've seen since I've been playing (season 3). Alpha releases in a few weeks, presumably, so I'm hoping they redo some of this. It seems like the common consensus is that her ult looks clunky and most people think this (not just YT) as I see people on Reddit, Twitter, and the Discord pointing this out. I hope they're aware that it needs more work because an UE5 specific character in 2024 releasing unpolished like that is unacceptable and people aren't forgiving anymore when it comes to things like this.

[@kylexile87]

Gotta be honest… she doesn’t look interesting at all. But I’ve felt like that with most of the recent Mages outside of Maman Brigitte.

[@diogorainho8629]

Hi-rez? Thats not hekate... Wheres the dark energy? The 3 maidens? The dogs? It just looks... Off..

Hirez not first time screw the abitilites from lore/myth/tales... and not the last :(

[@migueletcheverria6164]

Yeah, thought the same. There's little iconography of Hecate on this character, it looks more like a generic mage than THE goddess of sorcery and witchcraft

[@ichimaru96]

Yeah i thought the design just looked way too generic. Looks more like hera in another timeline. I feel like hecate should have maybe 3 faces and her head flips in response to some stance switch like merlins kit

[@viennasavage9110]

@@migueletcheverria6164 I was hoping they would redesign the gods' kits in smite 2 but it looks like theyre just sticking with the same things they had years ago and copy pasting it with different tweaks for each god.

[@Bassoonman18]

Yep! They get further and further from what brought fans to the game….THE LORE! Every god looks more and more like an Anime character than a lore inspired god

[@Jormyyy]

They really went with generic fantasy mmo girl for Hecate design?? She even has the default "battle mage" pose on her art 😭

[@dancingqueen5428]

“Her presentation, soft, floaty” Well, that explains the 2 mounds of back problems. You’re doing good hi-rez

[@PuskasMarton]

doing good indeed. Smite needed immersive breast physics for 15 years.

[@dancingqueen5428]

@@FluffyToxin girl, I just like tits. Idk what you’re on about

[@dancingqueen5428]

@@PuskasMarton TRUE

[@dancingqueen5428]

@@FluffyToxin ? I meant my comment while adding a bit of humor. If complimenting breasts makes me a feminist, I guess I am?

[@Blackmystix]

@@FluffyToxin You okay buddy? The feminists can't hurt you behind your computer.

[@giantsdms]

Oh great, her ult is Nike’s rend 💯

[@anotherland2462]

ama's ult

[@RideTheMaverickTV]

I was outraged that they didn't make Yemoja a mermaid so it puts me at ease that they did the bare minimum with Hecate as well.

[@Great.AnotherChristian]

Dev Team: *Puts dozens of hours into making ONE CHARACTER* Rando: They did the bare minimum with *Insert character that was said about* There's a verb and a pronoun for randos like that...

[@Robert_Hawthorn]

Would you mind if I asked what you mean by bare minimum? I found her to have a lot of great symbols. Love they included the torch and they actually portrayed her accurately and not as a crone

[@jamieeddolls5605]

Yemoja can prob be explained with diversity. Dolphins don't appease the left

[@GrecianWarlock]

​@@Robert_HawthornHecate has an aspect of a crone though. She's the triple goddess and has a phase as such.

[@Robert_Hawthorn]

@@GrecianWarlock actually historically no….very very modern conception Hekate as crone all thanks to Crowley. Never once in historical times was she shown as a crone.

[@SpaceHippy]

Yeah, I hope we get some great skins for her. A red dress, featuring black dogs and the restless dead would be nice. I like sparkly purple "astral" energy as much as the next person, but Hekate is all about torches in the *darkness,* specifically. Her cosmic form is great but, if I'm going to play smite, I want to see her chthonic form.

[@SpaceHippy]

Hell, call the skin Hekate Chthonia.

[@mydragon122]

Right like every God has to be ethereal. I feel like they forget. She visits the Underworld Often

[@bigjason6259]

@@mydragon122 borderline lives there in some cases

[@sednanamaka341]

Redo that ult baby that is literally just Nike's 1

[@gilraell]

yeah, I'm disapointed

[@dimitaryanakiev8707]

I hope hi-rez check the unique abilities in Hots and Dota and try to copy those since they would be much more successful for the game, instead of wood style ults that are so boring to watch and doesn't feel like you are NUKING someone as it should IMO with this lady

[@carlosportuguez3461]

So she's just another standard mage?

[@kutaysirius5885]

Hecate should be more darker in clothes tho. İ guess we'll fix that with skins

[@Queen_of_peace]

Isn't? Tbh i hated her design bcuz she was supposed to be a chthonic deity. I am soo disapointed right now but you're right, a skin must do the trick 😕💔

[@godofdesire.luck.war.night5]

​@@Queen_of_peace I wouldn't say she's a chtonic deity, more like a dualistic night goddess. Her animation and style design should included two black dogs and a serpent on her shoulder, holding a knife and key, 3 sisters/one woman and 2 woman apparitions, and black & purple garment.

[@godofdesire.luck.war.night5]

​@@Queen_of_peaceAlso she's not a chronic deity because according to her lore she has exceptional rights & power over heavens, sea, and underworld. 35 percent fair share and sovereignty over heavens, sea, and underworld granted to her by Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon. Hence why to me she's dualistic goddess that rules over night, sorcery, necromancy, and crossroads

[@juanfloridoortega3876]

Please, give her ult a bit more sauce. Lean into the three part aspect of her kit and make each hit LOOK different. 1st shot, line, 2 shot triangle, 3 shot circle, make it look like a combo rather than the same skill done 3 times. (Changing the color and effect of each hit ala Raijin ult can also work)

[@viennasavage9110]

The team that design these abilities really needs a rehaul... Every god is feeling so generic by now.

[@jimstoesz3878]

2007 called. They want their painfully basic Sexy Witch design back 🙄

[@niromanti5935]

Y'all are crazy for those jiggle physics

[@MrLuc237]

Glad to see the map looking better than previously released material

[@Wafflekatpwn]

tbh this isnt my fave depiction of Hecate

[@itsmisterV]

@2:12 "new physics engine is impressive"

[@Hakai_ryu]

👀

[@yoursexycookie]

It looks horrible af xd

[@xBlueDiamond]

Virgin

[@lukawalk627]

Great I am counting the days for for playing 🎉

[@StayVCA98]

Hmm idk i mean I'm completely happy with Hecate, but though admittedly idk much abt her but she just feels too good or powerful yah know what i mean?! Like is she like one of the most powerful or popular God out there when it comes to magic? But whatever as long it looks good I guess, plus I was just worried that her wielding a fire torch or something would make other future gods impossible like Hestia for example idk but yeah... Edit: Okie I did a little research now, and it seems her wielding a Torch actually makes sense hehe, and other weapons she might've use if ever, I guess this one just lacks that "darkness" that she usually depicts huh but then again she would be like any other Goddess in the game right? She can't even have that "three versions" of her because she would be too similar to Morrigan etc...

[@WalterKing1]

Mommy ?!

[@sakurashogun]

Still hoping we get Aztec pantheon. So much lore and unique gods that can really bring some variety to the game.

[@missingnothing5107]

jiggle physics

[@Joe-dy1qv]

RIP smite

[@IfLinkTookMajorasMask]

2:14 jiggle physics are insane

[@FiyahKitteh]

When we can even get excited about cloth flow, you know it's gonna be good! 💖

[@edensuarez8905]

Love Hecate I studied her she always been a great inspiration from stories in my art

[@darrenthorn4606]

If you did. Then you would of noticed that this is not Hekate. Its a disrespect

[@brodacz5451]

xD

[@zacharyklosterman3663]

I was hoping I lost track of time and it was actually April 1st… interesting design choices I’ll just say that.

[@MiamiMAJIN]

Disappointing kit ngl, I expected more from a new character on UE5. It sets a bad example considering you’ve done so much better in the past.

[@xmenVicente]

Yeesss, my queen Hecate

[@akaj2013]

Hecate, a long requested goddess. I hope Baldur is also on that list.

[@MJWolverine21]

Expected Smite 2 on state of unreal showcase yesterday

[@FNL47]

Hope that orb that powers up with abilities isnt broken on launch, bc if she's leaning then that would not be as strong.

[@vladn4321]

So we won't see this god in Smite 1? Is this the way things will develop? RIP Smite 1?

[@Blackmystix]

... yes. There is a new game. Play it when it comes out.

[@chillfenrir6050]

I mean they've kinda been upfront about that, that new gods will be on smite 2.

[@MannequinMonsta]

you thought theyd just keep a game thats already struggling on a poor system alive alongside smite 2...? why do you think theres legacy gems and cross gen skins..? so you move..

[@vladn4321]

@@MannequinMonsta I don't know what you mean by struggling on a poor system. Smite 1 is working fine and has steady population.They said they won't kill Smite 1, so they should at least keep addingthe new gods in Smite 1 as well. If they can't do the same gods, then different gods to keep it alive.

[@WingTzu343]

@@vladn4321 Smite has a severe performance issue on almost all machines to some extent.

[@C0SSTY]

You have literally somebody whose lore screams I'M A STAND SWITCHER, and you make her some basic mage. Then you have some that didn't have to be stand switchers at all, like merlin, tyr, arthur etc...

[@talmiz101]

Mother Of Magic! finally! only after 10 years have taken you to get her in the game, better late then never.

[@hairysovietbear8222]

4:23 Gents can we talk about how there is no communication on when the character is CC immune in Smite 2? If I am the Ymir in this scenario, I should immediately understand why my freeze doesn’t work (without having to go and read Hecate’s abilities to know she cannot be stunned out of her ult). I understand and support if you don’t want to bring the golden glow over to Smite 2 (because it is old), but there has to be some consistent way to do it.

[@deabogg]

ult looks lame and boring af, why did this need unreal 5 lol

[@JackFrostYT]

Hecate has been my number one most wanted god for a long time now, and while I do think her design is good, I don’t think it fits her all that well. I feel she should be a lot “darker” and have a lot more of her iconic symbolism such as moons, crossroads etc. I also think her kit could be a lot cooler and more unique, this feels quite generic

[@eleemaeli1830]

watching these video i notice something interesting in the match you see anhur icon clearly on the map but in that 10 icon that say if an allies or enemy is alive or death anhur is nowhere to be seen but this kinda strange totem, even tho the art is there, then in one of the last fight you see him close to hecate and the enemy ymir is there but instead of a model you see a purple aura, is the next god a hunter? idk but is interesting or to be fair an assassin mm is hun batz being model idk

[@CarybdisArgos]

Okay SMite so, where is Anfitrite? Wife of Poseidon the Queen of Sea, only Poseidon don't have wife in this game.

[@jackbarrera1117]

There is Asclepius greek god of healing and they can put him in Smite 2

[@alexanderleimone138]

when she spins the cloth should move faster. when it stays the same speed it looks unnatural.

[@xDaniik]

Such a dissapointing ult. Uninspiring, bland and something that could've been released in the smite 1 beta.

[@celiachan7561]

Is this Smite 2 only? Will Hecate show up on Smite itself?

[@jackedgamer0036]

The improvements should be not letting people just spam report and banning people cause they chose the God they didn't like or wanted

[@mycologyman2369]

“Heck-a-tea” lmao

[@xDaniik]

the animations are incredibly clunky

[@SpyroX.I]

if she enchants towers then what does she have in Arena

[@caracansado5832]

Zagreus and Bahamut when?

[@LucasEduardo_go]

The Queen has arrived🎉😍🌒🌕🌘

[@leoswift6938]

Please give her a different ult. It’s really just Morgan Le Fay’s ult. Other than that I’m very content with what has already been presented.

[@julianmcmurray7734]

Not even morgan's its quite literally just nike 1 and imo that kinda sucks.

[@leoswift6938]

@@julianmcmurray7734 true ☠️

[@sylphephilippe449]

Nah, she looks like a regular magician ! Hecate is the greek goddess of witchcraft, moon and magic, she has 3 distinctive faces, it's what she's known for. Why making her like this ?...

[@williammitchell6254]

Hope khima gets physics too 🙏

[@jasminesmith9593]

Heacte… I’ve heard of her. She’s mother of witchcraft, a very powerful. She has very lot ancient history with others gods.

[@Mysterio88884]

What’s her ult do?

[@juanfloridoortega3876]

It's nike's 1. She cast a pulse that deals dmg in a line, 3 times. She can move when casting it just like nike

[@Rodri123venus]

Disappoint

[@GothPaoki]

Her design is the most basic and generic I've seen. Extremely disappointing for a goddess with such deep lore and interesting depictions. She looks like the most generic female mage ever.

[@vladd2022]

smite2 hype

[@A2_the_one_and_only]

I hope you work on better servers for Asian players as well. The ping sucks playing at EU instead, but at least you could find matches in there.

[@KingKatura]

I've been playing Since the original Smite Alpha on PC, Although when cross save came it deleted my PC stuff for Xbox stuff. So i don't have my original avatars from those events. However I've always loved smite so i'm waiting to get into the smite 2 alpha & betas. Because skins & such not going over, I assume people will try it. However Until i get to play it & find out if its a completely diffrent game now, I'm gunna assume That everyone with stay with smite until its forced out of commission then move on. Hope thats not the case but we will have to play & find out. I am excited of course because smite is extremely old although we could go on with it forever, It just stops the ability to do certain things with the game. Here's to a Whole new Generation Ayo Hawwah Great Spirit Bless.

[@mikopo88]

We need Jinx Monsoon skin

[@jairaz8420]

Smite 2 looks like Loco land of chaos

[@thethe8955]

Pleas can we get Game's workshop coloration in 2? Why are there so many Nickelodeon colabs but not the Chaos God's or character atleast as skins

[@SynderFGC]

Ngl. I usually try to stay very optimistic for these things, but this is just blatantly disappointing. I was hoping Smite 2 would, as the devs said it would before, allow new ground to be broken in God Design. Instead, it looks like all of that has went towards FX and Graphics, and not towards the ability design. Hecate is the goddess to ball out on for a crazy stance swapping character like Merlin or Tiamat, due to her association with all manner of Magic, Necromancy, Witchcraft, Ghosts, etc. She even has the empousa + her form changes by time of day. All of which would make for an amazing stance swapping goddess. Instead.. we got another simple burst mage. Deeply upsetting and dissatisfying seeing as i was hoping Smite 2 would allow for new gods to be much more interesting ability wise.

[@user-vx2mr6wy2p]

We are waiting for the Slavs! 7 Day

[@dancingqueen5428]

Wait I just realized- Are we not getting new gods while smite 2 is being worked on? If it was close to releasing or something, or even the last beta test, I can see it, but it’s in alpha right now.

[@Ray.Getard]

great googley moogley 👀👀👀👀

[@Koki1897]

Pls Slavic gods needs some love

[@cioluvsurnan5722]

The cloth physics are amazing but I’m sad they react with her animation and not her actual movement, they appear a little stiff.

[@neofreak89]

Did no one notice the Stealth Grass? wtf

[@jamesteh2847]

I'm super excited for this game however I find the graphics to be a bit dated, despite the team saying there are big graphical improvements over the first game. While that may be true, it kinda pales in comparison to other 3rd person MOBAs such as Paragon, Overprime and Predecessor. Paragon and Overprime don't exist anymore and I'm getting sick of Predecessor, so I'm hoping this will be my new go-to MOBA.

[@juandi5908]

this ultimate...

[@eddiebrockav36]

2:13 what cloth animation? I'm seeing some animation though. Hot damn. Wen Aphro? haha

[@kgregorius8550]

So we can't have her on smite one, that sucks.

[@kysermosley3087]

no! there’s a smite 2 for a reason

[@kgregorius8550]

@@kysermosley3087Its a wast of time and money.

[@teelee8760]

Omg her 2 ability is huge 😂

[@chief-rocker80]

Reuploaded?

[@TheAKD56]

you saw it on ign

[@chief-rocker80]

@@TheAKD56 ah that's kinda wack that IGN had it out before hirez haha

[@NFiniteCombos]

I really need there to be a bigger jump in modeling. It looks from a Sega Genesis to a SNES in terms of graphics. It's barely any different then current smite. What was the point of jumping to UE5. To not take advantage?

[@GrecianWarlock]

I don't want to dog pile and I know this team works really hard to bring us cool things into the game but... Damn this design is so uninspired. Im over the purple and silver cosmos theme for the gods. It literally feels like no one did any research into Hecate

[@NoahRodriguez-sl6dx]

Smite community can you add apopshis for the next smite god

[@3lietechhack646]

apophis is present in slash

[@darkslayer2979]

Pls rework HADES

[@keiracoven]

This design is so disappointing honestly. Hekate is a fascinating god with a ton of iconic iconography that could be utilized, but pretty much none of it was used here. Her dogs, her keys, the crossroads, her being THE OG triple goddess. No chthonic goddess of witchcraft, ghosts, and grave should look this basic.

[@xBlueDiamond]

She looks super clunky, fix her animations to be smooth and fancy, she's the goddess of magic and witches not ballet. Big disappoint.

[@kelvinzaragoza7331]

Pleas remake nox. Bring her old kits back. the 2nd rework is the BEST one.

[@user-ih9zz9ou1d]

HecAte. HecAAAAte. Not HEcate (Εκάτη). "H" is also silent

[@aguscm4175]

Well this the least looking Hekate I've ever seen.

[@michaelmorgan2651]

Is it me or does the guy sound just like Anderson Cooper

[@arrowdoctor4786]

So basically they made a floating cloth for the character and they say it's a reason for smite 2. So far they did nothing new - even unified item system for phys/magic classes was once implemented in smite. I really don't think it was hard to make bachus belly flop depend on phys power as well, not to mention other abilities.

[@neontenebrae1918]

To add to everyone else's complaints that she's far too basic-looking and nowhere near witchy enough, I just wanna add that her voice doesn't fit at all either :D

[@InfiniteRealMusic]

there is an improvement but it still looks trash damn. the sky the background all the small details look like games from 2005 you can immediately tell that they're not actually trying hard to fix these stuff but focusing more on rebranding and upscaling graphics a little bit

[@unnaturalsurreal9526]

❤❤

[@unnaturalsurreal9526]

😮😮