SMITE: How to counter Ao Kuang

[@DukeSloth]

Streaming on www.twitch.tv/dukesloth rn btw :)

[@phantom0922]

DukeSloth I have to disagree. the only reason ao is falling of is because he has been banned so much.

[@STRANGE_BRO]

Ban him in banning phase

[@hams9603]

STRANGE_BRO 😂😂😂

[@ian9372]

How to counter Ao Kuang: Step 1: Uninstall SMITE

[@itfollowsme6565]

Ian Peters mythe moo😭💕

[@ian9372]

Assassin Of Ryu Description

[@swiftelbow2743]

I have an idea for new video ( not a serious video a bit of fun) "who has the best side kick" eg skadi, awilix, erlang shen, baset etc. you can talk about how helpful they are to you and team fights, how much damage they etc. just a cool idea i thought you could do:)

[@Silent-ig9kb]

alex webb we can all agree that Skadi is kaldrs side kick :p

[@alexjered3]

alex webb you forgot Changé's bunny.... that bunny op

[@swiftelbow2743]

Alex Jered no i put etc

[@DukeSloth]

Already saw that on another vid, not quite sure how to do it yet, but will keep it in mind! :D

[@NothingToSeeHere-po5ci]

alex webb skadi's dog op.

[@TheGingertarian]

One god I find really valuable as an Ao Kuang counter is Hou Yi. With Hou Yi's 2, it makes it much harder for Ao Kuang to escape a fight using his 1. You can place it on him at the beginning of a fight and with Hou Yi being ranged, he can get some damage in while Ao Kuang is trying to catch up. If he tries to escape because you're doing too much damage, you know exactly where he is, and it reveals him to the whole team, making it much harder for him to gank another lane.

[@TheManWithNoHands]

As for Ao Kuang vs Loki: if the Ao player is aware of the Loki and is keeping an eye out for the ult, Ao can use his stealth to completely dodge the ult, cc, and put Loki's ult on cooldown. Also, Hel's 2 negates his ult if you react fast enough or can anticipate it.

[@pontusgustafsson3530]

7:58 That Anhur ^

[@tyr7490]

Rec hahah legend

[@Ryuno_Ace]

Rec lmao

[@FoxerHR]

How to counter Ao Kuang? Easy. Press escape go to exit game and uninstall.

[@Ankhakaru]

FoxerHR 😂😂

[@august-5085]

As an ao main, I'm glad I figured out how to work around practically all of these counters by myself early on. Dope video though. I hope people can pick this up and realize that countering ao kuang isn't impossible - and they can stop bitching about the character. But i'll keep murking them with work-arounds.

[@davidwilliam6812]

Richard Nava lmao I would give you the hands with awilix arachne and Erlang Shen.

[@thejet0757]

its easy to know when someone it gonna use beads or aegis, always works

[@Jadizi]

Richard Nava have some decency and main someone who isn't broken trash. Is it truly fun to main something that requires no effort?

[@davidwilliam6812]

Jadizi I back that statement

[@thejet0757]

@Jadizi ao does take skill. you have to know ur combos and when to ult, if u dont u will die very easily

[@shadiclink]

I think Thanatos's scythe might be a huge counter to Ao Kuang, especially given his recent buff of his HP %.

[@filthydaemonspawn1206]

Srilalith Nampally Thanatos in general is powerful against squishy burst.

[@pkmnswampmaster]

Maybe not too relevant but when Ao kuang uses his illusion you can see a Water particle traveling in the direction he blinked to also the Illusion itself will be facing in that direction too, that can help you track him down

[@Nsix4]

Yo something Loki is good at? I'll take it! I've always had trouble against Ao Kuang. Thanks for making this video!

[@nilix6993]

khepri can also save execution targets with timing, using his ult as Ao Kuang stabs the target can effectively purify the target and keep Ao from gaining that kill for enough time so the team can kill him

[@ian9372]

Is this like a series? That could be nice.

[@ChaotiX1]

Please Hi-Rez, dont ever make a God thats invisible to Wards.

[@rebornphoenix5275]

ChaotiX I want one now lol

[@th3on3thatb3atu]

As a diamond ao kuang owner, I have to say that camazotz is not a difficult opponent. If he misses his bats, I win the fight. I just burst him much faster than he's able to, and his escape is not very good. Granted I don't play conquest, but I still feel my angle has some backbone.

[@TheNightkunai]

All cleanse mechanics work against him to (Geb Shield, Khepri Ult, Chiron Training exercise, Hel's cleanse and Aphro's ult), some require timing tough, especially with Khepri's revive.

[@jeremylong8535]

I'm surprised you left out my usual so kuang counter item, which is that shield (can't recall the name right now) that gives power, magdef, and slows enemy attack speed within range. Works well against freya too

[@TTV.MoraiZuko]

How to counter Kumbhakarna. he does so much damage for a guardian its batshit crazy insane.

[@sebastianvaladez2796]

H4D3S cabroken?

[@davidwilliam6812]

H4D3S not really mid to late. early yeah, just be more cautious and he's not as strong late game he's so annoying I understand just try to have puri/beads. not much else besides hitting him from a range.

[@thejackman9000]

ymir chunking tho

[@davidwilliam6812]

Ymir is the only support I have diamond he feels like a mage that can build tank and still be a mage.

[@cobyaleksick9174]

H4D3S I love khumba but damage in casuals is amazing

[@octaviosantalucia5228]

I agree with most of what you said in this video. However, I consider Bulwark a bad choice against Ao Kuang. First of all, as you pointed out in the vid, Ao Kuang can execute you through it's shield. Second of all, remember that Bulwark only gives 60 prots, but does give you lots of hp. HP isn't great against Ao Kuang, because Soul Reaver is a good item on him and will get it most of the times to amplify his burst potential. Also, if you are a carry, you don't want to get defense instead of more damage.

[@darthgroundhog8717]

They should make a more expensive ward to see stealthed gods. however, since you would be able to place one mid fight, give it some time to activate the stealth seeing effect maybe 25s.

[@FortunePayback]

So will this be a new series then? Could be interesting. Also, when you getting your new outro?

[@happyjona23]

Will you make an in-game setup video, like your settings, key-binds and all that??

[@bobari557]

he has done one already

[@TheRavenCatcher]

You should do more of these videos for other gods as well. Perhaps Susano? Most Susano's are terrible but the ones who know what their doing absolutely wreck me

[@andrewastbury2692]

You mentioned Hel for cleanse, but I would have liked to see a mention to Geb as a counter, because Ao Kuang has the option of wasting his ult on the tank (Unless it's for first blood, then fair enough) or use it on someone else and risk getting it cleansed by the shield. Not many people know that's possible, so... Just saying (No hate :D)

[@DukeSloth]

Khepri can actually do the same thing, if you don't use his ult pre-emptively, but as an actual cleanse, it'll stop Ao's ult as well. There are quite a few more hard counters to Ao, I mostly limited it to assassins simply because the video would've dragged out a lot longer otherwise!

[@andrewastbury2692]

That Khepri thing, I did not know :D Also, I did want to ask a jungle question (And possibly an idea for a video for you), but never got much time to ask. May I?

[@Soretrag]

i find that kumb is a good counter pick to au since his passive negates au's ult. that being said. a good au would know when you passive is up and wont ult you to secure.

[@ultimakey7097]

How to counter ao kuang in ranked: Ban him

[@davidwilliam6812]

Ultima Key nice

[@coreyeddy7313]

ratatosker can counter ao Kuang as well cause of his high burst damage plus If you hear or see ao Kuang pop his water clone you can use ratatoskers spin his 2 ability to tell which side he's coming from but that in particular takes really good timing and prediction plus his ultimate gives him cc immunity so whenever ao Kuang is about to ult ratatosker can pop his ult to stop ao Kuangs ult. but it's just my opinion since ratatoskers my main. let me hear your opinions on my supposed counter to ao kuang

[@Madabarasab]

awyeah another informational vid. :)

[@antoniomilici7485]

How to counter Ao Kuang: Step 1: Uninstall SMITE A very interesting video, DukeSloth, i think you are making a good work with theese "Smite theretical lessons", i'm trying to became a better player with you, so thanks P.S.: i'm italian, sorry for not so good english xD

[@Marhathor]

You wanna hear something funny? Everyone is already dead before I feel like ulting them.

[@kilianheisen8011]

Hey Duke! Ich schätze du kannst deutsch sprechen. Saw that recording pop-up in german at the beginning of the video:D

[@Danielgrec]

Duke what do you use to record gameplays?

[@DukeSloth]

Shadowplay

[@Danielgrec]

DukeSloth thank you 😊

[@ChaotiX1]

You wont be able to use it unless you own an Nvidia card.

[@Danielgrec]

Cantrio X i know it, thanks anyway

[@NyaruSunako]

well i would like to test out against those assassins if I play as ao cause I wanna know if a certain I've been working on can box them in a 1v1

[@ohadhefets9973]

First! Beads/Aegis will do

[@andrejules9154]

Ohad Hefets Th at only stops his ult, not his burst.

[@ohadhefets9973]

Andre Jules Aegis can stop his burst too if you time it well

[@davidtiller7637]

That applies to every single god out there

[@andrejules9154]

Ohad Hefets Unless you can tell where he is your chances of doing so are very low

[@doubled7854]

Should also include that building any health items on the enemy team just lets ao kaung get you within execute range faster

[@lobotoni7469]

thanks my boy this is a great help

[@abdur1996]

Duke do you think Ao will get nerfed in coming months or potentially get another rework? I have him at mastery lvl 3 and I started playing him only recently and really enjoy him at the moment. when he first came out he was super op and was partly the reason I took a very long break from Smite.

[@davidwilliam6812]

abdur1996 I doubt it man if anything he might be indirectly nerfed he's not absurd op he's just at a state where if you don't know what you're doing he's unstoppable and even if you do he's annoying, just like loki except better.

[@Eftkud]

Unlickily ao has fallen because he is pointed as a loki in arena, everyone is aware of him and as ao you rely on your teammates to stay safe, like loki, easy to shut down, high burst and if he goes invisible everyone panics, then the aegis trigger or beads and you die, thats pretty much the situation

[@St_bane1]

We need a how to counter Arachne

[@tyr7490]

St_bane 1 easy

[@scorpion7334]

St_bane 1 press f6 ez

[@jackjohn189]

late game counters her. The problem is she getting fed as fuck and preventing your team to reach late

[@soulstealer5625]

Jack John Excpet that her damage skyrockets lategame. Remember she scales of basic attacks which are most potent late game. Think of her like nemesis with less extreme late with a kinder early to mid. To counter Arachne is to basically collapse in her and keep her cc locked. NEVER 1v1 an Arachne though. She will almost always win.

[@xBrandon888]

As an Arachne main I honestly couldn't tell you a solid full proof way to counter her. Mainly just keeping her at range and avoiding her spiders that way she can't close the gap.

[@CrescereXScithe]

The problem with Bastet is that her cats don't chase enemies that are stealthed. All Ao Kuang needs to do is stealth and he's safe from her ult.

[@LovelesslordGenesis]

GEB shield can cancel ao ult but only in work on teammate and as soon he grab them (around 1 sec)

[@Gray-dr2ri]

You should make an auto attack guide for Ao Kuang. There aren't many, so you should jump in popularity.

[@Friendly_T_Girl]

Just as with Loki. If you here the "poof" from his stealth or the splash in this case a good rush backwards will usually help.

[@AnubisWasHere]

TheTwilightphoenix I main goobis, I just put hands below me and wait for that little bitch to walk in.

[@lei-1474]

loki is extremely easy to counter because of how loud the noise is when he goes into stealth

[@alexandrefigs]

How many items slots exactly should I use to counter a god in a match ?

[@lei-1474]

as what role and gamemode though?

[@mongikyou25]

FINAALLYY thank you!!!

[@mccree6626]

duke sloth saying ancile gives me life

[@reffd1]

as a carry hunter, can Soul Eater counter him?

[@bigbywilson4110]

Why did you max his 3 first? wouldn't it be more beneficial to max his dragons first since they have more overall damage?

[@TheSinisterM]

Bigby Wilson nope

[@R5h2x]

Bigby Wilson its because his 3 is *confirmed damage*, so you'll do all the damage upfront (on a low CD) while the dragons require you AA with all 6, which ao might not be able to survive long enough for.

[@jacobcordell2198]

You are aware the you can also launch the dragons by activating his 2 again right?

[@R5h2x]

Jacob Cordell of course, but it still isn't as much damage as a straight up upgraded 3 (not to mention that the 3 combined with poly, soul reaver and your 2 is garunteed burst while having to launch the dragons to do decent damage is a waste of a soul reaver proc)

[@mrsmint43]

Sanc, Mantle of Discord, Ancile, really any type of stun or hard cc. Never really had trouble with Ao Kuang.

[@orelthelegendarywarrior8609]

duke you wrong if you buy gem of isoltion on ao it can crack the buble (sry about english)

[@urbic325]

You would be suprised too see how good tanky ao kuang can do,his base damage is 600 on his second ability if used with basics.

[@xiii0722]

How to counter Ao Kung and Serquet and Fenrir: Have Geb in your team :D

[@theguyty6126]

try building runic shield,shell, or some form of hp

[@idk-jg6xy]

That video in it self is a nerf to Ao.

[@ionutmtc232]

I"M IN THE GUIDE XD... I'm tyr there 6:02 :D

[@elusory3735]

Outro song? I hear complete silence lol.

[@abshirahmed99]

easy ward you Lane so you know his around. so when he just used his water illusion and 2 to get in fall back then he will be revealed what you do after is hunt him down and it's a easy kill because his 2 and 1 are the are the burst and escape and they are either on cooldown or the 2 has a few seconds left so the dragons will dissappear have beads ready just in case btw

[@T-ROY90]

nice video, do more counter videos please

[@jamboog5192]

u shud do more on countering other gods too and thanks for this one :)

[@gismopatch]

Wouldn't soul reaver be good because you get health back?

[@dayy3902]

you mean soul eater?

[@kinjuza]

+8BitYeti even if he did mean soul eater thats a physical item not magical, also hi again xD

[@dayy3902]

Ableza Bryant yeah was gonna say lol, wassup

[@nelmey]

Why didnt you mention geb?

[@LupusMaximusInvicta]

wait? so if you're 1v1 an Ao kuang you can get magis blessing and his ult is basicly useless?

[@otosuchomel5875]

Basically, yes. But he can counter it by buying wrath to take off the bubble.

[@viper9098]

+Oto Suchomel ye but you can get beads as well so he won't be able to execute

[@LupusMaximusInvicta]

Viper Oto Suchomel Thanks guys!

[@otosuchomel5875]

Am I the only one who really dislikes the relic system?

[@boardmover8726]

Oto Suchomel probably not but I like it.

[@EldenLean]

Nope

[@davidwilliam6812]

Oto Suchomel yes I think it's kind of dumb it's like an auto counter for some gods for free. there should be a downside to getting an early game relic.

[@Jadizi]

what do you not like? not being able to simply steamroll other people down with extremely strong characters like Ao?

[@davidwilliam6812]

Jadizi​ I get what you're saying but it also makes characters that are already weak weaker like hades where all you need is shell and his ult is worthless just like zhong Q

[@thesmiteguy7619]

Step 1)Uninstall Smite

[@nightknight7208]

No love for Runic Shield? Whenever I play Ao Kuang and an enemy builds Runic Shield it feels extremely strong. I can't hurt them.

[@virtualnuke-bl5ym]

I NEEDED THIS 😁

[@omarbubteina8306]

Please dukesloth Please make a vid on how to counter freya she is so annoying to go against.

[@George-ll6cs]

Does Magi's Blessing negate his ult?

[@DukeSloth]

+Geowge McDingleberry yes

[@drexos2582]

Ancile is close to useless agaist Ao Kuang bc most of the time he will use 2>3 and basic attack you to death, silence doesnt really help a lot and it have 60s cd >.> Counter picks : Raijin, Hou Yi, Geb, Kumbha and maybe Sol

[@AndreSilva-jk6rw]

Do u think GEB also counters him?

[@R5h2x]

André Silva actually yes, but only when the shield is places *after* the ult is engaged (before the execute animation) as the shield will cleanse the execute (the execute is treated as cc)

[@jacobcordell2198]

I know which achievement you're talking about and the thing is that it's actually for using Ao Kuang's ult on an enemy god that was ulted by Khepri.

[@imadudeplayingadudedisguis5842]

I'd say a well timed Khepri ult does the trick

[@-ArabianMad-]

How to counter vulcan please. I cant play vs vulcan. His passive is op and his turent can do bodyblock

[@davidwilliam6812]

أثيوبي منحاش what

[@lei-1474]

play loki :))))

[@platypuspenguin]

Discord? Definitely joining :)

[@Pohatarunic6]

You say Ao Kuang is op only in ranked and thats why ppl ban him? I play zhong and I always go like 17/5 every game, wonder why noone ever bans him though xD

[@rivaldozoet4426]

As an AO MAIN, Why y do dis..

[@scorpion7334]

Ghosty Zyth if you main ao kuang you probably enjoy ruining other people's fun

[@scorpion7334]

Vishnu Nair learn to take a joke bruh

[@helrazr44]

Ao Kuang is one of the harder characters to play against, just because the one play can deal with him, doesn't mean the whole team will, and thus will destroy people. He honestly needs some level of nerfs because he's too easy for the burst AND execute.

[@scorpion7334]

helrazr44 so kuang himself doesn't NEED nerfs but I wouldn't complain if he got them. However, a polynomicon nerf would make him a bit more manageable imo

[@rivaldozoet4426]

Not Matthew Manduck I don't want my main to receive a nerf :( Let's be quiet about this

[@joshuali4667]

yo duke make an episode with ritual hog, 7.5 second stun new meta?

[@dylanstepanovic5742]

Joshua Li where did you even get 7.5 seconds tf

[@dancermage4]

Joshua Li jesus lmao 7.5 sec stun. lmaoooooooooo

[@joshuali4667]

Dylan Stepanovic 5 people have hog and ritual dagger

[@akanlos99]

how to counter Freya please

[@XZhyperZX]

Barney Stinson win before she gets to late game, if she gets there you will have to avoid her attacks and wait for the two seconds that she doesn't have ranged basics

[@DukeSloth]

You know what, I might just do that!

[@dragontyron]

As someone who really likes playing Freya: Stomp her before she gets her damage online. This means camping duo very early in Conquest, or just targeting her out in other gamemodes. She falls behind and can't be as much of a threat. Bait out her Pulse before engaging on her. Once her ranged basics are gone, you'll have a short opening where you can burst her down. Bonus points if she'd already banished someone and tried to engage on them, since she won't have any self-peel then. _Runic Shield_. This item is a hard counter and significantly reduces her damage output. If all else fails, hopefully you have a guardian who's built lots of magical defense and has some CC. If you're coordinated enough, you can have him engage on the Freya with CC and blow her up as a team when a fight starts.

[@wanemarr]

Barney Stinson just kill her in early game

[@janrosama]

you dont :v

[@matthewpopplewell4967]

Mantle of discord wouldn't work. By the time the sun is over and kuang goes to ult again your cc immunity will be over. They work against each other in this case

[@lei-1474]

yes but you will have had time to run away

[@AhmedMuhyi]

hey ik this fapules guy...he got a dash when playing vs me so i died. it was tyrable

[@Mugiwarajojo]

Ahmed Muhyi get out

[@AhmedMuhyi]

D.va For The Win nu :v

[@ToxicWookiee]

just saw that you know German? "Die Aufnahme wurde begonnen"

[@MisterVenal]

..sanctuary also works on the ult

[@thegreattsan]

late game when you use sanc he is just gonna wait till you fall from the sky, and kill you once you fall, when your sanctuary its over.

[@leopromsawat1588]

why do you have to make it harder for Ao Kuang player like me :(

[@drewkavi6327]

Single slot item....ehhh im not too sure about these strange single slots im mean triple slot items are the way to go imo

[@hoanglongnguyen6684]

schöne erklärung :)

[@anon7200]

bester mann

[@vancz387]

how to counter ao kuang step 1 :pick ne zha step 2 :??? step 3 :profit

[@xanthosgaming8294]

Please make a video about thanatos

[@davidwilliam6812]

Xanthos Gaming how to counter him????? I hope you don't need one if you play smite lol

[@xanthosgaming8294]

David F Oh no I know how to counter him. I want a video on how to play him better so you don't get counted while playing him. And #fuckRA lol

[@Madabarasab]

Xanthos Gaming true.

[@crisgale8098]

ao kuang is so easy to counter. just buy mantle of discord, magis blessing, ancile, bulwark of hope, bracer of undoing, aegis, beads, and meditation. so simple

[@MONKEY-D-LYCAN-7K]

Mercury vs Ao Kuang and mercury will make ao kuang, ao gone 😂... let me go kms 🙃

[@shaydesofblue2281]

_Magi's Blessing_

[@breslin90]

You counter him by pressing F6

[@jsum33]

Someone should post this to the Smite forums. Maybe it will stop all the Ao complain posts. You should make one for Nox and post it there too. Haha

[@XZhyperZX]

jsum33 nox: avoid the had to hit combo

[@XZhyperZX]

Hard to hit*

[@jsum33]

XZhyperZX you are aware I was making fun of the forums? There is at least a post a week complaining about Ao or Nox.

[@jsum33]

XZhyperZX the Loki posts seems to have stopped.

[@XZhyperZX]

jsum33 I have never been to the smite forums so I didn't know but I find it hard to believe people have a hard time against nox, just move and you won't die

[@kiev1828]

Can't Ravana overhead kick ao kuangs ult

[@viper9098]

ye he can so can change and every other cc immune ult

[@kiev1828]

lol poor ao kaung xD

[@bradthomas3520]

Geb?

[@Regulus_00]

This'll help me since I main him 😂

[@puppetma5tertv]

Do a whatever happened to chaac

[@rotn2013]

Elder Harpy OP

[@gerami8902]

I hate when people whine about me not banning Ao Kuang. He is so easy to beat out.

[@gerami8902]

Epic star And what exactly is that reason? He just doesnt provide the early game and if your team is smart enough to not let him get ahead early game, he wont come online for a long time. There are many Gods better. Like Awilix. She has 3 hard CC's so she cant be countered with Magi's Blessing. Really only purification, and she makes it much more dangerous for many Gods to use their escapes. And since she is so ability based, she doesnt suffer as much from hide of the nemean

[@LupusMaximusInvicta]

Gerami Not all players know how to counter Ao kuang tho.

[@h1ph0pjunk1e]

lol late game he doesnt even need his ult, activate the 2 hit the 3 finish the 2 with basic attacks and u will do more damage