
SMITE: Demigods, Deities and Gods Explained is a column dedicated to introducing prospective players of SMITE to its massive backstory of lore. From the Greek to Hindu, each week we’ll look at two characters from a major pantheon and provide a quick recap of their history and in what capacity their digital incarnation will represent on the field of Hi-Rez Studios’ new MOBA.
Lore: Chiron is an old god, born of a union between the titan Cronus and the nymph Philyra. A simple union wouldn’t make a centaur-like being. Chiron is half horse, half man because Cronus entered the union under a guise. The guise of a horse. Unlike other centaur, known for debauchery and violence especially when indulging, Chiron was of the utmost intelligence. A healer, astrologer and oracle he was raised by foster parents Apollo and Artemis who instilled the most noble of values. Living in Mount Pelion most of his life, he had three daughters and a son with nymph-wife Chariclo. His offspring didn’t make him the revered teacher that he is. That distinguishment comes from his pupils. His many pupils. The likes of Ajax, Medusa’s killer Perseus, Achilles, Theseus and Heracles were all under his tutelage. Despite Chiron’s best intentions, those known most famously for being under his training are so due to their violent proclivities. None are known for the more passive teachings of peace, poetry and diplomacy.
No story exemplifies the nobility of Chiron like that of his death. Born immortal, like all of Cronus’ seeds, Chiron had Heracles barter his immortality with Zeus. In return for the ability to die Chiron bartered Prometheus back from the dead where he was chained to a rock for his multitude of transgressions against the Olympian gods, especially Zeus. It’s during this period that Chiron is accidently poisoned by his former student’s arrow. Accounts differ, but Chiron is either accidently shot as a pack of rioting centaurs assaulted their camp or the teacher of gods accidently dropped an arrow on his own hoof. Unable to heal with all his medicinal prowess, Chiron opted to succumb to the poison. For all his deeds he is risen to the heavens revered as the Centaurus constellation.
In-Game: Chiron is a beast of a man in SMITE (couldn’t resist). A good teacher is only possible when the subject is fully understood, mastered even. Chiron imparted much knowledge on his pupils but it’s the art of war that has been repeatedly internalized by those learned from the civilized centaur. Like his foster mother Artemis, Chiron is designed as a ranged physical hunter. It’s there that the similarities end. His passive features a heal to himself and those around him. Giddyup! sends him charging forward, the movement skill giving him additional sustainability, and flipping enemy gods over his massive frame. It’s the combination of heals and debuffs that make him such a strong teammate, but don’t you dare think of him as your main support.
Build to Chiron’s strengths, damage and attack speed, to trigger extra marks to set yourself and your teammates up for kills. If they miss the opportunity end it with shots from his Ultimate or resurrect yourself with a killing blow. Cooldown reduction is a great secondary if you believe added healing from his passive to come in handy. Stick with core damage items made famous by Artemis, such as The Executioner, Deathbringer and Devourer’s Gauntlets. Asi works nicely if you’re of the aggressive or selfish playstyle. Alternatively, if you’re finding your team in additional aid snag the CDR aid of Hydra’s Lament or Spirit Robe.
Further reading:
- Chiron on Wikipedia
- Greek Mythology on Wikipedia
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Head over to SMITE: Demigods, Deities and Gods Explained for details on all of the playable characters.