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: There are a few animals that you absolutely have to expect when talking about the Egyptian pantheon. Sobek covers perhaps the obvious of the reptilian class. Bastet covers mammals. What of the ever pervasive insects? That falls to Khepri, the god of Rebirth and the Sunrise. It’s fair if you’re asking yourself “What, I thought Ra covered the sun.” That’s fair. Khepri is Ra’s aspect of the morning.
Furthermore, you are safe asking yourself “Why the heck is Ra, one of the most revered gods of the Egyptian pantheon, connected with a scarab beetle. A creature known for rolling balls of dung across the ground?” That one’s even easier! The Egyptian people saw symbolism in the small, strong beetle rolling his load across the sands as Ra moved across the sky. Continuing the trend, a scarab beetle walks out of its dung birth place fully formed granting Khepri the realm of rebirth.
Khepri took a backseat to the deity he represented. And yet he’s everywhere in Egyptian society thanks to the pervasive appearance of the scarab beetle as jewelry.
In-Game: Don’t let Khepri’s insane girth deceive you. Yes, Khepri is dealt a guardian kit, but he doesn’t play as your typical guardian. Initiating isn’t his jam, not like the others. Don’t forget this is a god based upon an armored being that rolls around detritus. Your passive delivers a shield to friendlies, while your abilities continue to buff allies and debuff those foolish enough to play with poop. Oh, and Khepri’s ultimate will imbue new life upon an ally should they die under his care.
There’s no doubt that this is a fresh take on the class in SMITE. It may not be a physical melee god, but it’s certainly getting away from your typical build. Focus on sustainability and cooldown reduction. The last thing you want to do is abandon your lane or a fight. Or fail to hit friendlies with those abilities. Snag Heartward Amulet, Winged Amulet and Sovereignty mixed in with a taste of Chronos’ Pendant or a Breastplate of Valor.
Further reading:
- Khepri on Wikipedia
- Egyptian Mythology on Wikipedia
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Head over to SMITE: Demigods, Deities and Gods Explained for details on all of the playable characters.