Is Smite Doubled on a Crit? The Ultimate Guide
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No, Smite damage is not doubled on a critical hit. Smite, the Summoner Spell, deals a fixed amount of true damage to monsters or enemy minions. This fixed damage is unaffected by critical strike chance or critical damage modifiers. It remains consistent regardless of whether you crit an enemy champion or not.
Understanding Smite and its Mechanics
Smite is a crucial Summoner Spell in League of Legends, primarily used by Junglers to secure objectives like dragons, Rift Herald, and Baron Nashor. Its primary function is to deal a burst of true damage to monsters, making it invaluable for stealing or securing these high-value targets. It’s also used to quickly clear jungle camps for experience and gold.
The damage Smite deals is determined by your champion level and which version of Smite you have upgraded to. This damage is always true damage, bypassing armor and magic resistance, making it incredibly reliable. Unlike basic attacks or abilities that can crit, Smite remains steadfastly unaffected by critical strike mechanics.
The Logic Behind Smite’s Inability to Crit
Think of Smite as an execution ability, not a damage-over-time (DOT) ability or a physical/magical damage ability that scales with your attack damage, ability power, or other stats. It delivers a precise, predetermined amount of true damage. Allowing it to crit would introduce a degree of randomness and unreliability into a spell that needs to be consistent for objective control.
The game’s balance also dictates this design choice. Imagine the implications if a Jungler built for crit chance could suddenly Smite for double damage. Stealing objectives would become excessively reliant on luck, and objective control would be significantly skewed. This would detract from strategic play and decision-making, core elements of League of Legends.
Misconceptions and Related Mechanics
One common misconception is that any damage dealt to a monster or champion can crit. While this is true for basic attacks and some abilities that scale with attack damage, certain spells and effects, like Smite, are explicitly designed to deliver fixed or guaranteed damage.
Furthermore, some items and runes can enhance your Smite. For example, upgraded Jungler items grant unique effects to Smite, such as Chilling Smite which slows enemy champions, or Challenging Smite, which marks enemy champions and reduces their damage output. These enhancements affect Smite’s utility, not its base damage or critical hit chance.
Mastering the Art of Smite
Mastering Smite isn’t just about knowing the base damage numbers; it’s about understanding the timing, range, and potential interactions. Learning when to use Smite effectively is a crucial skill for any Jungler.
- Timing: Knowing the exact health threshold for securing an objective is essential. Understanding the damage your opponents can output alongside Smite is vital.
- Positioning: Being in the right position to Smite is paramount. You need to be close enough to the monster or champion to cast Smite, while also avoiding being crowd-controlled or killed.
- Awareness: Keeping track of the enemy Jungler’s Smite cooldown is crucial. If they’ve recently used Smite, they are less likely to contest an objective.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 frequently asked questions about Smite and its interaction with other game mechanics, designed to further clarify its behavior and usage:
1. What type of damage does Smite deal?
Smite deals true damage, which bypasses armor and magic resistance. This means the damage is consistent and predictable.
2. Does building crit chance items affect Smite damage?
No, building crit chance items has absolutely no impact on Smite damage. Smite damage is fixed and scales only with champion level and Smite upgrade level.
3. Can Smite be blocked by spell shields?
No, Smite cannot be blocked by spell shields such as Morgana’s Black Shield or Sivir’s Spell Shield. This is because Smite is classified as a Summoner Spell, not a targeted ability.
4. Does Smite damage scale with Ability Power (AP)?
No, Smite damage does not scale with AP. It scales with your champion level and the upgraded version of Smite.
5. Does Smite damage scale with Attack Damage (AD)?
No, Smite damage does not scale with AD. Its damage is fixed and not affected by AD.
6. Can I use Smite on enemy champions?
Yes, you can use Smite on enemy champions after upgrading your Jungler item to Chilling Smite or Challenging Smite. These versions offer utility effects beyond just damage.
7. How do I upgrade my Smite?
You upgrade your Smite by purchasing a Hunter’s Talisman or Hunter’s Machete at the start of the game and completing jungle camps to gain experience on the item. Once enough experience is gained, the item will upgrade.
8. Does Smite benefit from damage amplification effects?
No, Smite doesn’t benefit from damage amplification effects like Zed’s Death Mark or Ignite. This is because Smite deals true damage, which is not affected by these types of modifiers.
9. If I have 100% crit chance, will Smite crit?
No, even with 100% crit chance, Smite will not crit. Its damage is fixed and independent of your critical strike chance.
10. Does Smite damage increase with Lethality or Armor Penetration?
No, Lethality and Armor Penetration have no effect on Smite damage because Smite deals true damage, which ignores armor.
11. Can I use Smite to last-hit minions in lane?
Yes, you can, but it’s generally not recommended unless you are desperate to secure a cannon minion or deny gold to the enemy. Using Smite on minions sacrifices its strategic use for securing objectives.
12. How does Smite interact with Baron Nashor’s damage reduction buff?
Baron Nashor reduces all incoming damage, but true damage bypasses this reduction. Therefore, Smite deals its full damage amount, ignoring Baron’s damage reduction.
13. Can Smite be affected by Exhaust?
No, Exhaust reduces damage dealt by basic attacks and abilities but does not affect true damage. Therefore, Exhaust does not reduce Smite damage.
14. Does upgrading my Jungler item increase my Smite damage?
Yes, upgrading your Jungler item typically increases the base damage of your Smite. Each upgrade tier provides a stronger Smite with a higher damage output.
15. Is there a specific health threshold for Smite securing objectives?
The optimal health threshold depends on your champion level and Smite upgrade. You need to calculate your Smite damage and account for potential enemy burst damage to determine the best time to Smite. Practice and experience are crucial for mastering Smite timing.
Conclusion
While the idea of a critical Smite might sound appealing, the design and mechanics of League of Legends prevent this from happening. Smite is a consistent and reliable tool that’s crucial for securing objectives and controlling the jungle. Mastering its use is essential for any aspiring Jungler, requiring a strong understanding of timing, positioning, and awareness of enemy actions. Understanding that Smite does not crit is just the beginning; using it effectively is what truly separates a good Jungler from a great one.