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Shifu Guan Yu: The Battle Master (Y11, All Modes, Patch 11.1, "Year 11")

119 30 1,398,814
6.8
by Branmuffin17 updated January 25, 2024

Smite God: Guan Yu

Build Guide Discussion 166 More Guides
Choose a Build: Support Master (Conquest Support & General Tank Builds)
Support Master (Conquest Support & General Tank Builds) Solo Master (Conquest) Assault Master (Assault Build Examples)
Tap Mouse over an item or ability icon for detailed info

Guan Yu Build

Starting Items (Balanced / Max CDR)

Notes This start provides good sustain early in lane, with Glowing Emerald building into Gauntlet of Thebes.

Notes

This start provides good sustain early in lane, with Glowing Emerald building into Gauntlet of Thebes.

Build Item Sentinel's Gift Sentinel's Gift
Build Item Glowing Emerald Glowing Emerald
Build Item Healing Potion Healing Potion
4
Build Item Multi Potion Multi Potion
2
Build Item Sturdy Shard Sturdy Shard

Example Build (Balanced / Max CDR)

Notes This is a build path for Guan in a Support role, focusing on max CDR, enhanced healing, and general protections.

Upgrade Sentinel's Gift to Sentinel's Embrace at level 15. Alternatively you could choose Benevolence and upgrade to either Compassion or Heroism.

Optional items:
  • Genji's Guard is optional but a solid choice for magical protection, CDR and high mana sustain.
  • Caduceus Club is a great item for Guan, but if you're going to be fighting against a lot of lifesteal, you can opt for other items.
  • Spectral Armor counters enemy crits, which are likely to be present. If you don't need this, substitute as preferred.

Notes

This is a build path for Guan in a Support role, focusing on max CDR, enhanced healing, and general protections.

Upgrade Sentinel's Gift to Sentinel's Embrace at level 15. Alternatively you could choose Benevolence and upgrade to either Compassion or Heroism.

Optional items:

  • Genji's Guard is optional but a solid choice for magical protection, CDR and high mana sustain.
  • Caduceus Club is a great item for Guan, but if you're going to be fighting against a lot of lifesteal, you can opt for other items.
  • Spectral Armor counters enemy crits, which are likely to be present. If you don't need this, substitute as preferred.

Build Item Sentinel's Embrace Sentinel's Embrace
Build Item Gauntlet of Thebes Gauntlet of Thebes
Build Item Breastplate of Determination Breastplate of Determination
Build Item Genji's Guard Genji's Guard
Build Item Caduceus Club Caduceus Club
Build Item Spectral Armor Spectral Armor

Example Build (Aura Support)

Notes This is a alternate build path focusing on protection auras. Stick close to teammates to maximize benefit of the build.

Upgrade Sentinel's Gift to Sentinel's Embrace at level 15. Alternatively you could choose Benevolence and upgrade to either Compassion or Heroism.

Optional items:

Notes

This is a alternate build path focusing on protection auras. Stick close to teammates to maximize benefit of the build.

Upgrade Sentinel's Gift to Sentinel's Embrace at level 15. Alternatively you could choose Benevolence and upgrade to either Compassion or Heroism.

Optional items:

Build Item Sentinel's Embrace Sentinel's Embrace
Build Item Gauntlet of Thebes Gauntlet of Thebes
Build Item Sovereignty Sovereignty
Build Item Amulet of the Stronghold Amulet of the Stronghold
Build Item Breastplate of Determination Breastplate of Determination
Build Item Magi's Shelter Magi's Shelter

Protection Auras

Notes Gauntlet of Thebes (Dual Protections): provides some of the strongest overall protections of any item. Build early for stacking.

Sovereignty (Anti-Physical): If facing a dual-physical enemy duo or much stronger physical overall enemy presence, this is a solid item to support your teammates.

Heartward Amulet (Anti-Magical): If facing a dual-magical enemy duo or much stronger magical enemy presence, this is a good team-support option. The MP5 is also very helpful for Guan.

Notes

Gauntlet of Thebes (Dual Protections): provides some of the strongest overall protections of any item. Build early for stacking.

Sovereignty (Anti-Physical): If facing a dual-physical enemy duo or much stronger physical overall enemy presence, this is a solid item to support your teammates.

Heartward Amulet (Anti-Magical): If facing a dual-magical enemy duo or much stronger magical enemy presence, this is a good team-support option. The MP5 is also very helpful for Guan.

Build Item Gauntlet of Thebes Gauntlet of Thebes
Build Item Sovereignty Sovereignty
Build Item Heartward Amulet Heartward Amulet

CDR + Protection Options

Notes Breastplate of Valor (Anti-Physical / High CDR): Good early item for Guan to counter physical damage while providing high CDR. Upgrade to the Breastplate of Determination glyph late-game.

Prophetic Cloak (Dual Protections / CDR): This is an alternative to Gauntlet of Thebes, requiring stacks to max effectiveness of mitigations and protection aura.

Genji's Guard (Anti-Magical / High CDR): Provides a situational boost of CDR when hit by magical abilities, with very high MP5 so you'll never run out of mana.

Fae-Blessed Hoops (Teammate Health Shield): Somewhat awkward due to the dropped buff, but provides good overall stats and can help protect teammates.

Lotus Sickle (Teammate Protection Boost): Good utility item with high health, CDR and MS, while your heals trigger extra protections for teammates.

Spirit Robe (Protections / Anti-CC): Balanced protections and CC reduction make this a strong general support item.

Magi's Cloak (Anti-CC): Decent protections and some CDR, but the main function is to counter hard-CC. The Glyph upgrades can be for aggressive or teammate support.

Pridwen (Protections / High CDR): The passive shield won't activate until you've finished your ult, but the stats remain very functional overall. The Glyph upgrades provide some extra damage potential.

Notes

Breastplate of Valor (Anti-Physical / High CDR): Good early item for Guan to counter physical damage while providing high CDR. Upgrade to the Breastplate of Determination glyph late-game.

Prophetic Cloak (Dual Protections / CDR): This is an alternative to Gauntlet of Thebes, requiring stacks to max effectiveness of mitigations and protection aura.

Genji's Guard (Anti-Magical / High CDR): Provides a situational boost of CDR when hit by magical abilities, with very high MP5 so you'll never run out of mana.

Fae-Blessed Hoops (Teammate Health Shield): Somewhat awkward due to the dropped buff, but provides good overall stats and can help protect teammates.

Lotus Sickle (Teammate Protection Boost): Good utility item with high health, CDR and MS, while your heals trigger extra protections for teammates.

Spirit Robe (Protections / Anti-CC): Balanced protections and CC reduction make this a strong general support item.

Magi's Cloak (Anti-CC): Decent protections and some CDR, but the main function is to counter hard-CC. The Glyph upgrades can be for aggressive or teammate support.

Pridwen (Protections / High CDR): The passive shield won't activate until you've finished your ult, but the stats remain very functional overall. The Glyph upgrades provide some extra damage potential.

Build Item Breastplate of Valor Breastplate of Valor
Build Item Prophetic Cloak Prophetic Cloak
Build Item Genji's Guard Genji's Guard
Build Item Fae-Blessed Hoops Fae-Blessed Hoops
Build Item Lotus Sickle Lotus Sickle
Build Item Spirit Robe Spirit Robe
Build Item Magi's Cloak Magi's Cloak
Build Item Pridwen Pridwen

Utility Options

Notes Caduceus Club (Healing Boost): Dual protections are nice, but you get this item for the boost to healing, which can partially counteract anti-heal.

Relic Dagger (Relic CDR): A lot of utility (MS, CDR, CC reduction, health) with a specific purpose of decreasing relic cooldown. Grab the Bewitched Dagger glyph to counter enemy basic attackers.

Breastplate of Regrowth (Mobility): Strong utility function providing power and movement speed, consider if you strongly value the mobility as he can trigger the boost often with Conviction.

Oni Hunter's Garb (Anti-Magical / Teamfight Damage Mitigation): General purpose anti-magical item that provides additional mitigations when in the midst of enemies.

Abyssal Stone (Negative CDR for Enemies): damaging enemies with abilities gives negative CDR to enemies.

Void Shield (Anti-Physical / Aggression): Provides additional physical protection reduction on top of Taolu Assault; great if you're always on the offensive and have other physical teammates that deal lots of damage.

Shogun's Kusari (Anti-Magical / AURA: Attack Speed): Great anti-magical option with utility for basic attackers. Also has MP5 to support ability use.

Notes

Caduceus Club (Healing Boost): Dual protections are nice, but you get this item for the boost to healing, which can partially counteract anti-heal.

Relic Dagger (Relic CDR): A lot of utility (MS, CDR, CC reduction, health) with a specific purpose of decreasing relic cooldown. Grab the Bewitched Dagger glyph to counter enemy basic attackers.

Breastplate of Regrowth (Mobility): Strong utility function providing power and movement speed, consider if you strongly value the mobility as he can trigger the boost often with Conviction.

Oni Hunter's Garb (Anti-Magical / Teamfight Damage Mitigation): General purpose anti-magical item that provides additional mitigations when in the midst of enemies.

Abyssal Stone (Negative CDR for Enemies): damaging enemies with abilities gives negative CDR to enemies.

Void Shield (Anti-Physical / Aggression): Provides additional physical protection reduction on top of Taolu Assault; great if you're always on the offensive and have other physical teammates that deal lots of damage.

Shogun's Kusari (Anti-Magical / AURA: Attack Speed): Great anti-magical option with utility for basic attackers. Also has MP5 to support ability use.

Build Item Caduceus Club Caduceus Club
Build Item Relic Dagger Relic Dagger
Build Item Breastplate of Regrowth Breastplate of Regrowth
Build Item Oni Hunter's Garb Oni Hunter's Garb
Build Item Abyssal Stone Abyssal Stone
Build Item Void Shield Void Shield
Build Item Shogun's Kusari Shogun's Kusari

Counter Options

Notes Midgardian Mail (Anti-Physical / Anti-Basic Attack): Counters basic attackers with an MS and AS slow.

Spectral Armor (Anti-Critical Strikes): Pick this specifically to counter enemies building crits.

Contagion (Anti-Physical / AURA: Anti-Heal): Physical protection providing an anti-heal effect.

Pestilence (Anti-Magical / AURA: Anti-Heal): Magical protection providing an anti-heal effect.

Winged Blade (Anti-Magical / Counter Slows): Utility item that counters lots of enemy slows, helpful for you and nearby teammates.

Erosion (Anti-Shield): Grab this specifically to counter enemy gods that provide shields (e.g. Geb, Hera, Odin).

Notes

Midgardian Mail (Anti-Physical / Anti-Basic Attack): Counters basic attackers with an MS and AS slow.

Spectral Armor (Anti-Critical Strikes): Pick this specifically to counter enemies building crits.

Contagion (Anti-Physical / AURA: Anti-Heal): Physical protection providing an anti-heal effect.

Pestilence (Anti-Magical / AURA: Anti-Heal): Magical protection providing an anti-heal effect.

Winged Blade (Anti-Magical / Counter Slows): Utility item that counters lots of enemy slows, helpful for you and nearby teammates.

Erosion (Anti-Shield): Grab this specifically to counter enemy gods that provide shields (e.g. Geb, Hera, Odin).

Build Item Midgardian Mail Midgardian Mail
Build Item Spectral Armor Spectral Armor
Build Item Contagion Contagion
Build Item Pestilence Pestilence
Build Item Winged Blade Winged Blade
Build Item Erosion Erosion

Relics to Consider

Notes These are the general relics you should typically consider. Others may be picked up depending on the situation.

Divine Barrier (Objective Protection / Zoning): Use to protect objectives or zone enemies in narrow corridors.

Bracer of Radiance (Team Utility / Vision): Provides a situational buff to teammates, but also acts as an additional ward with low cooldown. Upgrade to make the ward act as a Sentry.

Horrific Emblem (Control / Anti-Heal / Anti-Shield): Slows enemies and also reduces healing and shields from enemies. Extremely useful overall relic for teamfights.

Heavenly Wings (Mobility): Provides a nice burst of movement speed to help chase or escape.

Magic Shell (Team Shield): Provides a health shield to help keep teammates alive. Specifically choose only when facing troublesome enemy obstacles ( Phantom Shell).

Notes

These are the general relics you should typically consider. Others may be picked up depending on the situation.

Divine Barrier (Objective Protection / Zoning): Use to protect objectives or zone enemies in narrow corridors.

Bracer of Radiance (Team Utility / Vision): Provides a situational buff to teammates, but also acts as an additional ward with low cooldown. Upgrade to make the ward act as a Sentry.

Horrific Emblem (Control / Anti-Heal / Anti-Shield): Slows enemies and also reduces healing and shields from enemies. Extremely useful overall relic for teamfights.

Heavenly Wings (Mobility): Provides a nice burst of movement speed to help chase or escape.

Magic Shell (Team Shield): Provides a health shield to help keep teammates alive. Specifically choose only when facing troublesome enemy obstacles ( Phantom Shell).

Build Item Divine Barrier Divine Barrier
Build Item Bracer of Radiance Bracer of Radiance
Build Item Horrific Emblem Horrific Emblem
Build Item Heavenly Wings Heavenly Wings
Build Item Magic Shell Magic Shell

Guan Yu's Skill Order Notes This build order is wacky, but provides the concept that you want to level based on current need, especially in the Support role. If the enemy hasn't built much anti-heal, getting Conviction up can really help team sustain.

Notes

This build order is wacky, but provides the concept that you want to level based on current need, especially in the Support role. If the enemy hasn't built much anti-heal, getting Conviction up can really help team sustain.

Conviction

1 X Y
Conviction
2 7 8 11 14

Warrior's Will

2 A B
Warrior's Will
3 15 16 18 19

Taolu Assault

3 B A
Taolu Assault
1 4 6 10 12

Cavalry Charge

4 Y X
Cavalry Charge
5 9 13 17 20
Conviction
2 7 8 11 14

Conviction

1 X
Guan Yu's courageous leadership is infectious and, when focused, heals himself and his allies. Healing friendly gods reduces all Cooldowns by 2s for Guan Yu and 1s for his allies.

Ability Type: Circle, Heal
Healing: 20 / 40 / 60 / 80 / 100
Boosted Healing: 1.7x Normal Healing
Radius: 30
Cost: 45
Cooldown: 14s
Warrior's Will
3 15 16 18 19

Warrior's Will

2 A
Guan Yu charges forward, his Green Dragon Crescent Blade extended in front of him. All enemies in his path take damage and are Slowed. Hitting enemy gods lowers all of Guan Yu's Cooldowns by 2s. Guan Yu is immune to Roots, Cripples, and Knockups while dashing.

Ability Type: Dash, Slow, Damage
Damage: 80 / 135 / 190 / 245 / 300 (+60% of your Physical Power)
Slow: 20%
Slow Duration: 2s
Boosted Slow: 40%
Cost: 60 / 65 / 70 / 75 / 80
Cooldown: 13s
Taolu Assault
1 4 6 10 12

Taolu Assault

3 B
Guan Yu spins his blade in a controlled but furious display, slicing enemies for damage every .3s for 3s. Each hit steals enemy Protections, giving them to Guan Yu. Guan Yu is immune to Knockback for the duration.

Ability Type: Line, Debuff, Damage
Damage per Hit: 17 / 27 / 37 / 47 / 57 (+20% of your Physical Power)
Protections Stolen: 2 / 4 / 6 / 8 / 10 (Max. 3 Stacks)
Protection Duration: 5s
Boosted Protections Stolen: 3 / 6 / 9 / 12 / 15 (Max. 3 Stacks)
Cost: 60 / 65 / 70 / 75 / 80
Cooldown: 13s
Cavalry Charge
5 9 13 17 20

Cavalry Charge

4 Y
Guan Yu mounts his warhorse and charges for 4s. While mounted, he can steer and attack and is immune to Crowd Control. Enemies hit take damage and are Slowed. Each hit increases damage from consecutive hits against that target by 20%. Enemies hit on the dismount are Stunned. You can dismount at any time by canceling.

Ability Type: Circle, Stun, Damage
Damage: 75 / 100 / 125 / 150 / 175 (+30% of your Physical Power)
Damage Escalation: 20% per hit
Slow: 25% for 2s
Stun: 1.1 / 1.2 / 1.3 / 1.4 / 1.5s
Boosted CC: 40% Slow and 2s Stun
Cost: 80 / 90 / 100 / 110 / 120
Cooldown: 90s

Introduction

Recent Updates:

2024/1/25: Guide is current as of Patch 11.1, "Year 11." Builds updated.

Revision History


Hello everyone! My name is Branmuffin17 (PC IGN: Muffinman17), and I'm a SMITEFire admin and casual SMITE player on PC.

I'll assume you know the basic gist of gameplay in the various modes, so I won't be teaching or talking much about tickets, rotating, minions, etc., except in the direct context of Guan Yu's gameplay. If you want more detailed info for these modes, I invite you to check out my other guides:

The
Overarching
Conquest Guide
The
Overarching
Assault Guide
The
Overarching
Arena Guide

For Conquest, you may find the Support, Solo, and Warding chapters to be useful.

This is an ongoing work in progress, as it should be. I'm always open to new ideas and different approaches.




Guan Yu is a very unique god in his class. His kit contains a couple of key functions that gives him broad team utility, including physical protection reduction and group healing. He is mainly played in the Solo role due to his level of safety and sustain, but has good potential as an off-meta Support.


...... Strengths ......

+ High sustain
+ Great team-support abilities
+ Good escape
+ Good damage potential
+ Rides a freaking horse!!!
... Weaknesses ...

- Mana hungry
- No burst damage
- Weak initiation
- Hugely ability-dependent
- Low CC for a support


He is a niche Warrior, as his kit isn't tuned for high burst damage and doesn't provide much hard CC outside of his ult. However, if played correctly and well, his group heals and ult can help turn the tide of battle.

Depending on the game mode and role you choose for him, he can be built tanky or bruiser, but you should not build him as a glass cannon. Let's discuss.

Abilities

Basic
Attacks
1 / 1 / 1.3 / 1.75x damage and swing time progression. Third hit cleaves. 4th hit's range is extended to 16 units.

Use his attack progression to your advantage, depending on the situation.

Discussion: The 3rd attack cleaves (it can hit multiple enemies). You should always be looking to use this on waves and camps where possible, as it can really help your clear speed, especially early game.

Tips: This is incredibly important to use when laning. You can maximize your early wave clear by resetting your basic attack chain with any ability immediately after the 3rd hit.
Passive:



Painless
Each instance of damage Guan Yu receives or deals provides stacks (up to 20). At max stacks, abilities used will have a boosted effect. Stacks only reset when out of combat.

Discussion: The optimal use of this passive requires you to hit or be hit. Using Taolu Assault, especially against minions, can quickly max your stacks to provide extra effects for all other abilities, including 1.7x healing!

Once stacks are built, stacks will persist as long as you remain in combat. Keep track of your stacks, as you may want to save them for teamfights.

Tips: Once stacks are built, stay in combat as long as possible to keep stacks up.

*NOTE* Mystical Mail's passive can very quickly build stacks.
Skill #1:



Conviction
Heals himself and allies in an area around him. Healing friendly gods reduces all cooldowns by 2 seconds. 14 second CD.

Leveling Priority: Typically max this 2nd in Conquest, and 1st in teamfight modes if playing a Support-type.

General Use: Self / Group / Minion Healing

Discussion: This circular, AOE heal is the bread & butter for your entire team. Quick CD and enhanced healing from max Painless stacks.

This ability is great to help you and nearby teammates sustain in-lane, and is an even more amazing team-based ability. In teamfight modes, this should be your first priority, but in longer games with separate lanes (e.g. Conquest), you will want to make sure your minion clear via Taolu Assault is also leveled adequately.

Tips: The ability can heal your minions, so if you're laning, you can keep them alive longer to put pressure on your lane.
Skill #2:



Warrior's Will
Charge forward. All enemies in his path take damage and are slowed (20% for 2 seconds). Hitting enemy gods lowers all of his CDs by 2 seconds. Immune to roots, cripples, and knockups while dashing. Max Painless stacks provide a 40% slow for 2 seconds. 13 second CD.

Leveling Priority: Prioritize this last unless the enemy has easy capability in interrupting Taolu Assault.

General Use: Minor Escape / Control / Peel

Discussion: This is a short-distance dash, so shouldn't be heavily relied on as an escape. It serves offensively to provide damage and a slow, and defensively to help create distance or help teammates escape.

Unless needed as your main damage source, max this ability last, since increasing levels only increases damage (and mana cost), not the slow effect.

Tips: Use this ability AFTER using Taolu Assault / Conviction, to decrease the CD on those abilities.
Skill #3:



Taolu Assault
Guan Yu spins his blade, hitting enemies every 0.3 seconds for 3 seconds (max 10 hits per individual enemy). Each hit steals enemy protections (2-10 protections per stack, max 3 stacks, 3-5 second duration), giving them to Guan Yu. He is immune to knockback for the duration. Max Painless stacks provide increased protection steal (3-15 protections per stack). 13 second CD.

Leveling Priority: Typically max this 1st for wave-clear and damage potential.

General Use: Wave Clear / Teamfight Damage / Boxing

Discussion: This is his wave clear ability, and as an added bonus, provides you with protections while stealing them from enemy gods. Focus on this ability first due to the high damage potential, unless the enemy can easily interrupt it, in which case consider an early Mystical Mail or maxing your Warrior's Will first.

As Support, if your ADC has strong waveclear, you can put 3 or 4 levels into this and then concentrate more on leveling Conviction.

Tips: Use on minions and enemy gods to quickly build Painless stacks, and to decrease their protections and give you more!
Ultimate:



Cavalry Charge
Guan Yu mounts his warhorse and charges for 4 seconds. While mounted, he can steer & attack, speed up/slow down, and is immune to CC. Enemies hit take damage and are slowed (25%). Each hit increases damage from consecutive hits against that target by 20% (2 second duration). Enemies hit on the dismount are stunned for 1.5 seconds). Max Painless stacks increase slow to 40% and stun to 2 seconds). 90 second CD.

Leveling Priority: Level this as the situation demands...usually level it when available.

General Use: Chase / Escape / Teamfight Disruption

Discussion: Acts as offense, defense, and teamfight disruption. Great escape function in a pinch (you are CC-immune for the duration). Chasing ability is awesome too. In a teamfight situation, don't hesitate to use it at the start, as it's got a nice, high damage AOE attack that can lock enemies down with the slow and stun.

Normally, I'd say to level this whenever it's available, but it really depends on how your team is doing. If you're constantly on the offensive and dominating them, level this anytime you can. If you're being pushed back, you might find more use out of prioritizing other abilities.

Assault Master (Assault-Specific Items & Discussion)

This Guan Yu Assault section is supplemental to The Overarching Assault Guide.

DO NOT REROLL if you are Guan Yu, as he's in the healer category. I'm assuming you haven't, if you're using this as an in-game reference.

Guan Yu is a very unique god in his class, and is also one of the most common gods to be found in Assault, because he is one of the 5 free gods, and he is categorized as a healer. This increases his chances that someone not familiar with his strengths will build and play him in a less-than-optimal way. If you're confident in your healing/support skills with him, you might try requesting a trade for him, if someone else rolls him.

What makes him unique? It's the combination of all of the following:

  1. He is the only physical god outside of Horus that provides significant group healing ( Cupid can help in a pinch, but won't sustain an entire team).

  2. His whole kit asks you to take damage in the face (it increases his stacks of Painless).

  3. He has an ult ( Cavalry Charge) that acts as both an extended, perfect, CC-immune escape, as well as a chaser with damage escalation!

  4. He's got built-in protection transfer (less for them, more for you) in Taolu Assault.
He can spam heals all day (well, until he runs out of mana, which happens QUICKLY). With his kit, you are the perfect main tank. Your passive ( Painless) is quickly built anytime you give OR take damage!!! If you're not blowing through your mana, you can even use your Taolu Assault on the minion wave, and quickly build full stacks for your Conviction heals!

At level 20, if you are consistently healing others and have max CDR, you should be able to heal about every 8.5 SECONDS! In a theoretically perfect situation with max Painless stacks at max level, healing 170 per pop, and if you heal all 4 teammates (and yourself), that's 850 health for EACH HEAL!!! If you add Caduceus Club's bonus healing (and you're not affected by anti-heal), this can be as high as 1,105 health! His potential for keeping his team alive is unquestionable.

So, don't screw your team over by building for damage (which I see too many people do), unless you have plenty of other tanks on your team. Instead, get that CDR maxed, consider providing extra support with protection aura items, and keep your team alive.

Gameplay Discussion (Support & Solo)

Here are some quick general tips when playing Support (general tank) and Solo.

Support:


Solo:
  • Other than determining if your lane enemy is a physical or magical god, your first consideration will need to be if you're able to rely on Taolu Assault for wave clear or not. If the enemy has a skill in their kit that can interrupt your channel (silence, stun, etc.), consider either leveling Warrior's Will first for waveclear help, or think about getting Mystical Mail early. These aren't required, though; if you can play around that ability and use Taolu when it won't be interrupted, all the better.

  • You are almost never going to be first to clear wave. Your main ability for that takes a long time to channel. Expect to be pushed back regularly. Using Taolu effectively is going to be very important for your clear.

  • Just because you're the Solo doesn't mean you're going to be attacking the enemy backline. You'll still often find yourself best used in the midst of your teammates in bigger teamfights.

Some Of My Guides



If you liked this guide, check out my other ones below!


The Overarching Series



The
Overarching
Assault Guide

The
Overarching
Conquest Guide



Individual God Guides



Bacchus:
An Alcoholic's Chugging Guide

Freya:
Pulsing to
the Beat

Ganesha:
Selflessly
Gifting Kills

Shifu Guan Yu:
The Battle
Master

Loki: The Backstabbing Bastard

Medusa: Getting Everyone Stoned


God Guide Collaborations



Anubis:
Towards The
New Season

with Daelinn

Ares:
50 Shades
Of Flame

with KingScuba

Nox:
I See A
Red Door...

with Tlaloc1050

Conclusion

Thanks for reading my Guan Yu guide! I appreciate any and all comments, suggestions, etc. Anyone can suggest a god for me to work on next ... though of course, I have to want to play them.

Feel free to add me/invite me if you want to play!

Brandon / PC IGN: Muffinman17

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Collapse All Comments

1
daliymonster412 | September 12, 2022 7:50pm
well i am kinda new to guan so this helps also i am having trobel with making a guid it wont show up when i publish it
1
Branmuffin17 (394) | September 13, 2022 9:00am
I assume this is no longer an issue, since your SWK thing is published.
1
fraser424 (3) | February 23, 2021 5:58am
do you think there are too many options for a new player which tend to be the majority of people that use guides? not saying any is wrong just my friend who is more new says its a bit too much and doesnt know which to choose.
1
Kriega1 (143) | February 23, 2021 6:11am
There's not too many. Smite just has a steep learning curve in general. And besides there's example builds anyway.
1
fraser424 (3) | February 23, 2021 7:04am
but for a newer player wouldnt it be better for a better general build
Load more comments (11 more replies) →
1
fraser424 (3) | February 23, 2021 6:00am
i am just saying there is like almost every tank item as a option
1
Big Damage (37) | August 3, 2020 8:59pm
I like the Shogun's Kusari, however I feel Genji's Guard fits better with the passive reducing time off cooldowns synergising with his 1 and 2 doing a similar action, also I'd say he appreciates the higher MP5 bringing him to 100 when he hit's the 25% to activate Blackthorn Hammer..
1
Branmuffin17 (394) | August 3, 2020 5:54pm
Kriega et al., with the builds updated, see any issues? This is basically a community guide at this point (as are all of my guides), and I will consider adjustments based on feedback.
1
Big Damage (37) | August 2, 2020 5:40am
Edit: This is about solo guan

With the addition of The Sledge, what are your thoughts on how Guan is built now? I've been playing with double hammers ( Blackthorn Hammer and The Sledge) but I feel it's a bit much, so I've now tried Breastplate of Valor with either Genji's Guard or Oni Hunter's Garb, and as much as it works I did really like having Mystical Mail but if I did that I wouldn't have enough CDR or MP5 for Guan. Your thoughts?
1
Kriega1 (143) | August 2, 2020 5:42am
I would just go Boots > Breastplate > Sledge early.
1
Big Damage (37) | August 2, 2020 6:18am
Yeah, that was the build order I was referring to when I mentioned breastplate. Is there not a build order you would find that works with guan that builds Mystical Mail as the dedicated physical prot item?
Load more comments (10 more replies) →
1
UnironicallyMainsSupport | June 13, 2020 6:35am
Don't know what you feel about it but what do you think of not levelling Cavalry Charge until you max out Conviction? Personally I've been considering that unless I'm against a Support Cerberus.
1
Branmuffin17 (394) | June 13, 2020 10:16am
I think you're absolutely okay in doing what you feel here. This is one of the things I always think about. For most gods, people typically level the ult whenever it's available (level 5, 9, 13, 17, 20). I think it's a "no brainer" type of action.

That said, I always think, well I can use this non-ult ability X times more than the ult due to CD. That can be extremely significant, especially when it's an ability you may use outside of combat (like healing).

The damage ramp for Guan's ult is pretty significant, and it's by far his biggest threat. Check these numbers:

Can deal up to 765/1035/1305/1575/1845 (+270% of your physical power) damage. (this is all hits on one target)

But sometimes you don't get all hits, and sometimes you cancel early for the stun. So I think focusing on Conviction before Cavalry Charge is situationally very viable, especially as you're getting into levels where you'll start having teammates around, and the heal could be very helpful.

I'd say choose as you see fit in this case.
1
Big Damage (37) | May 28, 2020 4:17am
No mention of caduceus shield for solo? Or do you believe you only get real benefit from it being a support?
1
Kriega1 (143) | May 28, 2020 4:33am
You can get Cad Shield just fine in Solo.
1
Branmuffin17 (394) | May 28, 2020 12:31pm
Yeah I just forgot to include. Will remember to add with next update.

That said, I don't feel it's core. Strong overall stats but anti-heal really hurts the heal potential. If/when they're building anti-heal, you've got options depending on the rest of your build. High CDR and this will counteract some of the effect. Otherwise, you stop relying on the heal for anything more than minor sustain in a fight, and you can get alternate function from the heal by getting Shield of Regrowth for the MS boost.
1
Branmuffin17 (394) | February 18, 2020 4:17pm
Guan's back in action.
1
DV-8 (33) | February 18, 2020 5:55pm
Is that the title to the sequel? Sounds like a cheesy action flick.

I'd suggest: "You don't know what you've got 'til it's Guan".

I plan to make a Guan guide one day and title it "Guanorrhea".
1
Branmuffin17 (394) | February 19, 2020 12:22pm
LOL. Guanorrhea's build will have to run fast!

Anyway...



"Guan's Bacon Action"

(apologies for the awful art)
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1
Gulfwulf (81) | February 19, 2020 8:54am
You kids and your toilet humor.
1
Kriega1 (143) | July 23, 2019 4:12am
Whats your opinion of Blackthorn after re-inforced greaves on Guan Support? Also do you think this build was fine: https://smite.guru/match/952606996
1
Branmuffin17 (394) | July 23, 2019 10:51am
I think that build was fine. You obviously did well too. Reinforced was probably the better choice since it provides some prots, to allow you to get Blackthorn (health but no prots) after and still be able to take some damage.

Your build perhaps has a bit less CDR than I'd prefer into the mid-game (10% CDR until you got Witchblade as 5th main item), but that's okay as long as you can make it work.

How much trouble did you have with the Chronos / Ganesha duo? They had multiple things that could interrupt your Taolu Assault, and make it extremely frustrating for your clear or aggression. Was the Ganesha blowing his silence and you just worked around it? What about the Chronos 3?
1
Kriega1 (143) | July 23, 2019 11:16am
Branmuffin17 wrote:


How much trouble did you have with the Chronos / Ganesha duo? They had multiple things that could interrupt your Taolu Assault, and make it extremely frustrating for your clear or aggression. Was the Ganesha blowing his silence and you just worked around it? What about the Chronos 3?


Honestly, It was very annoying with Ganesha silencing my 3, but with the AMC we still managed to outpressure them early. The Chronos mainly used his 3 on the wave or for self-peel. I think we got an early kill on either the Ganesha or the Chronos. But then, problems started when the Erlang was starting to gank the duo lane (or well, everywhere since our jungler was non-existent). He seemed to be a massive problem and just snowballed from there.

Branmuffin17 wrote:

Your build perhaps has a bit less CDR than I'd prefer into the mid-game (10% CDR until you got Witchblade as 5th main item), but that's okay as long as you can make it work.


I think I probably should have got Genji's Guard or Shogun's Kusari over Heartward Amulet, but I was trying to make up for the lack of Gauntlet of Thebes by getting aura items.

Should I maybe just have gone Talaria > Thebes > Genji's/Shogun's > breastplate?
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