First a disclaimer: this guide will only look at ‘completed’ penetration items, mostly being Tier 3 items, but also featuring some Tier 2 ones, too.

What is Penetration?

Penetration items provide damage which (as the name suggests) 'penetrates' (goes through) Protection items. This not only applies to Gods who have built Protections through items, but also applies to Gods with Protections build into their kit (for example, Fafnir's passive). Furthermore, Penetration works against objectives and structures, giving you a little more damage!

Types of Penetration

Source: ADC Wallpaper by HiRezKelly on Reddit

To find out what Penetration item is best for you, you must first acknowledge the different types of Penetration items, and their effects. There are four main types of penetration in Smite: Flat Armour Reduction (Void Shield); Flat Penetration (Jotuns Wrath); Percentage Armour Reduction (The Executioner) and Percentage Penetration (Titan Bane). Flat statistics come in the form of a whole number; for example, Brawler's Beat Stick provides +20 Physical Penetration. By contrast, percentage statistics comes as percentages (as the name suggests), and are an enemy de-buff; such as The Executioner which reduces your target’s Physical Protection by 8% for 3 seconds, stacking up to 4 times (32%). Percentages comes off of your enemy’s statistics, rather than increasing your own God’s statistics by a certain percentage, whereas Flat Statistics change your God’s statistics

If you build both types of penetration items, the percentage reduction comes first, and then the flat penetration. This can be a confusing concept to understand, so I recommend watching the video below for help:

When Do I Build Penetration?

It can be hard to know at what stage of the game to add penetration items to your build. The truth is that there is no certain time when you should build penetration, as it is simply down to personal preference. Some Junglers build penetration items such as Jotunn's Wrath fairly early in their build, as it gives an early advantage against tankier opponents, in conjunction with Cooldown Reduction, where as some ADCs build it mid to late game. However, I will give some recommendations of when to build penetration.

In general, I try to pick up some penetration in my third item slot. This gives you time to get Boots and one other item of your choice. For example, in the ADC role, you can complete Golden Bow and get the Boots of your choice, then go on to build penetration. Once you do start building penetration, you will see your damage against your enemy spike, and will begin to out-lane them.

If your opponent has built an armour item, your damage will be decreased quite significantly. Therefore, if you see your opponent starting to pick up a Tier 1 item of an armour item, perhaps you should respond by starting to build some penetration. When you are starting to push towers, or want to start pushing them, you will want some penetration in order to deal more damage to the structure. Both the Tier 1 and Tier 2 tower have 150 protections, so a Penetration item will only work in your favour!

However, Penetration can also be used against 'squishies' with no or very little armour, such as ADC or Junglers. You will see your damage soar against these opponents, as they simply cannot defend against it!

Item

Total Cost

Image

Physical or Magical

Penetration
Type

Statistics

Passive

Asi

1780

Physical

Flat Penetration

+15% Physical Lifesteal
+20% Attack Speed
+15 Physical Penetration

If you drop below 35% Health, you gain an additional 25% Physical Lifesteal for 5 seconds. Can only occur once every 15 seconds.

Brawler's Beat Stick

2400

Physical

Flat Penetration

+40 Physical Power
+20 Physical Penetration

Enemies hit by your Abilities have 40% reduced healing and regeneration for 8 seconds.

The Crusher

2300

Physical

Flat Penetration

+40 Physical Power
+20 Physical Penetration

Each Basic Attack against towers and phoenixes grants a Stack that increases your Attack Speed by 10% and Physical Penetration by 5 for 2s.(Max. 5 Stacks).

The Executioner

2250

Physical

Percentage armour reduction

+30 Physical Power
+25% Attack Speed

Basic Attacks against an enemy reduce your target's Physical Protection by 12% for 3 seconds (max. 3 Stacks).

Ichaival

1700

Physical

Flat Penetration

+30% Attack Speed
+10 Physical Penetration

Every successful Basic Attack increases your Physical Power by 10 and reduces your target's Physical Power from items by 10, for 3s. (Max 3 Stacks)

Jotunn's Wrath

2440

Physical

Flat Penetration

+40 Physical Power
+150 Mana
+10 Physical Penetration
+20% Cooldown Reduction

-

Stone Cutting Sword

2900

Physical

Flat armour reduction

+50 Physical Power
+10% Movement Speed

Melee Basic Attacks decreases enemy Physical protections by 10, and increase your physical protection by 10 for 3s (max. 3 Stacks).

Titan's Bane

2050

Physical

Percentage Penetration

+30 Physical Power

All of your physical attacks gain 33% Physical Penetration.

Void Shield

2600

Physical

Flat armour reduction

+30 Physical Power
+50 Physical Protection

Reduces the Physical Protection of enemies within 55 units by 20.

Demonic Grip

2280

Magical

Percentage armour reduction

+60 Magical Power
+25% Attack Speed

Your Basic Attacks reduce your target's Magical Protection by 12% for 3s (max 3 Stacks).

Dynasty Plate Helm

1700

Magical

Flat penetration

+45 Magical Power
+30 Physical Protection
+15 Magical Penetration

-

Obsidian Shard

2050

Magical

Percentage penetration

+70 Magical Power

You gain +33% Magical Penetration.

Shoes of the Magi

1600

Magical

Flat penetration

+45 Magical Power
+10 Magical Penetration
+18% Movement Speed

-

Spear of Desolation

3800

Magical

Flat penetration

+120 Magical Power

+20 Magical Penetration

If you kill an Enemy God all of your cooldowns are reduced by 8 seconds. This cannot activate more than once every 30s

Spear of the Magus

2150

Magical

Flat armour reduction

+40 Magical Power
+15 Magical Penetration

Your abilities reduce your target's Magical Protection by 10 for 5 seconds (max. 3 Stacks).

Void Stone

2350

Magical

Flat armour rediction

+40 Magical Power
+50 Magical Protection

Reduces the Magical Protection of enemies within 55 units by 20.

In Season 3, penetration items have been seeing a little less usage, and are often replaced by Qin's Sais, especially within the Hunter class. This item works well on Auto-Attack (AA) based Gods, such as Hunters, or some Assassins such as Kali or Bakasura. There is no bonus to your penetration statistics in terms of percentage or flat penetration; however, Qin's Sais deals damage equal to 4% of your target's maximum health in addition to your main damage.

Qin's Sais

2700

Physical

+40 Physical Power

+15% Attack Speed

On Basic Attack hits, deal Physical Damage equal to 4% of the target's maximum Health. This only affects gods.

True Damage

Delicious! Source: SmiteGuru

In Smite, True Damage is rare and a pain to deal with! An example of True Damage is Bakasura’s Butcher Blades. With slight relation to penetration and defense, True Damage cannot be mitigated; however, it is affected by percentage damage reductions, and immunities. For a more in-depth view of what does and does not affect True Damage, please watch the video below:

Get your own AKRacing Chair here and support our players, all profit goes towards the teams!