Ra, the Sun God, remains one of the most iconic and reliable mages in the transition to Smite 2. While his core identity as a long-range sniper and tactical healer is preserved, the sequel introduces nuanced mechanics that demand a fresh perspective on his build paths. Whether you are aiming to delete squishies from across the map in the Mid Lane or act as an immovable frontline presence in the Solo Lane, understanding the synergy between Intelligence, Strength, and his new basic attack stimulants is essential.

In Smite 2, Ra is no longer just a "press 1 to clear" god. The introduction of the Solar Ray mechanic on his Divine Light and the specific scaling of his ultimate, Searing Pain, makes him a high-skill expression character. This guide breaks down the optimal itemization, skill priorities, and gameplay tactics to dominate the current meta.

Quick Reference: Core Ra Build Paths

For those in a live match looking for immediate guidance, here are the two primary archetypes:

  • The Burst Mid Build: Focused on Intelligence and Penetration. Key items include Conduit Gem, Book of Thoth, and Staff of Myrddin. Maximize your 1 (Celestial Beam) first.
  • The Bruiser Solo Build: Focused on Cooldown Reduction and Protections. Key items include Pendulum of the Ages, Gladiator's Shield, and Pharaoh's Curse. Maximize your 2 (Divine Light) or 3 (Solar Blessing) depending on the matchup.

Understanding Ra's Mechanics in Smite 2

Before diving into items, we must analyze how Ra’s kit has evolved. Unlike Smite 1, the sequel places a heavier emphasis on "hybridization" and how abilities interact with basic attacks.

Passive: Speed of Light

Every time Ra uses an ability, he gains a stack of movement speed (up to 3 stacks). In Smite 2, movement is life. With the map layout being more complex, maintaining these stacks is the difference between escaping a Jungle gank or being sent back to the fountain. Always "wiff" an ability like Solar Blessing near your tower if you need that extra boost to reach a buff camp faster.

Ability 1: Celestial Beam

This is Ra's primary wave clear and poke tool. It features a massive 105% Intelligence scaling. This means every point of Intelligence you buy translates directly into devastating line damage. Because it passes through walls and enemies, it is your best tool for stealing Jungle camps or securing kills on retreating foes.

Ability 2: Divine Light (The Game Changer)

In Smite 2, Divine Light does more than just slow and blind. Upon activation, Ra's basic attacks transform into Solar Rays. These rays pierce through enemies and deal bonus magical damage that scales with Intelligence. This change forces Ra players to weave basic attacks between their skill casts, significantly increasing his DPS (Damage Per Second) compared to his previous iteration.

Ability 3: Solar Blessing

This pillar of light provides healing, damage, and protections. In Smite 2, the "Protections" buff inside the circle is highly valuable during early-game skirmishes. It grants both Strength and Intelligence to allies, making it a powerful objective-securing tool (like for Gold Fury or Fire Giant).

Ultimate: Searing Pain

Ra’s signature snipe. In Smite 2, this ability deals additional True Damage based on a percentage of the target's maximum health. This makes Ra a secret "tank shredder," as even a high-HP Guardian cannot fully mitigate the blast.

The Intelligence Burst Build (Mid Lane)

The goal of the Mid Lane build is to reach the "one-shot" threshold. You want your Celestial Beam to chunk 40% of a hunter's health and your Ultimate to execute them.

Starter Item: Conduit Gem or Pendulum of the Ages

  • Conduit Gem: Ideal for pure burst. It provides a stacking true damage bonus to your next ability hit. Since Ra pokes frequently, you will often have max stacks ready for a Celestial Beam.
  • Pendulum of the Ages: The preferred choice for sustained mana. It grants Intelligence based on your current mana percentage, synergizing perfectly with the Book of Thoth.

Core Item 1: Book of Thoth

This remains a staple. In Smite 2, it provides massive Intelligence and mana. As you stack it by killing minions, it evolves to grant penetration. Given Ra’s superior clear, you can usually fully stack this item by the 12-minute mark.

Core Item 2: Soul Gem

Soul Gem provides a balance of Intelligence and Cooldown Reduction. Its passive—which heals you and deals bonus damage after hitting 3 abilities—triggers exceptionally well with Ra’s frequent use of Divine Light and his new Solar Ray basic attacks.

Core Item 3: Staff of Myrddin

This is the "power spike" item. After using your ultimate, your next non-ultimate ability has its cooldown reset. In a team fight, the combo is: Ult -> Celestial Beam -> Celestial Beam. Very few gods can survive two consecutive 105% scaling beams.

Penetration & Finishing: Obsidian Shard and Rod of Tahuti

  • Obsidian Shard: Necessary for the 20% penetration. Without this, your damage will fall off against the enemy Solo and Support.
  • Rod of Tahuti: The "Crown Jewel" of mage builds. It increases your total Intelligence from items by a significant percentage, ensuring your late-game presence is terrifying.

The Bruiser Sustain Build (Solo Lane)

Playing Ra in the Solo Lane requires a shift in mindset. You are not a glass cannon; you are an annoying, fast, self-healing disruptor.

Core Item 1: Gladiator's Shield

Since you will be building protections (Physical and Magical), Gladiator's Shield allows your abilities to deal bonus damage based on those protections. This ensures that even while building tanky, you aren't ignored by the enemy team.

Core Item 2: Pharaoh's Curse

This is an active-style item that slows nearby enemies and reduces their attack speed. Combined with Ra’s Divine Light, you can effectively "shut down" an enemy Hunter or Assassin who tries to dive you.

Core Item 3: Gem of Isolation

Ra’s 3 (Solar Blessing) and 2 (Divine Light) are area-of-effect abilities. Gem of Isolation applies a slow to anyone damaged by your abilities. Dropping your 3 in a team fight becomes a massive "slow field," making it impossible for the enemy to position correctly.

Defense: Genji’s Guard or Talisman of Purification

  • Genji’s Guard: Provides Magical Protection and a passive that reduces your cooldowns when you take magical damage. This allows Ra to spam his heal more frequently.
  • Talisman of Purification: Essential if the enemy team has heavy Crowd Control (CC) like Ares or Cerberus. It provides an area-of-effect CC cleanse for you and your allies.

Strategic Gameplay: How to Play Ra Effectively

The Laning Phase

In the early game, your priority is the wave. Position yourself so that Celestial Beam hits all six minions. If the enemy Mid is standing inside the wave, even better. Once you hit Level 2, use Divine Light not just to clear, but to proc your Solar Ray basic attacks. Weave 2-3 autos between your abilities.

The Art of the Snipe

Searing Pain has a slight wind-up time. To land it consistently:

  1. Use the Divine Light Slow: Slow them first, making their movement predictable.
  2. Wait for CC: Let your Support (e.g., Ymir or Athena) lock the target down.
  3. Predict through walls: Use the map and wards. Enemies often feel safe behind the Mid-lane harpies; that is the best time to fire.

Positioning in Team Fights

With his passive stacks, Ra is incredibly fast. Do not stand still. Constant movement makes you a hard target for "jump" initiations. Keep your Solar Blessing on your backline to protect your Hunter while you step forward to poke with your 1.

What are the best relics for Ra?

In Smite 2, your choice of Relic can save your life or secure a wipe.

  1. Blink Rune: Almost mandatory for Ra. Since Ra lacks a leap or dash, Blink allows you to reposition instantly. A "Blink-Ult" combo is a classic high-level play that catches enemies off-guard.
  2. Aegis Pendant: If you are against high-burst Assassins like Loki or Susano, Aegis is your only hope of surviving their initial rotation.
  3. Sundering Arc: A more aggressive choice for Solo Ra, helping you deal true damage to tanks during sustained brawls.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about Ra Builds

Should I build Strength on Ra?

Generally, no. While Smite 2 allows for hybrid builds, Ra’s ability damage and his new Solar Ray stim scale primarily with Intelligence. Building Strength might slightly increase your raw basic attack damage, but you lose out on the massive scaling of your 1 and 4.

How do I counter a Ra?

Anti-heal is the most effective counter. Items like Divine Ruin or Pestilence reduce his Solar Blessing's effectiveness. Additionally, Ra is vulnerable to "Dive" compositions—if you can jump on him after he uses his 2, he has no way to peel for himself other than running fast.

Is Ra viable in Support?

Ra can work as a "niche" Support with the Aspect of Thermotherapy, which allows his 3 to attach to allies. However, he lacks the hard CC (stuns/knocks) that traditional Supports like Bacchus provide. It is a high-risk strategy that requires a very tanky Solo and Jungle to compensate.

Which ability should I max first?

For Mid Lane: 1 -> 2 -> 3 -> 4. For Solo Lane: 1 -> 3 -> 2 -> 4 (if you need more healing) or 2 -> 1 -> 3 -> 4 (if you want to brawl with basic attacks).

Conclusion

Mastering Ra in Smite 2 is a balance of precision and positioning. By choosing an Intelligence-heavy build for the Mid Lane, you leverage his 105% scaling to become a long-range threat. In the Solo Lane, a Bruiser build utilizing Gladiator's Shield and Cooldown Reduction transforms him into a sustainable raid boss.

The most critical change to remember is the synergy between Divine Light and your basic attacks. No longer can you simply fire abilities and retreat; you must stay in the fray, utilizing your Solar Rays to maximize DPS. Keep your passive stacks high, aim your snipes with patience, and the Sun God will lead your team to victory on the battlegrounds of Smite 2.

Always remember that Smite 2 is in active development. Item stats, gold costs, and scaling percentages are subject to change with each patch. Regularly check the in-game "Popular" tab to see how the community adapts to new balance updates, but use the core principles of this guide as your foundation for solar dominance.