Master of Thousand Faces Erlang Shen (Patch 11.1)

Erlang Shen il a versatile warrior god in Smite, able to shine in a variety of roles and positions, In this guide, we'll look in detail at hey aspect of Erlang Shen, including his objectives, qualities, flaws, effective build types, counter, and the gods he counters.

Erlang Shen's main objective as a versatile warrior in Smite is to harass the opposing ADC strategically and effectively. To understand why this is essential, it's important to examine his role and unique skills in detail.

Erlang Shen stands out for his ability to be both a robust tank and an aggressive warrior. His skill set enables him to harass and disrupt enemies with devastating precision, and the enemy fighter does not escape his attention.

So for Erlang Shen, a Bruiser build is very usefull.

In the context of a guide for Erlang Shen in Smite for Season 11, let's delve into an extensive analysis of his lore, gameplay mechanics, itemization, and strategies tailored specifically for the current meta.

Lore and Background:
Erlang Shen, the Illustrious Sage, strides onto the battlefield of the gods as a formidable warrior with divine origins deeply rooted in Chinese mythology. In Smite, he embodies the essence of a versatile bruiser, blending melee prowess with strategic utility to assert dominance across all lanes.

Gameplay Mechanics:
Erlang Shen's kit revolves around fluid combat engagements and tactical positioning. His abilities synergize seamlessly to provide crowd control, sustain, and burst damage, making him a formidable force in both team fights and solo skirmishes.

Ability Breakdown:

Spot Weakness (Passive): Erlang Shen gains increased Basic Attack damage against enemies below 50% Health, encouraging aggressive playstyle in securing kills and objectives.
Eagle Eye (Ability 1): This ability allows Erlang Shen to dash forward, damaging and rooting enemies in his path. It serves as both an engage tool and an escape mechanism, providing flexibility in various combat scenarios.
Pin (Ability 2): Erlang Shen hurls his spear, dealing damage to all enemies hit and slowing them. When combined with Eagle Eye, it sets up devastating combos and ensures enemies remain within striking distance.
72 Transformations (Ability 3): This transformative ability grants Erlang Shen the ability to morph into various animal forms, each offering unique benefits. The Turtle form provides crowd control immunity and defense, while the Mink form enhances mobility and attack speed, granting unparalleled versatility in combat.
Ultimate: Nine Turns Blessing (Ability 4): Erlang Shen channels his divine power, unleashing a flurry of strikes upon his foes while gaining damage mitigation. This ultimate ability can turn the tide of battle when timed correctly, allowing Erlang Shen to turn defense into offense and secure crucial kills.

Itemization:
In Season 11, Erlang Shen benefits from a balanced mix of offensive and defensive items tailored to his playstyle. Core items such as Berserker's Shield and Frostbound Hammer provide sustain and crowd control, while items like Qin's Sais and The Sledge amplify his damage output and survivability.

Strategies and Tips:
Mastering Erlang Shen requires a deep understanding of his kit and optimal usage of his abilities. Here are some key strategies to maximize his potential on the battlefield:

Prioritize leveling his abilities based on the specific needs of each match, adapting to different team compositions and objectives.
Utilize 72 Transformations to its fullest extent, seamlessly transitioning between forms to control the pace of engagements and outmaneuver opponents.
Coordinate with teammates to capitalize on crowd control setups, chaining abilities for devastating combos and securing kills.
Maintain awareness of Erlang Shen's passive, Spot Weakness, to capitalize on opportunities to burst down weakened enemies and turn the tide of battle in your favor.

With Erlang Shen's unparalleled versatility and divine prowess at your command, seize the opportunity to dominate the battlegrounds of Smite in Season 11 and assert your dominance as the Illustrious Sage.

Erlang Shen's qualities :

Versatility: Erlang Shen can be played in a variety of roles, whether solo, in the jungle or in support, depending on team needs.

High-damage skills: His basic skills inflict solid physical damage, making him a solid choice for solo assault or jungle.

Crowd control: Her skills offer a variety of crowd controls, including immobilization, slowing and projection control.

Mobility: His skill set enables him to move swiftly around the battlefield, giving him great presence.

Erlang Shen's defects :



No Burst: Although it inflicts constant damage, Erlang Shen has no explosive damage, making it less effective at eliminating enemies quickly.


Skill dependency: He relies heavily on his skills to inflict damage, making him vulnerable to skill interruption.


Weakness to crowd control: Although he has crowd control skills, Erlang Shen is vulnerable to enemy crowd control.

As I said earlier, a Bruiser build is very effective for Erlang shen, and the builds proposed in this guide are effective, even if other items are functional. Obviously Erlang Shen is played a lot in Jungle, personally I don't play Erlang Shen Jungle, but for this guide to be qualitative I'm going to propose popular jungle builds, even if I don't personally know their efficiency.

In this season, Bruiser build is really effective, and in Jungle, critical build are so powerfull at this patch

Erlang Shen is strong against:

Gods with low mobility: He can harass them with his mobility.
(Anubis, Kukulkan, Poseidon / God without escapes)


Gods with high physical damage: His ability to reduce enemy protection makes him effective against them.
(Every physical ADC)

Erlang Shen is weak against:

Gods with intense crowd control: They can prevent him from using his skills effectively.
(Athena, Cabrakan, Discordia, Janus)


High magic damage gods: His resistance to magic damage is limited.
(All burst mages)

Certainly, let's delve even deeper into the rich folklore surrounding Erlang Shen.

Erlang Shen, also known as Yang Jian, is often depicted as the nephew of the River Goddess Xiang, making him a demigod. His birth is the result of a complex story involving celestial intrigues and divine unions. His father is sometimes identified as the god Jiang Ziya, a significant figure in Chinese mythology associated with the founding of the Zhou dynasty.

His physical appearance is also significant in the folklore. He is often described as having a red face and eyes that shine like thunder, reinforcing his image as a powerful and divine warrior. His magical staff, the "Thunderbolt Staff," is a formidable artifact that grants him superhuman powers, allowing him to defeat even the most fearsome enemies.

His battle against the White Demon is considered one of his most famous exploits, but his repertoire of heroic deeds does not end there. He is also known for defeating other evil and demonic creatures that threatened the harmony and balance of the world. In some versions of his stories, he is even credited with saving the heavens themselves from destructive forces.

In addition to his role as a protector and justiciar, Erlang Shen is also revered for his wisdom and ability to resolve conflicts. He is often invoked to arbitrate disputes between gods and mortals, and his decisions are considered to be fair and just.

In traditional iconography, Erlang Shen is often depicted riding a divine mount, sometimes a celestial tiger or a white lion, symbolizing his power and authority. His exploits are celebrated through chants, plays, and popular narratives that continue to be passed down from generation to generation, perpetuating his legendary legacy.