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Shiva - Ability Guide

15 3 36,833
8.7
by DV-8 updated May 19, 2023

Smite God: Shiva

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Shiva Build

Introduction

Welcome to the Ability Guide for Shiva.

The intention of the guide is to provide the reader with a clear but detailed explanation of each individual ability. This includes details and numbers not included within the in-game ability descriptions.

By reading through these "revised" descriptions and their explanations, I hope that you will gain a better understanding of how the god's kit functions as a whole in order to utilize them more effectively in your games.

This guide strives to be as objective as possible to maintain accuracy. Therefore, I will not be covering ways of playing the god in game specific modes or which items to build.

Passive

Samsara

Shiva starts the game in a state of Bliss, and cycles between the states of Bliss and Destruction by hitting Basic Attacks and abilities on enemy gods. Bliss provides his abilities with added benefits as well as an HP5 and MP5 aura buff for himself and allies in a 55 unit radius. Destruction provides his abilities with added hindrances as well as an HP5 and MP5 aura debuff for enemies in a 55 unit radius. On switching between states, Shiva gains a 2 second cooldown on his non-ultimate abilities.

HP5 & MP5 Buff: 8 + 0.5/level
HP5 & MP5 Debuff: 4 + 0.5/level

Your abilities will only have the effect of the state you are in at the time that the ability is cast, even if the ability cycles you into the next state.

To change states, you actually need to build up a chain of 20 "stacks".

The first two Basic Attacks of your Basic Attack chain provide 1 stack, with the third and final hit providing 2 stacks. Hitting an enemy god with any part of Emblazoned Sweep, Damaru's Tempo, or Pillar of Dawn will provide 2 stacks per god hit. You can only gain 2 stacks per god per ability. You also receive 2 stacks per allied god affected by your abilities' Bliss enhancements.

In Shiva Tandava, your Steps will add or remove stacks depending on your current state. In Bliss state, Step 3 will provide you with 10 stacks. However, stacks do not carry over into the next state. Therefore, if the 10 stacks you gain would cause you to exceed 20 stacks, you will be cycled into Destruction with 0 stacks. If you perform Step 1, you will lose 10 stacks until you are set back to zero stacks while remaining in the Bliss state.

Oppositely, in Destruction, Step 1 will provide 10 stacks or cycle you into Bliss, while Step 3 will cause you to lose 10 stacks until you are set back to 0.

Step 2 has no effect.

Ability 1

Emblazoned Sweep

Shiva spins to deal damage in a circle around him, pulling enemies within range and leaving a firewall at the edges.

Bliss - Allies gain a Momement Speed buff upon passing the firewall.

Destruction - Enemies suffer a protection reduction debuff upon passing the firewall.


Spin Damage: 65 / 120 / 175 / 230 / 285 (+55%)
Fire Damage: 10 / 20 / 30 / 40 / 50 (+5%) every 0.5 seconds
Fire Persist Time: 4 seconds
Movement Speed Buff: 25% for 3 seconds
Protection Reduction Debuff: 5 / 10 / 15 / 20 / 25 for 3 seconds
Cooldown: 12 seconds

Note that the pull is considered a "True Hard CC" ability, and will apply 2 stacks of Diminishing Returns.

Ability 2

Damaru's Tempo

Shiva does damage in a cone, knocking up enemies in the selected segment of the attack.

Bliss - Allies in the cone gain an Attack Speed buff

Destruction - Enemies in the cone suffer an Attack Speed debuff


Damage: 100 / 150 / 200 / 250 / 300 (+65%)
Attack Speed Buff: 30% for 4 seconds
Attack Speed Debuff: 30% for 4 seconds
Cooldown: 13 seconds

Note that the knockup is considered a "True Hard CC" ability, and will apply 2 stacks of Diminishing Returns.

Ability 3

Pillar of Dawn

Shiva dashes into a pillar of fire where he meditates for a short duration, mitigating damage and becoming immune to Crowd Control except for Stuns and Time Dilation for a maximum of 4 seconds, before being able to dash out again. If not used within the 4 seconds the dash expires. Each dash deals damage to enemies and as he meditates the pillar emits an aura.

Bliss - Allies in the aura gain a block stack while Shiva gains 1 per second (up to 3) that will apply once the ability ends.

Destruction - Enemies in the aura suffer constant damage.


Dash Damage: 65 / 95 / 125 / 155 / 185 (+30%)
Damage Mitigation: 30%
Block Stack Lifetime: 3 seconds
Aura Damage: 7 / 11 / 15 / 19 / 23 (+4%) every 0.25 seconds
Cooldown: 18 seconds

Potential Max Aura Damage: 112 / 176 / 240 / 304 / 368 (+64%)

Ultimate Ability

Shiva Tandava

Shiva performs his Tandava, channeling for the next 6 seconds with Crowd Control Immunity. Every 1.5 seconds he performs a step that can be preselected and affects gods in a 25 unit radius.

Step 1 - Healing and Mana restoration for self and allies.
Step 2 - 50% Damage and Healing, increase the radius of the next step by 10, and amplifies the next step's Healing or Damage effects by 50%.
Step 3 - Damage and shield reduction to enemies.


Healing: 55 / 70 / 85 / 100 / 115
Mana Restoration: 15%
Damage: 125 / 175 / 225 / 275 / 325 (+40%)
Shield Reduction: 50%
Cooldown: 100 seconds

Step Combinations


Analyzing the numbers in the above chart, we can reach the following conclusions:

1 - 1 - 1 - 1 should only be used for Mana restoration. Otherwise, 2 - 1 - 2 - 1 should be used, as it provides equal healing as well as additional damage. Ideally, this combo should be used in Destruction as it will cycle you into Bliss and proc the passive cooldown reduction for your abilities.

Similarly, 2 - 3 - 2 - 3 should be used instead of 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 due to the fact that it delivers equal damage as well as some added healing. Ideally, this combo should be used in Bliss as it will cycle you into Destruction and proc the passive cooldown reduction for your abilities.

2 - 1 - 2 - 3 and 2 - 3 - 2 - 1 deliver the best all-around numbers. Ideally, 2 - 1 - 2 - 3 should be used when Samsara has more than 10 stacks in Destruction. Conversely, 2 - 3 - 2 - 1 should be used when you have more than 10 stacks in Bliss. This will cycle Shiva into the next state, providing cooldown, and will start him with 10 stacks once the ult finishes.

1 - 1 - 3 - 3 and 3 - 3 - 1 - 1 are slightly weaker than the combo mentioned above. Its strength lies in the fact that it can be used to proc your passive twice. When starting off in Bliss, use 3 - 3 - 1 - 1, and when starting off in Destruction, use 1 - 1 - 3 - 3. This will cycle you through both states for a total of 4 seconds of cooldown reduction on your abilities. Because of this, it is recommended that you use all three abilities before performing this sequence for maximum value.

Conclusion

Thank you for reading this Shiva Ability Guide.

Please use the comment section for any questions or recommendations for improvement.

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1
SouluEater | May 27, 2023 12:27am
Thanks for the proper explanation I always enjoy Shiva and was wondering what I could do to improve so this really helped.
Also, which items would you recommend for a more "Shiva support with still some oomph?"
1
Kriega1 (143) | May 27, 2023 10:18am
Sent Embrace, Prophetic, Glad Shield, Brawler's, Binding, Spectral/Dawnbringer/Filler
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