Smite Dojo: Countering Fenrir
Requested by shield-liger: Can you suggest a build for an assassin to counter annoying Fenrirs?
Well, there are many ways to counter a Fenrir, but through my experience, I’ve found that the best way to counter annoying Fenrirs is to right click their name, and click “Block”.
... but if you MUST fight them, let’s see.
Fenrir relies on damaging abilities, his stun and ultimate for control, and a bit of lifesteal and self-power boost. This means, in my opinion, that he’s a unique type of “hybrid assassin”. He has incentives to both box with autoattacks to fill up his passive, and ability burst you down with his 1-2-3 combo.
How to build highly depends on which assassin you use to counter him. Some assassins rely more on autoattacks like Bakasura and Kali, and others rely on ability combos like Bastet, Serqet, and Thor. But let’s look at a few possiblities:
-- Items-- (You won’t be building all of these items, but one or two of them might help sway the battle in your favor when combined with damage and other items that assassin typically builds)
- Mystic Mail. This one single item alone provides health, some solid physical defense, and an aura that damages every hostile thing around you each second. Since Fenrir needs to be up close to deal all of his damage, this means that not only will he find it harder to burst you down, but he’ll take damage the whole time - including when he grabs you with his ultimate. This item favors longer battles, wearing away at your opponent’s health every second you stay close.
- Brawler’s Beatstick. Lifesteal and attack speed is a huge part of any intelligent Fenrir’s game during prolonged engagements. If he’s building lifesteal on top of that, then you will without question need to get a Beatstick. Another good perk of the Beatstick is that it’s a very cheap source of power and flat penetration - and flat pen is good against people who don’t build much defense. Like most Fenrirs.
- Hide of Nemean Lion. If the Fenrir you’re facing is relying on auto attacks or building crits, the Lion can help out a lot. It gives probably the most physical defense of any one item in the game, +200 health, and a passive that turns 20% of his basic attack damage back on him. That includes critical hits. This item is probably one of the best defenses against critical hitters you can buy.
- Witchblade. Physical defense, attack speed, and a power/attack speed debuff to enemies around you. There’s no way Fenrir can avoid the debuff either, since he needs to be inside the area of it to deal any damage.
- Void Shield. A simple item that might help. Some decent physical defense with an added armor debuff bonus, and you can build it without falling behind in damage because of the 20 or 25 power it gives you (I forget). Like Witchblade, the defense debuff applies to all enemies near you, which Fenrir cannot avoid.
- Midguardian Mail. I feel like I should mention this, even though it’s not the most-used armor in the game. It’s mainly used to counter autoattackers such as Bakasura, Kali, and those types. It gives health and phys defense, and each autoattack on you gives your attacker a 30% chance to move and attack 30% slower for a few seconds. If they keep attacking you, they WILL proc this, so a 30% chance isn’t as lame as it sounds. Consider this if he’s focusing on autoattacks for most of his damage. If he’s comboing his abilities and using hit-and-run tactics, this might not be as effective. Abilities used against you will not activate this armor’s passive.
-- Actives --
- Beads. If you’re worried about Fenrir grabbing you with his ult and dropping you in his tower or phoenix, this item is the only way out. This item effectively makes his ultimate useless, and has the added benefit of reducing your skill cooldowns when you use Beads at max rank. This will also get you out of Fen’s stun, if he builds up his passive and jumps on you with his 1.
- Shield of Underworld. This new active item works kinda like a stronger version of Nemean Lion. ALL damage you take for the duration is returned to your attacker at 40%. This includes skills in addition to autoattacks. If you think you’re about to get Brutalized, quickly pop the SOU and watch Fenrir knock himself out. Remember, this item doesn’t mitigate damage. You’ll still take the full damage, but Fenrir will also take 40% the damage he gives you. This is extremely effective if he tries to crit you. Also remember he can’t heal himself with lifesteal by attacking you while the Shield is up. That cancels out his 2, and any Asi or Bloodforge or Devo Gloves he’s building.
- Greater Aegis. Using this can get you out of several things Fenrir might try on you. If he uses Brutalize, a well-timed Aegis will nullify his single biggest damage ability. Just remember that Brutalize has a much shorter cooldown than Aegis, so consider carefully when you use Aegis. Make sure cancelling out that Brutalize will get him killed. It will also cancel out his ultimate if he tries to bite you while it’s active. It’s important to get the “I can’t move” Aegis rather than the Aegis Pendant. With Pendant, you can move, but can still be picked up by his ultimate, I believe. So that’s something to consider. Also consider that the “can’t move” Aegis has an additional period of taking 20% less damage after the 2-second immunity period. If you think moving is more important than that extra period of damage mitigation, go for Pendant. But I’d recommend Greater.
- Curses. Both of the Curse actives are effective against Fenrir, but the anti-heal one (weakening? I forget) might be the more effective one. His 2 gives him very nice lifesteal at max rank, and if he uses it with full runes (his passive), it doubles, and he’ll heal back almost all the damage you do. If this is a tactic he relies on, then cutting off that healing will give you the time you need to burst him down.
-- General Tips --
- Use CC. This is the biggest thing. Fenrir is very squishy unless he builds defense, so controlling his movement and hitting him hard will scare him and put him on the defensive. If possible, try to bait out his jump before going 100% all in on him, otherwise he can just leap to safety if he survives your initial burst.
- Use poking and harass. As I’ve mentioned multiple times, he needs to get in your face to do damage. If you’re playing a god who can poke him or harass from a distance, that will force him to either go in on you, or back up and accept the damage.
- Keep an eye on his items. This will help you determine how you should approach and counter him. Items like Asi, Rage, or Deathbringer means he’ll focus on basic attacking you. Items like Jotun’s, Hydra’s, or Titan’s Bane suggests he’ll focus more on his 1 and his 3 for damage. And of course if he’s ballsy enough to build Heartseeker, make sure you kill him to make it worthless.
Hope this helps! Any other questions, let me know. Good luck out there.