In the world of Smite Hou Yi, each god carries a unique mythological background and playstyle. Hou Yi, known as the Defender of the Sun, is a hunter from Chinese mythology. In the game, Hou Yi is designed as a ranged physical damage dealer who thrives in the hunter role, excelling at both team fights and sustained lane pressure.
With his kit centered around crowd control, damage, and survivability, Hou Yi is one of the most versatile gods in the hunter roster. Players who master him can become a constant threat throughout every stage of a match.
Who Is Hou Yi in Mythology?
Before diving into gameplay, it’s essential to understand his origins. Hou Yi is a hero in Chinese mythology famous for shooting down nine suns to save humanity from burning. This heroic feat ties directly into his Smite persona, where his abilities are themed around light, sun imagery, and precision archery.
Hi-Rez Studios brings this mythology to life through his design, voice lines, and ultimate ability.
Smite Hou Yi Abilities
Hou Yi’s abilities make him a well-rounded hunter, offering burst damage, crowd control, and escape tools. Understanding his kit is crucial for mastering him.
Passive – Suntouched
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Enemies hit by Hou Yi’s abilities take reduced critical damage for a short duration.
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This makes him naturally resistant to crit-heavy opponents, giving him a defensive edge late game.
First Ability – Ricochet
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Hou Yi fires an arrow that bounces up to two times, damaging enemies each time.
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If it hits the same enemy twice, bonus damage is applied.
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Usage: Great for poking enemies under tower or hitting multiple minions in lane.
Second Ability – Mark of the Golden Crow
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Hou Yi marks an enemy, reducing their protections.
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Marked enemies take extra damage and can be stunned when hit by Hou Yi’s other abilities.
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Usage: Essential for combos and amplifying kill potential.
Third Ability – Divebomb
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Hou Yi leaps into the air and crashes down, damaging and slowing enemies.
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Provides an excellent escape mechanism while also doubling as an engage tool.
Ultimate – Sunbreaker
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Hou Yi rains down fiery arrows in a large area, slowing and damaging enemies caught inside.
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Perfect for zoning in team fights, securing objectives, or locking down enemy carries.
Smite Hou Yi in the Hunter Role
As a hunter, Hou Yi’s role is to deal consistent damage while maintaining lane control. His strengths include:
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Lane dominance with Ricochet for wave clear.
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Early kill pressure by combining Mark of the Golden Crow with Ricochet or Divebomb.
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Team fight presence with Sunbreaker for AoE damage.
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Self-peel with his leap, making him harder to gank than many hunters.
Hou Yi fits well in both casual and competitive play, thanks to his versatility.
Best Smite Hou Yi Builds
Itemization determines how effective Hou Yi can be. A balanced build enhances his damage while maintaining survivability.
Core Items
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Transcendence – Provides mana and power scaling for ability usage.
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Executioner – Essential for shredding enemy protections.
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Qin’s Sais – Amplifies basic attack damage against tanky opponents.
Situational Items
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Wind Demon / Deathbringer – For crit-focused builds.
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Silverbranch Bow – Excellent for attack speed-heavy matchups.
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Titan’s Bane – Strong penetration against tank-heavy comps.
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Devourer’s Gauntlet – Lifesteal for sustain in extended fights.
Relics
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Purification Beads – To escape crowd control.
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Aegis Amulet – For surviving burst ultimates.
Combos and Strategies with Smite Hou Yi
Hou Yi’s damage shines when his abilities are chained properly.
Common Combo
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Mark of the Golden Crow (apply debuff).
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Ricochet (damage amplification).
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Divebomb (initiate or finish).
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Sunbreaker (zone or secure kills).
This combo maximizes damage while keeping enemies locked down.
Smite Hou Yi Counters
Every god has weaknesses, and Hou Yi is no exception.
Gods That Counter Hou Yi
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Serqet / Loki – High mobility assassins who can dive past his abilities.
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Cupid – Lane pressure and sustain rival his poke.
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Anhur – Can out-trade Hou Yi with impales and high burst.
How to Counter Him
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Apply early aggression before he completes core items.
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Force out his leap to remove his escape.
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Build anti-crit if Hou Yi leans on crit damage builds.
Gods Hou Yi Counters
Hou Yi can dominate certain matchups:
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Ishtar – His leap mitigates her ultimate.
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Chernobog – Ricochet punishes his immobility.
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Hades – Sunbreaker zones him out during ult engagements.
Smite Hou Yi in Competitive Play
Hou Yi has long been a staple pick in Smite esports, thanks to his balance of safety and aggression.
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Strengths in pro play: Reliable lane clear, survivability, and strong team fight zoning.
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Weaknesses in pro play: Requires mechanical precision with Ricochet and struggles against hyper-mobile assassins.
Professional players often draft him when the team needs a safe but impactful hunter.
Skins and Cosmetics for Smite Hou Yi
Hi-Rez has released multiple skins that make Hou Yi visually appealing. Popular skins include:
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Sun Wukong Hou Yi (themed crossover).
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Dragon’s Dance (mythical look).
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Shining Heaven (bright golden theme).
Cosmetics allow players to personalize their gameplay without altering performance.
Tips to Master Smite Hou Yi
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Practice Ricochet angles – Using walls effectively separates average Hou Yi players from great ones.
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Don’t waste Divebomb – Save it for escape unless securing a guaranteed kill.
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Use Sunbreaker smartly – Place it over objectives like Fire Giant or Gold Fury.
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Play around Mark of the Golden Crow – Always mark priority targets first.
Community Perspective on Smite Hou Yi
The Smite community views Hou Yi as a balanced and rewarding hunter. He isn’t overpowered but shines in the hands of skilled players. Many enjoy his skill-based mechanics, especially bouncing Ricochet shots off walls for flashy plays.
Future of Smite Hou Yi
As balance patches continue, Hou Yi remains relevant due to his reliable kit. Unless a major rework happens, he will continue being a safe, meta-friendly pick across casual, ranked, and competitive play.
Conclusion
Smite Hou Yi embodies the balance of safety, damage, and utility in a hunter. His mythology enriches his design, while his kit offers both defensive options and high offensive potential. With the right builds, mastery of Ricochet angles, and smart ultimate usage, Hou Yi can dominate in both casual and professional play.