Starting positions in SMITE are like openings in chess: a player has to have knowledge of them in order to endure the early game.

At exactly 10 seconds into the match the jungle camps — home to, if not precious buffs, then at least extra experience and gold income — spawn for the very first time. And ideally, at exactly 10 seconds into the match, all players have assumed their particular starting positions to get the early game off to a favorable start.

This guide is outdated. For the Season 2 starting positions, see the article Conquest 101 — Season 2 Starting Positions and Openings for Each Role on this site.

A Comprehensive Guide with 11 Unique Map Illustrations

All prominent starting positions laid out for each of the roles

Condensed walkthroughs detail each opening scenario

Customized map diagrams illustrate the walkthroughs

Pro and contra lists highlight strengths and weaknesses

Map orientation is always taken into account

Note on Usage

For easier browsing, the different starting positions for each role are organized by position. For reference, the following lists each role and its respective position or lane in Conquest.

AD Carry — Duo lane

Jungler — Jungle

Middle laner — Middle lane

Solo laner — Solo lane

Support — Duo lane

Duo Lane

Located at the Gold Fury side, the duo lane is played by the AD Carry and the Support, both of which also work in tandem when clearing camps at the start of a match. As such, their openings and opening variations are identical.

Duo Left: Standard Opening Role AD Carry (ADC), Support (Sup) Orientation Duo lane or Gold Fury on LEFT side Walkthrough ADC and Sup start at mana buff (duo side). ADC pulls, Sup HOGs right away and takes over as camp is being cleared together. ADC picks up mana buff. ADC and Sup arrive in lane as level 1. Option of invading enemy mana buff before or after doing own buff. Pro Earlier in lane than enemy Good chance of outpushing enemy Good chance of getting early kill Option of invading enemy mana buff if enemy slow or unprepared Con XP advantage for enemy ADC (level 2)

Duo Left: Standard Variation Role AD Carry (ADC), Support (Sup) Orientation Duo lane or Gold Fury on LEFT side Walkthrough ADC and Sup start at mana buff (duo side). ADC pulls, Sup takes over as camp is being cleared together. ADC picks up mana buff. ADC and Sup arrive in lane as level 1. Sup HOGs melee minions for fast lane push and quick level 2 for ADC and Sup. Pro Quick level 2 Still earlier in lane than enemy Good chance of outpushing enemy Good chance of early kill Con No option of invading enemy mana buff HOG tactic might not work in higher-tier play

Duo Left: Back Harpies Opening Role AD Carry (ADC), Support (Sup) Orientation Duo lane or Gold Fury on LEFT side Walkthrough ADC and Sup start at back harpies (duo side). ADC pulls, Sup takes over as camp is being cleared together. ADC and Sup arrive at mana buff (duo side). ADC pulls, Sup HOGs right away and takes over as camp is being cleared together. ADC picks up mana buff. ADC and Sup arrive in lane as level 1. Pro Extra gold and XP from back harpies Con Slightly later in lane than enemy No option of invading enemy mana buff

Duo Right: Standard Opening Role AD Carry (ADC), Middle laner (Mid), Support (Sup) Orientation Duo lane or Gold Fury on RIGHT side Walkthrough ADC and Mid start at right mid harpies. ADC pulls, Mid takes over as camp is being cleared together and as ADC starts retreating towards mana buff (duo side). Meanwhile, Sup starts alone at mana buff (duo side). Sup HOGs right away given no invasion and starts clearing. Sup waits on ADC to last-hit big creep. ADC picks up mana buff. ADC arrives in lane as level 2, Sup as level 1. Pro ADC level 2 Con Later in lane than enemy Good chance of being outpushed Good chance of being killed off upon overextending

Duo Right: Standard Variation Role AD Carry (ADC), Middle laner (Mid), Support (Sup) Orientation Duo lane or Gold Fury on RIGHT side Walkthrough ADC, Mid, and Sup start at right mid harpies. ADC pulls, Sup tags each creep once and immediately leaves for mana buff (duo side), while Mid takes over as camp is being cleared together and ADC starts retreating towards mana buff as well. Sup arrives at mana buff first, HOGs right away given no invasion and starts clearing. ADC arrives, last-hits big creep, and picks up mana buff. ADC and Sup arrive in lane as level 2. Pro ADC and Sup level 2 Con Even later in lane than with Standard Opening High chance of being outpushed Somewhat detrimental to XP and gold gain for ADC and Mid from mid harpies camp Susceptible to invades (mana buff) if timing is off

Duo Right: Level 3 Opening Role AD Carry (ADC), Middle laner (Mid), Support (Sup) Orientation Duo lane or Gold Fury on RIGHT side Walkthrough ADC, Mid, and Sup start at right mid harpies. ADC pulls, Sup tags each creep once and immediately leaves for back harpies (duo side), while Mid takes over as camp is being cleared together and ADC starts retreating towards mana buff. Sup arrives at back harpies, HOGs right away, finishes clearing, and leaves for mana buff. ADC and Sup arrive at mana buff and start clearing the camp. ADC last-hits big creep and picks up mana buff. ADC and Sup arrive in lane as level 2 and 3, respectively. Pro Support level 3, ADC level 2 Con Requires support with great clear (Warrior), otherwise extremely late in lane More susceptible to invades (mana buff)

Jungle

The jungle, the area in between the lanes, is the Jungler’s domain. The Jungler works in tandem with the Solo laner in the early game as well as when clearing camps at the start of the match. As such, their openings and opening variations are identical.

Jungle Left: Standard Opening Role Jungler, Solo laner (Solo) Orientation Solo lane or Fire Giant on LEFT side Walkthrough Jungler and Solo start at speed buff. Solo pulls, Jungler HOGs right away given no invasion and takes over as camp is being cleared together. Jungler picks up speed buff. Jungler and Solo arrive at mana buff (solo side). Jungler pulls, Solo takes over as the camp is being cleared together. Solo picks up mana buff. Jungler and Solo arrive in lane as level 2. Option of invading enemy mana buff after doing own speed buff. Pro Earlier in lane than enemy Good chance of outpushing opponent Good chance of getting early kill Option of invading enemy mana buff Con Possibility of being invaded due to proximity to enemy mid harpies

Jungle Right: Standard Opening Role Jungler, Middle laner (Mid), Solo laner (Solo) Orientation Solo lane or Fire Giant on RIGHT side Walkthrough Solo and Mid start at right mid harpies. One of them pulls, the other takes over as camp is being cleared together. Meanwhile, Jungle starts at damage buff. Jungler HOGs right away and starts clearing. Jungler waits with last-hitting big creep until Solo passes marked spot ( ) to share experience and gold. Jungler picks up damage buff. Jungler and Solo arrive at mana buff (solo side). Jungler pulls, Solo takes over as camp is being cleared together. Solo picks up mana buff. Jungler and Solo arrive in lane as level 2. Option of invading enemy speed buff right away. Pro Slight experience and gold advantage Option of invading enemy speed buff Con Much later in lane than enemy High chance of being outpushed or killed Low chance of blue buff being invaded if timing sloppy

Jungle Right: Mid Harpies Opening Role Jungler, Middle laner (Mid), Solo laner (Solo) Orientation Solo lane or Fire Giant on RIGHT side Walkthrough Jungler (Bumba’s Mask), Solo, and Mid start at right mid harpies. Jungler pulls, Mid takes over as camp is being cleared together. Jungler and Solo arrive at mana buff (solo side). Jungler pulls and HOGs right away, Solo takes over as camp is being cleared together. Jungler and Solo arrive in lane as level 2. Option of invading enemy speed buff right away. Pro Faster in lane than standard opening Option of invading enemy speed buff Con Later in lane than enemy Jungler without damage buff

Middle Lane

Located in the middle of the map, the middle lane is infamous for its rotating, burst-damage Middle laner. Irrespective of map orientation, Mid always clears right mid harpies together with his allies at the start of the match.

Mid: Standard Opening Role Middle laner (Mid), Ally or Allies Orientation Fire Giant on LEFT or RIGHT side Walkthrough Mid starts at right mid harpies irrespective of Orientation. An Ally pulls, Mid takes over as camp is being cleared together. Mid arrives in lane as level 1. Option of invading enemy speed buff (Fire Giant at right side). Pro n/a Con n/a

Solo Lane

Located at the Fire Giant side, the solo lane is played by no other than the Solo laner. Solo works in tandem with the Jungler in the early game as well as when clearing camps at the start of the match. As such, their openings and opening variations are identical.

Solo Left: Standard Opening Role Jungler, Solo laner (Solo) Orientation Solo lane or Fire Giant on LEFT side Walkthrough Solo and Jungler start at speed buff together. Solo pulls, Jungler HOGs right away given no invasion (wards) and takes over as camp is being cleared together. Jungler picks up speed buff. Solo and Jungler arrive at mana buff (solo side). Jungler pulls, Solo takes over as camp is being cleared together. Solo picks up mana buff. Solo and Jungler arrive in lane as level 2. Option of invading enemy mana buff after doing own speed buff. Pro Earlier in lane than enemy Good chance of outpushing opponent Good chance of getting early kill Option of invading enemy mana buff Con Possibility of being invaded due to proximity to enemy mid harpies

Solo Right: Standard Opening Role Jungler, Middle laner (Mid), Solo laner (Solo) Orientation Solo lane or Fire Giant on RIGHT side Walkthrough Solo and Mid start at right mid harpies. One of them pulls (lifesteal), the other takes over as camp is being cleared together. Meanwhile, Jungler starts at damage buff. Jungler HOGs right away and starts clearing. Jungler waits with last-hitting big creep until Solo passes marked spot ( ) to share experience and gold. Jungler picks up damage buff. Solo and Jungler arrive at mana buff (solo side). Jungler pulls, Solo takes over as camp is being cleared. Solo picks up mana buff. Solo and Jungler arrive in lane as level 2. Option of invading enemy speed buff right away. Pro Slight experience and gold advantage Option of invading enemy speed buff Con Much later in lane than enemy High chance of being outpushed or killed Low chance of blue buff being invaded if timing sloppy

Solo Right: Mid Harpies Opening Role Jungler, Middle laner (Mid), Solo laner (Solo) Orientation Solo lane or Fire Giant on RIGHT side Walkthrough Solo, Jungler (Bumba’s Mask), and Mid start at right mid harpies. Jungler pulls, Mid takes over as camp is being cleared together. Solo and Jungler arrive at mana buff. Jungler pulls and HOGs right away, Solo takes over as camp is being cleared together. Solo and Jungler arrive in lane as level 2. Option of invading enemy speed buff right away. Pro Faster in lane than standard opening Option of invading enemy speed buff Con Later in lane than enemy Jungler without damage buff