Split Pushing & Backdooring

Smite split pushing and backdooring: side lane pressure, forcing enemy splits, high risk/reward tactics.

In Smite, understanding and executing advanced macro-strategies like split pushing and backdooring can be the difference between a hard-fought victory and a crushing defeat. These tactics revolve around manipulating enemy team presence on the map, creating numerical advantages, and ultimately, securing objectives or the Titan itself.

What is Split Pushing?

Split pushing is a strategic maneuver where one or two gods deviate from the main team's push to apply pressure on a separate lane. The primary goal is to force the enemy team to divide their resources, sending one or more gods to defend the split push, thereby creating a numbers advantage for your main team in another lane or objective contest.

• Objective: Divert enemy attention, secure towers/phoenixes, create map pressure.
• Execution: A god with strong wave clear and structure damage pushes a side lane (usually solo or duo lane) while the rest of the team engages in a 4v5 or 3v5 fight, or attempts to secure a major objective like Fire Giant or Gold Fury.
• Ideal Timing: When the enemy team is grouped up for an objective, after winning a team fight, or when you have a significant gold/XP lead.

What is Backdooring?

Backdooring is a more aggressive and high-risk, high-reward form of split pushing. It involves a god (or a small group) bypassing enemy defenses and minions entirely to directly attack enemy structures, most notably the Titan. This strategy is often employed as a last resort or when a clear opportunity presents itself to end the game quickly.

• Objective: Directly attack and destroy enemy Phoenixes or the Titan to win the game.
• Execution: A highly mobile god with exceptional structure damage sneaks into the enemy base, often using jungle paths or teleport relics, to attack structures without the aid of friendly minions.
• Ideal Timing: When the enemy team is committed to a full-scale push on your base, after a successful team fight where most enemies are dead, or when the enemy is distracted by a major objective.

Gods Excelling at Split Pushing & Backdooring

Certain gods possess kits that make them exceptionally good at these strategies due to their mobility, wave clear, and structure damage potential. Here are some prime examples:

Top Split Pushers:

• Bellona (Warrior): Excellent wave clear with Bludgeon, strong auto-attacks with Shield Bash, and good sustain. Can hold her own in a 1v1.
• Osiris (Warrior): High attack speed and damage, good sustain, and can quickly clear waves. His passive allows him to take less damage from towers.
• Chronos (Mage): Incredible late-game auto-attack damage with Accelerate, allowing him to melt structures. His ultimate, Rewind, provides an escape or a second chance.
• Apollo (Hunter): High mobility with The Moves and Across the Sky, excellent wave clear with Audacity, and strong basic attacks. Can quickly rotate across the map.
• Xbalanque (Hunter): High basic attack damage, especially with his Branching Bola active, allowing him to shred structures.

Top Backdoor Specialists:

• Mercury (Assassin): Unparalleled mobility with Special Delivery and Sonic Boom, combined with devastating basic attack damage, makes him a premier backdooring threat.
• Kali (Assassin): High attack speed and true damage on her basic attacks, especially when her passive is active. Her ultimate, Destruction, makes her immune to lethal damage, allowing her to dive towers.
• Loki (Assassin): While less viable in the current meta for general play, his Vanish for stealth and Assassinate for burst damage on structures can be used for sneaky backdoors. Requires careful execution.
• Bastet (Assassin): Her Pounce provides excellent mobility to get in and out, and her cats can tank tower shots while she deals damage.
• Thor (Assassin): Mjolnir's Attunement allows for quick rotations and escapes, and his high basic attack damage can chip away at structures. His ultimate, Anvil of Dawn, can be used to initiate or escape.

The Importance of Warding

Warding is absolutely critical for both split pushing and backdooring. Without proper vision, these strategies become suicidal.

• For the Split Pusher: Place wards in the enemy jungle surrounding your lane, at key intersections, and near potential rotation paths. This provides early warning of incoming enemies, allowing you to retreat safely or call for assistance.
• For the Team: Your team should ward around the objective they are pressuring or in the jungle where they expect to fight. This ensures they know if enemies are rotating to stop your split push, allowing them to capitalize on the numbers advantage.
• Deep Wards: For backdooring, deep wards inside the enemy base (near Phoenixes or the Titan) can confirm if the path is clear or if enemies are already defending.

Risks and Rewards

Like any advanced strategy, split pushing and backdooring come with inherent risks and significant rewards.

Rewards:

• Forced Engagements: Creates favorable 4v5 or 3v5 team fights for your main team.
• Objective Control: Allows your team to secure major objectives (Fire Giant, Gold Fury) uncontested.
• Map Pressure: Constantly forces the enemy to react, disrupting their farming and objective plans.
• Game-Ending Potential: Backdooring can instantly win the game, even from a losing position.
• Gold & XP Advantage: Destroying structures provides global gold and XP, widening your lead.

Risks:

• Getting Caught Out: If caught by multiple enemies, the split pusher will likely die, giving the enemy gold and XP and potentially turning the tide.
• Loss of Objectives: If the split push fails or is poorly timed, the enemy team might secure objectives on the other side of the map.
• Team Disadvantage: If your main team cannot capitalize on the numbers advantage, you've essentially put yourself at a disadvantage by having one less player in a fight.
• Titan Defense: Backdooring is extremely risky; if you fail to destroy the Titan, you've likely died and given the enemy an opportunity to push your base.
• Lack of Follow-Up: If your team doesn't understand the strategy, they might not push or engage when you're split pushing, making your efforts futile.

How to React if Caught

Even with good warding, you might get caught. Here's how to react:

• Communicate Immediately: Ping your location and type "VVGN" (Need Help) or "VSR" (Retreat) to alert your team.
• Evaluate the Situation:
  • If you can escape: Use all available mobility, relics (Purification, Aegis, Phantom), and juke abilities to get away. Prioritize survival over dealing damage.
  • If you can't escape: Try to waste as much of the enemy's time as possible. Lead them on a chase, use abilities to slow them, or try to take one down with you if you have a chance. This buys time for your team to secure an objective or push another lane.
  • If you can 1v1 or 1v2: If you're confident in your ability to win the fight, turn and engage. This is rare but can be a huge swing.
• Relic Usage: Save your Purification for hard CC and Aegis for burst damage. Phantom is excellent for escaping through enemy structures or minion waves.

Countering Enemy Split Pushes & Backdoors

Being on the receiving end of these strategies can be frustrating, but there are effective countermeasures:

• Superior Warding: Place deep wards in your jungle and near your Phoenixes to detect incoming split pushers or backdoor attempts early. Vision is your first line of defense.
• Map Awareness: Constantly check the mini-map. If an enemy god is missing for an extended period, assume they are split pushing or attempting a backdoor.
• Designate a Defender: Have a god with good wave clear and/or strong 1v1 potential (often the solo laner or jungler) ready to rotate and defend.
• Teleport Relic: Encourage your solo laner or even a mage to pick up the Teleport Glyph relic. This allows them to quickly respond to split pushes in side lanes.
• Force Engagements: If the enemy split pushes, immediately engage their main team in a 4v5. If you win the fight, you can then rotate to clear the split push or push another objective.
• Phoenix Prioritization: If an enemy is backdooring your Phoenix, prioritize defending it. Losing a Phoenix opens up your Titan to direct attacks.
• Titan Defense: If the enemy is backdooring your Titan, everyone must immediately recall and defend. Do not hesitate. Losing the Titan means losing the game.
• Communication: Call out missing enemies and potential split push attempts to your team. "Enemy missing left!" or "Careful, Loki backdoor!"

Mastering split pushing and backdooring requires not only individual skill but also excellent team coordination and map awareness. When executed correctly, these strategies can be incredibly powerful tools to secure victory in Smite.