How to Get Gems in Smite for a Competitive Edge

Smite is a popular MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena) game where players take on the role of ancient gods and mythological figures to battle it out in arena combat. Like many free-to-play games, Smite uses an in-game currency called gems to purchase cosmetic items, new gods, skins, emotes, and more. While gems are not required to play Smite, having more gems can give you a competitive edge by unlocking powerful new gods and rare cosmetic items. This article will explain the best ways to get free and paid gems in Smite.

Why Gems Matter in Smite

Here are some of the key reasons why gems are important for competitive play in Smite:

  • Unlock New Gods: There are over 100 playable gods in Smite, but only about 60 are available for free. The rest require gems or a one-time payment to unlock. Unlocking the latest gods as soon as they release allows you to master them before other players.
  • Exclusive Skins: Certain skins can only be purchased with gems. Owning rare and powerful skins can intimidate opponents and allow you to flex your status as a dedicated Smite player.
  • Voice Packs: Voice packs allow you to equip unique voice lines for gods. This allows better communication with teammates. Many voice packs are gem-exclusive.
  • Chest Rolls: Treasure chests contain rare cosmetic items but require gems to unlock. Chest rolls are often the only way to obtain limited-edition skins.

Ways to Earn Gems for Free

Before spending any real money on Smite, you should take advantage of all the ways to earn free gems. Here are the best methods:

Complete Quests and Events

  • Smite frequently runs special events and quest lines that reward small amounts of gems upon completion in addition to other prizes like skins or chest rolls.
  • Make sure to check for new quests often and complete as many as you can. Over time, the gems earned from quests add up.

Level Up Your Account

  • As you play Smite and gain overall account levels, you’ll periodically earn gem rewards such as:
  • 50 gems every 5 account levels
  • 100 gems every 10 account levels
  • Larger gem rewards at major milestones like level 30
  • Reaching higher account tiers demonstrates your dedication to the game and earns you a nice gem income at the same time.

Watch Ads for Gems

  • This is by far the easiest way to get a steady stream of free gems in Smite. The ad rewards are:
  • Watch 5 ads – Get 2 gems
  • Watch 10 ads – Get 6 gems (average 0.6 gem per ad)
  • You can watch up to 160 ads per day, meaning over 95 free gems if you max it out. Make watching ads a daily habit.

Enter Contests and Sweepstakes

  • Hi-Rez Studios, the developers of Smite, often run contests on social media and the official Smite forums that give out gems as prizes.
  • Common contests include skin concepts, fan art, top play submissions, and screenshot contests. You often get bonus entries for sharing with friends.
  • It takes some effort but entering all contests can earn you a nice gem income if you win.

Refer Friends

  • Invite friends to play Smite using your custom referral link and you’ll earn 100 gems for every friend that reaches level 15.
  • With 5 referrals reaching level 15, you’ll have enough for a new god unlock or several voice packs.

Buying Gems with Real Money

Once you’ve exhausted the free gem sources, you may consider buying gems if you want to speed up your progress. Here are some tips:

  • Only buy gems when they are on sale to maximize value. Sale periods include Black Friday, Christmas, and Chinese New Year.
  • Buy gems in bulk for the best value. The 80+ gem packs offer 20-30% discounts compared to buying gems a few at a time.
  • Don’t neglect the Welcome Pack and Daily Bundles which offer one-time only deals for new players.
  • Take advantage of double gem events which periodically double your first gem purchase. Wait to buy until one of these events is running.
  • Buy the $30 Ultimate God Pack to unlock all current and future gods at once instead of buying gods individually. This is the best long term investment for competitive players.

Smart Ways to Spend Gems

Regardless of whether you earn gems for free or buy them outright, you’ll want to spend them wisely. Here is some advice:

  • Prioritize new gods first. The meta shifts often so you need every god available to counter the latest trends.
  • Focus on Diamond skins. These skins cost a lot but also intimidate enemies with your mastery of that god.
  • Buy voice packs last. While fun, they don’t offer gameplay value compared to new gods or rare skins.
  • Don’t waste gems on boosters or emotes. Better to save up for more impactful unlocks.
  • Fill out your roster before buying skins. Owning all the top-tier gods is more important early on than cosmetics.

Final Tips for Maximizing Gems

Here are a few parting tips to help you in your quest to collect gems:

  • Log in daily for login bonuses and free daily deals.
  • Rent gods using favor instead of buying permanently until you know you like playing them.
  • Wait for sales or deals on items you want instead of paying full price. Be patient!
  • Play ranked modes because they offer increased gem rewards from quests and events.

Stay on the lookout for gem giveaways on social media and sign up right away! Watching official Smite channels can alert you to contests and events before other players know.