Smite Gets Extra Grindy With This RuneScape Collaboration

Smite crossed over with RuneScape

Smite’s RuneScape collaboration brought Old School RuneScape references into the mythological MOBA. The original Jivaro report joked that there may be nothing more “grindish” than Old School RuneScape, except combining it with Smite’s own progression hooks.

The crossover gave Smite players access to RuneScape-themed skins and cosmetics built around familiar names from Jagex’s long-running MMO. It was a nostalgia play, but it also made sense mechanically: both games lean on gods, fantasy combat, progression, and players who enjoy long-term account goals.

Which skins were included

The original article highlighted Wise Old Man for Merlin, Gnome Child for Vamana, Old School’s Blessed Dragonhide for Neith, and King Black Dragon for Cerberus. Those picks were smart because they pulled from different sides of RuneScape’s identity: memes, iconic NPCs, armor language, and bosses.

King Black Dragon in particular fit Smite’s monster-heavy presentation, while Wise Old Man and Gnome Child gave the crossover a more playful Old School RuneScape flavor. That mix kept the event from feeling like a simple logo swap.

Why RuneScape nostalgia works in another game

RuneScape has one of the strongest nostalgia profiles in online games. Players remember the grind, the scams, the armor trimming jokes, the first dragon weapon, the first time they saw a rare drop, and the strange social rituals of bank standing and skilling.

Smite could tap into that without becoming RuneScape. The collaboration worked because it used recognizable pieces of RuneScape culture and translated them into Smite’s third-person combat language.

The new-player bonus angle

The original report also mentioned a special Smite offer for new players and returning players who had not played during 2022: a free Premium Cyber Battle Pass. That offer did not grant the RuneScape skins directly, but it gave new or lapsed players a reason to log in while the crossover was active.

That kind of incentive is common for crossover events. The goal is not only to sell cosmetics to existing players. It is also to catch fans of the partner franchise and give them a softer landing into the game.

The NexusArc read

The Smite x RuneScape crossover made sense because it did not treat RuneScape as just another fantasy brand. It used jokes and details that RuneScape players would recognize, then placed them into Smite’s god-battling format.

The result was a crossover that felt more specific than many licensed events. It was built for players who know why the Wise Old Man, Gnome Child, Dragonhide, and the King Black Dragon mean something beyond a cosmetic label.

Author

NexusArc Staff

NexusArc Staff publishes desk-written reporting, guides, updates, and service information prepared by the NexusArc editorial team.