Dormammu's Guide for 1* and 2* Roster Advice

[Dormammu]

I see a lot of the similar posts here in the Tips & Guides section from newer players seeking roster advice, and usually the answers become equally similar. In the 1* and 2* range of characters the diversity isn’t really there for many of us to be much different (even less so in the 1* range). This post is an attempt to offer some basic guidance on what’s going to be effective for you in the early-to-mid game. Also, if you have not read it, Polarity’s guide is about the best there is at what it does - and what it does is very nice. Check it out here: https://forums.505go.com/discussion/3939

One-Stars
There is really only one choice here for a team that is going to take you to the next level: Iron Man Model 35 (5/5/3), Modern Storm (5/5/3), and either Modern Black Widow (2/5) or Classic Hawkeye (5/5). Black Widow is the defensive choice, Hawkeye is the offensive choice. Healing is non-existent at this stage (other than tokens) so if you need some back-ups to sub in and get some work done, both Juggernaut and Venom are worth investing in for this purpose. Stay away from Yelena (Dark Avengers Black Widow). If you need to sell covers to make roster space, sell Yelena, either Black Widow or Hawkeye (if you’re not using both), Juggernaut, and Venom, in that order.

Two-stars
Your priority at this stage is Original Black Widow (OBW). As soon as you have her decently-covered she changes the game because now you can heal in matches.

You want to partner her with either Thor (Marvel Now) (3/5/5), Ares (pick your build), or Wolverine (Astonishing X-Men) (5/5/3). All three of these guys complete a perfect rainbow of match damage with OBW and they’ll do the heavy-lifting for your damage output. Thor and Ares might be slightly better choices over Wolverine, but honestly you probably want to go with whomever you get the most covers for first.

At this stage of the game you’ll start playing in a lot of PvP tournaments with a team-up character, so you’ll only choose two other characters - most often you’ll want that to be Thor/Ares/Wolverine and OBW. But occasionally you’ll be taking three characters into battle. Two solid choices for a third are Daken (5/5) and Magneto (Marvel Now) (any build with 5 in purple). Daken works extremely well with Wolverine for strike-tile generation, but you can’t go wrong partnering him with either Thor or Ares. Magneto is a wonderful companion for OBW because of his blue-generating purple power, especially when you’re fighting goon fights and her blue is far more important than her purple stealing power.

Worthwhile back-ups in this range include Classic Storm and to a lesser extent Moonstone, Modern Captain America, or Modern Hawkeye. Stay away from Spider-Man (Bagman) and Bullseye. If you need to sell covers to make roster space sell Bagman, Bullseye, Moonstone, Hawkeye, and Captain America, in that order.

Some people may argue with some of the specific details above, but this is what I’ve seen work and what worked for me. Good luck out there!

[HailMary]

Concise and to the point. I like it.

For 1*s, though, I’d argue that IM35 is more “the offensive choice” than CHawkeye. IM35 is a tank, has a relatively strong damage ability in red, and has a secondary ability in yellow. CHawkeye is good for clearing CD tiles, but that’s about it.

Also, you made a typo: 1* Storm is Modern Storm, not Classic Storm.

[Dormammu]

@HailMary

Concise and to the point. I like it.

For 1*s, though, I’d argue that IM35 is more “the offensive choice” than CHawkeye. IM35 is a tank, has a relatively strong damage ability in red, and has a secondary ability in yellow. CHawkeye is good for clearing CD tiles, but that’s about it.)

IM35 is basically a requirement at the 1* level and will certainly carry his share of the damage load. But for a third, after Storm, the two early choices are Widow or Hawkeye. They both do purple and complete a rainbow; Widow steals and stuns, defensive options, where Hawkeye can do some damage. You’re not going to use his red over Iron Man unless, like you say, it’s to clear tiles. But allowing the player to place a crit tile with his purple can create some big damage opportunities - I used Hawkeye’s purple to great effect. My favorite tactic was to create match-5’s with his crit placement, generating a second crit tile. I also like him over Widow because his purple has a more viable AP cost than Widow’s.

Either are fine choices, but I do think Hawkeye is a better 1* choice then people give him credit for.

[HailMary]

@Dormammu

IM35 is basically a requirement at the 1* level and will certainly carry his share of the damage load. But for a third, after Storm, the two early choices are Widow or Hawkeye. They both do purple and complete a rainbow; Widow steals and stuns, defensive options, where Hawkeye can do some damage. You’re not going to use his red over Iron Man unless, like you say, it’s to clear tiles. But allowing the player to place a crit tile with his purple can create some big damage opportunities - I used Hawkeye’s purple to great effect. My favorite tactic was to create match-5’s with his crit placement, generating a second crit tile. I also like him over Widow because his purple has a more viable AP cost than Widow’s.

Either are fine choices, but I do think Hawkeye is a better 1* choice then people give him credit for.

Ah, I see. I misread your OP. I agree that the choice for third is between MBW and CHawkeye. I never used CHawkeye, most likely because I didn’t understand the utility aspect of his power at the time (“so, he clears one row… and? One crit, whoop-de-doo.”).

[system]

Might wanna take note in the main post that Ares DOES have an optimal build in 4/4/5.

[falsep77]

@Dormammu

@HailMary

Concise and to the point. I like it.

For 1*s, though, I’d argue that IM35 is more “the offensive choice” than CHawkeye. IM35 is a tank, has a relatively strong damage ability in red, and has a secondary ability in yellow. CHawkeye is good for clearing CD tiles, but that’s about it.)

IM35 is basically a requirement at the 1* level and will certainly carry his share of the damage load. But for a third, after Storm, the two early choices are Widow or Hawkeye. They both do purple and complete a rainbow; Widow steals and stuns, defensive options, where Hawkeye can do some damage. You’re not going to use his red over Iron Man unless, like you say, it’s to clear tiles. But allowing the player to place a crit tile with his purple can create some big damage opportunities - I used Hawkeye’s purple to great effect. My favorite tactic was to create match-5’s with his crit placement, generating a second crit tile. I also like him over Widow because his purple has a more viable AP cost than Widow’s.

Either are fine choices, but I do think Hawkeye is a better 1* choice then people give him credit for.

This. Classic Clint doesn’t get the credit he deserves.

I actually prefer to pair Storm with C. Hawkeye over Iron Man specifically for the above reason.

O = color matched Tile
_= Take Aim for Crit

Storm clears tiles by either Lightning Strike or Mistress of Elements, It frequently leads to tiles lined up as

OO_OO (clears row, creates another crit tile… which will match and detonate a great amount of the time.)

OR

O
O
_ O O (Greater chance of 2nd crit detonation+greater damage, but doesn’t clear row)

At level 30, C. Hawkeye does about 700 dmg with that second set up (depending on color, if the second crit detonates. Tag that behind whatever damage Storm just did, you’re looking at an easy 800 dmg> combo for a relatively cheap cost.

Add the above to the fact that Classic Clint’s other skill easily clears away that pesky lone strike/defensive/countdown tile that you can normally only hit with Lightning Bolt and a prayer, and, well…