Getting to 1000 points in PVP

Marvel Puzzle Quest MPQ Tips and Guides
1

With the new scoring changes, extra health packs, etc., I’ve been able to hit 1000 points in PVP a couple of times. However I’m pretty sure my shield use has been less than efficient. For example. to get my Blue Prof X. a few events ago, I think I used 2 of every shield. Still cheaper than buying the Prof X cover, but I’m pretty sure I can do better.

So in this last event I was trying for 1000 points for the IG green, but waited much longer. On the last day of the event, I got to around 750 points and shielded for 8 hours, and then about 30 mins before the event was up I made a push to try to hit 1000. I got to 900 before the hits kept resetting me, and I didn’t have enough health packs to try to push through.

I don’t really care about placement scores. I’m just trying to hit 1000 for the cover and what happens after that doesn’t much matter to me. I have a fairly strong roster of 3*s, many fully covered, but only about 5 or 6 fully leveled. My HB and XF are decent-ish and in the 150 level range.

Given all of that, do you think it’s better to play early and just shield hop (such as it is now) to 1000 points as soon as possible? Or is it better to wait until the end, rubberband up the chain and use a couple of shields (and a full complement of health packs) to push toward the end?

2

I’ve never hit 1000, just got to the point where I hit 800 every time, but I can tell you that trying to push in the last hour is not a good idea. Waiting is good, waiting too long is bad.

3

I’m no 1000 pt vet. I hit it 3 times last season and none this season. that said, I think there’s a sweet spot between pushing too early and too late. I’ve had a lot of life stuff get in the way of optimal play this season and that has made me make my pushes pretty early, mostly 24hrs+ out. I think there have not been enough points in the system to give me worthwhile matches once I hit 800 or so. all I’ve been finding at those times are 20-25 pts. I think ~12 hours out might be best. you’re before the 11 hr (8hr+3hr) group so hits might come in a little slower than later in the event. if you wait too late, there’s a lot of activity and getting hit becomes more likely. will be trying to play the current event a little better for the imhb red.

4

I’ve decided to jump into the Falcon PVP as the HB redflag.png
is highly coveted. So far I’ve got myself up over 650 points and shielded with just over a day left in my slice. I plan to do a push tonight, hopefully close to 900 and shield again and then one last push to 1K tomorrow.

As I said, I’m in it for the progression reward, not the placement, so I don’t see the need to shield again once I’ve hit 1K. 1300 would be gravy, but lets not get crazy.

5

My experience is in order to hit 1000, you need maxed boosted characters because everyone around 800-1000 are fielding 290-240-240 teams. Anything less and you are just an easy target.

I would rather hit some 166 teams three times for 90 points before I use my first healthpacks than to hit a 240 team once for 60 points. I’ll face the risk of losing and retaliation.

From 1000-1300, you’ll see 290-350-240 teams with a maxed boosted four stars like Carnage and Hulkbuster.

If you want a good placing - Join late to avoid hits and hope for a good bracket.
If you want 1000 points - Join early, climb slowly and use shields/boosts.

6

Shield hop as soon as possible, provided there are enough high value targets to hit. Trying to run up in the last 30 minutes is not a great idea, particularly if you’re trying to make up 250 points to 1K. Without a maxed 4* roster, you’ll take too many hits to get there. Try and pick a time to push that’s less active (not -8 or -3 hours out, nor in the last hour of the event). As an example of the losses that you’d take in the last hour, I hit the 1K progression in the First Avenger, and left myself unshielded (because I didn’t care about placement) with a 290 Cap, 240 Patch, and 270 Thing, and lost 300 points in that one hour. Generally, in the last hour of the event, most of the high scorers are already shielded, so there aren’t a lot of high value targets around, which will make you stick out like a sore thumb if you’re trying to push then. So picking your time to push to 1K is critical.

7

BAM!! HB redflag.png
acquired!

I ended up using 1 day shield, 2 8 hrs, and 1 3 hr. I was at ~650 shielded last night, hopped to 900 and shielded this morning, and just now got to 1K. So 675 HP for a 4* cover, minus the 100 HP I got on the climb. Not a bad deal. icon_e_smile.gif

Staying unshielded for the rest of the event, so have at me if you’re in the slice that ends at 9PM PST tonight icon_e_smile.gif

8

You need the event hero to be at least level 100 and you need to have one of the boosted heros at lvl 240 and another hero at level 166. If you don’t getting to 1000 is very difficult. Its not impossible but its not easy.

It also depends on what heroes you are using. In the current event I’m in the top 20 with a level 185 ish Cyclops, 240 Daken, and Blade. I have been attacked 3 times and won all three. Cyclops is a very strong character and when paired with Blade and Daken they are not trying to share AP for there powers. They only share black and both black powers are solid so its k. Also they have high damage low AP powers, limited but useful board shake, healing, and Keep your enemies closer can be a bitch to get rid of. All that adds up to fewer attacks.

If all you have is two 166 heroes you will need to shield hop after you hit around 750 so start early. When you shield hop never attack more then twice. If I’m shield hopping I’m using AP boosts too. I can usually win a match in 2 minutes from start to finish. Total time to break shield, win two matches and shield again is about 5-7 minutes for me. Every time I have ever tried to go for three I get attacked. Every time.

9

this week’s boosteds are pretty crappy other than daken. if there’s a week to make it without high boosteds, it might be this week.

10

Do you guys/gals think I should be hopping with my current roster, or should I just go for the 800 reward and call it a day?

11

I’d just go for the 800 reward, and call it a day. I don’t think your roster’s going to allow you to hop fast enough above 800, and you’ll have a target painted on your back at the same time, being slightly underlevelled.

It’s particularly an issue this PvP, because the featured (Cyclops) is so strong. You’re likely to be facing maxed 290 Cykes above 800.

12

I’m not a fan of starting early. I usually start my run around 4 hours before the end. Have been using patch loki both at 166 to climb up to around 800 as that’s when the attacks and retaliations start coming. I skip till I find matches worth at least 40 points and can easily get to 800 in around 2hrs of play using 2-3 health packs. Once that happens, I switch players and play the boosted ones so that attacks die down. Should I come off a match to 3 or more attacks, I put on a 3hour shield for at least 30minutes and absorb the attacks, praying for defensive wins as well. Next break shield and play fast matches - the recent boosted patch and black panther was really efficient. Don’t be afraid to use ap boosts towards the end. Will use the 8hr shield if necessary towards the end.

I’ve made several 1k runs in one go and this means using just a 3hr shield - 75hp. Most times, I’ll need to use both 3hr & 8hr - total 225hp.

Considering that you get 100hp on progression by the time you reach 725pts, top 50 gives 50hp and my alliance finishing top 100 gives another 50hp. It’s quite a good return for me!

13

Unfortunately, I can’t rely on my alliance to help in any events. We are a small group with a lot of underlevelled characters. I’m probably one of the top players in the group, and one of the only ones that plays aggressively. I don’t really mind though, since I like to watch as my mates develop. I think I’m stuck in the teen pool (I’m out of the kiddie pool now) for a while. Shielding works, but with no alliance HP support, it makes it costly. Should I just hit it with 1.5 days out for at least 700, throw up a healing shield, and just push for the 800?

14

Try looking for an alliance that has requirement for min 700pts in pvp. It will really help with the rewards if you finish top100 for alliance - extra 3* cover and HP.
Your patch is missing a yellow cover which gives auto regeneration. I’m using him and Loki to climb to around 700 with minimal use of health packs (2-3), using boosts as well. green/black boost is extremely useful. gathering enough ap to set up berserker rage + trickery means game over most of the time.

Also, try finding and hitting opponents worth around 50points at the start. They might take longer but you are less likely to get retals from them since you’ll probably be worth too little points to waste their time.

15

Yeah Gongz, you are right. I am waiting for a lucky pull or the rotation for that cover again, but I’m trying to introduce a few more 166 in the mix to help out. The Patch-Loki combo has helped me out tremendously, but the 800 wall is pretty hard to get over. I do hit the highest point totals from the start and that’s what has been helping me out. I will try to boost a bit more to see how the results go.

I hear a lot of people talking about mercing out for events and I may try that a bit. I just feel bad since I am a commander in my alliance and I do try to help out everyone in the group. icon_neutral.gif

16

I second Gongz on his strategy… I also like to join late, about 4-5 hours before the event ends. After the 3 seed teams, aim high and go for the 50-60 point targets. You can quickly climb without retaliation early (you’re worth very little points to them).

You should be able to reach 800 quite quickly, say just over an hour. Then make the last push for 1k and expect a few retaliations. Try to reach 1k within an hour so you can 3-hr shield to the end of the event. Last 2 hours is a slugfest. You’ll likely lose points faster than you gain.

This of course requires a deep roster and having boosted characters well covered/leveled.

If you find yourself running out of health packs early. Start earlier before the event expires. Jump to 800 and shield. Then make the last push before the final 2 hour rush - reshield. Find out what works best for you!

17

This sort of question comes up a lot on the forum, and has been answered a fair bit, but it’s sometimes hard to dig deep to find it.

First, don’t stress the three star transition, and certainly don’t skip it. You should be focusing on getting a solid roster of three stars before going after four stars. If you can’t get to 800 without shields, you’re going to waste a fair amount on HP to pay to get you shields through to 1000. Once you can get 800 fairly consistently, then start to worry about the 1K target. For me, I was doing it when it was a three star at 1K and the four star at 1300. I’m sure it was two months of me getting to 1K comfortably before the 1300 target became achievable (and that first time cost a lot for shields).

Then, when you can generally get 800 without shielding and being struck down, start to use a 3-8-3-8 shield strategy, or 8-3-8-3-8 strategy. I try to set it up so I push as high as I can around 8 PM, do a jump of two matches or so around 11 PM, go to bed, wake up and do 8 or 3 hour shield, depending on timing. If it’s a crazy PVP, and I just can’t get to 1300, I may use a 24, but you generally shouldn’t need to spend that. Keeping that in mind, a four star cover costs 2500 HP, while 2x3 shield + 2x8 shield + 1x24 shield costs 750 HP, substantially less. But I aim for max 450 HP spending, which is balanced by progression and placement rewards HP.

When you jump, use your fastest team. Not the one that uses the least health packs, not the scary team (there is no scarecrow team if you’re worth points), but the one where you finish the match ASAP. And use +2 AP boosts, since you have no time for teamups. If you have lots, use the boosts for all six x 2 colours. I occasionally buy those since they make jumps way faster (Call the Storm third round if you’re lucky). But don’t stay out too long. Speed is the key.

That’s my advice, but please consider this:
Four stars really are made for those with lots of three stars. They’re easy to get if you have the three star characters. At this point, I sell 98% of the three stars I get (there’s one SW I need, and I have no black Bullseye icon_e_sad.gif
), but I only have four four stars covered. That’s the main reason I have any competitive desire to play. I really think the game makers are creating the current four star environment for the many players in my position, more than for people with a starting roster to blow their HP trying to get. But I’m sure the company is happy if people spend their money on it icon_e_smile.gif
Best of luck! The game does get loads more fun as you complete three stars.

18

Yup don’t be afraid to use boosts once you get past 800. +2 Ap boosts or even +20 match damage x 5 can make the difference between a successful shield hop or you coming off a fight to see a pop up of -100+ points.