# The secret art of rubberbanding

**URL:** <https://forums.505go.com/t/the-secret-art-of-rubberbanding/4451>\
**Category:** MPQ Tips and Guides\
**Created:** [March 18, 2014, 11:58am UTC](https://forums.505go.com/t/the-secret-art-of-rubberbanding/4451 "2014-03-18T11:58:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex023/uploads/x505go/original/1X/b4ba35e5c3a2d4e8b33a15c0ffd8c646489f10f2.png) [@system](https://forums.505go.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [March 25, 2014, 1:29pm UTC](https://forums.505go.com/t/the-secret-art-of-rubberbanding/4451/21 "2014-03-25T13:29:51Z")

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> [@agent86ix](#):
>
> > [@mouser](#):
> >
> > - And for those keeping track, you might notice that you end up with the same # of points regardless of the order you do those two missions in. 1050+542 = 1592 in the first example, and 700+892 = 1592 in the second example.
> 
> I’ll point out that using my “lazy strategy” that all else being equal (or close to equal), you’d want to play the hardest mission above the threshold first. My strategy optimizes for scaling and time. Thus, if you play the easy mission and then the hard mission, there’s a chance that your scaling will change after playing the easy mission, which would make the hard mission harder. From a point standpoint, it wouldn’t matter, but if you’re right on the ragged edge of being able to clear a mission, having it jump up and get harder on you before you get to it is a bummer ![icon_e_sad.gif](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex023/uploads/x505go/original/2X/d/dec89758d5cdb6af674674dd0ec5ff3d149d9483.gif)
> 
> In the current event, I’ll generally play the “hard mode” missions prior to the “not-hard-mode” ones. I’m not 100% sure the scaling is shared between these two events, but from my experience it seems to be so.

I thought I was the only one doing this. It’s amazing that you only play an hour a day and still get good rewards. I play for over 3 hours a day. I managed to get 2 Lazy Thor covers during the Hulk event using the “lazy strategy” and I only played 7/9 days of the event. Like agent86ix, I also play the hardest mission first, although what I do is I don’t grind nodes one at a time. For the simulator, I’m not sure if it actually procures more points but I only play the nodes with essential characters until the points are lower than the regular missions… starting with the left and then right (either way works for me since they both have the same amount of points) then the middle… lather, rinse, and repeat. I also start the two subs 4 hours apart so my health packs would regenerate and I could focus on each sub completely. Although I didn’t realize that playing the easy mode first would make the hard mode harder… Duly noted. Will reverse order on the next set. ![icon_e_biggrin.gif](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex023/uploads/x505go/original/2X/9/9da0ce06e62533a4e29efe560c9926ab2566ea47.gif)

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**Author:** ![Pwuz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a587f6/32.png) [@Pwuz](https://forums.505go.com/u/Pwuz)\
**Post date:** [March 25, 2014, 10:27pm UTC](https://forums.505go.com/t/the-secret-art-of-rubberbanding/4451/22 "2014-03-25T22:27:54Z")

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> [@agent86ix](#):
>
> I think I read an IceIX post that indicated that the scaling ramps up if you’re winning with no/light damage. In the current event, I’m taking moderate damage (occasionally losing a character, although we’re talking Modern Storm here) and using health packs between fights. I think that might be why I’m not seeing the scaling as much this time around.

So I really should stop healing my team with OBW just before I finish my fights.

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