Yet another 2*->3* transitioner looking for roster advice

Marvel Puzzle Quest MPQ Tips and Guides
1

Update (21.4.): I am currently out of the tight spot. icon_e_biggrin.gif

I coughed up some cash for Hero Points to address the immediate situation and then got lucky with some Taco tokens. (of course, afterwards… icon_rolleyes.gif
). I now have all characters in my roster and enough HP to spare for 2-3 slots to come.
Thanks for all the advice so far!

I’m going to keep this thread around as a reference and for general commentary/chat and for when I need advice again.

My current and regularly updated roster can be seen here (Thanks to Cymmina for their handy tool! icon_cool.gif
)

Some personal comments below:

  • I’m currently saving my Iso until after R75 and then decide which characters have enough covers to become worthwhile when brought up to ~90 (? - what’s the best level to bring a 3* to if I still find myself regularly relying on my 2* roster?)
  • I keep a Lv 1 0/5 MBW around to send out for TUs - she’ll be the first to let go if I run out of space again, as she can be easily replaced.
  • Ms Marvel and Torchling are the next on the chopping block. I like them, but rarly use them unless they are boosted. And meanwhile I have enough covers that my Cyclops or Luke Cage outperform a Lv30 Marvel, so I resist the temptation to throw any more Iso at her.
  • I still don’t particularly like Sentry and his self destructive playstyle. icon_razz.gif

Original post for reference:

Hello all,

After a long time of lurking I have come out to seek the advice of the forums. I am currently 110 days into the game and have arrived at a solid (IMHO) 2* roster. With DDQ and the occasional good placement in PVE and PVP, I am confident that I will be able to flesh out my 3* roster over time. However, I am in a bit of a pickle as roster spaces are running out faster than I can gain HP with my casual playstyle. And while I have spent a bit of money in the beginning to buy additional slots, I am a bit hesitant to invest more at the moment.
That’s why I seek your advice. Help me, MPQ forums - you are my only hope! icon_e_wink.gif

Here’s my current lineup, with thoughts added in italics:

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40 Modern Black Widow (5/5) - [Haven’t used her much recently, but keep her for sending out TUs - I may want to rebuild her as a 0/5 at some point…]
40 Juggernaut (5/5) - [For DDQ and sending out as TU]

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94 Ares (4/5/4) - [Hoping to bring him to 3/5/5 soon]
94 Original Black Widow (3/5/5)
94 Daken (4/4/5)
94 Classic Storm (5/5/3)
94 Thor (3/5/5)
94 Wolverine (5/5/3)
62 Human Torch (5/5/3) - [Using him mainly when he’s boosted]
62 MN Magneto (3/5/5) - [I still like him and don’t consider him “nerfed” - but then again I have never relied too heavily on the Stormneto combo]
30 Ms Marvel (3/5/5) - [I like her, but don’t find myself using her too often]

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55 Blade (3/3/2)
55 Luke Cage (2/2/3)
55 The Hood (3/1/1)
53 Cyclops (2/1/3)
45 GS Black Widow (2/1/1)
43 The Punisher (4/1/2)
43 Sentry (4/1/1) - [I don’t like him too much, as I loathe self-destructive powers]
40 Classic Daken (4/2/1)
40 Loki (3/0/1) - icon_cool.gif
]
40 Daredevil (0/2/2)
40 The Hulk (2/2/0)
40 Doctor Doom (1/2/1)
40 Classic Magneto (2/1/1)
40 Falcon (2/0/1) - [I really liked using him as a fully statted loaner in a recent PVE event and think he might have some good use against Goons]
40 Gamora (1/2/0)
40 Wolverine (Patch) (1/2/0)
40 Captain America (Steve Rogers) (1/1/0)
40 Rocket & Groot (1/0/1)
40 Thor (1/0/1)
40 Mystique (0/0/1)

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70 Thor (Goddess) (0/0/1) - icon_lol.gif
]

On the Bench:
GSBW (red)
Gamora (green)
Kamala Khan (yellow) - [I want to get her in ASAP to play the essentials in the current PVE and get her green progression cover]
Mohawk Storm (black) - [I liked playing her in 1* land but everyone seems to agree that she’s not as good in the 3* environment…]
Mohawk Storm (green) - icon_e_confused.gif
]
3* Torch (green) - icon_e_confused.gif
]

So, yeah - what do you think?
My current standard 2* team is Thor/Daken/OBW and I guess I will get much use of 3* Thor and 3* Daken once I buid up their covers.
Modern Widow is probably the first to go to free up a slot for Kamala. I can easliy replace her at a later point when I have the luxury of keeping a 0/5 widow around for sending TUs.
I would really like to bring Ms. Marvel, 2* Torch and MNMags up to 94, but don’t know whether it’s worth it. As I wrote, I haven’t been using Ms. Marvel or Torch much unless they were boosted. But when they were, I found them fun to play. On the other hand, 2* usefulness may be limited the more I progress into 3* land and I don’t know whether that would be wasted ISO and I should rather not get too attached to them?
Letting a 3* go is hard, too - particularly if they have already a few covers. Taht said, I could see myself getting rid of Sentry (never liked him much, even when he was OP and FotM - I collected him because I got some covers from the Prodgal Sun event and because it was the accepted wisdom to do so) and Gamora (I find her a bit meh). Then again, I don’t have much experience in playing any of the 3*s except for Blade, Cyclops and Luke Cage (whose playstyles I really enjoy!)

Any advice and comments would be greatly appreciated, particularly regarding the covers about to expire soon. Thanks in advance!

2

For me, even though I’ve leveled Mohawk Storm to 115, I just never seem to use her. I use my level 102 Falcon and She-Hulk more; she just seems too squishy. So IMHO, you could let the MoStorm covers expire and focus on the others.

3

I think you’re holding on to more 2* characters than you really need. Mohawk Storm may not be top tier, but she’ll do more for you in the long run than all but a handful of 2s. To me, the essential 2 characters are: OBW, Storm, MMN, Aries, and Thor until you can replace him with the 3* version (I’ve personally kept him even though I have the 3*). They all have their usefulness, especially when they’re buffed for PvE, but that’s not worth selling a 3* for.

4

Possibly - but then again I am really only beginning my transition. I guess it will be a while until my 3s begin to outshine the 2s and until then a bit of roster breadth may come in handy. I really like that I can assemble a B- and C-Team Team that doesn’t look like a desperate attempt when I’m running low on health packs…
Also, for the new multi-boosted PVP structure it may be wise to keep a broader roster.

I know, but do I really want to get rid of a fully covered and (partially) levelled 2* just to put a 3* on my shelf that I may not find a use for in the forseeable future?

Between the covers on the bench and my roster, who would be the first to get the axe in your opinion?
I have just replaced Modern Widow with Kamala - and that already pained me (yes, I am that kind of player - I have a hard time letting go icon_rolleyes.gif
)

5

It’s definitely important to have B and C teams on hand. But you’re at a point where you could be fielding 3* characters as a C team. With some iso invested, your Blade should be just about usable. Tomorrow’s DDQ should be Daken’s purple, and he becomes just about usable. Punisher and Luke Cage are close.

I would sell Ms Marvel, and possibly 2* Torch. I sold MMN because he’s worth HP for the time being, with every intention of building another one. But every time I get covers for him and start leveling him up again, I see those HP and hit sell again (I’ve probably made about 700 HP so far). You won’t miss Modern Widow (she was my only 1* left when DDQ came out, and I’ve since replaced her with Juggs), and you made a good choice recruiting Kamala. I like GSBW more than most, and I probably also like Mohawk more than most. It’s a tough call. . . you’re choosing between middle tier characters, none of them obvious keepers and none of them total garbage!

Good luck! You’re really close to being in that place where your 3s start to actually feel more powerful than the 2s.

6

Sell MBW & Ms Marvel

Maybe sell 2* torch, your call. Do not sell MNMag. I know you say you haven’t relied on stormneto, but since you like luke cage they make a nice team w rainbow coverage. Same w/cyclops.

Recruit Khan. Your bench says Green Gamora, but you say you have a 1/2/0 Gamora already, so just train that one.

After that it gets tough. Mohawk just got vaulted if that helps your decision, of course she’s the one you have 2 covers for.

7

I haven’t trained the red GSBW and green Gamora yet on the off-chance that I get any recommendations to sell either. icon_redface.gif

I definitely want to keep MNMag - I do like the occasional Stormneto use and think it is still a good combo. My comment was more in the lines of “I didn’t exclusively rely on them and so I do not feel too affected by MNMag’s “nerf”. In fact, I really like the added versatility by his red generation and am tempted to bring him up to 94 as well.”

With MBW sold and Kamala recruited, my main concern now is what to do about Mohawk and 3* Torch. Whether to recruit either of them and whom to let go in that case. Mohawk being vaulted is a good point (against her) - thanks for pointing that out.

Or I might simply cave in and buy some additional HP… (shakes fist angrily in D3’s general direction for their frustratingly effective monetization scheme)

8

You could sell Mn Mag for the HP and build another one later. If you can get the HP for Mystique, I would sell her too.
You could get by without Torch, but I know he is sometimes useful.
I sell every Sentry I get simply because I don’t like the character.

9

I think 2* Magneto is a character who should probably be on everyone’s roster (unless you’re just exclusively PvP and don’t care about anyone who isn’t X-Force), and I think his change actually makes him more interesting, not less. But they offer Hero Point refunds when you sell recently changed characters. I think a level 94 MMN is worth 450 HP? If that frees up one spot and gives you enough HP to buy another, I say sell him and build another one when you have room later.

I laughed at your dilemma with spending money, because I relate. The scheme is basically to get a bunch of people spending $5 to $20 once or twice to open up roster spots, and a small number spending hundreds weekly to max out everything immediately. My personal policy for FtP games is: I ask myself how much I would have been willing to pay if it was buy-to-play, and if I’m enjoying it, I spend that much and no more. Whatever you decide, good luck!

10

Right, 14h to go on Mohawk and 3* Torch… icon_e_confused.gif

I definitely plan to keep MNMags - I don’t pull enough 2* covers that I think I can reliably rebuild him in the reasonable future. (Even though he gives 550 HP after I just brought him to 94)

I have arrived at 2 possible options for me:
1.) Even though it pains me to let a fully covered 2* go, I think I can part with Ms Marvel easier than 2* Torch. Question remains who to let go between the other 2* and the 3s I do not feel particularly fond of (Covers on the bench translated into characters):
62 2 Torch (fully covered)
45 GSBW (2/2/1)
43 Sentry (4/1/1)
40 Gamora (2/2/0)
40 Mohawk Storm (1/0/1)
40 3* Torch (0/0/1)

2.) I am currently at 275 HP. If I score well enough in the Heavy Metal PVP to get a few (or get a lucky pull from the daily reward later), I might buy an agency expense and should have enough HP for 2 slots. That solves the problem until I get another 3* and the whole dilemma starts again… icon_lol.gif

  • I’ll decide on that later today on the spot.

Any additional opinions regarding option 1?
Thanks again icon_e_smile.gif

11

If you haven’t already, dump 1* black widow. You don’t need more than juggernaut at this stage. You may not like to hear this but the absolute right thing to do is sell magneto for the hero points. He will get you an additional 550 hero points all on his own. You also have more 2characters than you need so the next step is to sell ms. Marvel. Those three steps alone should get you a few extra roster spots. don’t sell the 3s!

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Yeah, I meant 4/4/5, but seemed to have a moment of idiocy. Worst of all, that moment persisted when I pulled a yellow cover today and actually respecced wrong. icon_evil.gif

Now I’m hunting for a green Ares again… icon_rolleyes.gif

14

Play Lightning Rounds until you reach about 150 points (SeedTeams) every two hours from Tuesday til Thursday. You will be DROWNED in every single 2* cover imaginable…except for BagMan. You’ll get all that you need, plus another fun sweety of Magnetos. You should for sure sell yours and then just rebuild him. That’s exactly what I did and I am 30 days in front of you.

As far as 3*s go. Ugh. I hate having characters like Gamora, Squirrel Girl, Shulkie, Mohawk, GSBW, Rags, Sentry, Beat, and DocOck wasting my roster slots, but someone recently asked me “is it more annoying to have awful characters in your stable, or to NOT be able to get the extra 2,500 Iso from DDQ?” That brought me a lot of perspective. lol

15

Looking at the data in this thread, it seems more efficient to keep a separate slot to build up baby-Mags on the side:
2 covers of the same colour allow you to level him from 15 to 22 and then you can sell him for 100 HP and 1250 Iso. (50 HP / cover)
In comparison, a fully covered and levelled MNMags nets 550 HP (42,3 HP / cover) and the Iso you get is in no relation to that you put in.
If only I had thought about that earlier… icon_mrgreen.gif

Any idea how long the increased sell cost for MNMags will stay in game?

16

Okay, so, I know you’re going to hate hearing this, but I don’t think that your roster is ready to transition. But, you’re in a super awkward position. I’ll try to give my clearest description of what your position is and tell you how objectively the best way to handle it is.

So, you have a LOT of leveled 2s. It’s actually pretty impressive. However, at this point, completely halt leveling them. You’re good on 2s. Personally, I leveled MNMags, OBW and Wolvie (Long time ago, before there was an HT or CapMarv and Daken was trash). Later, I picked up an Ares and got him to 79. OBW/Wolvie/Ares is enough to handle Deadpool Daily and I keep a 15 Classic Storm and 15 MNMags around for offseason shenanigans. Juggernaut is the only 1* you need, he wins the daily alone with over 2k hp to spare.

What to do with 1 and 2*'s - Sell Ms Marvel and ModBW before spending any more HP on slots. You’ll get more mileage out of their ISO at this point.

As for your 3*s, you don’t have enough covers to make the transition on any character IMO. Sentry is mediocre, Black on Punisher is bad, and Daken alone isn’t going to get you too far. 3/3/2 Blade is a good start, but I think you want at least 10 covers to qualify leveling an hero at all.

What I recommend for your 3* plan - Save all of the ISO you get from here forward. When you get two 3*'s to 10 covers that are in the top ten heroes (According to the rankings posted here), consider pumping all of that sweet sweet ISO into them. I know, this straight up blows. It’s no fun to stack up 100k ISO and it very well could be 200k by the time you get to this point. But you’re not really going to be doing all that much better with a 115 3* than with a 94 2*, in fact, it’s a little more intimidating to go up against a maxed OBW/Thor than it is to go up against a 3* Thor at 115 and OBW. Why? Because the number of covers makes a MASSIVE difference.

You’re doing great. Hang in there another month, maybe month and a half, and then consider just throwing down everything. For now, enjoy the fact that your PVE events are actually really manageable. Forcing the levels into your 3*s can really wreck your PvE capabilities.

17

Thanks for your comments, Ruibarian. Much appreciated! icon_e_smile.gif

As I wrote in the updated opening post, my original problem has been solved (this thread is almost 3 weeks old now…) - for reference, my current roster can be seen here

I don’t hate hearing what you said - maybe I used the “transition” part a bit wrongly or overexcited. I am well aware that I am at best just about to start on that long journey. I see myself as a solid 2* player who has a couple of 3* characters that are about to become useful once another cover or two come in for them. (DDQ ftw! icon_cool.gif
) I do enjoy the fact though that I can actually make use of the occasionally boosted 3* in some events now.

I am currently saving up my Iso (atm 100k and counting) for when the next patch hits and then will dump them into selected characters to get some more variety in. I will probably update the thread once more then.

On that note - what is a good level to bring a usable 3* to so that it starts outperforming a maxed 2* but I don’t mess up my scaling horribly? Keep them at or below 94 or go slightly above for a bit of extra punch?

18

I didn’t see a noticeable increase in PvE enemy levels until I started bringing my 3* heroes above ~120.
Pushing my 3* Thor up to 166 recently didn’t crush me either - I generally see the end of the line enemies to be around ~135 in level.

19

push heroes up all you want but if you start using Lthor in pve you will start seeing scaling issues and then he will be the only thing that will work… according to everything I’ve read in the forums. my Lthor hits 166 tomorrow but I haven’t used him in quite a while in pve except I think he was an essential a while back. I do use loki even though he is at 130 but none of his powers are offensive, so I don’t think that matters much.

20

Yeah, I generally follow what Colognoisseur’s testing showed - early fights against low-level enemies I use low level heroes.
Then I save LThor and my 140s for the end fights when they are above level 100…
That seems to keep my personal scaling manageable.