Pro/Cons of Iso Management Strategies

Trisul

a.k.a. How To Spend Your Iso

Is it better to max two 3* characters to 166 ASAP? Or spread the iso wealth?

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STRATEGY A: Max two upper-tier 3* heroes to level 166 ASAP.
(This appears to be the more popularly suggested strategy given to beginners.)

Pros:
- Optimal strategy for PvP success (where your two main guys can carry you in almost all events), making it easier to win future covers.
- If you have limited roster space and/or prefer spending HP on covers, this strategy is the best way to accumulate iso and HP via PvP rewards.
- Consistent PvP success is your best bet to getting on a top 100 alliance.

Cons:
- Winning covers to get 166's in the first place is difficult. (elaboration)
- You have to tank at least a little to maximize your bracket placements.
- HP gain is somewhat limited by shielding.
- The game might feel stale since you're relying mostly on the same heroes.
- PvE events scale up to your 166's, and some heroics will be extremely difficult.
- Vulnerable to nerfs (Ragnarok, Spiderman, Magneto).

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STRATEGY B: Spread the wealth, cap your 3* hero levels in the low hundreds (or even lower, if you're balling)

Pros:
- Lets you use a variety of characters/strategies for events (FUN!).
- Generally good for maximizing PvE success, especially in events like The Gauntlet and heroics where level scaling is a factor.
- PvE nodes have an easier base level (enemy levels seem to be dependent on your highest level hero)
- 2* heroes remain relevant and vital to doing well in the more difficult PvE's, especially heroics.
- Especially good if you have lots of roster spots to store essential 3* heroes.
- More conducive to being in alliances with casual/beginner friends.

Cons:
- Less successful at PvP, since the 166 wall hits you harder. (You may even forgo PvP altogether.)
- Heavily relies on PvE success, and the time commitment required for events.
- Slower overall roster progression, since PvE events are less frequent than PvP events.

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Am I correct in all this information? Am I missing anything? Do people have any other tidbits they'd like to add?

(thanks to papa07 for making me aware of the second strat)

Unknown

I level everyone (who can get there - all 3*s and certain 2*s) equally; I've been doing it since about level 75 (with about 7-8 people) and now the Varsity team is at 150 (with, I think, 22 people). It has a lot of advantages - it's very good for PVE (which I care more about anyway) and, once I hit the point where I could reliably beat 166s (probably around 135-140), it's not much of a handicap in PVP (though I'm more of a target than a 166 team would be).

I would not recommend artificially capping more than temporarily, and - aside from the people who believe your matches go up once someone hits 100th level (which isn't true) - there's no reason to do it.

And since LRs are probably my primary ISO source anyway, it doesn't limit the roster noticable.

NorthernPolarity

You basically have it right. One point I'd like to elaborate on:
Winning covers to get 166's in the first place is difficult. - This is the main con against this strategy I think. If you're hoarding your iso to max out Sentry/Daken and say somehow got 200k iso, but your Sentry only has 3 covers and your Daken only has 4, it's obviously going to be an insanely long time before you can even spend the iso to max them out. This used to not be true since you could covercap a newly released character in a month, but with the current way the game works, it'll be at least 3-4 months before you can do so as a f2p player. In this case, it's much better to just spend the iso on other guys that will help you out more NOW, so you can place better and get more rewards, especially since by the time you get the covers for them, you'll be able to max them out anyways. I generally like keeping an iso stockpile of ~75k-100k iso once you have a team that you can comfortably place with, since thats usually enough to level cap your guys when you get a new set of 3-4 covers from PvE/PvP.

GrimSkald

NorthernPolarity wrote:

You basically have it right. One point I'd like to elaborate on:
Winning covers to get 166's in the first place is difficult. - This is the main con against this strategy I think. If you're hoarding your iso to max out Sentry/Daken and say somehow got 200k iso, but your Sentry only has 3 covers and your Daken only has 4, it's obviously going to be an insanely long time before you can even spend the iso to max them out. This used to not be true since you could covercap a newly released character in a month, but with the current way the game works, it'll be at least 3-4 months before you can do so as a f2p player. In this case, it's much better to just spend the iso on other guys that will help you out more NOW, so you can place better and get more rewards, especially since by the time you get the covers for them, you'll be able to max them out anyways. I generally like keeping an iso stockpile of ~75k-100k iso once you have a team that you can comfortably place with, since thats usually enough to level cap your guys when you get a new set of 3-4 covers from PvE/PvP.

Interesting. I'm doing more or less this at a lower level. I'm in the 2* > 3* transition - I just got my first fully-covered 3* in the last week - unfortunately the Falcon who is pretty much complete support. Other than that I have HT, Hulk, and Psylocke at 12 covers (Betsy is less-than-optimal, though, at 3/5/4,) Magneto at 11, and Hood at 10 (but 2/5/3, so he is still quite useful.)

What I've been doing is pretty much always keeping a horde of 50,000 Iso. When I hit 60k or so, I'll dump Iso into whomever I feel like hitting at the moment until I'm back down to 50k. Mostly it has been that lot, but I occassionally level up some of my other 3*s when they're featured or buffed. Right now I have Hulk and HT soft-capped, Mags is one away (I like odd numbers,) and Psylocke is presently puttering along at 131. I do enjoy the variety and I think this system works decently. If I'm ever stuck in a situation where I need a lot of Iso fast (a heroic where I can't muster up the right characters, for instance) I can tap into my 50k reserve.

HairyDave

There's another Pro you missed on the first strategy too: having a couple of maxed characters makes it much easier to win additional covers.

They don't even have to be broken-tier guys like Sentry or pre-patch Mags; one of my alliance mates has done very well with IM40 and Daredevil.

ballingbees

Started on the game late (around May?), and finally ventured outside of Prologue even later. From then on, got rapidly sucked into the perpetual race against time and HP to provide roster slots for new cards. It was then I decided for myself that HP is the top priority, and PVE is the place for a new ftp player to get it.

So I adopted the second approach, but only levelled my playable characters to level 50 and nothing more. This applies to all 2* and 3* cards. While this has helped to control PVE scaling (with highest level 4* character at lvl70, my Deadly nodes are at >lvl120), keeping everyone sans 4* at lvl50 also means that, my 1* gang are very much alive and still usable for all the events. It's just like creating a BalanceOfPower situation, you can use the full depth of your ENTIRE roster for any PVE and PVP event if you like. I can pick a goon specialist team of cHawk, OBW and Steve, taking on a PVE goon node at near their level and not feel out of place.

Of course this kind of roster has no place among PVP placement. But the loaner at lvl60 still helps to tank some colours, just enough for your own pair to get some powers going. And the next match, he'll be back brand new and ready to start tanking for your next pair. Sometimes you can also get pleasant defensive wins by similar level opponents who unknowingly found out you're actually cover maxed.

This approach may not appeal to many, and I will eventually move on to level my characters when I feel ready to take on PVP. But for now, it's letting me enjoy the character variety the game has to offer.

Trisul

That's a pretty cool strategy. It's a bit weird in that there really shouldn't be any mechanics in the game to discourage leveling, but as it stands it's optimal.

I've soft-capped at 114, but I think I'll stop there for a long time. Had I known this strategy, I'd probably have capped all my 3*s at 94 until I cover-maxed a bunch of guys.

It's pretty fun developing a deep roster (especially 2*) for help with heroics and such. I'm definitely appreciating this approach for the Gauntlet, that's for sure. PvE has been kinder to me than PvP. Maybe that'll change once Sentry is nerfed.

HairyDave

ballingbees wrote:

Started on the game late (around May?), and finally ventured outside of Prologue even later. From then on, got rapidly sucked into the perpetual race against time and HP to provide roster slots for new cards. It was then I decided for myself that HP is the top priority, and PVE is the place for a new ftp player to get it.

So I adopted the second approach, but only levelled my playable characters to level 50 and nothing more. This applies to all 2* and 3* cards. While this has helped to control PVE scaling (with highest level 4* character at lvl70, my Deadly nodes are at >lvl120), keeping everyone sans 4* at lvl50 also means that, my 1* gang are very much alive and still usable for all the events. It's just like creating a BalanceOfPower situation, you can use the full depth of your ENTIRE roster for any PVE and PVP event if you like. I can pick a goon specialist team of cHawk, OBW and Steve, taking on a PVE goon node at near their level and not feel out of place.

Of course this kind of roster has no place among PVP placement. But the loaner at lvl60 still helps to tank some colours, just enough for your own pair to get some powers going. And the next match, he'll be back brand new and ready to start tanking for your next pair. Sometimes you can also get pleasant defensive wins by similar level opponents who unknowingly found out you're actually cover maxed.

This approach may not appeal to many, and I will eventually move on to level my characters when I feel ready to take on PVP. But for now, it's letting me enjoy the character variety the game has to offer.

I knew it!

I saw you pop up in the top 10 a few times (I think the first She-Hulk required event was the first I saw you) and wondered what the hell you were doing with your roster. But it was obviously working for you so well done

GrumpySmurf1002

ballingbees wrote:

Started on the game late (around May?), and finally ventured outside of Prologue even later. From then on, got rapidly sucked into the perpetual race against time and HP to provide roster slots for new cards. It was then I decided for myself that HP is the top priority, and PVE is the place for a new ftp player to get it.

So I adopted the second approach, but only levelled my playable characters to level 50 and nothing more. This applies to all 2* and 3* cards. While this has helped to control PVE scaling (with highest level 4* character at lvl70, my Deadly nodes are at >lvl120), keeping everyone sans 4* at lvl50 also means that, my 1* gang are very much alive and still usable for all the events. It's just like creating a BalanceOfPower situation, you can use the full depth of your ENTIRE roster for any PVE and PVP event if you like. I can pick a goon specialist team of cHawk, OBW and Steve, taking on a PVE goon node at near their level and not feel out of place.

Of course this kind of roster has no place among PVP placement. But the loaner at lvl60 still helps to tank some colours, just enough for your own pair to get some powers going. And the next match, he'll be back brand new and ready to start tanking for your next pair. Sometimes you can also get pleasant defensive wins by similar level opponents who unknowingly found out you're actually cover maxed.

This approach may not appeal to many, and I will eventually move on to level my characters when I feel ready to take on PVP. But for now, it's letting me enjoy the character variety the game has to offer.

This is my exact strategy for the 2->3 transition. Level everyone I'll eventually max to 94, and level everyone I only use for PvP when boosted (i.e. loki, mostorm) to 63 (which goes to 95).

I understand doing so means they're not as powerful pound for pound as the 2* characters, but having 20+ usable characters makes managing the game much easier, and as you said, controls the scaling in PvE to manageable levels.

ballingbees

HairyDave wrote:

I knew it!

I saw you pop up in the top 10 a few times (I think the first She-Hulk required event was the first I saw you) and wondered what the hell you were doing with your roster. But it was obviously working for you so well done

Thanks Dave, heh din realise anyone actually took notice of my roster.

something else to add.. since I'm not actively spending Iso on leveling, naturally there will soon be an Iso hoard lying around. Let's just say I've succumbed and splurged more Iso on standard tokens than I will admit...
So to anyone considering this strategy, do not, do NOT ever, push venom's face with your hard earned Iso. You will feel so dumb after doing it.

Unknown

Thanks a lot for this topic. Useful Input for a new player like me!

loroku

ballingbees wrote:

...but only levelled my playable characters to level 50 and nothing more. ... While this has helped to control PVE scaling (with highest level 4* character at lvl70, my Deadly nodes are at >lvl120)...

Question: if you already have a 4* that is level 70, would it make any difference to level everyone else up to 70 as well? Do we know if scaling is based on your highest character or your average level?

Also, I will second the comment that how broken is a game when NOT leveling is a great strategy?

ballingbees

loroku wrote:

Question: if you already have a 4* that is level 70, would it make any difference to level everyone else up to 70 as well? Do we know if scaling is based on your highest character or your average level?

I do not know how exactly scaling is based on. I have been tracking the level at my Easy/Normal interface and Normal/Hard interface, and if we assume the middle of those interface points to be your "true level", mine is a figure somewhere between 60 to 65 right now (it was closer to 57 a few weeks ago). So I believe it is more complicated than just your highest lvl or average lvl, other calculators like squad size, squad star ratio, roster age, total no. of covers, may also be factored. I really don't know..

Also, I will second the comment that how broken is a game when NOT leveling is a great strategy?

I would say it is far from a great strategy, but it just happens to be one that I find suitable to my playing preference at this point of time. Later on I will do differently to try for PVP. How broken is a game if there is only one workable strategy?

wymtime

I was stuck in the 2* transition for a long time when they first formed alliances. I was in a small alliance had 8 maxed 2* and could not earn 3 covers durring PVP. I had built up over 300k ISO so when I joined a 20 person alliance and they switched the rewards I took off in getting 3* covers. I took a couple of different 3* up to the 140's Punisher, BP, IM 40. This let me place well enough in PVP and when I scored a bunch of Sentry and Patch I focused on them. Once I had 4-5 140's I took BP and Pun to 166 and have followed with Patch and Sentry.

Now I pick and choose who I want to level and dump ISO into. I am currently working on Hood and LDaken to be my next 166. Once they are at 140 3* are generally very playable but it cost 61k to go from 140-166. Once I have Hood and LDaken then I will bring some of the less elite 3* along unless I start getting a free fall of Fury and X-Force. Once you get a couple 166 I recomend bringing 3* to 140 to be usefull and taking elite 3* to 166. Be smart with the ISO

loroku

ballingbees wrote:

How broken is a game if there is only one workable strategy?

Fair point!

And thanks for the strategy / analysis.

Adam12

ballingbees wrote:

Started on the game late (around May?), and finally ventured outside of Prologue even later. From then on, got rapidly sucked into the perpetual race against time and HP to provide roster slots for new cards. It was then I decided for myself that HP is the top priority, and PVE is the place for a new ftp player to get it.

So I adopted the second approach, but only levelled my playable characters to level 50 and nothing more. This applies to all 2* and 3* cards. While this has helped to control PVE scaling (with highest level 4* character at lvl70, my Deadly nodes are at >lvl120), keeping everyone sans 4* at lvl50 also means that, my 1* gang are very much alive and still usable for all the events. It's just like creating a BalanceOfPower situation, you can use the full depth of your ENTIRE roster for any PVE and PVP event if you like. I can pick a goon specialist team of cHawk, OBW and Steve, taking on a PVE goon node at near their level and not feel out of place.

Of course this kind of roster has no place among PVP placement. But the loaner at lvl60 still helps to tank some colours, just enough for your own pair to get some powers going. And the next match, he'll be back brand new and ready to start tanking for your next pair. Sometimes you can also get pleasant defensive wins by similar level opponents who unknowingly found out you're actually cover maxed.

This approach may not appeal to many, and I will eventually move on to level my characters when I feel ready to take on PVP. But for now, it's letting me enjoy the character variety the game has to offer.

This was my strategy for several months as well, and it worked out well for me until they changed PvP matchmaking/bracketing in the first couple of seasons, and I was thrown up against much harder rosters. But I kept the strategy until the level shift messed me up, as all my two stars went to 59, all my three stars went to 75, and my 4 stars went to 90. It ruined the whole strategy, so I've leveled up everyone who can get there to level 90. Of course, this means my one stars are no longer useful, which they were at level 50. But I have all my 2/3/4 stars available at about the same level. Not sure how long I'll stay at this level, because there's a hard wall I hit in PvP around 600-700 points where the only opponents I have are 166+.

Unknown

I've adapted the second strategy while playing. As far as this guide is concerned, I think I'm just going to level up all the necessary 2* before I start transitioning into my 3*.

Unknown

Getting at least 2 characters maxed at 166 is huge advantage. Since you will be pairing these two with the featured character in nearly all events, this will give you a reasonable team. There are a number of well-balanced characters (Punisher, Psylocke, LCap, LThor, LDaken, Patch) that are all good building blocks. Choose your pair so that you cover 4 or 5 colors. The trick characters (like Hood, Spiderman, Falcon) are generally still useful at lower levels. What you want a couple of maxed-out bruisers that can dish out damage.

After that, having a large number of characters around level 100 gives you a big advantage in most PVP events. A level 100-110 character, when buffed, will be approximately as powerful as a 166 character. If you are using a unleveled 3* (or worse the default character), you are essentially playing a man down - you have two characters. However, once you have the featured characters at 100+, that goes away - the featured character can pull his/her own weight. This is a huge swing in power. For example, you will almost never use a power from a level 80 featured character (buffed to 110 or so) when a 166 character shares that color. However, if you have a 110 featured character (buffed to around 150-160), the power suddenly become useful. You have a 33% increase in powers available!

Unknown

TheBraintrust wrote:

Getting at least 2 characters maxed at 166 is huge advantage. Since you will be pairing these two with the featured character in nearly all events, this will give you a reasonable team.

Keep in mind, this is true for PVP, but not PVE. Having two characters at 166 and the rest way below can hurt you in PVE, and can make heroic events functionally impossible if neither of the two are boosted.

Trisul

TheBraintrust wrote:

Getting at least 2 characters maxed at 166 is huge advantage.

If you have the money to spend on single covers and enjoy the PvP, this is the fastest way to progress in the game, by far.

But I'm enjoying the game during my slow progress. I'm happy just competing well in PvE and occasionally doing alright in PvP. For me, character variety, synergy, and combos add a lot of fun to the game (and probably is MPQ's main advantage over the old Puzzle Quest). So for now, I'm perfectly happy keeping my 3* limited in levels.