Post MMR Changes - Recommend PVP play style?

MyFeetStink

TLDR: What is the recommended PVP play style with the MMR changes in place, based on what was learned from Heavy Metal?

I am transiting from 2* to 3* and this start of season XIII was going to be the first time I chased some PVP wins now that I have a couple 3*s with enough covers to do something for me (Hulk 4/2/5 lvl 140 and Patch 4/2/5 lvl 130 on day 148). Prior to this I would try to join a match about two hours before end and rush until I was out of troops / health packs and if I was lucky reach a top 100 3* cover with between 300 - 420 points. Most often I would do this early morning US Eastern time, finding a bracket that was going to end at 7am and jumping in a fresh slot at 5am, I think the inconvenient time slot helped minimize competition.

With Heavy Metal I joined about 24 hours into the event and was able to push up to around 640 with Hulk bombs (pretty much the only approach I have right now for PVP). That put me in the top 10 for my bracket, but I did not bother shielding as based on what I knew from reading the forum I was a bit lower then I would need to be to worry about a shield. Obviously that was wrong in this case, as when I woke up in the morning I was under 200 (my defensive team was the hulk/patch combo as I don't really have anything else). I was able to get the score back up to 466 as a final but that put me at rank 129. So needless to say while the higher progression rewards were nice and all, it really was a worthless event for me.

In hindsight, I should have bucked up and used a shield at 640 then started to try to hop from there. Live and learn I guess.

The next even however has Hulk covers that I could really use for 25 or better, which would allow me to get my Hulk over 140. (Sucks that patch was vaulted, but the extra health from leveling up Hulk I suspect would be a big help for me as I would love to max him.) So I would like to do this one better.

From reading the forums and the various threads about MMR changes, I have not seen any general consensus on how to approach PVP at the moment. Based on my experience in Heavy Metal and from reading the various threads, its seems as if the best thing to do is simply push as far up as you can go and shield at that point, then start hopping from there. My fear with that approach is I suspect I will wind up pretty heavy on negative HP as I don't see my under-leveled 3*s being able to pull off progression rewards up to the 50HP reward.

Anyone have advice on how best to approach it? I have not yet joined a bracket, and as I mentioned this will be my first time doing PVP looking for decent rank. Are my expectations out of line with what I should be able to accomplish with my troops as they stand?

Any advice would be welcome.

Thanks!

TxMoose

I'm wondering the same thing, although slightly behind you in levels with a different crew. My Lthor is 140 4/3/4 and Loki is at 117 4/1/4 and my plan was to max them (possibly leave loki in the 130s). I lost tons of pts both nights but was able to push up over 500 to finish and that put me in the 70s. I did use a 3 hr shield late but it was very strange once I got into the 400s the opponents went from mid 100s back to 94s but for only 9 or 12 pts. no idea what I'm supposed to do with that so I just played them but was quite a grind for minimal reward and towards the end felt like some attacks were coming so I just got comfortably into the top 100 and shielded. if the opponents stayed at that level I could have obviously climbed very high but would eventually need health packs and it would take forever. now reading the heavy metal thread, I don't know if I should max Lthor or not. it sounds like I might be rewarded with an early 166/200s wall if I do, so no idea.

MyFeetStink

All I am reading about Teenage Riot is its back to normal. Baring any recommendations here or elsewhere on the forum I was planning on hopping in slot 4 a bit later here and treating it like a pre-MMR change PVP and hope for the best. I figure if I can get to around 500 or so and see if I get attacked a lot I will have time to recover if I drop some. Otherwise hoping to push to 500, then again to around 600-700 and start shield hoping with my fingers crossed.

scottee

Yeah, with the stage you're at, I'd look to follow retaliations as close to 600 as you can, or even past 600, all in one burst. Do this far/close enough to the end of the event as you feel comfortable shield hopping. For example, big push 10 hours before, then 3 hour shield, hop, 8 hour shield, hop, 3 hour shield. If you feel fast enough with the Hulk bomb, go for 2 matches per hop.

That would use up 300 HP and get you at least upper 600's, if not past 700. When it's covers you need, like Hulk, it's worth the HP, even more than this if necessary. Don't worry about being HP positive for every single event. They'll 12 more events that you don't need the covers for as badly, so you can make it up then. Shield hopping is far more efficient than paying 1250 for a cover. Do it for the 3* heros you have 9-10+ covers for that you're planning to max. Once you get these Hulk covers, and get some more Patch, PVP becomes significantly easier. It's exponential really. Honestly, I'd put all your attention/resources on those Hulk covers if I were you.

MyFeetStink

Thanks for the advice scottee.

I was able to bomb up to 742 at the moment, with 4 hours left in the event. Thats putting me at #28. I have a shield for another hour, so I was going to wait a bit longer and go for another hop with a 3 hours shield to the end. I know its risky that people will be more active right now, but unless I get 25 or better the covers are worthless for me so I might as well go for broke.

So far I used an 8 hour after 650, a 3 hour after I won two and lost one, screwing me up on that jump, and another 8 hour.

The good news is with the deadpool daily I was able to get another red cover putting my hulk at 4/3/5 lvl 153. I think that will help me a ton, as what was really screwing me before is the AI would get one good cascade and wipe me out with a 140 hulk toward the end of the match. The extra damage I can put out now along with the life should be very helpful. If I can get this next cover, then I am able to max hulk.

Personally I am not very optimistic on it at the moment, as I think I am too far back and seeing too many teams I won't be able to beat. But its been a good learning experience if nothing else and if I can't hit this one perhaps I can hit the 800 progression reward on the Hulk pvp which would give me more a cover that I need. That seems very obtainable with hulk boosted and me being able to bring in say loki or hood as the 3rd.