How to break free from the OBW/Thor, Ares monotony?

Seasick Pirate

If my PvP opponents aren't level 141 Patch/Punisher or 141 Magneto/Spidey, then it's level 85 OBW/Thor, Ares. While I don't really find OBW/Thor to be a major threat (unless they start off with some lucky combos) I find myself using those same characters too, because they work. My only problem is that it makes this game so predictable and boring. It takes the "puzzle" out of Puzzle Quest.

What I really want to know is, do I have any better options to change it up?
My Roster
Do I have anything else that's as effective as OBW/Thor? If not, is there anything close that I can focus on?

I know Storm/Mags is can be great too, but that's a guaranteed loss when I'm attacked. I've tried Grey Suit BW/Hulk but I don't have either nearly powerful enough so it's a one-trick pony waiting for GSBW to get enough green AP.

I appreciate any input on this.

Unknown

I don't see a faster team in your roster, at present. I'd respec Wolvie to 553 for starters (as your Ares sub-out).

You don't have the necessary support for GWBS, or anyone that can really feed off her green (Patch, Hulk, FatThor) so stop leveling her.

Your next likely target for advancement is both obvious and painful: it's Hood. If you have spare HP I'd consider buying the remaining level or two of blue. Since your version is weak, he'll hide behind someone like OBW, making him even more dangerous. Later he can hide blue behind Spidey or ShieldBro, or all behind BP, as you fill our your roster covers more.

Hulk and Punisher are both going to be valuable upgrades as well, depending on who pops covers. Your Hulk 5G is good for offense, but you really want the 5B as well for when things get nasty (and for defense). Punisher comes into his own at %R, but is probably already useful.

MStorm is very situationally useful in Jungle and especially desert. I'd be swapping her in for those bouts in PvE.

You also need to address a serious lack of red oomph in your roster. This will likely be Punisher, based on your builds.

You're not ready for transition to 3* yet, but you're getting close.

HailMary

On defense, Ares is scarier than Thor, because while Thor is a solid self-feeding AOE machine, Ares basically says YOLO and hits you like a truck with no regard for his own health and safety. Thor + OBW is popular because it's powerful. You can actually trying running Thor + GSBW, since yellow, green, and purple will all feed GSBW's massive AOE. I wouldn't recommend it at all on defense, though, because GSBW's purple is completely worthless in the AI's hands.

So, on offense, you can try AWolv + OBW and Thor + GSBW, while on defense, I recommend just sticking with Ares + OBW. I run 141s, and I still try to skip Ares + OBW because that team is just one lucky cascade away from making me feel the bad emotions.

qtquazar wrote:

You also need to address a serious lack of red oomph in your roster. This will likely be Punisher, based on your builds.

5R L85 AWolv's Adamantium Slash is no joke.

Seasick Pirate

I figured I was stuck until I started receiving more 3-stars to buff up my roster. If there was a better option, everyone else would use that. I actually don't use Ares that much because I'm usually too afraid to use Sunder and yellow goes to waste. On defense, I suppose this doesn't matter at all because I don't have to worry about healing him if he kills himself. Also, I will change up my Wolverine. I had been considering it for a while since being able to deal more damage seems more effective than his healing in the long term.

While I'm not usually in favor of major buffs/nerfs, I wouldn't mind seeing something done with Original Black Widow like putting her healing into a countdown tile. I'm sure that's not the most popular opinion, but it would help change the game up a bit. But then there's the argument that the next best team will rise to the top and be overused.

Unknown

Seasick Pirate wrote:

I figured I was stuck until I started receiving more 3-stars to buff up my roster. If there was a better option, everyone else would use that. I actually don't use Ares that much because I'm usually too afraid to use Sunder and yellow goes to waste. On defense, I suppose this doesn't matter at all because I don't have to worry about healing him if he kills himself. Also, I will change up my Wolverine. I had been considering it for a while since being able to deal more damage seems more effective than his healing in the long term.

While I'm not usually in favor of major buffs/nerfs, I wouldn't mind seeing something done with Original Black Widow like putting her healing into a countdown tile. I'm sure that's not the most popular opinion, but it would help change the game up a bit. But then there's the argument that the next best team will rise to the top and be overused.

OBW is used way past her real point of potency by MPQ players, because she becomes very 'comfy' in rosters. Mid-tier players often take a long time to realize that she's also incredibly squishy and, while terrific support, doesn't deal out the damage. She's unrivaled currently in 2*--hence the high abuse--but completely overmatched by the majority of 3*s. I will target an OBW team over an Ares team on the same principles mentioned by HailMary.

As to HailMary's comment about Amazing Wolvie... yes, true. I can't comment because although I was an odd Wolvie/MNMags/OBW build (Ares subbing out MNMags) when I was 2* (a rare combo that one of the PvE's taught me), I sold AWolvie when he was nerfed, so i don't have the experience with the newer variant.

Unknown

I'd put in a good word for M.Storm+Daken and M.Storm + Thor (or, in your case, M.Storm+GSBW!), at least on events where Oasis is an available stage. Boost red twice, match red once, Mistress of Elements, get all the green AP, wipe enemy team in under a minute. Often they just don't get a third turn. That's what I abuse the hell out of. I'm surprised you don't see more of it - it's obscenely efficient.