***** Crystal (Crystalia Amaquelin) *****

Anon

That Green is gonna get ugly. I love it!

Bzhai

Venomous said:

Can we just take a moment to appreciate her kit honestly? I know I'm not really like most players but the thing I am noticing from the posts from the thread is just how versatile she is. So many messages regarding 4 stars who are interesting that the forums wish were a 5 star instead. She isn't exactly meta or super strong, but her kit is very interesting. Unlike a lot of 5 stars, she seems very good at doing multiple things being tile buffing, healing, or just raw damage. Even her increased match damage on her Red isn't as bad as people think it is. It's a flat rate instead of a percentage. This means that even when she makes matches, she doesn't focus in, she is still doing a ton of damage. Colossus and Shang Chi are both super strong yes, but them both being a percentage means their colors that aren't their own don't do much more damage. 

She isn't meta and she isn't super strong, but honestly her kit is very interesting, and I sure would love to try her. Imagine all the possible synergies she could have. 

She reminds me of Super Skrull but more team oriented. They're trying really hard to make tactical characters with flexible playstyles. Most of them end up with bloated AP cost (Cyclops and Elektra) or powers that contradict each other (Magneto). 

Venomous

Bzhai said:

Venomous said:

Can we just take a moment to appreciate her kit honestly? I know I'm not really like most players but the thing I am noticing from the posts from the thread is just how versatile she is. So many messages regarding 4 stars who are interesting that the forums wish were a 5 star instead. She isn't exactly meta or super strong, but her kit is very interesting. Unlike a lot of 5 stars, she seems very good at doing multiple things being tile buffing, healing, or just raw damage. Even her increased match damage on her Red isn't as bad as people think it is. It's a flat rate instead of a percentage. This means that even when she makes matches, she doesn't focus in, she is still doing a ton of damage. Colossus and Shang Chi are both super strong yes, but them both being a percentage means their colors that aren't their own don't do much more damage. 

She isn't meta and she isn't super strong, but honestly her kit is very interesting, and I sure would love to try her. Imagine all the possible synergies she could have. 

She reminds me of Super Skrull but more team oriented. They're trying really hard to make tactical characters with flexible playstyles. Most of them end up with bloated AP cost (Cyclops and Elektra) or powers that contradict each other (Magneto). 

Exactly. The price is the problem.... Which honestly makes me think. Maybe the trick to mixing Team Orientated and Versatility would be a unit who can decrease the cost of abilities like Hellcat. It would help fix the bloated AP costs characters like those tend to have. 

But team orientated is still so important. going back again to Crystal. Honestly, it's really refreshing seeing everyone come up with synergies. It was one of the poll options and actually one I voted for. It's nice seeing all the different synergies you can make in the game. For example I found out 4 star Punisher and Nova play very very well with one another. Both make special tiles on only black, and Punisher makes good use of em. 

Cyclops I don't really think makes a good team orientated unit since his green and red need to be used to help each other fire them. His Yellow was great, but not on it's own. Honestly when it does come to ideal team orientated units.... I really think Nico is up there for me. While her niche is special tiles, on her own she isn't very strong. She needs allies to help generate her special tiles because by default she doesn't many many of them. Overall. More supports would be nice honestly. That's kinda what a lot of the team based units have that other lack. Even those in the most powerful of metas are great synergies. HulkOkoye, Shang Chi and Valkyrie ( Even though I don't know why they work), or even Polaris with basically anyone. That is why "The Bishop Meta" kinda sucked. Because having a single unit be so powerful or able to play on their own defeats the purpose of making synergies. And again, the synergy building is one of my favorite things about PQ. 

DAZ0273

Happy to have Crystal in the game and her powers look really interesting and fun. She seems the best 5 of the recent lot to me.

Vhailorx

DAZ0273 said:

Happy to have Crystal in the game and her powers look really interesting and fun. She seems the best 5 of the recent lot to me.

I dunno, I think sersi has a better "complicated-support-character" kit and big wheel has a better "one-trick-pony" kit where all he does is boardshake-for-damage, but he does it pretty well.

Crystal strikes me more as a jack of all trades character where her kit is diverse, but also has a lower ceiling (presumably to avoid busting whatever power budget system the use to design character). And over many long years of experience with mpq, I have learned to value high ceilings (i.e., as between three very versatile characters that can provide a little bit of whatever you might need, or 3 one-trick-pony characters that have really good tricks, the latter will almost always do better. Especially if you pick good synergies.)

DAZ0273

Vhailorx said:

DAZ0273 said:

Happy to have Crystal in the game and her powers look really interesting and fun. She seems the best 5 of the recent lot to me.

I dunno, I think sersi has a better "complicated-support-character" kit and big wheel has a better "one-trick-pony" kit where all he does is boardshake-for-damage, but he does it pretty well.

Crystal strikes me more as a jack of all trades character where her kit is diverse, but also has a lower ceiling (presumably to avoid busting whatever power budget system the use to design character). And over many long years of experience with mpq, I have learned to value high ceilings (i.e., as between three very versatile characters that can provide a little bit of whatever you might need, or 3 one-trick-pony characters that have really good tricks, the latter will almost always do better. Especially if you pick good synergies.)

I probably should have been more specific and said I was talking about 2022 releases.

tonypq

Anyone seeing any teams that would work well Crystal and Elektra ?

Elektras cheap yellow reducing damage, dealing some damage and generating some AP, combined with Crystal's yellow healing team and chipping in an AP also. That's a lot of defense and decent healing every now and then, especially if Crystal chooses blue to heal up even more if tanking anything. I feel like these two together should be able to create a pretty good team but could also have quite a bit of punch depending who the 3rd partner is. 

Colossus would add the match damage reduction and a black nuke which would help this team. Can imagine would be annoying trying to take down Colossus with the defense and healing here. 

Shang-Chi would do what he always does plus benefit from damage reduction and healing, as well as Crystal/Elektra chipping in some AP here and there from their yellows. Between Elektras traps reducing damage, Crystal's healing and Shangs red regenerating health, could make this a somewhat tough team to deal with. 

5Scarlet could be annoying. Use her purple to get more green on board. Crystal would have extra greens available to buff her tiles and any Elektra might steal. Plus Crystal's green being so cheap you'd build up AP quickly to rattle off a bunch of team damage. Scarlets green passive adding more defense and her blue reducing enemies ability levels, could be a nasty team. 

Ultron could add tiles and big buffage to one of them along with Crystal, his black stun and AP destruction could be annoying in prolonged battles. 

Knull could be a pain with his high health being tough to take down with the traps reducing damage and team healing. Crystal's red outting tiles out will help knulls purple passive start up much faster. He'd also chip in special tiles.


Just spitballing here to see other 5* team combos you might come up with. Haven't gotten around to any 4s that will make good partners yet.

bbigler

Hmmm…….

Crystal + Wanda: on PVP defense would be really annoying, probably worse than Colossus & Wanda.  Combine all 3 for Simulator and you’re getting skipped.  On offense, Wanda can choose red and Crystal can choose Fire.  Then just collect green and red.  Red AP builds up, which increases Crystal’s passive Fire dmg and Wanda passive repeater dmg, and the 6 Green AOE hits harder too.  Then use Crystal’s red hit to end the battle.  

Daniel2121

Kinda bummed that out of the other Inhumans, she seems to have decent synergy with Black Bolt and that's it.
Maybe Lockjaw (another charged tile specialist) but I'm not sure on that. Then again BB is the only other 5* Inhuman yet.

bbigler

Daniel2121 said:

Kinda bummed that out of the other Inhumans, she seems to have decent synergy with Black Bolt and that's it.
Maybe Lockjaw (another charged tile specialist) but I'm not sure on that. Then again BB is the only other 5* Inhuman yet.

As for Inhumans synergy…..

Crystal does team health bursts just like Medusa and Kamala, that’s interesting.  And they both can produce extra green, which is Crystal’s best active power. 

As you said, Black Bolt & Lockjaw use charged tiles, so Crystal could help there.  Karnak & Quake could give Crystal a blue outlet if she chooses Water.  

Black Bolt & Medusa have passive dmg like Crystal’s Fire element.  

Warbringa

bbigler said:

I think you misunderstood me.  I was saying that Shang is easy on defense; so if you climb with him, you’re a PVP target.  But if you combine Shang with Crystal (who has a very defensive passive), then your team is less of a target.  My mistake there, I did misread your thought there.

I also think you misunderstand Crystal: I do understand her, I just don't value her much.

- she’s not meant to deal high match damage, so it’s pointless to compare her to Shang; her match dmg increase is to make her tank most colors in case you want to play her defensively by making frequent blue matches to heal her 4K each time.  Agreed, I only compared her to SC because that is perhaps the best character in the game, certainly top 3 right now.  I could compare her to every character that I believe is better in 5* than her, and it would easily be 10+ characters without even thinking for a minute. I probably should have used 5Thor as a better comparison I admit.  
 
I have never found small, non-permanent incremental healing to ever be any good in this game, especially when it is conditional like hers.  They have used it in several characters and I never once have had it be a significant factor in a match.  Permanent healing on a large scale (or damage prevention) is what is important (ie Shang Chi, Okoye, Colossus, etc).  Otherwise burst healing is nearly useless.

- she’s not meant to be a great AP generator, so it’s pointless to make those comparisons.  Her yellow passive is meant to be a big defensive deterrent, which sometimes helps on offense.  AP generation drives victory in this game and passive healing is not a defensive deterrent.

- her tile buffing can be exponential under the right conditions.  A single special can be nearly doubled in strength with each green match.  Yes conditionally it can be good, hence why I feel she is ok as a buffer but not as good as some other tile buffing characters.

- her green AOE actually has very good damage output, being 3,315 per AP. Average on par with 5Thor, who I consider is average as an AoE dealer in today's environment (it is better than his slightly since it is cheaper in AP cost overall).

- her extra dmg on red matches is just simply good Yes it is, no argument there but not a primary reason to use her.

- her red power is not meant to be a nuke, but a decent hit that allows her to start tanking or having specials to buff 

Too many times people judge a character by what they want them to be instead of what they are I meant to be.  

I responded in italics and aren't these forums made for judging characters, hence discussion?  I admit I could be wrong and she is awesome, but I have seen many characters like her that try to do a bit of everything and they have generally, always not be useful to me, nor considered meta.

I think she is good, not meta, and can do a lot of things, just none of them great.  My play preference is to have a character that does something great, even if it is limited.  That is what defines really good characters in this game vs. just good characters. 

bbigler

BlackBoltRocks said:

Looking at her in-game text, her Green passive defaults to Fire. This is really nice, and makes her great with characters like Apocalypse and Shang right from the get-go.

You’re right! I see that too.  Very awesome for Shang, Okoye or Apoc or if you want to do an Echo+MODOK winfinite.  This also means that it will work on defense too.  That’s 2 strong passives to deal with.  

bbigler

Warbringa said:

bbigler said:

I think you misunderstood me.  I was saying that Shang is easy on defense; so if you climb with him, you’re a PVP target.  But if you combine Shang with Crystal (who has a very defensive passive), then your team is less of a target.  My mistake there, I did misread your thought there.

I also think you misunderstand Crystal: I do understand her, I just don't value her much.

- she’s not meant to deal high match damage, so it’s pointless to compare her to Shang; her match dmg increase is to make her tank most colors in case you want to play her defensively by making frequent blue matches to heal her 4K each time.  Agreed, I only compared her to SC because that is perhaps the best character in the game, certainly top 3 right now.  I could compare her to every character that I believe is better in 5* than her, and it would easily be 10+ characters without even thinking for a minute. I probably should have used 5Thor as a better comparison I admit.  
 
I have never found small, non-permanent incremental healing to ever be any good in this game, especially when it is conditional like hers.  They have used it in several characters and I never once have had it be a significant factor in a match.  Permanent healing on a large scale (or damage prevention) is what is important (ie Shang Chi, Okoye, Colossus, etc).  Otherwise burst healing is nearly useless.

- she’s not meant to be a great AP generator, so it’s pointless to make those comparisons.  Her yellow passive is meant to be a big defensive deterrent, which sometimes helps on offense.  AP generation drives victory in this game and passive healing is not a defensive deterrent.

- her tile buffing can be exponential under the right conditions.  A single special can be nearly doubled in strength with each green match.  Yes conditionally it can be good, hence why I feel she is ok as a buffer but not as good as some other tile buffing characters.

- her green AOE actually has very good damage output, being 3,315 per AP. Average on par with 5Thor, who I consider is average as an AoE dealer in today's environment (it is better than his slightly since it is cheaper in AP cost overall).

- her extra dmg on red matches is just simply good Yes it is, no argument there but not a primary reason to use her.

- her red power is not meant to be a nuke, but a decent hit that allows her to start tanking or having specials to buff 

Too many times people judge a character by what they want them to be instead of what they are I meant to be.  

I responded in italics and aren't these forums made for judging characters, hence discussion?  I admit I could be wrong and she is awesome, but I have seen many characters like her that try to do a bit of everything and they have generally, always not be useful to me, nor considered meta.

I think she is good, not meta, and can do a lot of things, just none of them great.  My play preference is to have a character that does something great, even if it is limited.  That is what defines really good characters in this game vs. just good characters. 

Haven’t you played against Medusa before where she would constantly burst heal the team making it impossible to down anyone?  I’ve lost matches that way.  Add in Mr Fantastic and it gets really bad.  

Let’s say you hit someone for 10K and then get a cascade match.  That simple cascade could trigger Crystal’s burst team healing 3 times, undoing the damage you just did, plus damage done previously to others.  So, don’t underestimate the power of burst healing on defense (she is like Medusa in 5* land).  

Daniel2121

bbigler said:

BlackBoltRocks said:

Looking at her in-game text, her Green passive defaults to Fire. This is really nice, and makes her great with characters like Apocalypse and Shang right from the get-go.

You’re right! I see that too.  Very awesome for Shang, Okoye or Apoc or if you want to do an Echo+MODOK winfinite.  This also means that it will work on defense too.  That’s 2 strong passives to deal with.  

There's a winfinite with Echo and MODOK? Mindblowing

HoundofShadow

Hypothetically speaking, from defensive play point of view, Crystal/Mr Sinister/Elektra would be better than Elektra/Colossus/Crystal.

The weakness with Colossus is that they do not have adequate defense against powers. Elektra can help mitigate some of them, but she can mitigate only 1 AoE. If Elektra fails, all else fails. However, they are good against match damage meta team.

Mr Sinister, on other hand, serve as a layered protection against power and big match damage like critical match-3. With 2 black aps he can reduce up to x damage, depending on his level. On top of that, he can create trap tiles that steal or destroy aps whenever enemy fires a power. Crystal's yellow ability, in a way, serves as a counter to match damage because she heals back ~3k damage everytime requirements are met.

Fortunately, both teams are rainbow team with powers in six colours that use aps, and there is only one colour overlap in red. So, this will keep ap low for the AI.

Anyway, it will be in mid May before I can fully test out the defensive capability of these teams.

tonypq

bbigler said:

Warbringa said:

bbigler said:

I think you misunderstood me.  I was saying that Shang is easy on defense; so if you climb with him, you’re a PVP target.  But if you combine Shang with Crystal (who has a very defensive passive), then your team is less of a target.  My mistake there, I did misread your thought there.

I also think you misunderstand Crystal: I do understand her, I just don't value her much.

- she’s not meant to deal high match damage, so it’s pointless to compare her to Shang; her match dmg increase is to make her tank most colors in case you want to play her defensively by making frequent blue matches to heal her 4K each time.  Agreed, I only compared her to SC because that is perhaps the best character in the game, certainly top 3 right now.  I could compare her to every character that I believe is better in 5* than her, and it would easily be 10+ characters without even thinking for a minute. I probably should have used 5Thor as a better comparison I admit.  
 
I have never found small, non-permanent incremental healing to ever be any good in this game, especially when it is conditional like hers.  They have used it in several characters and I never once have had it be a significant factor in a match.  Permanent healing on a large scale (or damage prevention) is what is important (ie Shang Chi, Okoye, Colossus, etc).  Otherwise burst healing is nearly useless.

- she’s not meant to be a great AP generator, so it’s pointless to make those comparisons.  Her yellow passive is meant to be a big defensive deterrent, which sometimes helps on offense.  AP generation drives victory in this game and passive healing is not a defensive deterrent.

- her tile buffing can be exponential under the right conditions.  A single special can be nearly doubled in strength with each green match.  Yes conditionally it can be good, hence why I feel she is ok as a buffer but not as good as some other tile buffing characters.

- her green AOE actually has very good damage output, being 3,315 per AP. Average on par with 5Thor, who I consider is average as an AoE dealer in today's environment (it is better than his slightly since it is cheaper in AP cost overall).

- her extra dmg on red matches is just simply good Yes it is, no argument there but not a primary reason to use her.

- her red power is not meant to be a nuke, but a decent hit that allows her to start tanking or having specials to buff 

Too many times people judge a character by what they want them to be instead of what they are I meant to be.  

I responded in italics and aren't these forums made for judging characters, hence discussion?  I admit I could be wrong and she is awesome, but I have seen many characters like her that try to do a bit of everything and they have generally, always not be useful to me, nor considered meta.

I think she is good, not meta, and can do a lot of things, just none of them great.  My play preference is to have a character that does something great, even if it is limited.  That is what defines really good characters in this game vs. just good characters. 

Haven’t you played against Medusa before where she would constantly burst heal the team making it impossible to down anyone?  I’ve lost matches that way.  Add in Mr Fantastic and it gets really bad.  

Let’s say you hit someone for 10K and then get a cascade match.  That simple cascade could trigger Crystal’s burst team healing 3 times, undoing the damage you just did, plus damage done previously to others.  So, don’t underestimate the power of burst healing on defense (she is like Medusa in 5* land).  

Imagine a SCL10 challenge node with Crystal and Medusa boosted together yikes. Doesn't even matter much who the 3rd character with them would be, will still be a nightmare either way. 

I really hope the next 5* is a very good one. I wouldn't mind pulling to get Crystal/Elektra, it would be nice to have another really good 5 in LLs with them as opposed to some dud.

Bad

From my pov the best defensive team would be crystal abigail SW.
I have a feeling that abigail won't be really popular and perhaps that team won't see much the light.
However devs are trying to make a healing meta and that team could be really annoying: the first hit you can make without damage reduction possibly will be totally healed in few turns.
If another character was released sharing collective healing and protection like SW they will be a pain (if we are not considering odin).
And a partial counter to this healing meta should be crystal itself thanks to her permanent red passive(which boosted would damage big a healing team), or knull.

DAZ0273

Hmm...just seen Crystal's store has Iceman who I am one cover away from champing. I was maybe going to try and re-build my CP but now it looks like not as I could also use Storm covers too.

dianetics

I must be an idiot but I do not see where the power defaults to red. Can someone pint it out for me please?

HoundofShadow

It can only be found in-game: last  three words of the first page of her green ability. It's not stated in the thread.