Ascended Winners and Losers

rainkingucd

@Timemachinego said:

@entrailbucket said:

@Pylgrim said:
Thanks for the answers, guys. If I understand correctly, the changes are not even written down in the in-game ability descriptions? You can only sort of figure out something is different by playing?

Oh no, all the in game descriptions are accurate. There might be some issues or bugs somewhere, but for the most part the powers do what they say they do.

Except you can only find out the difference by searching for a roster with the ascended version, there's only pleasant surprise or buyer's remorse otherwise. I understand not giving us a full sandbox mode (people would almost definitely find even more things to "exploit" there), but something like a "preview changes" function to ascension (and maybe even champing?) would be pretty cool.

As EB and TMG said the differences.are in game, but no way of knowing until you ascend.

For example, here is 3* Torch

And here is 3* Torch ascended to 4*

WhiteBomber

It's "ascender's remorse" and it definitely happens, but usually more so because you spent so much time investing in that character to get them there, when you should have just started with Coulson.

START WITH COULSON

Grizwald

But Ascended Juggs and Polaris are so much fun.

WhiteBomber

@Grizwald said:
But Ascended Juggs and Polaris are so much fun.

I have the opposite experience playing that team (match strikes until you win, colors don't matter), though if winning fast is the fun you're looking for they definitely aren't a bad place to start. I target Polaris teams though, even more so than MThor because they are tasty free wins. I still haven't faced an ascended Couly team.

@entrailbucket can you try Bong, DLocke, 3May for me? Replace May with anyone you'd like, I really just want to know if the nerf to Bongs heals is as impactful as it reads. That team with only an ascended DLocke is disgusting though.

Carnifex

I currently haven't ascended a single 4. I'm going to be to going for the max-max approach for the rewards and because I'm in single 550 MMR (Shang) so 450 champs won't benefit me.

I'm going to be doing a massive hoard break soon though, which should net me roughly 100 4* covers. Scrolling through this thread, is Polaris still the answer on which 4 to ascend first? Or would someone like Blob, Doop or Coulson be more worthwhile to chase first?

Thanks.

Pylgrim

Does anybody know if 4* Cap Marvel changes a lot? She's my only 4* who is close to max champ and I really like her.

rainkingucd

@Carnifex I think there are a plethora of choices depending on the type of play you're looking for.

EB mentioned somewhere in this thread (or another?) about match damage 4* toons really shining when ascended. Karnak, America Chavez, Ghost, Blob, Beast, M'baku, Doop, Ikaris, and Juggernaut are amazing at 5* level. Their match damage increases stays as normal but suddenly on top of a 5* base. I have seen a few high level M'baku's around and they are a pain with his match and healing. Juggernaut is a better Colossus, etc.

Coulson is a ton of fun, and can support a lot of teams with his now 5 countdown tiles. I really enjoy using him (and EB has called out it is their current focus for 550)

Polaris is on a bunch of my regular teams as her damage output at 5* with BRB, Mighty Thor, ascended Juggernaut, and ascended Rocket make her a heavy hitter

Rocket's strike tile strength starts off the match well, but he is better suited paired with Juggs/Polaris vs the main focus of ascension.

Nico is a better special tile specialist than Kitty.

Most of the recent just perform better at 5* level, with the "threshold" ones performing worse due to the increased threshold requirements. Thing, Deadpool, Valkyrie are much worse for their passives, but better on their actives.

@Pylgrim : Pure damage boost for her. No cost/functional changes to her, but 5* level damage/tile boosting

Kross

I baby ascended a bunch of 4 stars because...why not? At this point (after so many years) I am really looking for anything to keep me interested in the game. And every now and then you get an ascension like Coulson who rocks. Or even powered up characters. Like currently boosted, ascended Jean Gray and Cyclops are are go to in the current story, and are fun as heck.

So I say ascend, why? Because they are there.

sambrookjm

@WhiteBomber said:
@entrailbucket can you try Bong, DLocke, 3May for me? Replace May with anyone you'd like, I really just want to know if the nerf to Bongs heals is as impactful as it reads. That team with only an ascended DLocke is disgusting though.

What's the nerf to Bong's healing at 5-stars? I was toying with him being the next 4-star to ascend (and that would be a very long path...), because I use him a lot with Omega Red and Dr Strange in PvE.

rainkingucd

@sambrookjm said:

@WhiteBomber said:
@entrailbucket can you try Bong, DLocke, 3May for me? Replace May with anyone you'd like, I really just want to know if the nerf to Bongs heals is as impactful as it reads. That team with only an ascended DLocke is disgusting though.

What's the nerf to Bong's healing at 5-stars? I was toying with him being the next 4-star to ascend (and that would be a very long path...), because I use him a lot with Omega Red and Dr Strange in PvE.

4* Bong heals your allies for 30% of damage they inflict
5* Bong heals your allies for 15% of damage they inflict

ThaRoadWarrior

@Pylgrim said:
Does anybody know if 4* Cap Marvel changes a lot? She's my only 4* who is close to max champ and I really like her.

Carol stays good. I keep mine
at 5/5/3,
but have selected the 5th cover on green so you can see what that looks like.

This is at level 459.

Carnifex

@rainkingucd Thank you for the detailed response! Definitely tempted to leave Polaris alone now as I never use her, and target either Coulson, Blob, M'Baku or Doop!

entrailbucket

@Carnifex said:
I currently haven't ascended a single 4. I'm going to be to going for the max-max approach for the rewards and because I'm in single 550 MMR (Shang) so 450 champs won't benefit me.

I'm going to be doing a massive hoard break soon though, which should net me roughly 100 4* covers. Scrolling through this thread, is Polaris still the answer on which 4 to ascend first? Or would someone like Blob, Doop or Coulson be more worthwhile to chase first?

Thanks.

I just want to poke at the "450 champs won't benefit you" thing. I'm in all-550s matchmaking and I've used baby champ ascended characters when boosted. A bunch of them are very strong and absolutely usable against the "meta" characters.

Now, if you don't want to use boosted characters, or you prefer to use the same teams all the time, that's different, but objectively they would be usable/would benefit you.

(I saw the thing about Dr. Bong -- I haven't used him much yet but I'll mess around and let you guys know).

BriMan2222

@Carnifex said:
@rainkingucd Thank you for the detailed response! Definitely tempted to leave Polaris alone now as I never use her, and target either Coulson, Blob, M'Baku or Doop!

If you're only 550 is shang I would suggest America Chavez. I use her in sim all the time with my 550 colossus. All of the crits she adds passively with his huge match damage make for a fun time.

WhiteBomber

@Carnifex said:
I currently haven't ascended a single 4. I'm going to be to going for the max-max approach for the rewards and because I'm in single 550 MMR (Shang) so 450 champs won't benefit me.

I'm going to be doing a massive hoard break soon though, which should net me roughly 100 4* covers. Scrolling through this thread, is Polaris still the answer on which 4 to ascend first? Or would someone like Blob, Doop or Coulson be more worthwhile to chase first?

Thanks.

They made some good character mentions and I personally go all in on ascending ASAP, those 4stars are useless while you wait and you will be waiting foreeeeever.

I wouldn't prioritize Polaris, especially if you don't really use her. Sure she gets better, but her increase in value doesn't change enough IMO. She can still be easily targeted and killed on defense so no real change there and she is 1 of like 3 4stars who can already do a ton of damage on offense so it doesn't really unlock her potential as where others like Coulson etc. just go from 0 to 100.

I would also add DeathLocke to that list of high priorities, he was my 2nd 4star ascension and I have zero regrets (like I did with Karnak) as I am using him constantly. Overall though I'd say chase one that gets good value and benefits your playstyle / enjoyment most.

@entrailbucket thanks, when you try him I would be most curious with DeathLocke, especially if his heals can keep 2 people healed enough to offset DL's black.

entrailbucket

I did 4 hits on the current 5e with Bong/Deathlok/May, and it won all 4 times pretty easily without using a health pack.

I don't think I was able to test what you wanted to test though. I was only able to cast Deathlok black a few times, and Bong yellow once. Everybody died from Aunt May's red and Bong/Deathlok blue, with Deathlok's passive and May's passive boosting everything.

I assume if I'd spent more time chasing yellow for Bong that the healing would've been acceptable.

WhiteBomber

@entrailbucket said:
I did 4 hits on the current 5e with Bong/Deathlok/May, and it won all 4 times pretty easily without using a health pack.

I don't think I was able to test what you wanted to test though. I was only able to cast Deathlok black a few times, and Bong yellow once. Everybody died from Aunt May's red and Bong/Deathlok blue, with Deathlok's passive and May's passive boosting everything.

I assume if I'd spent more time chasing yellow for Bong that the healing would've been acceptable.

Haha, yeah, I run that team in SIM with my auntie still at 3 and bong at 4 and they still destroy things quickly (that DL blue gets out of hand with the buffs and May is definitely broken). I suppose I could try some paper math for the healing numbers. If you ever get bored and test out Bong more I'd love to hear your thoughts on if his yellow is still worth it (it's possible since they do such big damage).

Pylgrim

@ThaRoadWarrior said:

@Pylgrim said:
Does anybody know if 4* Cap Marvel changes a lot? She's my only 4* who is close to max champ and I really like her.

Carol stays good. I keep mine
at 5/5/3,
but have selected the 5th cover on green so you can see what that looks like.


This is at level 459.

Thanks a lot!

dianetics

Coming back around to Shaw since many of you are around the corner.

I'm using a boosted ascended Shaw at 451. If you want to feature him, use an AP gen team. Evo and Deathlok are what I use now, but others will work. Once you get into the mid match range just fire his purple to use his nuke, or go with a match down.

He is a very good damage tank if you can provide him with AP.
I would put him in the upper A tier when he is boosted. I ran his purple 2-4 times in a turn nuked 1 cl10 challenge node opponent, then matched-3 down another. His buffs are quite strong.
So he is a first choice in PvE when boosted, and not only a PvP SheThor counter.

He has nobody else to compare against still so as it is, he is best in class...until somebody else comes along to punch SheThor in the mouth.

WhiteBomber

In my experience Chasm completely shuts down MThor (on offense anyway). Others mention ascended Loki or Moondog? Not really sure many people have them ascended though.