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It’s Marvel Contest of Champions that players can finally tap into the full power of their favorite Marvel heroes, with the fighting game allowing gamers to choose and develop Marvel characters into the ultimate combatant. Unlike more complicated fighting games, the simplified combat mechanics of Contest of Champions can make it an easily-enjoyable experience. And now with Battlegrounds Mode giving players an opening to fight other players in intense PVP matches, gamers would want an edge in the fighting game.
However, Contest of Champions becomes considerably trickier when fighting other players. This is especially since gamers would now have to contend with fellow players who have pretty much mastered their favorite characters. This doesn’t necessarily mean that players can’t defeat their higher-rated counterparts. Rather, players may want to try using some tips to capitalize on their experience and outlast their foes.
Speed Is Always Key
Unlike other fighting games where a PVP mode prioritizes the number of wins, Contest of Champions and its Battlegrounds Mode pays a lot of attention to how long players actually finish their fights. While this incentivizes well-built Champions to decimate foes who build their characters haphazardly, this also means players know how to optimize their kits for fast-paced gameplay.
This doesn’t just extend to the idea that players need to eliminate their foes ASAP. Rather, players need to consider the ways they can speed up their end of the match. For instance, being able to pick and ban Champions quickly, as well as knowing exactly what kind of combos to use in fights.
Build Masteries According To Champion, Personal Playstyle
Thanks to Masteries, Champions of Marvel Contest of Champions gameplay can enjoy a bit of variety in combat. Players can essentially transform their Champion into a behemoth capable of eliminating foes outright or into a juggernaut that can defend themselves from the most intense assaults. However, while certain heroes and villains lean towards specific playstyles, players should still try to optimize their Champion build according to personal preference.
For instance, players need to consider that certain Champions perform well when doing certain mechanics and need to decide whether they’re comfortable with the risk-reward component these mechanics entail. An example of this would be Omega Red, who is a decent Attacker in his own right but also specializes in Suicide Masteries. Essentially, he can inflict constant damage to himself in order to get boosts in combat, encouraging risky gameplay. Players who aren’t comfortable with this high-level playstyle may want to modify Omega Red or pick another Champion to main.
Understand Champion Interactions
Each Champion in Contest of Champions gameplay offers something new to the table, transforming them into “archetypal” characters that players can rely on for specific tasks. However, in PVP Battlegrounds, players may be able to secure more advantages if they know how their specific Champions interact with each other, especially when it’s time to “flip” Champion stereotypes.
For instance, Bishop is often seen as a Defender due to his toolkit which allows him to absorb attacks and return them to their senders. However, when opponents use beefed-up characters like Kingpin who can shrug off debuffs, Bishop can become a deadly attacker. This is especially because Bishop is a naturally-built counter for debuff-shruggers like Kingpin, with the X-Man dealing massive damage to enemies who can resist status ailments.
Optimize Decks Through The Banning Process
When Contest of Champions introduced the deck system in its gameplay, gamers who loved their fair share of TCGs can apply some card game logic to the Battlegrounds Mode. At its core, when in the process of banning Champions during drafts, players should consider prioritizing banning Champions they also possess. This might seem counter-intuitive, since banning a Champion will disable that character for both camps. However, this does work with well-built decks as this whittles down card options.
Remember, not all Champions are made equal, and players will naturally lean towards specific characters. By eliminating Champions in the player’s arsenal that they aren’t using anyway, the chances of getting the Champion they want have been made much higher.
Defenders Need To Delay The Opponent
When players pick Champions in a Contest of Champions match and they’re assigned to pick a Defender, they shouldn’t necessarily pick a tanky Champion that could “eliminate” the Attacker of the other side. Given how Defenders are naturally built for durability and not offense, this isn’t the most ideal option.
Instead, players should always consider two (2) things when choosing Defenders. Firstly, Defenders should be capable enough of delaying the fight to lessen the points the opponent would get. Secondly, players should choose Defenders that can dish out damage that is difficult to avoid in order to score points on their side.
Consider Throwing A Fight To Win
Players need to remember that while the PVP Battlegrounds Mode in Contest of Champions has a fighting game format, the mode still heavily relies on point acquisition through speedy matches. In that regard, players shouldn’t hesitate to bait an opponent’s Attacker with a Defender they’re built to eliminate. However, players should only do this if they know they’re able to eliminate the Defender of the opponent in the next round much faster than the progress that would happen in the current match-up.
A good example would be Magneto of the X-Men, who is a decent Attacker against most Defenders but takes time to charge his attacks. Choosing a Defender that is tanky enough to resist Magneto but isn’t necessarily built to defeat him could work in the player’s favor. After all, opponents would be tempted to go all-out with Magneto knowing the player’s Defender is “weaker,” meaning they will take time to do combos. If players defeat the opponent’s Defender much faster in the next round, they may still get the upper hand in points anyway.
When Picking First, Give Opponents A Puzzle
As with other drafting sessions in a game, picking first gives players a tremendous advantage in dictating the flow of the fight. However, if they pick a strong Champion right off the bat, this gives opponents all the more reasons to try to counter said Champion and potentially ruin the player’s flow. Instead, players might want to give opponents a “puzzle” that can throw them off-guard instead.
For instance, picking a good Defender that players don’t necessarily main can confuse the opponents into forming the perfect “answer” for that Champion in Contest of Champions, even if they are 4-Star characters. This can throw the opponent off their course, especially since players can now adjust to the Champion the opponent will pick later on instead of giving the enemy room to be strategic.
When Picking Second, Pick Defender
When players are picking second in the lineup, it’s usually advisable to pick another Defender. This is especially if players aren’t looking for a specific “answer” to the Champion the opponent has selected on their end.
Picking second gives players a lot of advantages in dictating the flow of the match. Even if the opponent has picked a strong Champion, picking a Defender means the enemy can’t pick the right Attacker to dominate against the player’s Champion. A decent example of this would be Sersi of the Eternals, who is an absolute tank when on the defensive. However, she’s very vulnerable to Mystic Champions. If players pick second and no Mystic Champions have been drafted, a well-built Sersi can practically own the match.
Dexing Grants Huge Damage Boosts
Given the straightforward nature of combat in the Marvel game, Marvel fans might expect the game to encourage them to just duke it out against each other. However, in the PVP Battlegrounds Mode, players are incentivized to be more strategic in combat. In fact, playing the defense properly can grant players huge advantages, especially if they know how to Dex properly.
Short for the Dexterity buff, Champions who are not struck by attacks when dodging backward will get a Critical Rating Buff for a set number of seconds. With the right heroes, a Dex buff can give massive boosts to DPS, especially if players use this to land their Specials.
Take Note Of Combo Rotations
One of the most engaging aspects of Contest of Champions is its straightforward fighting game mechanics and the way these test a player’s ability when in the PVP Battlegrounds Mode. Players who want to prevail often in this mode might want to figure out the best combo rotations for their characters. However, players might be surprised that there’s actually an ideal rotation their characters should try, especially if they’re built to tank against a lot of enemy skills. At its core, players should more or less rely on:
- Heavy, Medium, Light (x4): This ensures enemies get a decrease in their power bar generation due to the continuous damage.
- Medium, Light (x3), Medium, SP2: While enemies get a much-needed power bar here for a Special 1, this combo specifically stuns them away from SP1. Moreover, the Medium finisher means enemies can’t Dex their way out before players launch their SP2.
Marvel Contest of Champions is available on Android and iOS.