Even though Marvel-themed video games have had many ups and downs over the years (like the masterpiece that was Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 to the disappointment of Marvel's Avengers), the fanbase has continued to grow, especially with Marvel Studios pumping out new series on Disney+. And due to its spike in popularity, game developers have created Marvel-themed mobile games that let players control their favorite heroes or villains while on the go.
One such game is Marvel Contest of Champions, which allows players to create a team of heroes or villains and have them fight in one-on-one combat, reminiscent of games like Tekken or Street Fighter. But, players that want to reach the top will need to use 5-Star characters, but with so many to pick from, players would do well in learning which ones are worth the investment.
Updated December 23, 2022 by Daniel Dilena: The Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to grow with the addition of lesser-known heroes like Kamala Khanand Iron Heart. But at the same time, the long list of supervillains is developing as well, now including villains like Namor and Agatha Harkness.
And Marvel fans can expect to see more unique heroes/villains as the next MCU Phase continues. And all these new movies and series have also inspired Marvel Contest of Champions to expand their already long list of heroes and villains. That means players must learn to adapt their current roster, especially with the 7-Star MCOC update. So, we've expanded this best 5-Star champions MCOC list to include even more options.
11 Deadpool - Mutant
Abilities:
- Healing Factor
- Spinnin' Groin Punch
- Hold Up
Deadpool is one of the few Marvel characters that can get away with almost anything (especially the movie version of Deadpool) and still be considered a "hero." And while the Marvel Contest of Champions version isn't nearly as powerful as his comic book counterpart, he still manages to put up a good fight as a 5-Star hero. For starters, Deadpool's Passive Ability (Healing Factor) allows him to trigger Regeneration every time his HP drops below a certain percentage.
That allows Deadpool to recover HP quickly whenever hit with a Heavy Attack. And players can push their Healing Factor further by allocating Mastery Points into Recovery since it doubles Regeneration from any source. Additionally, Deadpool's Special Attacks cause Bleed, which is among the best Status Effects in Marvel Contest of Champions.
10 Ultron - Tech
Abilities:
- Absorption
- Encephalo-Ray
- Eradication
Even though there are several versions of Ultron in Marvel Contest of Champions (just like Ultron's comic book counterparts), the default Ultron still is the best. The main reason Ultron is one of the best 5-Star champions in MCOC is its Passive Ability, Robotic. This Passive Ability provides full immunity to Poison and Bleed effects, two of the most powerful Status Effects in the game.
But, Ultron also has a unique Passive that triggers Regeneration when Ultron's HP drops below 50% and 25%, giving players a chance to turn the tide in a fight. On top of that, every 3rd Basic Attack from Ultron causes Bleed for 6 seconds while his Special Attacks have a 100% chance to Stun the target. Ultron's Block also has a chance of granting Armor Up for 30 seconds, making him nearly unbeatable.
9 Ghost Rider - Mystic
Abilities:
- Spirit of Vengeance
- Retribution
- Hellfire Blast
Unfortunately, Ghost Rider is a hero that hasn't received enough attention over the years. The good news is that some developers have started to tap into his persona, bringing him to life in video games like Marvel Midnight Suns. The Marvel Contest of Champions version of Ghost Rider also pays respect to this hellish figure by giving him several unique abilities that grant him a spot in this 5-Star MCOC tier list.
For example, his Passive Ability grants him immunity to Bleed, making him the perfect 5-Star counter against Ultron or Deadpool. Ghost Rider's 1st Special Ability (Retribution) nullifies all Buffs and prevents new ones from being placed for 5 seconds. And to top it all off, his Penance Stare deals massive DoT damage while inflicting Power Lock and Heal Block.
8 Doctor Voodoo - Mystic
Abilities:
- Brother Daniel
- Spirit Venom
- Gift of the Loa
Doctor Voodoo made his debut in the 1973 comic book called "Strange Tales" and became the Sorcerer Supreme in the New Avengers timeline, meaning he's among the strongest sorcerers in the Marvel Universe. Doctor Voodoo in Marvel Contest of Champions is also a powerful sorcerer capable of going toe to toe with Doctor Strange (Marvel NOW! version) and Scarlet Witch.
Doctor Voodoo's Passive Ability is a little tricky to master but can potentially be a game-changer in the right hands. If a player uses a Special Ability while on an Even Combo, Brother Daniel (Doctor Voodoo's dead brother) will possess Doctor Voodoo, granting him 100% Ability Accuracy. But, if players use a Special Ability while on an Odd Combo, then Brother Daniel possesses the opponent, debuffing them with -50% Ability Accuracy. Without any doubt, this Passive Ability makes Doctor Voodoo a top pick as one of the best 5-Star Champions in Marvel Contest of Champions.
7 Mole Man - Skill
Abilities:
- Monster Mass
- Giganto Jr.’s Revenge
- Holey Moley Bojutsu
Although Mole Man is one of Marvel's most obscure characters, he still manages to pull his weight in Marvel Contest of Champions, especially with the help of his "son," Giganto Junior. And that's because Mole Man is among the best 5-Star tanks in the game since they can remove nearly any debuff placed on them.
Moreover, whenever Mole Man has the Stun status effect, Giganto Junior will defend him, dealing massive damage and inflicting the Bleed status effect. Without any doubt, Marvel Contest of Champions was able to recreate this Marvel villain almost to perfection, and perhaps one day, players will be able to see Mole Man in a stand-alone Marvel game.
6 Hercules - Cosmic
Abilities:
- Son of Zeus
- Mace Cyclone
- Home Run
Marvel Contest of Champions did their homework while creating this 5-Star character since almost every aspect of Hercules brings honor to his mythological counterpart. One notable aspect of Hercules is that he gains buffs through completing feats (similar to the 12 Labors mentioned in mythology).
For example, intercepting a dashing opponent will cause him to gain Armor Penetration, which means players will need to time their attacks carefully. Moreover, his Signature Move (Son of Zeus) will allow him to survive one death-dealing blow and grants him an Immortality Buff which causes all of his attacks to become unblockable.
5 Ghost - Tech
Abilities:
- Quantum Augmentation
- Spectral Strike
- Relentless Onslaught
Ghost made her big-screen debut in Marvel Studio's Ant-Man and the Wasp and shortly afterward was released as a playable 5-Star character in Marvel Contest of Champions, where she dominates the arena scene. And as players can expect, Ghost has a skill set that allows her to dodge several attacks, including some Signature Moves.
And that's thanks to her Passive Ability (Phasing), which turns her invisible (and immune to attacks) for 2 seconds. On top of that, every attack she makes while invisible is a guaranteed critical hit. Thankfully, players can negate her Phasing Passive Ability by debuffing her with Armor Break.
4 Professor X - Mutant
Abilities:
- Psychic Grasp
- Duel of the Mind
- Psi-Blades
As players can expect, the founder of the Uncanny X-Men, Professor X, doesn't disappoint in Marvel Contest of Champions since he's a powerful Burst-type 5-Star character that can easily wither down tough bosses or enemies. And that's because he can buff all of his Special Attacks to deal even more damage, making him especially deadly against enemy opponents that lack a Nullifying ability.
But, Professor X also has a Passive Ability that some would say is OP since it allows him to dodge all attacks for 2 seconds with a 20-second cooldown. Undoubtedly, Professor X has always been a powerful Mutant that players would love to see in a future X-Men title.
3 Doctor Doom - Mystic
Abilities:
- Aura of Haazareth
- Cosmic Energy Absorption
- Hassenstadt Tour
Veteran Marvel Contest of Champions players know that buffs can change the tide in a match, especially when some can increase Attack Damage or Critical Damage. That's when Doctor Doom comes into play, as he is one of the best 5-Star Nullifiers in the game.
But, Doctor Doom is more than a simple Nullifier since his 3rd Special Attack (Hassenstadt Tour) deals massive damage to an enemy opponent and has a high chance of Stunning them. But, Doctor Doom does fall short against characters that don't rely on buffs.
2 Omega Red - Mutant
Abilities:
- Lethal Dose
- Death Field
- Tentacled Terror
Omega Red has somewhat of a generic origin story (unlike some of his villain comrades) since Soviet scientists essentially created him to fight the Western threat during the Cold War. Nonetheless, Kabam (Marvel Contest of Champions developers) managed to design Omega Red to live up to his name from his comic book counterpart and made him a force to be reckoned with.
Omega Red is the perfect counter to any enemy opponent designed to barrage players with quick melee attacks since his Passive Ability (Death Factor) releases a toxic spore near him, which lowers Armor Rating. Moreover, if Omega Red has the Bleed status effect, then the effects of Death Factor are doubled.
1 Nick Fury - Skill
Abilities:
- Life Model Decoy
- Fury's Fury
- Disoriented
It's no surprise that the brain behind S.H.I.E.L.D should be considered one of the best 5-Star characters in Marvel Contest of Champions, and that's because Nick Fury has a whole arsenal of abilities that can render an opponent useless. For example, Nick Fury's Passive Ability allows him to gain Tactical Charges, and for each Tactical Charge, his Accuracy and Evasion are increased.
So, players can unleash a whole flurry of attacks without the enemy opponents being able to land a hit. But, despite his high damage output, players have a limited window to use the Tactical Charges since they disappear after a few seconds. Nonetheless, Nick Fury is worth every Upgrade Material players pour into him as he's one of the best 5-Star characters in Marvel Contest of Champions, not to mention he's among the most popular Marvel hero in video games.
Marvel Contest of Champions is available now for iOS and Android.