Marvel Strike Force Cull Obsidian Guide - Theria Games

Introduction

Cull Obsidian is a formidable member of the Black Order in Marvel Strike Force Cull Obsidian Guide, fulfilling the role of a tank with a primary focus on absorbing damage and protecting his allies. Classified as a Villain, Cosmic, and Bio character, he stands out as a protector who can withstand heavy attacks while enabling the Black Order’s other members, especially Thanos, to deal devastating damage.

As the slowest character on the team, Cull Obsidian typically acts last in the turn order, but his durability and defensive capabilities make him invaluable. His role within the Black Order faction is pivotal, as he provides essential protection and control, ensuring that the rest of the team can execute their strategies without interference.

To maximize the strength of the Black Order, it is crucial to understand Cull Obsidian’s unique abilities, his synergies with other members, and how his defensive capabilities bolster the team’s overall effectiveness.

Character Overview

Cull Obsidian, also known as the Black Dwarf in the comics, made his first appearance in Infinity #1 in October 2013. He is recognized as the powerhouse of the Black Order, often seen as one of the most physically imposing members. In the comics, he was initially sent to Wakanda as part of Thanos’ plan to conquer, but after failing and retreating, he was cast out of the Black Order. Later, he was resurrected after being killed by Ronan the Accuser.

In Marvel Strike Force, Cull Obsidian plays the crucial role of a tank and protector, designed to absorb damage and protect his teammates, particularly Thanos. Despite being the slowest member of the Black Order, he serves an essential purpose in maintaining the team’s overall defense. As a hard hitter, Cull Obsidian can dish out substantial damage, making him a versatile asset despite his primary defensive role.

His base stats feature a relatively low armor stat compared to other protectors, but he compensates with a high health pool, allowing him to withstand considerable punishment. His speed is slow, with a base speed of 88, which reflects his role as a durable, damage-absorbing tank rather than a fast attacker. His damage output is respectable, allowing him to contribute offensively when needed while still fulfilling his primary defensive duties.

Abilities

Cull Obsidian’s abilities reflect his role as a powerful tank and protector in Marvel Strike Force.

Devastating Cleave

Level: 1

Damage: 100

Obsidian Guard

Level: 1

Clear Negative Effects: 0

Culling the Weak

Level: 1

Damage: 100

Payback

Level: 1

Defense Up Turns: 2

His Basic Ability, Devastating Cleave, is an area-of-effect (AOE) attack that targets the primary enemy and all adjacent targets. The damage dealt increases as the ability level advances, reaching 300% damage to the primary target and the same amount to adjacent enemies at max level.

His Special Ability, Obsidian Guard, allows Cull to taunt, forcing enemies to target him for two turns. It also clears negative effects from himself, and if Ebony Maw is present as an ally, it clears negative effects from all allies. Additionally, Cull Obsidian gains Defense Up, Deathproof, and a heal based on a percentage of his max health, with an extra 10% heal at level 7.

His Ultimate Ability, Culling the Weak, is a high-damage attack aimed at the primary target. The damage increases by a percentage for each Deathproof on Cull Obsidian, and it always transfers all positive effects from the primary target to him. At max level, it delivers 460% damage, plus an additional 15% damage per Deathproof. The transfer of positive effects is guaranteed, making it a powerful tool for turning the tide of battle.

Cull Obsidian’s Passive Ability, Payback, provides multiple defensive and offensive benefits. Upon spawning, he gains Defense Up for two turns. If Thanos does not have the Power Stone at the start of his turn, Cull grants it to him, along with Defense Up for two turns—this can happen only once per match. When an enemy attacks an ally, Thanos, or Ebony Maw, Cull Obsidian counters with 150% damage.

He gains Deathproof at 75%, 50%, and 25% health, up to a maximum of five Deathproofs. While he has Regeneration, he gains 1,000 resistance and increases his damage by 50% with a T4 upgrade. Furthermore, Cull Obsidian increases the max health of all Black Order allies, with a T4 upgrade granting Black Order and Thanos allies an additional 10% max health. This combination of abilities makes him a formidable tank who can protect his team while dishing out substantial damage when needed.

Iso-8 Class Recommendations

For Marvel Strike Force players looking to optimize Cull Obsidian, the Fortifier Iso-8 class is the most recommended choice. As a tank, Cull Obsidian’s primary role is to absorb damage and protect his allies, and the Fortifier class enhances his durability by increasing his Health, Armor, and Resistance. This class makes him even more capable of taking on attacks, ensuring he can continue to shield his teammates, especially Thanos, from incoming damage. Many players opt for the Fortifier class, as it aligns perfectly with his role in the Black Order team.

Alternatively, the Striker class can be used if the player wants to boost Cull Obsidian’s damage output. This class increases his offensive potential, which can help contribute to the overall damage of the Black Order team. However, while Striker can be an option for players who want to focus on damage, the Fortifier class is generally seen as a better fit for his tanking role.

The Skirmisher class is another viable option, as it allows Cull Obsidian to apply Vulnerable to enemies. This can be particularly effective because Cull Obsidian counterattacks whenever a Black Order ally is attacked, enabling him to quickly spread Vulnerable across the enemy team while also clearing positive effects. While this can enhance his counterattack ability, it is less commonly chosen compared to the Fortifier class, as the latter better supports his role as a protector. Ultimately, the Fortifier class is the most recommended for maximizing Cull Obsidian’s effectiveness as a tank and ensuring the best support for his team.

Team Synergy

Cull Obsidian plays a pivotal role as a key member of the Black Order team in Marvel Strike Force, where his abilities are specifically designed to synergize with the other members. The Black Order consists of Cull Obsidian, Thanos, Ebony Maw, Corvus Glaive, and Proxima Midnight, and together they form a highly effective unit.

One of the central features of the Black Order is Thanos’ ability to become Empowered when at least one other member of the Black Order is present, gaining significant boosts to his abilities.

The Infinity Stones are crucial to this process, with each member granting Thanos a specific buff: the Space Stone (from Proxima) grants Speed Up, the Mind Stone (from Corvus) grants Offense Up, the Power Stone (from Cull Obsidian) grants Defense Up, the Reality Stone (from Ebony Maw) grants Regeneration, the Time Stone (from Ebony Maw) grants Deathproof, and the Soul Stone (from Ebony Maw) grants Immunity. While Thanos needs only one Black Order member to become Empowered, he will not receive any Infinity Stone buffs if other members are missing.

When Empowered, Thanos can spread positive effects to Black Order allies, flip enemy positive effects, and deal high damage to all enemies. His passive ability also prevents Bio enemies from getting Charged when at least three Black Order allies are present. While the Black Order was once dominant in Arena play, it has become more focused on War Offense with recent updates, gaining bonuses that make it more effective in this mode.

Cull Obsidian’s specific synergies within the team are crucial to his success. His passive ability ensures that Thanos receives the Power Stone and Defense Up at the start of Thanos’ turn, enhancing Thanos’ defense. Additionally, Cull’s counterattack mechanic, where he strikes for 150% damage when an enemy attacks Thanos, Ebony Maw, or an ally, enhances his role as a protector. His special ability also clears negative effects from himself, and if Ebony Maw is present, it clears negative effects from all allies. Cull Obsidian’s passive further benefits the team by increasing the max health of all Black Order allies, including Thanos, making him an invaluable asset to the team.

In terms of turn order, when at least one Black Order member is present, Thanos’ Speed Bar gets a significant boost, allowing him to act first, followed by Proxima Midnight, and then Thanos again. The order continues with Ebony Maw, Corvus Glaive, and finally Cull Obsidian. Cull Obsidian, as the team’s protector, is best placed in one of the corners of the battlefield. Thanos is positioned next to him due to his high health, while Corvus Glaive is placed between Proxima Midnight and Ebony Maw since Corvus will go into stealth and can break chain attacks.

The general strategy of the Black Order revolves around leveraging the Infinity Stones and the buffs they provide to Thanos, which are essential in boosting the team’s effectiveness. This synergy makes the team especially strong in War, where they can counter teams like Death Seed, Unlimited X-Men, and Gamma. Thanos’ ability to prevent enemies from gaining Charged is especially useful against these teams. Against the Gamma team, Thanos can clear Hulk’s taunt and spread positive effects to allies. The Black Order is also effective against older teams, such as Underworld, and can counter Death Seed effectively. Thanos’ ability to apply Immunity to all allies before Magneto’s turn ensures that Magneto’s blinds are ineffective.

However, the Black Order team has vulnerabilities on defense and can be countered by teams like the Eternals, Infinity Watch, or even other Black Order teams, making them more suited for offensive use. Understanding these synergies and counters will help you maximize Cull Obsidian’s effectiveness within the Black Order and develop a strategic approach to team composition.

T4 Ability Priorities

When investing in T4 upgrades for Cull Obsidian, the Passive Ability should be the highest priority. This ability offers a significant boost to the max health of all Black Order allies, increasing by 10% per upgrade, which is crucial for enhancing the durability of the entire team. Additionally, it provides a counterattack whenever an enemy attacks an ally, Thanos, or Ebony Maw, dealing 150% damage, which increases to 250% with the T4 upgrade.

The passive also grants Thanos the Power Stone and Defense Up for two turns at the start of his turn, provided he does not already have the Power Stone, and this can only occur once per match. The T4 upgrade adds 50% more damage while Cull Obsidian has Regeneration, making it an invaluable upgrade for both team survivability and his counterattack potential. The substantial team health boost and the power it brings to the Black Order make the Passive Ability a must-upgrade.

The Ultimate Ability: Culling the Weak is the second-highest priority. This is Cull Obsidian’s primary source of damage, and the T4 upgrade significantly enhances its effectiveness. The ability increases the damage dealt to the primary target, with additional damage for each Deathproof on Cull Obsidian. The T4 upgrade boosts the damage of the primary target by 185%, along with the additional damage per Deathproof, making this a highly beneficial upgrade. Moreover, it grants the ability to always transfer positive effects from the primary target to Cull Obsidian. Though the T4 upgrade provides a notable damage increase, it’s recommended to wait until you have strong red stars on Cull Obsidian to fully maximize the potential of this upgrade.

The Special Ability: Obsidian Guard is next in priority, though it’s not as critical as the Passive and Ultimate abilities. This ability grants Taunt, Defense Up, and clears negative effects from Cull Obsidian. The T4 upgrade increases healing by 10%, which can be useful, but the ability itself doesn’t offer the same immediate impact as the other abilities. Still, it’s a valuable upgrade to consider, as it improves Cull Obsidian’s role as a protector and provides additional sustain to the team.

Finally, the Basic Ability: Devastating Cleave is the least priority for T4 upgrades. This ability deals damage to the primary and adjacent targets, and while the T4 upgrade increases the damage by 50%, it doesn’t significantly impact Cull Obsidian’s role as a tank and protector. Since Cull Obsidian isn’t primarily a damage dealer, the upgrade for his basic ability is useful but not a priority.

In summary, focus on upgrading Passive first, followed by the Ultimate, then the Special, and lastly, the Basic ability. While the special and ultimate upgrades are important, particularly if Cull Obsidian has higher red stars, the Passive ability is always going to be a core upgrade for maximizing the Black Order team’s strength.

Red Stars

For most Black Order characters, including Cull Obsidian, it’s not necessary to prioritize high Red Stars, especially for those who aren’t primary damage dealers. Typically, 4 Red Stars is sufficient for most of the team, with Thanos and Corvus Glaive benefiting the most from higher Red Stars due to their damage-dealing roles.

However, if you have spare promotion credits, investing in 5 Red Stars for Cull Obsidian can significantly boost his survivability, making him a more reliable protector. Red Stars increase his health, armor, and resistance, allowing him to absorb more damage, stay in the fight longer, and support his team more effectively. Since Cull Obsidian isn’t a primary damage dealer, additional Red Stars won’t contribute as much to his damage output, but the increase in his health is beneficial for making full use of his abilities, especially his passive, which activates when he loses health.

Obtaining Red Stars for Cull Obsidian requires Red Star Orbs, which can be purchased using in-game currency. These orbs will give you a random number of Red Stars for a specific character or a random character altogether. If you pull duplicates, they can be used to upgrade a character’s Red Star level, though you will need more in-game currency. Elite Red Star Orbs are also available and offer a higher chance of pulling 4 or 5-star characters, but these orbs are harder to obtain.

Investing in Red Stars is a strategic decision based on your team’s needs and available resources. For players who frequently use the Black Order team, increasing Cull Obsidian’s Red Stars can be a good investment, as his passive boosts the entire team’s health and effectiveness. However, if you’re a more casual player, it may be wiser to focus on higher Red Stars for the most crucial Black Order members, like Thanos and Corvus Glaive.

While higher Red Stars can make Cull Obsidian more effective, they are not a top priority unless you plan on heavily investing in the Black Order team. Keep in mind that pulling high Red Star pulls can be expensive and depend on RNG, making it a slow process to increase specific character Red Stars.

In summary, while Cull Obsidian benefits from increased Red Stars, it’s generally recommended to prioritize Red Stars for Thanos and Corvus Glaive. If you have spare promotion credits and use the Black Order team frequently, upgrading Cull Obsidian to 5 Red Stars will improve his effectiveness as a protector.

How to Obtain Cull Obsidian

Cull Obsidian can be obtained through various methods in Marvel Strike Force, though some options may require patience or spending. He is available in Premium Orbs, but the drop rate is low, making it difficult to reliably acquire him through this method. Cull Obsidian shards can also be purchased in the Raid Store and obtained through Gamma Raid Orbs, which is another way to farm his shards. Additionally, he can be found in Milestone III Orbs, which may be available during certain in-game milestones.

Cull Obsidian is often featured in limited-time offers, where players can purchase a set number of shards and additional orbs with real money. These offers typically come at a significant cost, with some offers including around 55 shards and 8 orbs for approximately $50. While these offers provide a guaranteed way to unlock him, players should carefully consider if the cost aligns with their budget and priorities.

He has also appeared in Blitz events, where players can earn shards by participating, though it may take more than one event to collect enough shards for his full unlock. In addition, Cull Obsidian shards occasionally appear in the Supplies Section for 450 cores for 5 shards, although this is not always available.

Currently, Cull Obsidian is not considered farmable, but there is a possibility that he will become available in the future through one of the stores, such as the Arena Store. To unlock Cull Obsidian, players need 100 shards, and additional shards are required to increase his star level.

In summary, obtaining Cull Obsidian involves a mix of chance, patience, and spending. Limited-time offers provide the most direct way to unlock him, but other methods like Raid and Blitz events also offer opportunities to collect his shards. As of now, he is not easily farmable, but future updates may provide more avenues for acquiring him.

Gameplay Tips & Strategies

Cull Obsidian is the primary Protector of the Black Order team and should be positioned in one of the corners to absorb incoming damage and safeguard more vulnerable teammates. Place Thanos next to Cull Obsidian to take advantage of his high health and ability to handle splash damage. Corvus Glaive should be placed between Proxima Midnight and Ebony Maw, as his ability to go into stealth and break chain attacks makes him ideal for that position.

In terms of turn order, Cull Obsidian is typically the slowest member of the Black Order team, so he will usually take the last turn. With at least one Black Order member present, Thanos will get a speed boost and go first, followed by Proxima Midnight, and then Thanos again. After that, the turn order proceeds with Ebony Maw, Corvus Glaive, and finally, Cull Obsidian.

Cull Obsidian’s primary role is to taunt enemies and absorb damage to protect his allies. His taunt ability also clears negative effects from himself, and when paired with Ebony Maw, it clears negative effects from all allies, while granting him taunt, defense up, and deathproof. He can counter-attack enemies who attack Black Order allies, Thanos, or Ebony Maw, dealing significant damage. His ultimate ability can deal high damage, especially when he has multiple deathproofs on himself, which he gains at health thresholds of 75%, 50%, and 25%.

Cull Obsidian’s passive ability increases the health of all Black Order members and provides Thanos with the Power Stone if Thanos doesn’t already have it at the start of his turn, boosting the team’s strength. When used within the Black Order team, Cull Obsidian’s synergy with other members, especially Thanos and Ebony Maw, enhances his utility.

For Iso-8, the Fortifier class is highly recommended for Cull Obsidian, as it boosts his health, armor, and resistance, making him even tougher to kill. Some players may opt for Striker for increased damage or Skirmisher to apply Vulnerability to the enemy team, but Fortifier is the most common choice to enhance his tanking capabilities.

When strategizing in combat, always use Cull Obsidian’s taunt ability to draw enemy fire and protect your team. Be mindful of his ultimate ability, which is most effective when he has multiple deathproofs stacked. His counter-attack passive provides consistent damage over time, so positioning him next to key allies like Thanos or Ebony Maw maximizes this benefit. However, Cull Obsidian’s slow speed can make him vulnerable to teams that prevent or hinder speed bar generation, so positioning and timing are key.

In terms of counters, the Black Order team can be countered by Eternals, Infinity Watch, and mirror matches with other Black Order teams. In a mirror match, it’s important to use Thanos’s special after the enemy Thanos to flip positive effects. Black Order excels against teams like Death Seed, Unlimited X-Men, and Gamma in War. Against Gamma, Thanos can clear taunt from Hulk and prevent the Gamma team from gaining Charged. The Black Order is also highly effective against Death Seed, with Thanos applying Immunity to prevent Magneto’s blinds. Be cautious when facing teams with high sustain and damage, as RNG can play a significant role in the outcome.

In summary, Cull Obsidian serves as an effective tank and damage absorber within the Black Order. Position him carefully to maximize his passive ability, use his taunt and counter-attack strategically, and consider his Iso-8 and T4 upgrades for maximum effectiveness. With proper investment in red stars, T4 upgrades, and team synergy, Cull Obsidian becomes a powerful asset on the battlefield.

Is Cull Obsidian Worth It?

Cull Obsidian is an incredibly strong character when used as part of the Black Order team, where he fulfills the crucial role of a protector. His abilities are designed to synergize with other Black Order members, particularly Thanos and Ebony Maw. For instance, Thanos’s special applies taunt to Cull Obsidian, and Cull’s special clears negative effects, which is further enhanced when Ebony Maw is an ally.

His passive ability grants Thanos the Power Stone if Thanos does not already have it at the start of his turn. Cull’s counter-attack passive triggers when enemies attack Thanos or Ebony Maw, dealing extra damage. His presence also enables Thanos to reach his empowered state, boosting the entire team’s power significantly. For players investing heavily in the Black Order, Cull Obsidian is generally considered an essential addition, as his role strengthens the overall effectiveness of the team.

However, without the full Black Order team, his value is diminished, as his abilities rely heavily on the synergy of those characters. In such cases, he may not perform as well and will be most effective when paired with Thanos and Ebony Maw.

On the other hand, Cull Obsidian is less effective as a standalone character. His abilities are tailored to work best within the Black Order team, with his passive and other skills relying on the presence of his teammates. Without those synergies, many of his abilities lose their impact, and as a tank/protector, he isn’t as useful on his own. His slow speed also makes him vulnerable if not supported by the team.

In terms of cost and investment, Cull Obsidian typically comes with a high price tag, often around $50 for packs that include shards and orbs. Many players consider this cost steep, especially since the character can be unlocked for free through Blitz events or by waiting until he becomes farmable. Currently, he is primarily available through premium orbs and limited-time offers, making him less accessible.

Unlocking him requires 100 shards, and he will require a significant investment of resources and gear to reach his full potential. Upgrading his abilities and increasing his gear tier are essential to maximize his effectiveness. Additionally, T4 upgrades to his passive and ultimate abilities will enhance his performance, and red stars are also important to improve his survivability and overall role as a protector.

Cull Obsidian’s strengths include his solid kit, which features a useful basic attack that hits adjacent targets, a special ability that taunts and clears negative effects, and an ultimate that can do substantial damage, especially when he has multiple deathproofs. He has a high health pool and is designed to absorb a lot of damage, making him an excellent tank.

His synergy with other Black Order members further boosts his effectiveness. However, his weaknesses are apparent outside the Black Order team, as his value decreases significantly without the proper support. He’s very slow and dependent on his teammates to be effective. His initial damage output is also not very high, though it can increase with his ultimate if he has enough deathproofs.

For players committed to building the Black Order, investing in Cull Obsidian is recommended. However, if you do not have the other Black Order members or do not plan on obtaining them, he may not be worth the high cost. It’s generally not recommended to spend money on him, and players should focus on acquiring him through free methods like Blitz events or wait until he becomes easier to farm. If you manage to acquire him for free, he is certainly worth investing in, provided you use him within the Black Order team.

In conclusion, Cull Obsidian is a powerful character within the Black Order, but his high cost and diminished effectiveness outside of the team make him a questionable investment for most players. Players should prioritize acquiring the other Black Order members first and wait for Cull Obsidian to become more easily farmable before committing significant resources to him.