Marvel Strike Force Doctor Strange Guide - Theria Games

Introduction

Doctor Strange is a highly coveted character in Marvel Strike Force, renowned for his exceptional utility and strategic value. As the Sorcerer Supreme, he brings a potent combination of mystic abilities and tactical versatility, primarily functioning as a support character who can enhance his team’s performance across multiple game modes.

Although acquiring Doctor Strange can be challenging due to his availability being limited to specific events, such as Blitz, his value makes the effort to unlock him worthwhile. As detailed in this Marvel Strike Force Doctor Strange Guide, his abilities, which include applying debuffs, providing healing, and performing revives, make him an indispensable asset for various team compositions. These features allow him to play a critical role in increasing his team’s survivability and offensive effectiveness, particularly in modes like Raids and Alliance War.

Overall, Doctor Strange’s unique abilities and strategic impact make him a key character for players aiming to strengthen their roster and enhance their gameplay experience in Marvel Strike Force.

Character Overview

Doctor Strange is classified as a Hero, Cosmic, Mystic, and Support character in Marvel Strike Force. He is highly valued due to his powerful support abilities, which make him a key asset for a variety of team compositions. Doctor Strange is often available through limited-time events, such as Blitz, and is considered one of the best characters in the game due to his versatile skill set.

The best way to unlock Doctor Strange is through the “Forbidden Knowledge” campaign event. This event works similarly to other campaign events, where players can earn energy that refreshes over time and complete specific nodes to gain rewards. It’s recommended for players to refresh their energy at least four times a day during these events to maximize their progress. The orbs associated with the event often contain a solid selection of characters that can be beneficial to expanding a player’s roster.

Doctor Strange has strong synergy with several other characters, including those in the Astral, Secret Defenders, Darkhold, Supernatural, Young Avengers, and Web Warriors teams. Additionally, he pairs well with teams that feature characters like Phoenix, Colossus, Lady Deathstrike, and Silver Samurai. His synergy with Scarlet Witch is also noteworthy, enhancing their combined effectiveness in battle. Because of his compatibility with multiple teams, Doctor Strange is considered a flexible character and a valuable investment for many players.

Stats and Abilities

Stats

Max HP: 47,335

Armor: 1486

Focus: 1955

Speed: 108

Passive – Master of the Arcane Arts

Level: 1

Speed Bar Percent: 5

Basic – Bolt of Balthak

Level: 1

Piercing Damage: 70

Special – Winds of Watoomb

Level: 1

Piercing Damage: 100

Ultimate – Book of the Vishanti

Level: 1

Percent of Heal to allies: 10

Doctor Strange has “fairly low” HP and armor, but this is expected since he is a “utility caster and healer.” However, he has a “really high” focus, which makes his ability to land effects more likely. A four-star Doctor Strange can compete with seven-star opponents because of his high focus. In terms of speed, Doctor Strange is faster than Quake but slower than Hawkeye.

Abilities

Passive – Master of the Arcane Arts:
Doctor Strange’s passive ability provides several valuable effects. At the start of his turn, there is a 20% chance to fill the lowest speed bar by 30%. He also heals himself and all allies for 5% of his Max Health. When a positive effect is applied to an enemy, Doctor Strange heals for 5% of his Max Health and gains +1 Deflect. When an enemy attacks Doctor Strange or an ally, he gains +1 charge.

At the end of his turn, if he has 5 or more charges and does not have a summoned Wong, he will summon one. In Battleworld, the summoned Wong comes with Death Proof, Safeguard, and 80% speed bar. The T4 upgrade makes it so that the first time an ally dies, Doctor Strange generates 2 Ultimate Ability energy for himself.

The Awakened upgrade allows the Wong summon to function in War, extending the utility of this passive beyond Battleworld. This passive is considered a game-changing mechanic, especially for enabling key characters to take a turn when it’s critical, such as allowing Captain America to use his Taunt before Crossbones can use his “Detonate” ability. Doctor Strange can repeatedly summon Wong as long as he has five charges and there isn’t a Wong already present on the battlefield.

Basic – Bolt of Balthak:
Doctor Strange’s basic attack is a piercing attack, dealing 150% damage and applying Offense Down to the target. When using his upgraded basic, it deals 260% piercing damage, applies Offense Down for 2 turns, and heals Doctor Strange for 5% of his Max Health while also barring him for 5% of his Max Health. This attack is unavoidable, meaning it cannot be dodged.

When forced to attack an ally, Doctor Strange deals less damage to Astral characters due to his connection with the Battleworld team. The T4 upgrade enhances this ability by extending the duration of Offense Down to 2 turns and adding more damage based on the target’s Max Health. This makes Doctor Strange’s basic attack extremely useful in reducing the effectiveness of enemy attackers and increasing the team’s survivability. It’s a solid attack to use early in a battle, especially to apply Offense Down to dangerous targets.

Special – Winds of Watoomb:
This special ability applies two random negative effects to the primary target and has a 90% chance to flip all positive effects on enemies into negative effects. If the positive effects cannot be flipped, they are removed instead. Doctor Strange then attacks all enemies for 230% Piercing damage, plus 5% of each target’s Max Health.

The attack is unavoidable, unblockable, and cannot be countered. The T4 upgrade guarantees that all positive effects will be flipped, and the attack also deals damage based on the target’s Max Health. This ability is considered a game changer as it can disrupt enemy strategies by turning their buffs against them. For example, using this ability on Black Widow could apply Bleed, slowing down her team, or using it on Kingpin could apply Defense Down, making him more vulnerable to attacks. This ability is extremely useful in a variety of situations, especially in modes where enemies rely heavily on buffs.

Ultimate – Book of the Vishanti:
Doctor Strange’s Ultimate is a moderately powerful healing ability that can revive a dead ally with 40% health, heal all allies for 20% of his Max Health, and clear all debuffs from himself and his allies. He also applies Blind to the primary target. The T4 upgrade improves this ability by allowing Doctor Strange to revive two allies with 65% health instead of one at 40% health. In Battleworld, it also generates 3 ability energy for himself and applies 2 Counter, 2 Deathproof, and 2 Deflect to himself and all Astral allies.

The Awakened upgrade allows these Battleworld benefits to work in War, which significantly boosts the value of the Ultimate in that mode. The revival mechanic is key, especially when reviving tanks like Drax, who can take a lot of damage even with only 40% health. However, the ability is not without drawbacks; for example, if the revived character is a tank, they may not be able to participate in the next battle, and the healing is generally considered weak compared to other abilities. This ultimate can be a game-changer, but its long cooldown can make it difficult to rely on consistently. Despite this, it provides an essential lifeline for a team in desperate situations.

Overall, Doctor Strange’s abilities are incredibly valuable for players, especially in team compositions where healing, debuffing, and reviving play key roles. His ability to flip buffs, heal allies, and summon Wong make him an excellent support character across various modes, including Raids, Alliance War, and Battleworld.

Team Synergies

Astral: Doctor Strange plays a crucial role in the Astral team, being one of only three healers in the Cosmic campaign. His ability to apply Offense Down to enemies, heal, and revive allies, along with his capacity to counter tanks, makes him an indispensable member of the team. His synergy is particularly valuable in campaign and raid modes, where his support abilities can turn the tide of battle. For optimal performance, it’s recommended to have at least three Raider ISO-8 class characters on the Astral team, including Doctor Strange, to capitalize on The Ancient One’s ability to grant energy on critical hits from Astral allies.

Secret Defenders: Doctor Strange fits well into the Secret Defenders team. When used with this team, it is advised to equip him with the Skirmisher ISO-8 class. His passive healing helps support the team’s longevity, while his synergy with Black Cat is particularly strong. Black Cat’s special ability grants two charges to all Secret Defenders, which allows Doctor Strange to quickly summon Wong, further bolstering the team’s sustainability and support.

Darkhold: Following his rework, Doctor Strange has become a stronger character within the Darkhold team, sometimes even surpassing Scarlet Witch in terms of effectiveness. His ability to summon Wong adds significant value to the team, especially in the long run, helping to protect allies and maintain pressure on opponents. His contributions to the Darkhold team make him a pivotal asset for players seeking to maximize this team’s potential.

Supernatural: Doctor Strange is also a vital member of the Supernatural team, where his special ability to flip buffs is particularly useful against enemies like Kingpin and Captain America, who rely heavily on positive effects. However, his ultimate ability tends to be less impactful in this team, as it has a long cooldown and Doctor Strange is often eliminated before he can use it, limiting his potential in certain matches.

Other Synergies: Beyond the aforementioned teams, Doctor Strange also works effectively with characters from the Young Avengers, Web Warriors, and teams that utilize Phoenix/Colossus or Lady Deathstrike/Silver Samurai. His versatility allows him to adapt to different team compositions, enhancing his value in a wide range of scenarios.

Doctor Strange’s ability to synergize with a variety of teams and roles makes him an extremely versatile and valuable character in Marvel Strike Force. His support, healing, and control abilities allow him to thrive across multiple game modes, making him a key player in any roster.

ISO-8 Class and T4 Priority

Doctor Strange can be equipped with different ISO-8 classes depending on the team composition and role needed. For teams that require healing support, the Healer ISO-8 class is a solid choice. This allows Doctor Strange to provide consistent healing to his allies, particularly in teams like Astral, where healing is crucial. However, if his role is more focused on dealing damage and enhancing critical hit effectiveness, the Raider ISO-8 class is ideal. In an Astral team, it’s recommended to have at least three characters equipped with the Raider class to take advantage of The Ancient One’s ability to grant energy to Astral allies when they land critical hits.

When paired with the Secret Defenders team, Doctor Strange benefits most from the Skirmisher class. This is because his passive ability provides enough healing for the team, and the Skirmisher class boosts his effectiveness by increasing his chances to land critical hits, thus enhancing the overall damage output.

T4 Ability Priorities

When deciding on T4 upgrades for Doctor Strange, it’s best to focus on his Ultimate and Passive abilities first.

Ultimate – Book of the Vishanti: Upgrading this ability to T4 allows Doctor Strange to revive two fallen allies with 65% health, significantly improving his ability to sustain his team in battle. Additionally, it provides three ability energy and applies Counter, Deathproof, and Deflect to Doctor Strange and all Astral allies in Battleworld.

The Awakened upgrade extends these benefits to War mode, making this upgrade essential for players who use Doctor Strange in both modes.Passive – Master of the Arcane Arts: Upgrading this passive ability to T4 allows Doctor Strange to generate two Ultimate Ability energy for himself the first time an ally dies, allowing him to use his ultimate ability sooner. The Awakened upgrade extends the benefits of the Wong summon, ensuring that he receives Deathproof, Safeguard, and an 80% speed bar in War, similar to his effects in Battleworld. This makes his passive an important upgrade for strategic team plays.

Special Ability

Special – Winds of Watoomb: Upgrading Doctor Strange’s special ability to T4 is highly recommended but not considered essential. The T4 upgrade guarantees that he will flip all positive effects to negative effects, making it more reliable and effective in countering opponents’ buffs. Additionally, it increases the piercing damage and allows Doctor Strange to deal damage equal to 5% of each target’s max health, further strengthening his offensive capabilities.

Basic Ability

Basic – Bolt of Balthak: Upgrading Doctor Strange’s basic ability is the lowest priority for T4. While the upgrade increases piercing damage and applies Offense Down for two turns, it doesn’t have as much impact on the overall performance of the character compared to his other abilities. The added damage equal to 3% of the target’s max health is helpful, but still, other abilities provide more significant benefits for Doctor Strange’s role on the team.

Focusing on these key abilities for T4 upgrades will maximize Doctor Strange’s potential and ensure he plays a crucial role in your team, whether for healing, support, or offense.

Dark Dimension and Investment

Investment Considerations

Doctor Strange is a highly valuable character to invest in due to his versatile abilities, including summoning Wong, healing, and reviving allies. His ability to support the team in multiple ways makes him a top priority for investment, particularly because any investment in Doctor Strange also benefits Wong, making the investment even more worthwhile. His flexibility allows him to fit into various team compositions, such as Astral, Secret Defenders, Darkhold, and Supernatural, further enhancing his value as a versatile asset. This flexibility ensures that Doctor Strange remains useful across multiple game modes, making him a reliable choice for strengthening any roster.

Doctor Strange plays an essential role in certain game modes, especially the Astral team in campaign and raid modes, where his healing and reviving abilities are crucial for team survivability. He is also an important member of Secret Defenders, where his synergy can help amplify team power. His capabilities are effective in War and Crucible, ensuring that he remains relevant in competitive modes.

Dark Dimension Considerations

When it comes to Dark Dimension runs, particularly Dark Dimension 8, Doctor Strange is not recommended. His revive mechanic, one of his greatest strengths in other game modes, is largely negated in the Dark Dimension, reducing his effectiveness in these high-stakes scenarios. Additionally, the Cosmic section of Dark Dimension is not ideal for Doctor Strange, as there are often more impactful characters to prioritize, such as the Annihilators.

Another disadvantage in Dark Dimension is Doctor Strange’s relatively slow speed, which can hinder his ability to generate enough ability energy outside of specific environments like Battleworld or War. While his Mystic tag makes him eligible for Dark Dimension runs, his slow speed and the nature of his abilities make him less effective than other more high-impact characters in this mode.

In terms of resource requirements, Doctor Strange is relatively efficient compared to some other characters. He only needs two sets of unique gear, but his need for Palladium may compete with the requirements of other characters. Given these factors, while Doctor Strange is a great character for many situations, his use in Dark Dimension runs is limited and may not be the most optimal choice.

Tips and Strategies

Understanding Doctor Strange’s Strengths:

Buff Flipping: Doctor Strange’s special ability, Winds of Watoomb, is a game-changer. It flips positive effects on enemies into negative effects, effectively crippling teams that rely heavily on buffs, such as Kingpin and Captain America teams.

Reviving and Healing: His ultimate ability, Book of the Vishanti, revives fallen allies and heals the team. While not as potent as a dedicated healer like Night Nurse, it offers valuable sustenance, especially when combined with tanks like Kingpin, Drax, or Hulk, who can benefit greatly from the revived health.

Piercing and Offense Down: Doctor Strange’s basic attack, Bolt of Balthak, is unavoidable and applies Offense Down, reducing the enemy’s damage output. This makes him particularly effective against high-damage dealers like Yondu, Crossbones, or Quake.

Summoning Wong: Doctor Strange can summon Wong, a powerful protector, which adds another layer of defense to his team, especially in Battleworld and War. This makes him a better choice for the Darkhold team than Scarlet Witch.

Synergy with Multiple Teams: Doctor Strange effectively synergizes with various teams, including Astral, Secret Defenders, Darkhold, and Supernatural, highlighting his flexibility.

Strategies for Using Doctor Strange:

Prioritize Ultimate and Passive for T4s: Focus on upgrading his Ultimate and Passive abilities to T4 first to enhance his revive and Wong summoning capabilities.

Special Ability is Highly Recommended for T4: Upgrade the Special ability to guarantee buff flipping and maximize its damage potential.

Utilize Offense Down Strategically: Use Doctor Strange’s basic attack to apply Offense Down to high-threat targets, minimizing their impact.

Maximize Speed and Energy: Since Doctor Strange is relatively slow and his abilities have long cooldowns, prioritize speed and energy to ensure he can use his abilities effectively. Consider pairing him with characters like Black Cat, who can grant him additional charges to summon Wong quickly.

Team Placement is Key: In Mystic campaign node 2-9, we found success by positioning Doctor Strange to maximize energy gain for revives. This demonstrates the importance of strategic placement for effectiveness.

Considerations:

Squishy Nature: Doctor Strange has low health and armor, making him vulnerable to focused attacks. Protect him with tanks and healers to maximize his longevity.

Situational Effectiveness: While powerful, his ultimate ability can be situational. He may not always get the opportunity to use it, especially against teams that can quickly eliminate him.

AI Limitations: In arena defense, the AI doesn’t use Doctor Strange effectively, wasting his abilities on less important targets.

Dark Dimension Not Ideal: While Doctor Strange can be used in Dark Dimension, he isn’t the most effective choice. His revive is nullified, and his slow speed is a disadvantage.

Conclusion

Doctor Strange, the Sorcerer Supreme, brings his unique blend of mystic arts and strategic prowess to Marvel Strike Force. His overall strength and viability in certain game modes highlight him as a multifaceted character with both strengths and weaknesses that require careful consideration for optimal use.

Doctor Strange’s versatility is one of his standout traits, allowing him to integrate well with various team compositions. He is especially effective within the Astral team, offering crucial healing and support for both campaign and raid encounters. His inclusion in the Secret Defenders further solidifies his role as a supporting character, particularly when paired with Black Cat, which allows for rapid summoning of Wong. His rework has made him a superior choice over Scarlet Witch for the Darkhold team, increasing his value in that composition.

His special ability, Winds of Watoomb, is a key feature of his kit. This ability flips positive effects on enemies into negative ones, disrupting the strategies of buff-heavy teams like Kingpin and Captain America, which can significantly turn the tide of battle. Additionally, his revive and healing capabilities, while not as potent as dedicated healers like Night Nurse, still provide critical sustain for the team, especially when paired with high-health tanks who can absorb the revived health effectively.

However, Doctor Strange is not without his flaws. His low health and armor make him vulnerable to focused attacks, which can quickly eliminate him if not protected. His ultimate ability, while powerful, can be situational and might not always be utilized effectively, especially if the battle doesn’t allow enough time for it to charge. The AI also struggles to use him effectively in arena defense, limiting his utility in that game mode.

When it comes to Dark Dimension, opinions on his viability are mixed. While his Mystic tag makes him eligible, his slow speed, vulnerability, and the nullification of his revive ability in that mode present considerable drawbacks, making him less effective there compared to other characters.

Successfully utilizing Doctor Strange requires understanding his nuances. Prioritizing T4 upgrades for his Ultimate and Passive abilities is essential to maximize his potential for reviving allies and summoning Wong. Upgrading his Special ability guarantees consistent and powerful buff flipping, further enhancing his ability to disrupt enemy strategies. Strategic team placement, focusing on speed and energy boosts, and protecting him with tanks to minimize his vulnerability are key tactics to ensure his effectiveness.

In conclusion, Doctor Strange is a complex character with a high skill ceiling. Mastering his kit and synergies with different teams can unlock his formidable power, making him a valuable asset in any Commander’s roster. However, neglecting his weaknesses and using him recklessly can result in underwhelming performance.