
Introduction
Falcon is a Hero, Global, Tech, Blaster, Avenger, and Power Armor character in Marvel Strike Force. This Marvel Strike Force Falcon Guide will focus on the original version of Falcon, offering strategies to maximize his effectiveness in battle. Despite some players feeling he’s been overlooked, Falcon remains a valuable asset when used strategically. His abilities and role in the game can make a significant difference in battles when you know how to deploy him properly.
His diverse set of abilities, which include high mobility, strong damage output, and useful utility skills, makes him a solid choice for both offense and defense. While his power level may not be as high as other characters in some areas, leveraging his strengths can turn the tide of battle.
His Blaster role allows him to dish out substantial damage, and his Tech and Global tags give him synergies with a variety of teams. By carefully selecting his team members and using his abilities in the right scenarios, Falcon can bring a unique advantage to any squad. The key to unlocking his full potential is knowing when and how to use his special and ultimate moves, ensuring that Falcon’s presence on the battlefield will make a meaningful impact.
How to Obtain Falcon
Falcon is primarily obtained through Falcon Orbs, which can be opened in the game to receive a variety of rewards. The main way to unlock and rank up Falcon is by acquiring his character shards from these orbs. Each orb has a chance to drop a varying number of character shards, with the minimum drop typically being six shards, though there is also a small chance for a larger drop of up to 180 shards.
In addition to character shards, Falcon Orbs contain other valuable resources, including gold, gear, and ability materials. These orbs may also drop purple gear, blue gear, and other essential resources. Players can also use in-game currency to purchase Falcon Orbs or character shards when they are available in the store. Falcon can be further upgraded using Red Stars, which can be obtained through Red Star Orbs, though there is no guarantee of receiving Falcon specifically from this method.
The drop rate for Falcon in a Red Star Orb is 5%, and players can increase their chances of receiving higher red star ratings by using Elite Red Star Orbs. Additionally, Falcon shards may be obtained through special events in the game. While Falcon Orbs offer a chance to obtain shards, the drop rates are not guaranteed, and players may need to open multiple orbs to unlock or rank up Falcon to their desired level.
Falcon’s Abilities
Falcon’s abilities are centered around dealing damage, manipulating turn meter, and utilizing his advanced tech-based suit. His kit is designed to work well with teams that can apply buffs to the enemy, making him an effective character in various situations. Here’s a breakdown of his abilities:
Dual SMGs
Level: 1
Damage: 90
Minus Level Level Up!Redwing
Level: 1
Fill Speed Bar: 15
Minus Level Level Up!Strafing Run
Level: 1
Damage: 60
Minus Level Level Up!Exo-7 Wingsuit
Level: 1
Gain Block Chance: 25
Minus Level Level Up!His Basic Ability: Dual SMGs allows Falcon to attack his primary target with his dual SMGs. If the primary target has any positive effects, Falcon performs a bonus attack. In War, if the target has any positive effects, Falcon deals additional bonus damage. With orange material upgrades, the damage of the primary attack is increased.
The Special Ability: Redwing has a low energy cost and is typically available at the start of a match. Falcon manipulates the speed bar for himself and all allies, filling it by 25% plus an additional 10% for each enemy with a positive effect. This results in a significant turn meter boost, especially against teams that apply multiple buffs. With the T4 upgrade, the speed bar increase is boosted by an additional 20% for Mighty and Uncanny Avengers in Raids and War Offense. Redwing also clears stealth from all enemies, removing evade and taunt, as these are considered positive effects. This ability is usable on turn one.
His Ultimate Ability: Strafing Run has Falcon attack all enemies, dealing a set amount of damage along with piercing damage. He performs a bonus attack for each positive effect on each enemy. On War Offense, this ability deals additional piercing damage. With the T4 upgrade, this ability applies bleed to all enemies in Raids or War Offense. With orange material upgrades, this ability deals an additional 30% damage.
Falcon’s Passive Ability: Exo-7 Wingsuit grants him a 25% block chance and an additional 5% block chance for each Power Armor ally. He also receives a 10% increase to his maximum health and has a 5% block amount, which increases to 10% with orange material upgrades. With the T4 upgrade, Falcon’s passive ability grants Immunity to Uncanny Avengers in Raids and Mighty Avengers on War Offense upon spawn. Additionally, his allies can apply Safeguard on spawn in these game modes.
These abilities make Falcon a unique and versatile character, capable of both dealing significant damage and manipulating turn meter. His effectiveness is maximized when facing enemies with multiple positive effects, allowing him to perform bonus attacks and boost his team’s turn meter quickly.
Stats
Falcon is a Blaster class character, which generally means he is designed to deal damage. However, his stats have some notable strengths and weaknesses that affect his performance in battle. Falcon’s damage can be quite situational, as it is significantly boosted when enemies have positive effects.
His basic attack, Dual SMGs, deals more damage when the target has positive effects, and his ultimate ability, Strafing Run, delivers bonus damage for each positive effect on an enemy. Falcon’s speed is decent, with a stat of 113, making him 10% faster than the average character. This allows him to act relatively quickly in combat, and his special ability, Redwing, can increase his and his allies’ speed bars significantly. However, his focus is relatively low, though this doesn’t affect his speed bar manipulation, as it isn’t reliant on focus.
When it comes to defensive stats, Falcon has below-average health for a Blaster class character, which makes him somewhat frail and vulnerable to taking damage. His armor is rated as a ‘C’, which is considered decent, and his resistance is also on the lower side. As for other stats, Falcon has a 25% base block chance, which increases by 5% for each Power Armor ally. His passive ability also increases his max health by 10%, and grants him a 5% base block amount, which can be upgraded to 10%.
In terms of stat ranking, Falcon ranks 261st in health out of around 270 characters, making his health one of the lowest in the game. Many players feel that Falcon’s stats need significant buffs to increase his viability. While his speed and damage output can be useful when enemies have positive effects, his low health, focus, and resistance make him fragile in battle. When building teams with Falcon, players should consider his vulnerabilities and balance his abilities with other characters who can provide protection and support.
Iso-8 Recommendations
Falcon can be equipped with either the Striker or Raider Iso-8 class, but the Raider class is generally recommended due to Falcon’s kit and his role as a damage dealer. While the Iso-8 class may vary depending on team composition, focusing on the Raider class helps enhance Falcon’s overall effectiveness. As a primarily offensive character, Falcon benefits from boosting his damage potential, particularly with his Strafing Run AoE attack.
In addition to offense, it is beneficial to focus on increasing health. This complements the +10% max health from his Exo-7 Wingsuit ability, and if paired with Rescue, Falcon can gain her +15% max health buff for all Power Armor allies. Critical Chance and Critical Damage are also worth considering, as these stats contribute to his overall damage output. As a Raider, Falcon can gain in both of these areas as he progresses.
The Raider class is an ideal choice for Falcon because it boosts both Critical Chance and Critical Damage, which align well with his offensive kit. Additionally, using Falcon in Power Armor teams, including those with Ultron to counter Emma & the Marauders in War, synergizes well with the Raider class and the way turn order plays out. At levels 2 and 4, all characters gain Max Health, adding further value to this Iso-8 class.
In summary, focusing on the Raider class for Falcon will enhance his damage output, critical hit potential, and health, making him a more effective character in Marvel Strike Force. These recommendations can be customized to suit individual playstyles, but the Raider class is a strong fit for maximizing Falcon’s strengths.
Synergies and Team Compositions
Falcon’s abilities and stats make him a versatile character, able to fit into various team compositions. He benefits greatly from teams that can apply buffs to the enemy, and his Power Armor tag makes him highly synergistic with other Power Armor characters. His Power Armor synergy works particularly well with characters like Iron Man and War Machine, who can complement his abilities and help improve his performance in battle.
His passive ability enhances his block chance for each Power Armor ally, making him a solid addition to any Power Armor team. Rescue is also an excellent teammate for Falcon, as she provides barriers, healing, and a health buff to Power Armor allies, further strengthening the team’s defense while supporting Falcon’s offensive capabilities.
Falcon’s Avengers tag allows him to be effective in Avengers teams, where he can synergize with other Avengers characters, particularly those who can apply Offense Up, like Captain America, further boosting his damage output. Falcon is also a good fit for Tech teams, where his abilities complement those of characters like Vision, who can provide Defense Up, as well as other tech allies like Star-Lord, Rocket Raccoon, and Minn-erva, who bring additional synergy to the team.
For Mighty and Uncanny Avengers teams, Falcon’s T4 upgrades to his passive and special abilities make him more effective in Raids and War Offense. His speed manipulation abilities make him a solid pick for teams with characters who can control the turn meter, such as Black Widow, Quake, or Coulson. Additionally, Falcon benefits from teammates that can apply Offense Up, like Kingpin, and can work well with Phoenix, as he is not susceptible to ability block and will act before Hela.
In terms of teams to avoid, Falcon can struggle against teams that remove buffs, such as those led by Mystique or Loki, as this reduces his damage output. Teams that can apply Ability Block can also shut down his key abilities, making him less effective. Furthermore, enemies that apply Defense Up can limit his damage potential.
General team composition strategies with Falcon emphasize his ability to excel against buff-heavy enemies, as his damage and speed are significantly increased when facing teams with a lot of positive effects. Pairing Falcon with characters who manipulate the speed bar of enemies can also give your team a notable advantage. In War Offense, Falcon is particularly strong due to his ability to increase team speed and deal significant damage, making him a great addition to teams like Mighty Avengers. For Raids, Falcon’s speed manipulation is useful, and he has good synergy with Uncanny Avengers. In RTA, he can be effective with X-Factor for quick, one-turn victories.
Key Takeaways
Falcon is a hybrid character, functioning as both a blaster and a controller. He is situational, with the potential to shine in specific team setups that can maximize his strengths. Falcon works best in teams that can take advantage of his speed bar manipulation and bonus damage against buffed enemies. His passive ability allows him to block frequently, especially when paired with other Power Armor characters, making him a valuable asset when placed in the right team composition.
By understanding these synergies and team compositions, players can use Falcon effectively across a variety of game modes in Marvel Strike Force.
Characters to Avoid
Falcon’s effectiveness in battle can be hindered by certain characters and team compositions. To maximize his potential, it’s important to be aware of the characters and situations that can reduce his performance.
Characters that Remove Buffs are particularly problematic for Falcon. Mystique and Loki can quickly strip away the positive effects that Falcon relies on to increase his damage. Since Falcon’s damage output is tied to the number of buffs on the enemy team, these characters can significantly undermine his offensive capabilities by removing those buffs.
Characters that Apply Ability Block are another issue for Falcon. Characters like Cora can apply ability block, which disables Falcon’s key abilities, including his special and ultimate. This can prevent him from manipulating the speed bar or dealing his full damage, limiting his overall impact in the battle.
Enemies with Defense Up can also reduce Falcon’s damage output. Although Falcon excels against teams with multiple positive effects, enemies with Defense Up can negate a significant portion of his damage. For example, Juggernaut often comes with multiple buffs, including Defense Up, which weakens Falcon’s ultimate ability. It’s best to avoid using Falcon’s ultimate on enemies that have Defense Up, as it will drastically reduce the damage output.
High-Speed Characters can disrupt Falcon’s abilities, particularly his ultimate. Characters like Mordor and Vision, with comparable speed to Falcon, can act before him, making it difficult for Falcon to effectively use his speed manipulation and ultimate ability. This can prevent Falcon from taking full advantage of his kit in certain matchups.
Characters That Can Evade are also a challenge. If an enemy has evade when Falcon uses his basic ability, he will not get the bonus attack, even though his attack will remove the evade effect. This can limit the potential for his basic attack to deal the extra damage.
Characters that Do High Damage like Star-Lord can also present a problem. Falcon’s lower health and defensive stats make him vulnerable to high-damage characters, which may quickly take him out before he can deal enough damage himself.
General Strategies to Keep in Mind include prioritizing Falcon’s abilities against teams with multiple buffs to maximize his damage. Avoid using his ultimate ability on enemies with Defense Up, as this will reduce its effectiveness. If possible, pair Falcon with characters who can apply Offense Up to counteract enemies’ Defense Up and boost Falcon’s damage output. Additionally, be cautious when facing characters that can remove buffs or apply ability block, as these can significantly hinder his performance.
By understanding these potential counters and avoiding unfavorable matchups, you can better utilize Falcon’s strengths and avoid situations where he may underperform in Marvel Strike Force.
Game Mode Performance
Falcon is a versatile character whose performance varies depending on the game mode. His ability to manipulate speed, scale damage based on buffs, and synergize with Power Armor characters makes him a strong asset in certain scenarios. However, his low health, focus, and resistance can make him less effective in some situations. Here’s how he performs in different game modes:
In Arena, Falcon has had some use but is not considered a top-tier character. His speed manipulation can be advantageous, allowing his team to act before the opponent. He can be particularly effective in Doom mirror matches, as long as your Doom goes before the enemy’s Doom. However, Falcon doesn’t consistently stand out in high-level arena matches due to his survivability issues.
On Alliance War Offense, Falcon shines as a very strong choice. His ability to deal additional damage and speed up his team makes him a valuable asset. He synergizes well with Mighty Avengers, and his T4 upgrades to his passive and special abilities make him even more effective in this mode. His ultimate, Strafing Run, applies additional piercing damage to both primary and secondary targets in War Offense, making him even more dangerous. Additionally, he can be used in a Power Armor team with Ultron to counter Emma and the Marauders.
In Alliance War Defense, Falcon is still a viable option. His passive abilities, especially with T4 upgrades, improve his effectiveness, allowing his allies to apply Safeguard on Spawn, which provides strong protection at the start of battles. However, his primary role is more geared toward offense, and his defensive performance may not be as impactful as in War Offense.
In Blitz and Real-Time Arena (RTA), Falcon is rated as decent, with players often using him in fast-paced teams that aim to defeat enemies before they get a turn. Teams with Falcon, Zemo, and other speed-oriented characters can be effective in blitz, and in RTA, Falcon can be used with X-Factor for a one-turn win. His speed manipulation abilities and damage potential can make him a good option for blitz matches and showcase his animation in RTA.
Falcon is rated as a good option for Raids, with a solid 3/5 rating. His speed manipulation is beneficial in raids, especially when paired with Uncanny Avengers. His T4 upgrades make him more effective in raids, and his ultimate ability can apply bleed to all enemies, adding more utility. However, his damage output may not be sufficient for certain raid nodes, and while he can help with turn meter advantages in Ultimus raids, characters like Captain Marvel, who have higher damage output, may be better suited for these nodes.
In Dark Dimension, Falcon is considered a decent option. Some players have found success with Falcon in Dark Dimension 2, where his speed manipulation and damage scaling with buffs were advantageous. He has even been used to one-shot global nodes in Dark Dimension 4, showcasing his potential in this game mode.
In Cosmic Crucible, Falcon is also rated as a decent option. His abilities work well in this mode, where the ability to manipulate speed and scale damage with buffs can be highly useful, although he may not be a top-tier pick for every team.
Falcon is also useful in ISO-8 nodes, where his speed and ability to deal significant damage can be leveraged. In various events, his kit allows him to perform well, especially in those that require speed manipulation or bonus damage against enemies with positive effects.
Summary of Game Mode Performance
Falcon excels in game modes that allow his speed manipulation and damage scaling with buffs to shine, particularly in War Offense and Raids. He is also effective in Dark Dimension and certain Blitz/RTA situations, where his ability to manipulate speed and deal substantial damage can be maximized. However, he is less effective in game modes that require high burst damage or where his low health and resistance are more of a liability, such as in some raid nodes. His performance is highly situational, and his effectiveness is largely dependent on the team composition and the enemies he faces.
By understanding these points, players can better leverage Falcon’s strengths and mitigate his weaknesses across various game modes in Marvel Strike Force.
Tips and Strategies
Falcon’s abilities are highly effective when used strategically. His special ability, Redwing, provides a significant speed bar manipulation for himself and all allies, making it an excellent tool for gaining the upper hand in battles, particularly against teams that apply a lot of buffs. His damage output scales with the number of buffs on the enemy team, so it’s essential to target teams that apply multiple buffs to maximize his effectiveness.
His basic ability also benefits from increased damage when enemies have buffs, so ensure you target enemies with buffs to trigger the bonus attack. Additionally, when using his ultimate ability, be cautious of enemies with defense up, as this reduces the damage potential of his ultimate. To maximize his potential, try to avoid using it on targets with defense up.
Teammates and Synergies are essential for Falcon’s success. He works best when paired with Power Armor characters like Iron Man and War Machine to take advantage of his passive, which grants additional block chance for each Power Armor ally. Offense Up allies can also enhance his damage output by negating the enemy’s defense up. Characters that can manipulate speed bars, such as Black Widow or Quake, further improve his utility.
In War Offense, pairing him with Mighty Avengers allows Falcon to use his T4 upgrades to boost his special and passive abilities. Uncanny Avengers are also a good fit for him in Raids, where their synergy and Falcon’s upgrades make him more effective. Additionally, Phoenix is a strong pairing to avoid ability blocks and ensure Falcon goes before Hela.
Upgrading Falcon’s Abilities is crucial for maximizing his effectiveness. Prioritize upgrading his special ability to level 7 to increase the speed bar for both Falcon and his team. Upgrading his ultimate ability is important for increasing damage output and adding Bleed in War Offense and Raids. Falcon’s passive is also a valuable upgrade to ensure allies gain immunity and safeguard on spawn. While his basic ability is useful, it is less critical to upgrade compared to his other abilities.
Be Aware of Falcon’s Weaknesses: His low health makes him vulnerable, so pairing him with a healer is essential. He is also susceptible to ability block, so avoid teams with heavy ability-blocking characters. Additionally, Falcon’s damage is reduced when enemies have defense up, making it less effective in certain situations.
Iso-8 Class: Equip Falcon with the Raider Iso-8 class, as it enhances his ultimate ability’s effectiveness by allowing it to hit all enemies, boosting his damage output.
Game Mode Usage: Falcon is particularly strong in Alliance War Offense due to his ability to boost his team’s speed and deal additional damage. He is also a solid option in Raids, where his speed manipulation can provide a significant advantage, especially when paired with Uncanny Avengers. In Dark Dimension, Falcon performs well by capitalizing on his ability to deal extra damage against teams with many buffs. RTA (Real-Time Arena) also benefits from Falcon, especially when paired with X-Factor, allowing for a one-turn win.
Specific Strategies: Focus on turn meter control by using his special ability to manipulate the speed bar, enabling your team to act before the opponent, particularly when facing buff-heavy teams. Falcon is a situational character, so be mindful of the team compositions you’re facing. Avoid using him against teams that can remove buffs or apply ability block, as this will significantly reduce his effectiveness. If you’re facing stealth teams, use his special ability to clear stealth, providing your team with an advantage.
Resource Management: When managing resources, prioritize gearing S-tier characters to maximize overall team strength. Falcon can be easily farmed from Nexus 7, making him relatively accessible and a solid choice for players looking to build a strong team.
By following these strategies, you can maximize Falcon’s strengths and effectively use him across different game modes in Marvel Strike Force.
Controversies
Falcon has been the subject of various controversies and points of contention in Marvel Strike Force, with players holding differing opinions on his effectiveness and overall strength. Initially, many players were concerned that Falcon would be a weak character, expressing disappointment when his kit was revealed. Some felt that the event requirements to unlock him were overstated, but over time, others found him to be a surprisingly strong character.
A major point of debate has been Falcon’s damage output and stats. While some players consider him underwhelming for a Blaster-class character due to his low health, focus, and resistance, others argue that his damage potential is solid, especially when taking advantage of enemy buffs. Some players feel his damage output is inconsistent, and there is ongoing controversy surrounding his basic ability, with claims that it may be bugged as it does not always apply the additional damage outside of war. Moreover, there is confusion regarding the lack of visibility on the numbers for the additional damage, which has contributed to frustration among players.
The inclusion of the Power Armor tag in his kit has also sparked discussion. Many characters in the Marvel universe wear power armor but do not have this tag in the game, leaving some players to question its relevance. There is a sense that the Power Armor tag has been underutilized, and expanding it to include more characters could enhance Falcon’s relevance in the game. Additionally, some new players are confused by the Power Armor tag, especially considering characters like Rescue, who is mainly used in the Pegasus team.
Falcon’s comparisons to other characters have been another source of contention. The release of Captain America Sam Wilson, who is perceived to have a better kit, has led some players to feel that the original Falcon has been overshadowed. The choice between Falcon and Vulture is also debated, as they both manipulate turn meter, with players needing to consider the specific situation and which character has better red star ratings. Similarly, there is a debate about whether Falcon or Captain Marvel is more effective in Ultimus raids, as Captain Marvel generally provides higher damage output, while Falcon offers more turn meter control.
In Raids, some players find Falcon’s speed bar manipulation beneficial, but others feel he lacks the damage necessary to be effective in Ultimus raids. While some consider him a safe option in raids, they also note that he struggles to deal sufficient damage within the time limit, which limits his usefulness in high-stakes scenarios.
Another point of frustration among players is the Red Star drop rates for Falcon, with many opening numerous orbs without securing high red star ratings for him. This has contributed to dissatisfaction, as some players feel the drop rates are unfair, especially for new characters like Falcon.
Despite these varying opinions, Falcon’s overall rating in the game remains mixed. Some players believe he is underrated, while others feel he is appropriately rated. He is often seen as a “mid-alpha” character, with certain synergies making him stronger in specific situations. Others argue that he is not a top-tier character and that his effectiveness is highly situational. Additionally, there is disagreement about whether Falcon is best classified as a hybrid character (controller and blaster) or purely as a blaster.
Overall, Falcon’s place in Marvel Strike Force has been contentious, with varied experiences and perceptions from the player community. While some see him as a strong character with unique abilities, others find him lacking in areas that hinder his overall effectiveness.
Conclusion
Falcon is a versatile and situationally powerful character in Marvel Strike Force, offering a unique blend of speed manipulation, damage scaling, and team synergy. While he may not always be a top-tier meta character across all game modes, his abilities make him valuable in specific situations and team compositions.
Key Strengths of Falcon include his speed manipulation through his special ability, Redwing, which can significantly boost the speed bar of his entire team, especially when facing enemies with multiple buffs. This ability to gain a turn advantage can be pivotal in certain battles. His damage scaling is another strength, as both his basic and ultimate attacks deal increased damage based on the number of positive effects on enemies, making him particularly effective against buff-heavy teams.
Falcon’s synergy with Power Armor characters, such as Iron Man and War Machine, enhances his effectiveness. His passive ability grants additional block chance per Power Armor ally, boosting team survivability. On War Offense, Falcon shines by boosting his team’s speed and dealing significant damage, with his ultimate gaining extra piercing damage in this mode. Additionally, his special ability clears stealth from enemies, which can be very useful against certain enemy teams that rely on this mechanic.
However, Falcon has some limitations and considerations to keep in mind. His stat weaknesses—low health, focus, and resistance—make him somewhat fragile and vulnerable to being taken out quickly. His situational effectiveness means he thrives when facing teams with buffs, but his performance drops against teams without buffs or those with defense up. Falcon is not a top-tier meta character in all game modes; while he can be a valuable asset, he’s not a main damage dealer and relies heavily on the right synergies to reach his full potential. In some cases, other characters like Captain Marvel might provide a better balance of damage output, particularly in Ultimus raids, where Falcon may struggle to match her raw damage.
To use Falcon effectively, maximize his speed bar manipulation by strategically using his Redwing special ability, especially against enemies that stack buffs. Exploit enemy buffs to take advantage of his damage scaling, ensuring he hits harder with both his basic and ultimate abilities. Pair Falcon with Power Armor allies, offense up characters, and other speed bar manipulators to get the most out of his kit, particularly in War Offense and raids.
Upgrade his special and ultimate abilities to increase his effectiveness, as these abilities significantly enhance his role on the team. Game mode awareness is key, as Falcon performs best in certain modes like War Offense and raids, where his strengths can be fully leveraged. Lastly, equip him with the Raider ISO-8 class, since his ultimate hits all enemies at once, amplifying his damage.
In conclusion, Falcon is a character with a lot of potential, especially when used strategically with the right team composition. While not the most powerful character on his own, his unique abilities make him a valuable asset in certain game modes, particularly in War Offense, raids, and Dark Dimension. Players who understand his strengths and weaknesses can effectively harness his abilities to enhance their gameplay and achieve success in Marvel Strike Force. Additionally, he is a good option for new and mid-game players due to his placement on an easy farm node, making him more accessible.