Marvel Strike Force Kitty Pryde - Theria Games

Introduction

Marvel Strike Force Kitty Pryde has made her highly anticipated debut in Marvel Strike Force as a new member of the Astonishing X-Men. Her arrival brings a fresh, dynamic presence to the game, adding depth and strategic possibilities to the roster. Known for her unique powers and skills, she offers players new synergies to explore within the team.

In the Marvel comics, Kitty Pryde, also known as Shadowcat, is a beloved character with a vast range of abilities that make her a force to be reckoned with. Her primary power of intangibility allows her to phase through solid objects, making her nearly untouchable in combat. This ability enables her to avoid enemy attacks and traverse through obstacles with ease, making her a highly evasive and unpredictable hero.

Beyond her phasing powers, Kitty is also known for her gifted intellect, often using her sharp mind to solve complex problems and devise strategies both in and out of battle. Her natural aptitude for technology and leadership positions her as an ideal strategist, always thinking several steps ahead. She is also a skilled martial artist, combining her agility and intellect to deliver precise, effective attacks when necessary. These attributes allow her to excel in various roles, from a defensive tank to a strategic asset capable of manipulating the flow of battle.

In the comics, Kitty Pryde has evolved from a young, promising X-Men recruit to a powerful leader in her own right. She currently leads the Marauders, a team with a reputation for engaging in “piratey” activities, often operating in the service of mutantkind with a sense of independence and resourcefulness. Her leadership within the Marauders highlights her strong decision-making and her ability to inspire others to join her in missions that are both dangerous and morally complex.

Within Marvel Strike Force, Kitty Pryde’s dynamic abilities are complemented by her trusty dragon companion, Lockheed, who adds both a sense of loyalty and an additional layer of power to her character. Lockheed is not just a companion but also a formidable ally in battle, enhancing Kitty’s already impressive skill set. Together, they create a unique and exciting combination that players can use to develop various strategies in the game.

Her inclusion in the Astonishing X-Men team further strengthens the team’s potential, making it a formidable force with high synergy, particularly for players focused on building an X-Men-centered roster. Kitty Pryde’s blend of versatility, intellect, and martial prowess offers exciting possibilities for players to experiment with, ensuring her place as an essential character in the world of Marvel Strike Force.

Orb Opening and Initial Impressions

The introduction of Kitty Pryde in Marvel Strike Force has generated significant excitement among players, leading to an influx of orb openings in hopes of unlocking and powering her up. Typically, players use Red Star Orbs and Gold Orbs in their efforts to acquire her. When it comes to orb openings, some players follow a belief known as the “seed theory,” which suggests that spending resources, like gold, can influence the outcomes of orb pulls. For example, one player spent 400k gold on supplies in an attempt to manipulate the seed before opening orbs, with the goal of increasing their chances of a successful pull.

The primary goal for many players is to achieve a 4-star or higher rating when unlocking new characters like Kitty Pryde. The success of orb openings can vary greatly, with some players having more luck than others. In one case, a player managed to pull two red stars for Kitty Pryde early on, while another player, despite wanting her as a character, only managed a 3-star unlock, which they felt was less than ideal.

A common strategy for orb openings is to aim for at least a two- or three-red star pull to maximize the character’s potential right from the start. The game often provides increased odds, such as a 15% increase, for obtaining a new character like Kitty Pryde from Red Star Orbs. Some players also accumulate Alliance Raid points in hopes of improving their chances of getting a favorable drop rate for new characters.

After unlocking Kitty Pryde, players focus on leveling her up and experimenting with initial builds to see how she performs in various situations. For example, one player accidentally applied a Tier 4 enhancement to her basic ability, allowing her to clear two positive effects from enemies, which contributed to their early impressions of her effectiveness. Many players also test her alongside existing X-Men characters, such as Beast, to see how well she synergizes with other team members and to refine her role within the squad.

Kit Analysis

Kitty Pryde in Marvel Strike Force is a Protector class character, offering a mix of utility, debuffs, and team support, particularly within the Astonishing X-Men team. Her abilities are designed to provide solid value across multiple aspects of the game, though her utility is spread across her kit, meaning she does not specialize in one specific area.

Shadowcat Strike

Level: 1

Damage: 60

Lockheed Blast

Level: 1

Damage: 80

Mischievous Spirits

Level: 1

Piercing: 100

Untouchable

Level: 1

Chance Apply Evade: 20

Her Basic Ability: Shadowcat Strike has her attack the primary target and clear one positive effect from the target. With the T4 Enhancement, this ability clears two positive effects and deals extra damage, making it a more effective tool for stripping buffs from enemies. The T4 upgrade is considered a notable improvement, especially due to the added buff removal.

Kitty’s Special Ability: Lockheed Blast targets all enemies, applying Offense Down for two turns to enemies who are not taunting, and flips Taunt to Defense Down on those who are taunting. Additionally, it fills Kitty Pryde’s speed bar. The T4 Enhancement increases the damage dealt and grants extra speed bar, which can be beneficial in speeding up her turns. However, the extra 10% speed bar may not drastically change her overall speed in all scenarios, though it can be helpful in raid contexts.

Her Ultimate Ability: Mischievous Spirits attacks the primary and adjacent targets, applying Disrupt. If these targets attack, the Disrupt lasts for two turns instead. This ability is unavoidable, making it reliable in ensuring that the Disrupt debuff lands. The T4 Enhancement increases damage, and while this upgrade is useful, its impact is considered moderate, with some viewing it as a low-to-mid tier boost.

Kitty’s Passive Ability: Untouchable grants her increased Dodge chance and applies Defense Up to the most injured Astonishing X-Men ally or herself. During the enemy turn, she has a chance to apply Evade to the most injured Astonishing X-Men ally or herself. If an enemy misses or an Astonishing X-Men character dodges, Kitty Pryde heals the most injured ally for a percentage of her max health.

With the T4 Enhancement, when Kitty drops below 50% health, she gains Stealth for two turns, and her healing is increased. Additionally, she always applies Evade to the most injured Astonishing X-Men ally. This passive is essential for a successful Astonishing X-Men raid team, with some considering it mandatory for tackling difficult content, such as the Doom Mutant nodes.

Kitty Pryde’s abilities make her adaptable to various Iso-8 classes. The Skirmisher, Healer, and Fortifier classes are all viable options. Some players recommend the Healer class due to her slower speed, high Dodge chance, and team healing capabilities, making her a useful support character in Raids. Others suggest the Skirmisher class, especially since she relies on Focus to clear buffs or apply debuffs effectively.

Kitty Pryde’s kit works well with the X-Men, especially the Astonishing X-Men team. Her synergy with Jubilee is notable, as Jubilee’s presence triggers healing whenever an Astonishing X-Men character dodges or an enemy misses, which is a frequent occurrence due to Kitty’s abilities. This makes them a strong duo in various events, including monthly events and Knowhere Heists. Additionally, any Astonishing X-Men character who dodges while Kitty Pryde is on the team will benefit from her healing, adding to the overall durability of the team.

Team Composition and Gameplay

Kitty Pryde is a vital member of the Astonishing X-Men (AXmen) team in Marvel Strike Force, which includes characters like Beast, Iceman, Jubilee, and Bishop. This team is designed to perform exceptionally well in raids, with a particular emphasis on the Doom raids, where they shine due to their ability to control the battlefield and provide key support.

Kitty’s role is crucial within the team, and her abilities work synergistically with other members of the Astonishing X-Men to enhance team performance. For instance, only members of the Astonishing X-Men team benefit from speed bar gains, meaning substitutes may not be as effective in achieving optimal results. While the full AXMen team is necessary to tackle the more challenging Doom 2 raids, there is some flexibility in Doom 1, where substitutions may be viable. In certain situations, Emma Frost can be considered as a fifth member due to her ability to apply slows, and Longshot and Shatterstar (the Dad Bros) have also been tested alongside Kitty Pryde and Beast in raids, offering another option for raid composition.

When it comes to gameplay, Kitty Pryde excels in raids, particularly in the mutant section of the Doom raids. The Astonishing X-Men team, with Kitty Pryde, is especially effective in Doom 2.2, where an AXMen team with approximately 840k power can successfully clear the content. Kitty’s mass Offense Down and Evade abilities significantly reduce incoming damage, especially when dealing with bad RNG that might otherwise cause sudden deaths. Her ability to strip Taunt from enemies also provides valuable control, ensuring that damage is directed more effectively across the team.

Kitty has also been used successfully in Ultimus Raids, particularly in Ultimus 7.5. One strategy involves using a weaker team in this raid tier to test her survivability. In a tested example, a team consisting of Kitty Pryde, Beast, Storm, and the Dad Bros showed strong survivability, with Kitty Pryde and Beast being especially resilient under pressure.

Kitty Pryde’s abilities further enhance her team’s survivability by applying Defense Up and Evade to her allies, bolstering their ability to withstand enemy attacks. Her ability to flip Taunts and apply Disrupt is particularly useful against enemies that rely heavily on buffs, enabling the team to neutralize powerful enemies more effectively.

In terms of Iso-8 recommendations, players have suggested two viable options for Kitty Pryde. The Healer class is recommended for her focus on survivability and healing, particularly useful in raid environments where the team’s longevity is key. Alternatively, the Skirmisher class can be a strong choice to enhance her ability to clear buffs and apply debuffs, further contributing to her team’s overall utility.

Finally, team positioning is also a consideration when playing with Kitty Pryde. While specifics on positioning are more theoretical, ensuring proper spacing between characters can help optimize their effectiveness and avoid some of the negative effects that can arise from certain enemy abilities or attacks.

Viability and Investment

Kitty Pryde’s viability in Marvel Strike Force largely depends on your focus within the game, especially if you’re aiming to build up the Astonishing X-Men (AXmen) team. Her value shines particularly in raid content, where she plays an essential role within the AXmen team. However, outside of this team composition, her utility is more limited.

Her kit heavily relies on synergies with other Astonishing X-Men members, making her less effective if you’re not using her within this specific squad. As a result, she is considered a specialized character for raids, much like the Symbiotes are for certain raid content. If you’re building the AXmen team for raids or aiming to unlock Jubilee, Kitty Pryde is definitely worth leveling up, as she is a key component of this squad.

For players who are focused on raid teams, Kitty is a solid investment, particularly if you’re looking for a strong addition to your Astonishing X-Men team. If you believe that the Astonishing X-Men team will become a legendary unlock after Jubilee, this could further incentivize investing in her. Additionally, if you’re an X-Men fan, the character’s lore and playstyle may make her a rewarding investment regardless of her meta viability.

On the other hand, if you don’t need another raid team and your current teams like the Symbiotes are sufficient for Ultimus 7.5 or other raid content, then investing in Kitty Pryde may not be necessary. Likewise, if you don’t plan on using her as part of the Astonishing X-Men team, she may not offer enough value to justify significant investment. For free-to-play players or those looking to conserve resources, it might be better to wait until Kitty becomes more easily farmable through events or blitz, rather than sinking resources into her immediately.

Regarding Blitz predictions and resource management, Kitty Pryde was relatively easy to unlock compared to other characters like Iceman, who likely saw more aggressive blitzing efforts. However, her usefulness in monthly events and for unlocking Magneto adds additional value to her character. In terms of resource management, Bishop, Beast, and Iceman all rank just behind Dagger, while Kitty Pryde is considered more valuable due to her role in events and unlocking key characters.

As for substitutions, Kitty Pryde’s specific role in the Astonishing X-Men team means that substitutions like Omega Red can replace her in Doom raids, though only the AXmen characters benefit from the speed bar mechanic, which makes substitutions less effective within this specific team.

In summary, Kitty Pryde is a worthwhile investment if you’re focused on building the Astonishing X-Men raid team or if you have a personal interest in X-Men characters. However, if you already have a strong raid team or don’t plan to utilize her within the AXmen, it may be best to either skip her or wait until she is more easily farmable.

Issues and Potential Improvements

Kitty Pryde in Marvel Strike Force has a few notable issues that impact her overall effectiveness and role within the game. One of the primary concerns is her spread-out utility. While her kit includes a variety of abilities, she doesn’t excel at any one role, which leaves her feeling somewhat unclear in terms of her purpose. Her limited usefulness arises from the lack of a standout ability or feature that would make her a must-have character in most team compositions. Additionally, her conditional passive introduces variability in her performance, as it behaves differently depending on the game mode (raid, war, crucible), which can be confusing and inconsistent.

Team dependency is another challenge, as much of her effectiveness relies on having a full Astonishing X-Men squad, limiting her flexibility in other team setups. Despite being categorized as a protector, her kit doesn’t heavily focus on applying evade or other protective effects, which makes her role less defined. Moreover, parts of her kit were designed with raids in mind, and these abilities don’t always translate well to PvP content. Lastly, her animation issues—such as the portal-like effect when she teleports—are considered inaccurate by some players and detract from the thematic consistency of her phasing abilities.

To improve Kitty Pryde’s impact in Marvel Strike Force, a few changes could be made. One potential adjustment is to focus her passive so that it grants evade to an adjacent ally on an enemy turn, which would make her a more consistent protector and align her abilities with her comic book characterization. Additionally, streamlining her kit by removing the distinctions for raid, war, and crucible modes could simplify her abilities, making her more user-friendly and less confusing.

To enhance her thematic fit, implementing her phasing ability more effectively could grant evade to adjacent allies when near her, and guarantee that she provides evade on an enemy turn, further solidifying her protector role. Another adjustment could be to reclassify her as a controller instead of a protector, given that her abilities lean more towards control than traditional protection. Finally, buffing her damage and tweaking her skills—such as making her third and fifth abilities fully cancelable—would give her more versatility and improve her overall usefulness in various game modes.

By addressing these issues and implementing these potential improvements, Kitty Pryde could become a more valuable and impactful character in Marvel Strike Force, with a clearer role and more consistent utility across different game modes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Kitty Pryde’s primary value in Marvel Strike Force lies within the Astonishing X-Men (AXmen) team, specifically for raid content. Her effectiveness outside of this team is limited, making her somewhat niche in terms of utility. Community reception to her release has been mixed; while some players were excited about her addition and her connection to the X-Men, others have expressed concerns about her limited use and heavy reliance on team synergy. A significant portion of her effectiveness relies on having a full AXmen squad, and the absence of key characters like Jubilee and Iceman can significantly impact her performance.

When considering whether to invest in Kitty Pryde, it’s essential to evaluate your goals. If you are committed to building the AXmen team, need a raid team, believe that the AXmen may be required for future legendary unlocks, or are a dedicated X-Men fan, Kitty Pryde is a solid investment. However, if you already have strong raid teams, do not plan to use her with AXmen, or are a free-to-play player, it may be wise to wait until she becomes more easily farmable. Her kit, while versatile, has spread-out utility, lacking a clear area of specialization. Her passive ability also has different effects based on the game mode, which can be confusing and detracts from her consistency.

Some potential improvements to her kit include streamlining her passive to grant evade to adjacent allies, making her abilities less situational, and enhancing her thematic connection to her phasing powers. Red Star pulls for Kitty Pryde have yielded mixed results for players, with some experiencing good luck while others faced disappointing outcomes. Fortunately, she was relatively easy to unlock through the blitz system, making her accessible for many players.

Ultimately, Kitty Pryde is a worthwhile addition to your roster if you’re focused on building the Astonishing X-Men raid team. However, if you’re not interested in the AXmen or already have strong raid teams, you may want to proceed with caution or wait until she becomes more accessible.