
Union Jack
Hero| Global| Skill| Blaster| Invader| The first to take the mantle of Union Jack, adventurer and British superspy James Montgomery Falsworth charges up his attacks to blast away his enemies.Character Abilities
Assist/Counter (Passive)
– 1 +Bangers and Smash
– 1 +Ruthless Blade
– 1 +The Pointy End
– 1 +For King and Country
– 1 +Marvel Strike Force Union Jack is a Blaster and Controller who uses a unique Charged mechanic, representing ammunition for his revolver.
Basic – Bangers and Smash, attacks the primary target for damage and flips 1 positive effect into a negative effect. In Raids, this flips 3 positive effects into negative, offering more disruption. If Union Jack has Charged, he loses 1 Charged with each use.
Special – Fan the Hammer, costs 3 energy and applies Offense Down to the primary target for 2 turns. It also attacks the primary target and applies Slow, stacking up to 3 times. In Raids, it also applies Ability Block, stacking up to 3 times. If Union Jack has Charged, he loses 1 Charged per attack, and can repeat the attack up to two additional times, each costing another Charged.
Ultimate – The Pointy End costs 5 energy, hits the primary target with Disrupted, and in Raids, reduces their Speed Bar by 30%. Union Jack spends 1 Charged per extra adjacent attack (max 5). The T4 upgrade adds a 20% Speed Bar reduction to all affected targets.
Passive – For King and Country gives him 6 Charged at battle start and activates Stealth and Evade when out of Charged. It also boosts Invader allies’ Crit Chance by 50% in Raids and his own by 25%, making him a strong Raid character with control and high crit potential.
Team Synergy
The Invaders team, consisting of Nick Fury, Captain America (WWII), Iron Fist (WWII), Union Jack, and Bucky Barnes, boasts strong synergy designed specifically for Raid game modes, especially in the Skill nodes of Incursion Raids. Each member plays a vital role in enhancing the overall effectiveness of the team.
The Invaders team thrives in Raids, led by Nick Fury who provides crucial buffs (+10% Armor, +30% Resistance) and summons empowered S.H.I.E.L.D. minions. These minions benefit from Invader passives—Operative clears Taunt, applies Counter, reduces enemy Speed Bar on Crit, and grants Speed Bar on death; Security provides Deflect, Stun if the enemy is Slowed, and protection for the team. Fury's ability to summon quickly creates a numbers and energy advantage.
Captain America (WWII) drives energy generation and cleanses debuffs, keeping the team active and durable. His basic allows Bucky Barnes to assist for added damage and control. Iron Fist (WWII) is the main healer, applying team-wide healing, Immunity, and even revival in Raids. His ultimate stuns and blocks abilities, while his special extends buffs and key debuffs like Trauma and Stun. Bucky excels at maintaining negative effects with Charged-fueled attacks and debuff extensions.
Union Jack specializes in battlefield control, flipping buffs, applying Offense Down, Slow, and Ability Block, especially in Raids. His ultimate disrupts and reduces Speed Bar, while his passive boosts Crit Chance for Invaders. When out of Charged, he gains Stealth, Speed Bar, and grants Evade to allies. Together, the Invaders form a synergized Raid team—Fury sets the pace, Cap fuels energy, Iron Fist sustains, Bucky locks down enemies, and Union Jack controls the field. Their effectiveness peaks in Skill nodes of Incursion Raids, though they are less suited for modes like Alliance War or Arena due to their Raid-focused design.
Iso-8 Class Recommendations
When selecting the optimal Iso-8 class for Union Jack in Marvel Strike Force, two main options stand out: Striker and Skirmisher. Each class brings distinct advantages depending on how you want to leverage Union Jack's abilities.
Striker is a highly recommended choice, as it amplifies Union Jack's single-target damage through his Iso-8 attack, which can follow up his Special or Ultimate and help refresh his charges faster. His passive and Stealth already provide ample Crit Chance, making Raider less necessary, and Striker ensures that Union Jack's attacks hit harder when needed. The additional damage from the Striker class complements his existing strengths and enhances his offensive output, making him a potent damage dealer.
Skirmisher, on the other hand, is also a solid option, particularly for ensuring Union Jack's debuffs land more reliably in Raids. Skirmisher provides an additional Focus buff, which is vital for applying crucial debuffs like Ability Block and Slow. Union Jack’s high Focus stat further benefits from this, and since he assists as often as he takes turns, Skirmisher also helps him apply Vulnerable on assists, which aids in clearing positive effects. This makes Skirmisher a great choice if you want to maximize his control over the battlefield, especially in Raid scenarios.
While Raider could enhance Union Jack’s Crit Chance and damage, it is less impactful given his existing Crit Chance boost from Stealth. Additionally, Union Jack only has one attack that hits multiple enemies, making Raider's area damage bonus less significant. For this reason, Raider is generally considered less optimal compared to Striker and Skirmisher.
In conclusion, Striker and Skirmisher are the top Iso-8 class choices for Union Jack. Striker is ideal for boosting his single-target damage, while Skirmisher is better suited for improving his debuff reliability, especially in Raids. The choice between Striker and Skirmisher depends on your preferred playstyle and how you wish to utilize Union Jack within the Invaders team.
T4 Ability Priority
Recommended T4 order: Ultimate > Passive > Basic > Special.
When prioritizing T4 upgrades for Union Jack, the following abilities should be considered based on their impact on his performance, particularly in Raid environments:
Ultimate Ability - Upgrading Union Jack's Ultimate is the top priority. The additional 20% Speed Bar reduction to all targets in Raids significantly impacts the turn meter, giving Union Jack and his team a strategic advantage in controlling enemy actions. This upgrade is crucial for maximizing his effectiveness in Raid scenarios.
Passive Ability - The next priority should be upgrading Union Jack's Passive. At max level, his Passive applies Evade to the entire Invader team when he runs out of Charged. This provides substantial survivability, especially for the Invaders team, making it a must-have for ensuring the team stays durable during tough Raid encounters.
Basic Ability - Upgrading Union Jack's Basic ability to T4 allows him to flip three positive effects into negative effects in Raids instead of just one. While this is a useful upgrade for Raids, it is considered the lowest priority compared to the other abilities, especially since the other upgrades have a more significant impact on his role in the team.
Special Ability - The T4 upgrade for the Special ability increases the duration of Offense Down to two full turns, which is valuable for reducing the damage output of enemies. Additionally, the Ability Block effect in Raids is a key aspect of this ability, making the T4 upgrade useful both in and outside of Raids.
Key Mechanics
Union Jack’s core mechanic in Marvel Strike Force revolves around Charged, which fuels his abilities and team support. He starts with 6 Charged and loses 1 each time he uses an ability. When out of Charged, he triggers a powerful effect at the end of any character's turn—gaining Stealth for 2 turns, Evade for himself and all Invader allies, 30% Speed Bar fill, and 6 Charged restored. While in Stealth, he gains +50% Crit Chance and +30% Crit Damage, boosting his offensive output.
His Basic flips positive effects (up to 3 in Raids), while his Special applies Offense Down, Slow, and in Raids, multiple Ability Blocks. The Special can hit up to three times, consuming 1 Charged per attack. His Ultimate applies Disrupted and reduces Speed Bar by 30% (50% with T4 in Raids), hitting adjacent targets up to five times if Charged is available. These abilities make him a potent controller, especially in Raid scenarios.
Union Jack’s passive enhances his role further by boosting Invader allies’ Crit Chance by 50% in Raids and his own by 25%. His Charged-reset mechanic improves team survivability through Evade and energy gain, while Stealth amplifies his damage. Though a Blaster, his ability to disrupt enemies, prolong debuffs, and protect allies makes him a highly versatile and valuable asset in Raids and beyond.
Red Stars
When it comes to Red Stars for Union Jack, the general recommendation is to prioritize upgrading other core members of the Invaders team, particularly Nick Fury and Bucky Barnes. Nick Fury is often considered the most crucial member of the team and should aim for 7 Red Stars, while Bucky Barnes, the main damage dealer, should be upgraded to 5-6 Red Stars. Union Jack, on the other hand, is typically prioritized lower, with 4-5 Red Stars considered a reasonable starting point.
If your team is already performing well in raids and you aren't experiencing significant challenges, additional upgrades to Union Jack's Red Stars may not be necessary. However, if you're struggling with raid nodes, upgrading his Red Stars could be beneficial. Union Jack's Red Stars may be considered a lower priority compared to Fury and Bucky, and spending valuable gold red star promotions on him is generally not recommended until the key team members are sufficiently upgraded. Ultimately, the decision to invest more in Union Jack's Red Stars depends on how your team is performing in raids, with many players opting to leave him at 4-5 Red Stars unless there's a specific need to enhance his performance.
Conclusion
Union Jack is a key member of the Invaders team, built for Raid content—especially Incursion Raids—where his mix of damage and control shines. His Charged mechanic allows him to cycle between offense and support: when out of Charged, he gains Stealth, Evade, a Speed Bar boost, and restores Charged, boosting both his survivability and damage. His Special can apply Ability Block up to three times in Raids, while his Ultimate reduces Speed Bars significantly (50% with T4), making him a strong control option in turn-based combat.
Outside of Raids, Union Jack is more situational, but within the Invaders team, he plays a critical role. Prioritize T4 upgrades on his Ultimate and Passive to maximize Raid effectiveness. Striker is the best Iso-8 class due to his high Crit Chance in Stealth, though Skirmisher is a viable alternative for landing debuffs. A 4–5 Red Star investment is recommended, but only with a full Invaders team to benefit from their synergy. Compared to other Skill Raid characters like Shang-Chi, Union Jack offers more control and utility, making him essential for Raid-focused players.
Frequently Asked Question (F.A.Q)
What is the ideal team for Union Jack?
Union Jack is best paired with other Invader characters, as their synergies enhance his effectiveness. Characters like Nick Fury, Captain America (WWII), Iron Fist (WWII), and Bucky Barnes work well together to create a cohesive and powerful Raid team.
How important are Red Stars for Union Jack?
A 4-5 Red Star investment is ideal. While higher Red Stars can boost his effectiveness, Union Jack’s synergy with the Invaders team is more critical than his individual Red Stars. Focus on maximizing synergy with Invaders to make the most of his abilities.
What is the best Iso-8 class for Union Jack?
Striker is the most recommended Iso-8 class due to Union Jack’s high Crit Chance while in Stealth. This enhances his damage output significantly. Skirmisher is also a viable choice to ensure debuffs land effectively, given his high Focus.
How does Union Jack’s Charged mechanic work?
Union Jack starts with 6 Charged and loses 1 Charged each time he uses his Basic, Special, or Ultimate abilities. When he runs out of Charged, he triggers beneficial effects, including applying Stealth, gaining Evade for himself and all Invader allies, filling his Speed Bar by 30%, and restoring 6 Charged.