Irrational Exuberance for Karnak Buff

Confession time: I’m sure I’m having a “Lucy-and-the-football” kind of moment, but I’m riding a wild wave of optimism about the Karnak buff.

Sure, a lot of recent buffs have fallen flat. Sure, Karnak needs a lot of love. Sure, faith in the game is kind of at low tide right now.

But…I’ve got hope for Karnak nevertheless. Maybe it’s the seasonal changes in the air. Maybe it’s the fact that there’s so little to lose with Karnak. Maybe I’ve had too much coffee…

But the reality is that Karnak could pretty easily become a crit machine who shrugs and builds resistance to a number of debuffs and has the ability to bypass a ton of troublesome nodes and champs. A lot of it is already there in the kit, waiting like a slumbering giant for the alarm clock to buzz.

I know it sounds crazy. But this could be one of the best buffs yet with just a little attention to detail. And…if my hopes are allowed to continue, we may see a Black Bolt update in the near future that would vault the Inhuman royal family along with incoming Eternals into a new power team for MCoC.

All right. Deep breaths, I know. Share your thoughts, but be gentle. I need a few moments to step away from the ledge.

Dr. Zola

Comments

GrandOldKai

Well... If Nick Fury is anything to go by, you don't need powers to feel special in the Contest of Champions.

Karnak has some semblance of a kit, but he just needs that bit more to make his kit do something special.

Here's to hoping he gets that "bit more".

Spiderham14

Confession time: I’m sure I’m having a “Lucy-and-the-football” kind of moment, but I’m riding a wild wave of optimism about the Karnak buff.

Sure, a lot of recent buffs have fallen flat. Sure, Karnak needs a lot of love. Sure, faith in the game is kind of at low tide right now.

But…I’ve got hope for Karnak nevertheless. Maybe it’s the seasonal changes in the air. Maybe it’s the fact that there’s so little to lose with Karnak. Maybe I’ve had too much coffee…

But the reality is that Karnak could pretty easily become a crit machine who shrugs and builds resistance to a number of debuffs and has the ability to bypass a ton of troublesome nodes and champs. A lot of it is already there in the kit, waiting like a slumbering giant for the alarm clock to buzz.

I know it sounds crazy. But this could be one of the best buffs yet with just a little attention to detail. And…if my hopes are allowed to continue, we may see a Black Bolt update in the near future that would vault the Inhuman royal family along with incoming Eternals into a new power team for MCoC.

All right. Deep breaths, I know. Share your thoughts, but be gentle. I need a few moments to step away from the ledge.

Dr. Zola

I totally agree with you. There isn’t much that could go wrong since the he is already one of the most useless champs right now and he could go from Zero to Hero in one buff. It almost has me excited as like the Diablo and Magento buff. They were already pretty useless champs at the start and now they are the most sot after champs in the game. They could possibly make Karnak into Shang Chi 2.0 since he is a master of all martial arts.

DrZola

I can’t wait to see what they do with his comic ability to study the opponent and learn their flaws/weaknesses. There is so much potential with that sort of ability in game.

When you say “comic,” I hope you mean “in the comics.” Much of the current Karnak could be considered “comic.”

Dr. Zola

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odishika123

Even when I didn't have him I always felt that he deserved better in the comic's he is Op as ####
The ability to see any weakness or fault in anything

When black panther invaded the inhumans he saw Karnak as the biggest threat and took him out

Really excited for his buff

MaxtheSilent

@DrZola I was so excited to see this post at this moment. I literally just pulled Karnak as a 6* minutes ago. I saw him, sighed, then remembered the buff and “ran” to the forum. I knew it was too soon to see the spotlight but I needed hope, Your optimism is infectious and I too am now excited for this buff. I’m going to enjoy this feeling until the actual buff details drop and I come crashing back to reality…unless you’re right!

mostlyharmlessn

Confession time: I’m sure I’m having a “Lucy-and-the-football” kind of moment, but I’m riding a wild wave of optimism about the Karnak buff.

Sure, a lot of recent buffs have fallen flat. Sure, Karnak needs a lot of love. Sure, faith in the game is kind of at low tide right now.

But…I’ve got hope for Karnak nevertheless. Maybe it’s the seasonal changes in the air. Maybe it’s the fact that there’s so little to lose with Karnak. Maybe I’ve had too much coffee…

Dr. Zola

I'm going with it being the smell of far too much pumpkin spice in the air.... since you know a pumpkin is about the only thing at this point Karnak would be useful fighting against....

Hopefully Kabam proves me wrong.

Zeraphan

I want him to become the skill version of Corvus where he learns from previous fights to become stronger in future fights.

2StarKing

I haven't read the buff. However, all these Karnak threads have me getting excited and... disappointed I haven't pulled him more often.

SirGamesBond

Godnack, confirmed.

Hoitado

I swear if they make Karnak worse…

TheLegend27

I'm in the same boat. I don't know why, but I'm really expecting Karnak to become a top skill champ lol

I don't think I've been as excited for any other buff. Have everything ready to R3 my 6* Karnak if he turns out to be as good as I'm hoping

Denslo500

@DrZola
Fingers crossed for ya man.

Karnak deserves a solid buff.

Terra

I'm all for it. He's so close to being great, just needs some tiny changes. Be it debuff shrugging extending to all debuffs, or getting passive furies and cruelty's related to how long he's been Focused.

DrZola

Apoc style resistance that works across fights + increased AAR as that carries across fights

Confession time: I’m sure I’m having a “Lucy-and-the-football” kind of moment, but I’m riding a wild wave of optimism about the Karnak buff.

Sure, a lot of recent buffs have fallen flat. Sure, Karnak needs a lot of love. Sure, faith in the game is kind of at low tide right now.

But…I’ve got hope for Karnak nevertheless. Maybe it’s the seasonal changes in the air. Maybe it’s the fact that there’s so little to lose with Karnak. Maybe I’ve had too much coffee…

Dr. Zola
I'm going with it being the smell of far too much pumpkin spice in the air.... since you know a pumpkin is about the only thing at this point Karnak would be useful fighting against....

Hopefully Kabam proves me wrong.

Ahh my old buddy bringing me back down to earth! I’ve missed you on here!

Dr. Zola

Rockypantherx

Honestly, I’m with you on this. I think Karnak has a massive amount of potential. I don’t agree he’s currently useless, he’s very sustainable with suicides, crits like a monster, and true strike is always good

Don’t get me wrong, he isn’t anywhere close to good but he’s much better than the Moon Knights and OG Iron Man’s of the game.

I’m expecting a lot of Defensive ability accuracy reduction, probably true focus, a lot of crits, maybe some passive cruelties, and hopefully retains his poison resistance

Am I being over optimistic (for once)?

Maybe. I have just had any 4th coffee of the day.

Deacon

calm down killer LOL @DrZola .. i'm hoping they do him justice because NO ONE in their right playing mind is using this guy currently lol

Rookiie

Honestly, I’m with you on this. I think Karnak has a massive amount of potential. I don’t agree he’s currently useless, he’s very sustainable with suicides, crits like a monster, and true strike is always good

Don’t get me wrong, he isn’t anywhere close to good but he’s much better than the Moon Knights and OG Iron Man’s of the game.

I’m expecting a lot of Defensive ability accuracy reduction, probably true focus, a lot of crits, maybe some passive cruelties, and hopefully retains his poison resistance

Am I being over optimistic (for once)?

Maybe. I have just had any 4th coffee of the day.

Damn. I am still on one, and it has done nothing for me. I must have another.

Also, addressing you & @Terra, he might not be the worst champ in the game, but everything he does somebody else does much much better.
And what he does isn't very niche or special.
I will take the overhaul hoping that he gets an ability or utility right out of the top drawer.

DrZola

calm down killer LOL @DrZola .. i'm hoping they do him justice because NO ONE in their right playing mind is using this guy currently lol

I know, I know. He’s just incredibly close to being very good for a champ that’s on no one’s hit list.

Also: bonus points for whoever can remember who coined the term “irrational exuberance” without looking it up online.

Dr. Zola

thanks4playing

I also have that same feeling with Karnak (hence my pfp change). I felt the same way when Ultron, Diablo, and Miles were announced for buffs. I have a feeling that he'll have a similar mechanic as Shang, where different comboes produce different abilities.

But I guess we will have to wait till the new spotlight and then wait further to see him in game.

TrashyPanda

Godnack, confirmed.

I let out an audible "Ugh", lol.

Yeah, I'm excited about his potential; just his base as inspiration could lead to some amazing kits. Overall, as with Nebula, I stand dangerously optimistic.

KingInBlack

Having pulled and duped him recently back to back (featured first then basic) I sure hope you're right. There's a lot to work with with Karnak so it's certainly possible. After the Gully debacle though I'll stick to hope for the best, prepare for the worst.

DrZola

His current incarnation in Warren Ellis’ “The Flaw in All Things” comic run is pretty great. He’s a detective type who cannot help but see flaws and weaknesses in his mission to help Coulson and SHIELD.

That Karnak is a bada$$. Hope we get him.

Dr. Zola

Shadowstrike

Hope for the best, prep for the worst. 🤞

Lovejoy72

He was my first six* in my first dupe at 6*. I spent much of late last year comically threatening to take him to rank three to get thronebreaker. I’m now hoping that kabam makes those jokes impossible to understand.

DrZola

There’s honestly no downside in my opinion. If he’s still not useful for advanced content, well he wasn’t anyway. If he’s just arena fodder post-buff, then same as it ever was.

Dr. Zola

Drax_Reflexologist

@DrZola I recall A certain Mr. Greenspan using the term quite a while ago. Not sure if he coined it, but that's where I first heard it.

Deacon

There’s honestly no downside in my opinion. If he’s still not useful for advanced content, well he wasn’t anyway. If he’s just arena fodder post-buff, then same as it ever was.

Dr. Zola

you're absolutely right so it's a win win really .. either he's the same or better.

DrZola

@DrZola I recall A certain Mr. Greenspan using the term quite a while ago. Not sure if he coined it, but that's where I first heard it.

Bingo!!! You win a fabulous Marvel No-Prize!!!

Dr. Zola

odishika123

If he is half as good as Mag's
I'll rank 2 my Groot