Some thoughts on Shocker: I like what they did here
ESF
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Hi, folks! Hope all is well.
Shocker is one of those old-school characters who I will always mess around with in a game, because while I do think a lot of people are familiar with the character, he’s never really been overly used in comics. Cool costume, interesting powers, but usually no more than that.
So, how well did Kabam translate his powers into a kit for where this game is, in 2023?
I think…pretty well, actually.
I am aware that there is a BIG damage loop here, and I know some people get really sensitive about such things, but here’s what I always say about that, and it especially applies with Shocker: The kit doesn’t really contain of ton of stuff. So it better do one thing really well. And it does. But that one thing isn’t going to make everyone run and play it.
In 2023, this kit has one DoT immunity, in shock. One Passive Stun, on the SP2. Doesn’t crit. Removes Prowess, which is kinda neat. Dash unblockable after obtaining 50 charges, which aren’t too hard or too easy to acquire. An AutoBlock mechanic that I really don’t want to get hit enough to test, but t did work when I messed up once.
What it doesn’t have (correctly from the lore, I might add): No heal block. No power drain. No power lock. No regeneration. No armor break. No armor up. No fury. No DoT. No Taunt. No persistent charges.
So, yeah. This kit had better hit REALLY HARD when you run through the loop and build the VibroShocks, or this kit would be dead-on-arrival in this game, in 2023. Because it cannot do basically anything else.
I like this kit, for that reason. It’s easy to play. The loop isn’t complicated.
But you absolutely can’t take it everywhere — there are so many nodes and characters that are immediate counters and/or horrible matchups, that it balances the Nuke damage.
I like kits like this, and wish the game had more of them that were this easy but force you to make the choice between elite DPS or elite Utility, instead of an ugly mix of both that doesn’t make anyone happy.
Looking forward to seeing what people do with it, once the kit is widespread.
Shocker is one of those old-school characters who I will always mess around with in a game, because while I do think a lot of people are familiar with the character, he’s never really been overly used in comics. Cool costume, interesting powers, but usually no more than that.
So, how well did Kabam translate his powers into a kit for where this game is, in 2023?
I think…pretty well, actually.
I am aware that there is a BIG damage loop here, and I know some people get really sensitive about such things, but here’s what I always say about that, and it especially applies with Shocker: The kit doesn’t really contain of ton of stuff. So it better do one thing really well. And it does. But that one thing isn’t going to make everyone run and play it.
In 2023, this kit has one DoT immunity, in shock. One Passive Stun, on the SP2. Doesn’t crit. Removes Prowess, which is kinda neat. Dash unblockable after obtaining 50 charges, which aren’t too hard or too easy to acquire. An AutoBlock mechanic that I really don’t want to get hit enough to test, but t did work when I messed up once.
What it doesn’t have (correctly from the lore, I might add): No heal block. No power drain. No power lock. No regeneration. No armor break. No armor up. No fury. No DoT. No Taunt. No persistent charges.
So, yeah. This kit had better hit REALLY HARD when you run through the loop and build the VibroShocks, or this kit would be dead-on-arrival in this game, in 2023. Because it cannot do basically anything else.
I like this kit, for that reason. It’s easy to play. The loop isn’t complicated.
But you absolutely can’t take it everywhere — there are so many nodes and characters that are immediate counters and/or horrible matchups, that it balances the Nuke damage.
I like kits like this, and wish the game had more of them that were this easy but force you to make the choice between elite DPS or elite Utility, instead of an ugly mix of both that doesn’t make anyone happy.
Looking forward to seeing what people do with it, once the kit is widespread.
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Comments
I’d also like to point out you didn’t mention his removal of the limber mastery, which will make his style of play viable in battlegrounds and aw
But yeah. A good player should see good results in Battlegrounds, depending on the Meta.