My predictions for Junes Champions (Northstar and Arcade)

I fear this will be 2024s worst month for champions. One annoying roadblock defender and the other will fade into obscurity.

On Arcade I’m cautious but excited. I think he will be a fun champion on attack to learn how to play and how to get the maximum out of him. He looks like a champion who can do some real damage and in a fun way. But im scared for him defensively. Anyone with a Vox doesn’t have to worry (I’ll be taking mine to R2 ASAP) but outside of Vox I don’t see very many brilliant counters. Another one of these horrible roadblock defenders kabam? Really? Seems as if there’s a new one every month at this rate, but we’re not getting offensive counters quickly enough. I think shocker will also be a counter to him, but we will still have to be wary of the poison damage (any poison and shock immune champs out, which aren’t Emma, hit me up)

On Northstar I feel he will become almost irrelevant. Hasn’t got the quick burst required for battlegrounds, no immunities, high damage sure but how many long ramp high damage champs do we already have? We don’t need any more kabam. At least quicksilver has a plethora of utilities and a controllable damage output that can be customised for any length of fight (with enough practise) looks like Northstar is going to have the same jarring animations but not as many upsides. I mean if you want to make a champion for the necropolis at least give them reverse control immunity or autoblock counter (seems like half the fights in there have one of the two). I honestly don’t see where he’s going to be used, and I think many others have the same apprehension.

Either way this looks to be 2024s “worst” month for champions. Not to say that they are both terrible and useless, but kabam have been on a good streak so far (despite all the horrors of bullseye and serpent we are still rueing over) it’s a shame that June will be the end of that great streak.

Comments

Buttehrs

I mean, there's always going to be a "worst" month of the year. For all you know, next month will be even more lackluster. But compared to what we used to get 7 years ago, it's ok. Not every champ needs to be an absolute banger.

Emilia90

Arcade doesn’t look like a roadblock defender lmao. He looks a little annoying but more in line with the likes of other annoying champs to fight instead of the next Bullseye or Serpent

We’ll have to see when it comes to Northstar but I don’t think this looks like a bad month at all. Arcade looks cool and Northstar could have some potential uses but I’d like to get my hands on him first. Either way, they look leagues more interesting than champs like Spider-Punk and Silver Sable

captain_rogers

Gorr is a perfect arcade counter.

Wicket329

Every few months we have people naysaying champions who aren’t in the game yet or who were just released, and then not long after that they find their place in the game. Take a beat, it’s much too early to be stressing about this.

Also, I think Angela is going to be a fantastic Arcade counter. Her sig counters his autoblock. Based on his kit, it’s possible he has 200% autoblock ability accuracy as a defender, but Angela can overcome that with enough buffs. I run mine with the Thor relic, which helps amp that number up.

Fryday

Hi @TP33 ,

Hulking and Maestro (I'm sure there are more) are both Shock and Poison immune.

However, this doesn't stop Arcade getting his chances and being able to Autoblock his opponents.

Arcade sig ability also let him Autoblock Unblockable, so Hulking is not a sure thing either.

Sure will be interesting, we will find out how much a pain he will be this week.

Just think, this is after Kabam already recognised the CCPs feedback regarding too many 5/5 Defenders. There is a possible the Arcade would've been even more annoying Def 🤣

EdisonLaw

Vox seems to be the perfect counter to Arcade. Serpent could also work

TP33

Arcade doesn’t look like a roadblock defender lmao. He looks a little annoying but more in line with the likes of other annoying champs to fight instead of the next Bullseye or Serpent

I disagree here, his autoblock has like 3 real in game counters right now (Gorr, Vox, Shocker) outside of those 3 champion hes gonna suck to fight against (especially as there are only 2 champions who are both shock and poison immune, neither of which can prevent his autoblock)

Wicket329

Arcade doesn’t look like a roadblock defender lmao. He looks a little annoying but more in line with the likes of other annoying champs to fight instead of the next Bullseye or Serpent

I disagree here, his autoblock has like 3 real in game counters right now (Gorr, Vox, Shocker) outside of those 3 champion hes gonna suck to fight against (especially as there are only 2 champions who are both shock and poison immune, neither of which can prevent his autoblock)

Plus she’s a tactic attacker this season. At sig 200, she would need 6 buffs to completely overcome a 200% chance to autoblock. This is actually super easy for her to do with a relic. If you throw Odin prefights on, she practically starts at 6 buffs.

My Angela is sig 80, so I’d need 9 buffs. Definitely harder to do, but not insurmountable.

Ultragamer

Arcade looks like a fun and amazing offensive and defensive champ 5 immunities and he applies those 5 dot through his abilities counters some nice things but I’m a little disappointed in northstar looks like a mutant who will fade away

ItsClobberinTime

Arcade doesn't look like a roadblock at all, he looks like a very well designed dual threat is all. No way he's at Serpent or Bullseye level, you're crazy if you think he is lol.

NüΚΞ

Arcade doesn’t look like a roadblock defender lmao. He looks a little annoying but more in line with the likes of other annoying champs to fight instead of the next Bullseye or Serpent

I disagree here, his autoblock has like 3 real in game counters right now (Gorr, Vox, Shocker) outside of those 3 champion hes gonna suck to fight against (especially as there are only 2 champions who are both shock and poison immune, neither of which can prevent his autoblock)

Adam warlock is almost always unblockable. Should make decent work of him

ItsClobberinTime

Arcade doesn’t look like a roadblock defender lmao. He looks a little annoying but more in line with the likes of other annoying champs to fight instead of the next Bullseye or Serpent

I disagree here, his autoblock has like 3 real in game counters right now (Gorr, Vox, Shocker) outside of those 3 champion hes gonna suck to fight against (especially as there are only 2 champions who are both shock and poison immune, neither of which can prevent his autoblock)

You can literally just parry and heavy and you get rid off the auto block completely you don't need a counter for that.

ItsClobberinTime

Arcade doesn’t look like a roadblock defender lmao. He looks a little annoying but more in line with the likes of other annoying champs to fight instead of the next Bullseye or Serpent

I disagree here, his autoblock has like 3 real in game counters right now (Gorr, Vox, Shocker) outside of those 3 champion hes gonna suck to fight against (especially as there are only 2 champions who are both shock and poison immune, neither of which can prevent his autoblock)
Adam warlock is almost always unblockable. Should make decent work of him

He gains steadfast buffs if he's awakened so unblockable won't work.

Magrailothos

Arcade doesn’t look like a roadblock defender lmao. He looks a little annoying but more in line with the likes of other annoying champs to fight instead of the next Bullseye or Serpent

I disagree here, his autoblock has like 3 real in game counters right now (Gorr, Vox, Shocker) outside of those 3 champion hes gonna suck to fight against (especially as there are only 2 champions who are both shock and poison immune, neither of which can prevent his autoblock)
You can literally just parry and heavy and you get rid off the auto block completely you don't need a counter for that.

You don't get rid of it, though: just bypass it for that hit. He retains his Arcade tokens, as far as I can see; unless I've misunderstood. Any kind of Limber or stun immunity will make this a short-term solution.

A couple of thoughts, though:
- I don't know if he's #Metal, but if he is, then obviously Magneto will work.
- Attuma is a non-cosmic option: he has access to True Accuracy, and should happily invert Arcade's attempts to reduce its Ability Accuracy, like he does with Peni Parker.

ItsClobberinTime

Arcade doesn’t look like a roadblock defender lmao. He looks a little annoying but more in line with the likes of other annoying champs to fight instead of the next Bullseye or Serpent

I disagree here, his autoblock has like 3 real in game counters right now (Gorr, Vox, Shocker) outside of those 3 champion hes gonna suck to fight against (especially as there are only 2 champions who are both shock and poison immune, neither of which can prevent his autoblock)
You can literally just parry and heavy and you get rid off the auto block completely you don't need a counter for that.
You don't get rid of it, though: just bypass it for that hit. He retains his Arcade tokens, as far as I can see; unless I've misunderstood. Any kind of Limber or stun immunity will make this a short-term solution.

A couple of thoughts, though:
- I don't know if he's #Metal, but if he is, then obviously Magneto will work.
- Attuma is a non-cosmic option: he has access to True Accuracy, and should happily invert Arcade's attempts to reduce its Ability Accuracy, like he does with Peni Parker.

They said when he is knocked down he loses tokens, they didn't mention specifically if this happens only on attack or both attack and defense (I know it was showcased on attack) so we'll see. Even if it doesn't remove tokens you can still just parry and heavy to play around it I don't see the big deal other than yes no Hulkling or Adam which is good not every cosmic powerhouse should delete every tech champ with ease.

captain_rogers

Good thing is, You can launch heavies against him, he won't resist it like peni.

Also herc can work with his stun immunity, so you can let him autoblock and recover.

Magrailothos

Arcade doesn’t look like a roadblock defender lmao. He looks a little annoying but more in line with the likes of other annoying champs to fight instead of the next Bullseye or Serpent

I disagree here, his autoblock has like 3 real in game counters right now (Gorr, Vox, Shocker) outside of those 3 champion hes gonna suck to fight against (especially as there are only 2 champions who are both shock and poison immune, neither of which can prevent his autoblock)
You can literally just parry and heavy and you get rid off the auto block completely you don't need a counter for that.
You don't get rid of it, though: just bypass it for that hit. He retains his Arcade tokens, as far as I can see; unless I've misunderstood. Any kind of Limber or stun immunity will make this a short-term solution.

A couple of thoughts, though:
- I don't know if he's #Metal, but if he is, then obviously Magneto will work.
- Attuma is a non-cosmic option: he has access to True Accuracy, and should happily invert Arcade's attempts to reduce its Ability Accuracy, like he does with Peni Parker.
They said when he is knocked down he loses tokens, they didn't mention specifically if this happens only on attack or both attack and defense (I know it was showcased on attack) so we'll see. Even if it doesn't remove tokens you can still just parry and heavy to play around it I don't see the big deal other than yes no Hulkling or Adam which is good not every cosmic powerhouse should delete every tech champ with ease.

Oh yeah, sorry I see the knockdown = lose 5 tokens, now.

That's definitely more manageable. As you say, it'll be irritating (especially with the inevitable Quest nodes that will probably give him extra Tokens/stun immunity in this month's EQ 😉) but it won't be that bad.

Superstar_1126

Vox could possibly be the absolute best counter to Arcade. But there are other options too. Angela, Gorr, Hulkling, Maestro, Super Skrull, Serpent, CGR can all be possible counters. Or you can js Herc him since im pretty sure he doesnt affect True abilities like Herc's True Sense

mbrace

I have read the spotlight descriptions, and I believe that both fail to address what is needed in the meta. For Tech, you want champs that can deal with Onslaught while still handling most other mutants. Arcade doesn’t do that. For mutant, we need more abilities like what Onslaught and NTW have to destroy the skill class. Northstar doesn’t have that. Maybe these are still good general use champs. Who knows.

13579rebel_

Arcade will have Mysterio Ai

I'm calling it now