What is happening to Match Pairing? BG and Arena Ridiculous and Frustrating

Look, I'm new to the game but I see there is a lot of discussion going around about this on Reddit and here. I share the sentiment that the game can become extremely frustrating when you can't actually play because they pair you with impossible competition.

Personally, I think its good to pair with hardcore competition, but in a manner that makes sense. If you win in Arena for example and each time you win they pair you with a +10% difficulty or Hero Rating average, and slowly builds to it - Great, that makes sense.

But literally on Win Streak 7, I got paired with this.

What the hell? It just doesn't make sense and it's very frustrating when you are trying to build up the x3 bonus..

And I'm not even going to go into Battlegrounds....

I just wish KABAM worked on this.

Comments

Furrymoosen

One note before we get into more specifics. Use class advantage. Should've used Luke Cage against Shathra and Stryfe against Black Cat. Always opt for class advantage when possible. These were winnable (based on skill) fights.

Now, let's talk arena. The idea that you can go on infinitely in arena (infinite streak) is a bug that has been in the game for many years. Once upon a time, Kabam "fixed" said bug and ruined the game mode, so they brought the bug back. To take advantage of said bug, you need to follow a fairly strict pattern to avoid what we refer to as "death matches". What you faced is not a death match, but a strategy that can be used in arena to make matchups easier.

The system is going to look at your total PI and find an opponent that fits within a certain difficulty range based on several different factors. Now, your total PI was around 29k while your opponents was around 40-42k. Had that been spread evenly across all 3 opponents, it wouldn't have been that noticeable. Around this streak, you can expect to fine opponents around 1.5 times your size (or bigger) because that is what the program is set to do. It is supposed to get harder as you progress, as much as 3-4x larger depending on your streak and your champions.

Once you hit a high enough streak and use high enough champions, the system kinda breaks down and because it can no longer find a set at the specified difficulty rating it just finds the closest it can. Once you pass a certain streak (around 20+), the game really only finds opponents at or around the same PI, unless you use champs that are too low and you then you get a death match. If the highest possible opponent is around 130k PI, then you won't face them with a 60k PI team. Use a team under 30k though and you're cooked. But again, this only applies to higher streaks.

To get to those higher streaks, you need to learn how to work the system. Here is my routine, if it helps:

0-10 - 3 R1 6*, starting at the lowest
11-20 - 3 R3 6* - I face big opponents at 11 and 12 and then it shifts to super easy Thanos teams from 13-15, then players with matching PI from there
21+ - full roster from top down until I hit max milestone.

If your roster isn't big enough (which I know it isn't), you will have to adjust from this. Also, when you are above 20 in the milestones, don't use champs with a PI under 12-13k.

For your roster, start with R1 5* until rank 9ish (depending on how difficult they get), then move to the sandbag method that the other player showed you an example of here. So I would try...

0-8 - 3 R1 5*
9-11 - 2 R3 5*, 1 R1 4*
12-14 - 3 R4 5*
15+ - top of roster down until PI reaches 13k or lower

The sandbag approach should give you 2 easier fights by sacrificing one of them, but it will keep your streak alive.

It's been a long time since I did the infinite steak with this small of a roster, but I think it should still work. Don't hold me to that though.

captain_rogers

One note before we get into more specifics. Use class advantage. Should've used Luke Cage against Shathra and Stryfe against Black Cat. Always opt for class advantage when possible. These were winnable (based on skill) fights.

Now, let's talk arena. The idea that you can go on infinitely in arena (infinite streak) is a bug that has been in the game for many years. Once upon a time, Kabam "fixed" said bug and ruined the game mode, so they brought the bug back. To take advantage of said bug, you need to follow a fairly strict pattern to avoid what we refer to as "death matches". What you faced is not a death match, but a strategy that can be used in arena to make matchups easier.

The system is going to look at your total PI and find an opponent that fits within a certain difficulty range based on several different factors. Now, your total PI was around 29k while your opponents was around 40-42k. Had that been spread evenly across all 3 opponents, it wouldn't have been that noticeable. Around this streak, you can expect to fine opponents around 1.5 times your size (or bigger) because that is what the program is set to do. It is supposed to get harder as you progress, as much as 3-4x larger depending on your streak and your champions.

Once you hit a high enough streak and use high enough champions, the system kinda breaks down and because it can no longer find a set at the specified difficulty rating it just finds the closest it can. Once you pass a certain streak (around 20+), the game really only finds opponents at or around the same PI, unless you use champs that are too low and you then you get a death match. If the highest possible opponent is around 130k PI, then you won't face them with a 60k PI team. Use a team under 30k though and you're cooked. But against, this only applies to higher streaks.

To get to those higher streaks, you need to learn how to work the system. Here is my routine, if it helps:

0-10 - 3 R1 6*, starting at the lowest
11-20 - 3 R3 6* - I face big opponents at 11 and 12 and then it shifts to super easy Thanos teams from 13-15, then players with matching PI from there
21+ - full roster from top down until I hit max milestone.

If your roster isn't big enough (which I know it isn't), you will have to adjust from this. Also, when you are above 20 in the milestones, don't use champs with a PI under 12-13k.

For your roster, start with R1 5* until rank 9ish (depending on how difficult they get), then move to the sandbag method that the other player showed you an example of here. So I would try...

0-8 - 3 R1 5*
9-11 - 2 R3 5*, 1 R1 4*
12-14 - 3 R4 5*
15+ - top of roster down until PI reaches 13k or lower

It's been a long time since I did the infinite steak with this small of a roster, but I think it should still work. Don't hold me to that though.

I believe infinity streak strategy is alittle different now with the introduction of 7* r3s.

Furrymoosen

One note before we get into more specifics. Use class advantage. Should've used Luke Cage against Shathra and Stryfe against Black Cat. Always opt for class advantage when possible. These were winnable (based on skill) fights.

Now, let's talk arena. The idea that you can go on infinitely in arena (infinite streak) is a bug that has been in the game for many years. Once upon a time, Kabam "fixed" said bug and ruined the game mode, so they brought the bug back. To take advantage of said bug, you need to follow a fairly strict pattern to avoid what we refer to as "death matches". What you faced is not a death match, but a strategy that can be used in arena to make matchups easier.

The system is going to look at your total PI and find an opponent that fits within a certain difficulty range based on several different factors. Now, your total PI was around 29k while your opponents was around 40-42k. Had that been spread evenly across all 3 opponents, it wouldn't have been that noticeable. Around this streak, you can expect to fine opponents around 1.5 times your size (or bigger) because that is what the program is set to do. It is supposed to get harder as you progress, as much as 3-4x larger depending on your streak and your champions.

Once you hit a high enough streak and use high enough champions, the system kinda breaks down and because it can no longer find a set at the specified difficulty rating it just finds the closest it can. Once you pass a certain streak (around 20+), the game really only finds opponents at or around the same PI, unless you use champs that are too low and you then you get a death match. If the highest possible opponent is around 130k PI, then you won't face them with a 60k PI team. Use a team under 30k though and you're cooked. But against, this only applies to higher streaks.

To get to those higher streaks, you need to learn how to work the system. Here is my routine, if it helps:

0-10 - 3 R1 6*, starting at the lowest
11-20 - 3 R3 6* - I face big opponents at 11 and 12 and then it shifts to super easy Thanos teams from 13-15, then players with matching PI from there
21+ - full roster from top down until I hit max milestone.

If your roster isn't big enough (which I know it isn't), you will have to adjust from this. Also, when you are above 20 in the milestones, don't use champs with a PI under 12-13k.

For your roster, start with R1 5* until rank 9ish (depending on how difficult they get), then move to the sandbag method that the other player showed you an example of here. So I would try...

0-8 - 3 R1 5*
9-11 - 2 R3 5*, 1 R1 4*
12-14 - 3 R4 5*
15+ - top of roster down until PI reaches 13k or lower

It's been a long time since I did the infinite steak with this small of a roster, but I think it should still work. Don't hold me to that though.
I believe infinity streak strategy is alittle different now with the introduction of 7* r3s.

It has definitely shifted. Like I said, I haven't done it with that small of an account in a long time, so it's definitely possible that it won't work as I wrote it. Last time I used 5* in arena 6R3 was the top rank.

Crys23

Back when my roster wasn't strong enough to get past 15, I would either refresh my top3 champs with units, or wait for the timer to expire naturally.

My suggestion is to avoid the 6* arenas for now. You could try to get first couple milestones, but don't push. Instead, focus on the 4* arena and catalyst arenas (5* max)

willrun4adonut

Another piece of advice for arenas (that maybe you already know):

When the initial screen comes up with three different champs, you can select which group you want to fight. You can select change the order of your own champs to gain class advantage/favorable match ups.

GLYNMOOG

I appreciate the wish to help with the tips and all... I am aware I can select which group and I'm aware of class advantage, truth is I didn't bother with this one because I knew I was going to lose.

Anyway, I just wish it was a slow build up of a challenge, sort of like incursions. If each win streak they paired you up with someone 10% stronger at a time, it would be way more enjoyable and fun to play.

SummonerNR

(1st) You’re “sort of” on the mark when you say it increases by 10% each succeeding match in building up your streak.
It's really more like (in comparing Ranks of the 3 opponents to your own 3), that each match the opponent will have 1 of their 3 champs be 1 Rank higher than what you encountered the prior match (assuming your own team is same ranks as prior match).
And it starts off from a comparisons at Streak 0 of your team being 1 rank higher than opponent (across the board, and this is just using AVERAGES).
At Streak 3 then, your team should be similar average rank as opponents.
At Streak 6, opponents now have (all 3) become 1 rank higher than yours.
At Streak 9, opponents would be 2 ranks higher than yours (or if no such possible opponent strength exists because it would be above the max Rank for those allowed Star version of champs, is why the game will toss Thanos/Kang max teams at you)
Etc

(2nd) Your pic at Streak 7 should thus normally have 1 opponent at 2 ranks higher than yours, and the other 2 opponents still only 1 rank higher than yours.
**But (and if you didnt know, opponent teams are pulled by the game from among ACTUAL TEAMS than someone has used, except for when you start to encounter the Thanos/Kang no-mastery game teams), opponent in this case was pulled from someone who happened to use the “uneven (or some call sandbag) team”.
Which you can start to do yourself at about that level of your Streak (making it easier to continue streak, if doing uneven yourself make 2 your 3 fights easier than it would be if you used an “even” team)
Average Rank still holds, but is shifted up to the 2 champs you are targeting to win with, while barebones rank-1 champ pulls down the other 2nd overall average is still same.

And so the whole of opponent team is as if it were a 14,000 (x3) strength team. Which probably is indeed on par with only 1 or 2 ranks higher than yours (if it had been an evenly distributed 3 champs).

BringPopcorn

You triggered death matches, they can be avoided.
There are plenty videos on YT about it. Only problem is they are probably old videos, and the required PI to avoid it went up.

DNA3000

One note before we get into more specifics. Use class advantage. Should've used Luke Cage against Shathra and Stryfe against Black Cat. Always opt for class advantage when possible. These were winnable (based on skill) fights.

Now, let's talk arena. The idea that you can go on infinitely in arena (infinite streak) is a bug that has been in the game for many years. Once upon a time, Kabam "fixed" said bug and ruined the game mode, so they brought the bug back. To take advantage of said bug, you need to follow a fairly strict pattern to avoid what we refer to as "death matches". What you faced is not a death match, but a strategy that can be used in arena to make matchups easier.

The system is going to look at your total PI and find an opponent that fits within a certain difficulty range based on several different factors. Now, your total PI was around 29k while your opponents was around 40-42k. Had that been spread evenly across all 3 opponents, it wouldn't have been that noticeable. Around this streak, you can expect to fine opponents around 1.5 times your size (or bigger) because that is what the program is set to do. It is supposed to get harder as you progress, as much as 3-4x larger depending on your streak and your champions.

Once you hit a high enough streak and use high enough champions, the system kinda breaks down and because it can no longer find a set at the specified difficulty rating it just finds the closest it can. Once you pass a certain streak (around 20+), the game really only finds opponents at or around the same PI, unless you use champs that are too low and you then you get a death match. If the highest possible opponent is around 130k PI, then you won't face them with a 60k PI team. Use a team under 30k though and you're cooked. But against, this only applies to higher streaks.

To get to those higher streaks, you need to learn how to work the system. Here is my routine, if it helps:

0-10 - 3 R1 6*, starting at the lowest
11-20 - 3 R3 6* - I face big opponents at 11 and 12 and then it shifts to super easy Thanos teams from 13-15, then players with matching PI from there
21+ - full roster from top down until I hit max milestone.

If your roster isn't big enough (which I know it isn't), you will have to adjust from this. Also, when you are above 20 in the milestones, don't use champs with a PI under 12-13k.

For your roster, start with R1 5* until rank 9ish (depending on how difficult they get), then move to the sandbag method that the other player showed you an example of here. So I would try...

0-8 - 3 R1 5*
9-11 - 2 R3 5*, 1 R1 4*
12-14 - 3 R4 5*
15+ - top of roster down until PI reaches 13k or lower

It's been a long time since I did the infinite steak with this small of a roster, but I think it should still work. Don't hold me to that though.
I believe infinity streak strategy is alittle different now with the introduction of 7* r3s.

The numbers have changed, but the strategy is still basically the same. Think about how strong the strongest team that could possibly exist at the moment is in the arena. Try not to go lower than about one third that strength.

The game looks for matches of higher than higher strength as your streak increases. It maxes out at 4x your team strength. However, that 4x calculation is complicated, because for reasons not worth getting into here, the arena doesn't count certain things. For example, it doesn't count awakening and signature levels. It sees your team as if every champion was unawakened. Some have referred to this as "naked PI." It also doesn't count things like masteries when it looks for match ups (it does count them when it comes to points scored). So as a result, the "4x match up" it is looking for won't look like a 4x match up to your eyes, because you are seeing different numbers from the arena. Trying to stay above 1/3rd the top possible team is a fudge estimate to stay away from the 4x the arena is looking for.

If the arena cannot find a 4x opponent team, because no such team exists, it defaults to an easy match up until it can. That's where the infinite streak thing comes from, and that's also where deathmatches come from. If you go low enough that the arena *can* find a 4x match, you get that 4x match. And it inevitably looks like a monster team, because it is usually close to the highest possible team in the arena if you've been steadily going lower and lower with your own teams.

When Kabam releases new champs with high PI, or more importantly when they unlock new ranks for the top rarity champs, the highest possible team a player can use in the arena goes up, and the lowest safe team you can use in that arena also goes up.