How will ascension affect the games legacy

There's been alot of panic and debate surrounding the 7* ascension mechanics that are coming to the game in the spring. It's obvious that, on a deeper level, this is essentially the same thing as 8*s, but with big differences because you don't have to collect champs again.

I think this can go two different ways. It either goes beautifully and works how we think it should, or it turns into a money-grabbing clown fiesta. I know we don't really have much faith in Kabam due to the numerous issues lately (seriously, can we have an update on AI 2.0?), but there is a world where this really works out and is great for game health. And I think we will know which way this is going to go as soon as the first batch of ascendable champions is announced. That will be the make-or-break.

Controlling which 7*s can be ascended is a genuinely smart way to course-correct and change the power dynamics of champions and classes in the game. Essentially, it is a faster version of star locking champions and phasing them out of the meta. So if, for example, they never let us ascend Serpent, Dark Phoenix, Enchantress, Betsy, Bullseye, etc. The 10/5, unfun, bs defenders are all power crept and phased out significantly faster than they would be with 8*s.

So when we see the first batch of champions announced, with this all in mind, I think we will be able to see a clear direction for the game's future. If they have any of those champs listed, I think we're going the money-grabbing clown fiesta route. But if they don't and even have some counters to them in there, I think Kabam genuinely has the gears turning and the lights on over at HQ.

The last thing regarding the make-or-break I'll mention is the new crystal. Which I think can also be seen as a course correction. Let's be honest. They screwed up the titan, and they're in too deep to fix it. Their most premium crystal has lost a lot of its worth, and it isn't that exciting anymore. Not to mention the sig 200 and hoarding issues.
I think this new crystal, in game terms, will be the new "premium" crystal, instead of the titan and we'll see a shift toward making this what the titan should have been.

So TLDR: Let's wait and see. There will be clear indicators on how this is going to go down as soon as the first batch of ascendable champs are announced.

Comments

ItsClobberinTime

This is the #1 thing I’m worried about, they can easily milk ascension materials for bs defenders like Serpent and Capt. Britain and people WILL spend because of how dominant these champs are in competitive modes. In a perfect world (where their CEO actually listens to our feedback) all of these bs defenders and op attackers get almost completely phased out for a while just like they did with Hulkling Nimrod AA etc but considering how they’ve handled the game this year I doubt that is what they actually end up doing.

I guess we’ll have to see how player friendly upcoming sales and events are but I wouldn’t hold my breath. It’s just very unfortunate tho cause they got themselves in this mess when they created Serpent and decided not to nerf him when even Bullseye got a decent nerf, after Serpent things just got worse and worse with the bs defenders that require hard counters and are very tanky

SirGamesBond

I'm here... I'll be here. I never objected the introduction of 5 or 6 or 7* launch.

I don't have faith in Simon tbh.

It will depend on execution how ranks are acquired.

As of now this seems more monetized champion rarity ever were.

FiiNCH

I really like the fact we don’t have the daunting challenge of collecting champs all over again from scratch - especially when some people have paid to get champs in past sales.

I agree with the comments above, the roll out of ascensions could breathe new life into the game if done well.

SkyLord7000

The biggest thing I’m worried about would be the collection of these specific champion rank up materials. Do they just hand those out? Or is it another crystal you’d have to farm. I’m worried rank ups will be tied to multiple champs duplicates need to rank up the later into ascension you get.

FirstAvenger

They’re resetting the value of 7*s through ascension so they can stretch out the gap before 8*s drop. It keeps spending relevant and lets them reshuffle the meta without technically raising the star cap. Smart business move. 👏

unknown

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