Back Issues #4: Waning Moon

Once upon a time, a rogue hero took matters into his own hands, seeking to dispel evil by any means. The Collector sought to return him to The Contest... via some unlikely allies.

Introducing Back Issues #4: Waning Moon

Available 10am PT, Wednesday December 11th!

As the Contest has grown and evolved we’ve introduced many Event Quests, each with their own unique stories, and many that have expanded on the mythos of The Battlerealm and The Contest of Champions. We want to give Veteran Summoners a way to relive those moments, and newer ones that weren’t with us at the time a chance to experience the stories of the Contest that they had missed out on!

This Event Quest is available in TWO difficulties:

CLASSIC difficulty is a recreation of the original quest. While not completely 1:1, the layouts, difficulty, and dialogue are all the same as you remember. Take a stroll down memory lane and see how far you've come, or experience a quest you never got the chance to play!

VARIANT difficulty is a new spin on the quest, available for Summoners level 45 and up. This version features extreme challenge, new opponents, some minor map layout updates, and Champion Requirements that will ask you to reach deep into your roster and pick up some old favorites. This quest will test even the mightiest of Summoners, so be prepared!

The Variant Challenges!

With each Back Issue Variant Difficulty, we aim to shake up the Summoners Roster, either through implicit, or explicit Champion Requirements. This time, we’re making Summoners dig deep into their Rosters, and reviving some of your old favourites through the use of Rarity Restrictions!

Each Quest will require you to bring only certain Rarity Champions. Remember, this is permanent Content, so if you’ve lost your lower Rarity Champions over time, you’ll have time to rebuild that Roster. To assist in this, Summoners over level 45 will regain access to the “Hero Crystal” in the Misc. tab of the store, which contains 1 and 2-Star Champions.

Quest 1: 5 and 6-Star Champions Only
Quest 2: 5-Star Champions Only
Quest 3: 4-Star Champions Only
Quest 4: 3-Star Champions Only
Quest 5: 2-Star Champions Only
Quest 6: 1-Star Champions Only

New Buffs
In addition to some challenging Buffs that you’ve probably already seen around the Contest, this Variant Difficulty will introduce 4 new Buffs:

Crackling Energy:
Striking the Defender with a Contact attack puts a Passive Energy Damage over time effect on the Attacker dealing 0.5% of their max health every second for 10 seconds, stacking up to 10 times. Striking the Defender with a Non-Contact attack Removes all stacks.

Fundamentals:
The Defender has a -100% chance to use Special Attacks, instead they gain a bonus based on their Current Power:

Less than 1 Bar: Reduce all incoming Damage by 95%
1 Bar: Gain +2100 Block Penetration
2 Bars: All Attacks are Unblockable
3 Bars: All Attacks are Unblockable and Charging a Heavy Attack deals 50% of the Defender's Attack as Direct Physical Damage.

Will of Konshu:
All of Moon Knight’s passive abilities are activated, regardless of the current lunar phase.

Echo Barrier:
Defender gains an energy barrier with 15 charges. Striking the Defender, applying a Bleed effect, or applying an Armour Break effect removes a charge. The Defender is immune to all damage while the barrier has charges remaining. Charges are restored to 15 every 20 seconds.

Rewards:

Like Back Issue #3, this Quest features 6 Individual Quests over 3 Chapters, unlike Back Issues #1 and #2, which featured 9. Quest Rewards reflect this.

For completing and exploring all of the Classic quests, you earn:
Tier 2 Generic ISO x3
Tier 3 Generic ISO x16
Tier 4 Generic ISO x9
Gold x9575
Units x150
Premium Hero Crystal Shards x8000
3-Star Hero Crystal Shards x2000
Stony Core x1

For completing and exploring all of the Variant quests, you earn:
5-Star Rank 2 → 3 Gem Crystal x3
5-Star Rank 3 → 4 Gem Crystal (2015/2016 Champs Only) x3
5-Star Rank 3 → 4 Gem Crystal x1
5-Star Rank 4 → 5 Gem Crystal x1
5-Star Awakening Gem Crystal x1
5-Star Crystal x2
Tier 5 Basic Catalyst Fragments x27000
6-Star Crystal Shards x2250
5-Star Signature Stone Crystal x42
Gold x2,100,000
Units x270

EDIT: Clarified the Collector Crystal is only available to Summoners: Level 45+

EDIT: There is a typo on the Fundamentals node that is displaying the wrong damage value for when the defender charges a Heavy Attack at 3 bars of Power. The actual damage value is 50% of the Defender's Attack. We have corrected that in this announcement and are working on getting this visual error corrected within the game as well.

Comments

Bugmat78

This variant was an absolute blast... until 3.2, I know it’s been mentioned quite a few times but it seems like the dev team had no idea what they were doing with some of these node combinations. Biohazard/caustic temper + bleed vulnerability? There are no 1* champs that fit that profile. Also Hulk is the only 1* you can use for caustic temper and OG Vision is the only champ I had to deal with biohazard which seemed cheap. Especially when biohazard had like 10 fights on it and Magik on caustic temper was pretty cheap too. Overall it was fantastic but 3.2 was pretty awful compared to the rest of V4.

Got to agree - that magik..getting limbo'd because you're trying to hit her when you do have a fury... Mordo wasn't so rgeat either but easier.

Bendy

Bring out more 1s for 3.2 as having 1 counter to caustic temper and 2 for bio them 2 paths suck and with bleed vulnerability it dont help due to none are poison immune or bleed immune

Frivolousz21

I really hope they don’t release a crystal with 1-2*’s. Will teach people a lesson. Don’t sell champs, even if they “aren’t viable”

9 1* champs
88 2* champs 47 of them max level high sig
142 3* champs 41 of them max level high sig

Not our fault you sold them.
I totally agree it's hilarious kabam never said that the low rarity champs would be useless going forward as you progress.

now so many post whining about not having one start champs that you had that you were given for free and you sold you know that's on you that's your bad.

Well actually it is Kabam fault, as they made those champions totally useless since day 1 and for 5 years. Now, all of a sudden, BOOM, you need a 1* champion to complete one of the most exciting part of the game with a lot of rewards. How stupid is this?

I like and support the idea of content like this, also still have my 1* so no problem. But the stupidity stay and I don't see why people can't get 1* champions without spending units. It looks to me like another way to grab some money.

I love how the people QQ’ing about not having the champs are the same ones in prior variants, we’re telling other champs “not all content is made for everyone.”

Turn about it fair play. This variant rewards those of us who play the collector game. Those of us who don’t/didn’t sell champs.

Maybe next variant you guys can have a shot at completing it.

In closing....
Not all content is made for everyone.

Epic!!

RagamugginGunner

1 - You should never sell champs. If you did then you have to own your mistakes.

2 - Kabam should have foreseen this and addressed it in a MUCH less cash grabby way. If they didn't want to put 1* in the 1v1 arena they could easily introduce objectives that award 1* champs. "Defeat Hulk 50 times and get a 1* Hulk" ect.

Basically, look at what's going to piss people off and give them a unit-free way to overcome the issue.

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RiderofHell

Is there a bleed immune 1* that can inflict bleed? Can't think of any and there is a path for it.

No but 1* gammora can bleed with her special

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RoninMan

This variant was an absolute blast... until 3.2, I know it’s been mentioned quite a few times but it seems like the dev team had no idea what they were doing with some of these node combinations. Biohazard/caustic temper + bleed vulnerability? There are no 1* champs that fit that profile. Also Hulk is the only 1* you can use for caustic temper and OG Vision is the only champ I had to deal with biohazard which seemed cheap. Especially when biohazard had like 10 fights on it and Magik on caustic temper was pretty cheap too. Overall it was fantastic but 3.2 was pretty awful compared to the rest of V4.
U have 2 Heroes who can handle it, where is the prob after each fight just heal them up u get enough small health for free

No I have one champ, didn’t you read my post? While there may be 3 1* champs available to do biohazard I only had one of the 7 1* I had.

TyEdge

Oh! Something that I've notice that a lot of Veteran players might not be aware of is that you can score 2-Star Champions from Completion of the Normal Difficulty of the Event Quest, and some of them are Rare 2-Stars. For instance, this month is Captain Marvel.

Now, I don't have her as a 3-6 Star, so I'm hoping that I can use her in this Variant.

This is an excellent note. Thanks for sharing. It’d be a great opportunity for summoners if the 1-stars to be added to beginner.

TyEdge

1 - You should never sell champs. If you did then you have to own your mistakes.

2 - Kabam should have foreseen this and addressed it in a MUCH less cash grabby way. If they didn't want to put 1* in the 1v1 arena they could easily introduce objectives that award 1* champs. "Defeat Hulk 50 times and get a 1* Hulk" ect.

Basically, look at what's going to piss people off and give them a unit-free way to overcome the issue.

1 is only partially true. Depending on when you became uncollected, there were times it was beneficial to sell those champs, and it wasn’t ever fully discussed (that I’m aware) that there would be 1-star only content.

I saved my champs, but I do think Kabam is handling this in a less-than-perfect way. If every uncollected player got the 6 1-stars in a crystal, it’d shut everyone up and offer minimal real benefit to the players.

Kabam Zibiit

Hey there everyone, we wanted to let you all know that there is a typo on the Fundamentals node that is displaying the wrong damage value for when the defender charges a Heavy Attack at 3 bars of Power. That part of the node is supposed to read "3 Bars: All Attacks are Unblockable and Charging a Heavy Attack deals 50% of the Defender's Attack as Direct Physical Damage."

We have corrected that in this announcement and are working on getting this visual error corrected within the game as well. We apologize for the confusion.

Etm34

3* OG Cap has been a beast for me so far! Even Jane Foster coming in clutch. I’ve loved this variant, and I’m so happy about this content. Gotten to use champs I haven’t touched in years.

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Guytennis

I’m happy about the fact that I get to dust off my army of lesser used champs. Since it’s nearly impossibly these days to get your hands on newest champs at 5* or higher (unless you’re willing to sacrifice your paycheck), this was an enjoyable way to use some of my favorite champions. The unfortunate part is the trash bag rewards. I have no interest in ranking up anymore garbage 5* champs from from 2016. Ranking a 5* from r2 to r3 is so meaningless these days, at least make those generic. The rng in this game obviously stock piles me with the same class of 2 to 3 that I have no use for.

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RoninMan

I’m happy about the fact that I get to dust off my army of lesser used champs. Since it’s nearly impossibly these days to get your hands on newest champs at 5* or higher (unless you’re willing to sacrifice your paycheck), this was an enjoyable way to use some of my favorite champions. The unfortunate part is the trash bag rewards. I have no interest in ranking up anymore garbage 5* champs from from 2016. Ranking a 5* from r2 to r3 is so meaningless these days, at least make those generic. The rng in this game obviously stock piles me with the same class of 2 to 3 that I have no use for.
Man I hear that. I just have the awful paths in 3.2 left (biohazard and caustic temper) and before I opened my gems I said in my ally chat I'm good with any class 2016 gems but skill and tech, I already used a 2016 skill on CB and 2016 tech is basically non existent since LOL Ultron oddly doesn't count. Guess what my two 2016 gems were? Same for the 2-3, I only ever pull the classes which I have catalysts in overflow constantly and can't pull worthwhile champs from those classes. So like you I have an overstocked inventory of all the same classes and year based gems that will collect dust forever waiting for a champ to get buffed which happens to two champs every 6 months, so basically unusable "rewards".

Skill and mystic were basically the only two classes I didn’t want so I got 2 skill and 1 mystic. I’ll use one of my skill on CB and probably the other one on Falcon just for **** and giggles

Worknprogress

I’m happy about the fact that I get to dust off my army of lesser used champs. Since it’s nearly impossibly these days to get your hands on newest champs at 5* or higher (unless you’re willing to sacrifice your paycheck), this was an enjoyable way to use some of my favorite champions. The unfortunate part is the trash bag rewards. I have no interest in ranking up anymore garbage 5* champs from from 2016. Ranking a 5* from r2 to r3 is so meaningless these days, at least make those generic. The rng in this game obviously stock piles me with the same class of 2 to 3 that I have no use for.
Man I hear that. I just have the awful paths in 3.2 left (biohazard and caustic temper) and before I opened my gems I said in my ally chat I'm good with any class 2016 gems but skill and tech, I already used a 2016 skill on CB and 2016 tech is basically non existent since LOL Ultron oddly doesn't count. Guess what my two 2016 gems were? Same for the 2-3, I only ever pull the classes which I have catalysts in overflow constantly and can't pull worthwhile champs from those classes. So like you I have an overstocked inventory of all the same classes and year based gems that will collect dust forever waiting for a champ to get buffed which happens to two champs every 6 months, so basically unusable "rewards".
Skill and mystic were basically the only two classes I didn’t want so I got 2 skill and 1 mystic. I’ll use one of my skill on CB and probably the other one on Falcon just for **** and giggles

I got 3 mutant and already have colossus at R4 lol

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benshb

Best. Content. Ever.

Star_Lord_

Thanks Kabam, you have rekindled the romance between Scarlet Witch and I. Since she is not available as a 5/6* I have forgotten how much fun she is to play. Please keep making more content like this!

Raganator

That was fun. Really enjoyed that variant. I have more 3-4 mystic gems than I know what to do with...but still fun.

Kenny292

Chapter 2 was the most fun to me with the widest variety of champs available to use. I know it’s not likely, but I’d love to have a variant entirely dedicated to using 3* and 4* champs.

Timone147

Compelted 100%. Only issue in this I truly see is the one super cheap path in and mordo mini in 3.2.

This is a very cash grab set up because if you arent lucky enough to possess a 1* hulk it's basically either roll Crystal's until you get one or spend on potions to power through a miserable path.

The path is annoyingly long fight wise even with hulk due to the sporadic nature of his fury and that fury is basically a luck fiesta with the limbo proc but its still doable with him.

Overall outside of the caustic temper node in chapter 3 the rest of this seemed fair and honestly easier than the other variant overall hy far. That one node is very much a cash grab move on appearance and should be looked at. The odds of pulling a 1* hulk out if a rng Crystal that offers lower rate of 1* vs 2* is really a low blow to the player base because you could spend hundreds to thousands of units and not get what you want on trying to get a 1* champs that you likely will never need or use again outside of fighting this one nodes

BowTieJohn

Once I can get past Quest 1 and 2 I can see me finishing this fairly quick especially considering I haven't sold any of my champions.

I have a limited 5* roster and my highest rank 5*s are rank 3. Here is my roster. I will certainly take advice and suggestions on who to level up and who would be some good options.
Havok
Doc Ock
Spider Gwen
Iceman
Green Goblin
Angela
Vision (OG)
Iron Patriot
Iron Man (OG)
Luke Cage
Groot
Juggernaut
Agent Venom
Unstoppable Colossus
Steath Suit Spidey

BowTieJohn

Once I can get past Quest 1 and 2 I can see me finishing this fairly quick especially considering I haven't sold any of my champions.

I have a limited 5* roster and my highest rank 5*s are rank 3. Here is my roster. I will certainly take advice and suggestions on who to level up and who would be some good options.
Havok
Doc Ock
Spider Gwen
Iceman
Green Goblin
Angela
Vision (OG)
Iron Patriot
Iron Man (OG)
Luke Cage
Groot
Juggernaut
Agent Venom
Unstoppable Colossus
Steath Suit Spidey

I tried to edit prior post and couldn't. Here is more information about my 5*s.

J0sh_Edwards

Really struggling on the deadpool boss as I don’t have ghost and ideas on how to beat deadpool or is deadpool working as intended

Danklacrank1

Sick of variants why don't you make one that doesn't ignore 90% of your players it's either stupid easy or stupid hard no medium difficulty everytime a new variant comes out it only annoys me

Gamer

Sick of variants why don't you make one that doesn't ignore 90% of your players it's either stupid easy or stupid hard no medium difficulty everytime a new variant comes out it only annoys me

This one was perfectly aside from the cystal with 1 and 2 star

RogerRabs

Sick of variants why don't you make one that doesn't ignore 90% of your players it's either stupid easy or stupid hard no medium difficulty everytime a new variant comes out it only annoys me

They're not going anywhere. One day you will have a strong enough roster to tackle them. Until then there is plenty for you to do.

Game has hundreds of thousands of players, so forgive them if they don't design every piece of content around YOU.