So far I'm underwhelmed by Scream (at least in comparison to Medusa)

I've seen the videos of Scream being amazing at handling all sorts of defenders/content, and I know there are posts comparing Medusa and Scream as being similar levels of awesomeness, but when I compare her (as a 7R1) to my 7R1 Medusa, I find myself underwhelmed.

Medusa is just instant mindless damage after 1 SP1, and I can easily see the utility (poison immune, autoblock, true accuracy).

With Scream, I'm struggling here. After stacking my buffs, stacking debuffs on the opponent, and using my SP2, I can see that the damage is good, but its not amazing like everyone is claiming it to be. Is this a case of 7R1 compared to what a 7R2/7R3 Scream can do (for example, the greatness of Hulk-lock feels greater with a high ranked Hulk compared to low ranked Hulk), or is this more "user-error" (such as having to ensure 8 Madness everytime)?

And then in terms of Scream's concepts - I'm not sure I 'get' her buffs either. Vicious and Energize I get, but Bulwark only comes in handy a few times (for minimizing chip damage when autoblocking), and Impact seems pointless because your special is either unblockable or you have Undermine going cause you're not trying to hit into block.

I know Scream has some obvious utility in her Sig ability, and both Medusa and Scream can counter theoretically similar things. But I am left feeling that there is a certain 'messiness' with Scream's kit, that seems underwhelming to me.

Thoughts?

Comments

Oakenshield

Check out Simula67’s video on her from a couple of weeks ago. He provides some tips that help unlock her full potential.

Can’t give you much of a comparison between her and Medusa as I haven’t ranked my Medusa yet nor put her through the paces. Wouldn’t say I’ve even fully put Scream through her paces, but she has won me a number of BGs matches.

PT_99

Sp1 then sp2, win fights

What's the problem?

Hulk808

Have both at r3. Watch some vids on Scream. Medusa is easier to play and more straight forward.

Octoberstack

I've got both at R3, and I'm absolutely loving both!

Medusa is definitely much simpler to utilise to her full potential. Personally I think Scream has a higher potential in the right hands, but is certainly trickier to use.

Being able to easily consume her Madness at any point by charging a heavy to create easy openings via her autoblock is incredibly valuable - even moreso when against champs with non-contact basic attacks (i.e., basic attacks that you can't trigger a parry stun against). One of my favourite mechanics at the moment!

Since the autoblock charge is ONLY consumed when parrying a contact attack, you can charge a heavy at the start of a fight with, say, Onslaught, and just stand there while it autoblocks all of his non-contact attacks AND even resists all of his heavy attacks until eventually he is parry stunned when his contact attack hits (or, of course, the autoblock charge naturally expires).

You can see examples of this here:

https://youtu.be/Quui25i1frk?si=X0k5oA7UETLN1qc8 and here:

https://youtu.be/qLcsjspPo0k?si=FjD9PtBL9vgp8Mqx and (for a particularly funny interaction) here:

https://youtu.be/ZRMJQ7LZEFs?si=5k1ciaxwhzEUFWYS

Since each autoblock also inflicts a Bleed/Armour Break, you can essentially start her debuff ramp up without even needing to land a hit - of course until you run out of Madness charges.

Although she doesn't have immunities, her access to burst via Direct Damage (i.e., big red numbers) is in itself a great piece of utility.

Similarly, her access to Undermine (instead of a True effect) is fantastic against autoblock champs that will negative the effects of a True effect (i.e., Peni Parker). With the right rotation, you can even have a 100% uptime of Undermine without detracting much from her upper damage potential.

Once she's at high sig, she accesses additional utility. I think the tech-specific utility is particularly valuable at max sig, as it will prevent any tech defenders from starting a fight with any armour effects active (ability accuracy increasing abilities/nodes notwithstanding).

Different matchups will require you to use different rotations with Scream, and will require you to adjust your approach in real-time - which is why she's arguably a lot harder to master than Medusa. But I think that's precisely what makes her more versatile, and by consequence, more fulfilling (and subjectively "more fun") to play, in my opinion.

I won't go into all of the specifics here, but I think Allison Edits (https://youtube.com/@allisonedits?si=s1tsAMHOb4viWPDu) and Da Ppl Champ (https://youtube.com/@dapplchamp?si=CMgX9GQo5gTRfF41) have some really great videos on Scream at the moment that I'd recommend you checking out if you want to start delving a bit deeper into her different rotations and matchup possibilities!

Renaxqq

She's phenomenal! Got her from titan crystal and choose to awaken from titan nexus instead of taking new Leader or Superior Ironman. Took her to R3 sig 60. 135 hits against LOL Red Hulk and 38 hits against Winter Soldier! Sure awakaned ability gives really nice utility but still she's good.

Emilia90

I mean a r1 is a 6* r4 basically lol. You wouldn’t see the nutty numbers at that level, r2/r3 is needed for most champs to have that level of strength

Squidopus

Since the autoblock charge is ONLY consumed when parrying a contact attack, you can charge a heavy at the start of a fight with, say, Onslaught, and just stand there while it autoblocks all of his non-contact attacks AND even resists all of his heavy attacks until eventually he is parry stunned when his contact attack hits (or, of course, the autoblock charge naturally expires).

You can see examples of this here: https://youtu.be/Quui25i1frk?si=X0k5oA7UETLN1qc8 and here: https://youtu.be/qLcsjspPo0k?si=FjD9PtBL9vgp8Mqx and (for a particularly funny interaction) here: https://youtu.be/ZRMJQ7LZEFs?si=5k1ciaxwhzEUFWYS

At risk of poking the bear here, why isn’t Scream triggering daunted when she autoblocks Onslaught? That seems like a bug. Her autoblocks count as well-timed blocks (her kit explicitly states this, and if it didn’t she wouldn’t be able to trigger parry off of it) and Onslaught should inflict daunted debuffs when either champ performs a well-timed block. I don’t think it would affect the matchup too much if you play right, but I don’t think that looks like a correct interaction as is.

Bendy

Since the autoblock charge is ONLY consumed when parrying a contact attack, you can charge a heavy at the start of a fight with, say, Onslaught, and just stand there while it autoblocks all of his non-contact attacks AND even resists all of his heavy attacks until eventually he is parry stunned when his contact attack hits (or, of course, the autoblock charge naturally expires).

You can see examples of this here: https://youtu.be/Quui25i1frk?si=X0k5oA7UETLN1qc8 and here: https://youtu.be/qLcsjspPo0k?si=FjD9PtBL9vgp8Mqx and (for a particularly funny interaction) here: https://youtu.be/ZRMJQ7LZEFs?si=5k1ciaxwhzEUFWYS
At risk of poking the bear here, why isn’t Scream triggering daunted when she autoblocks Onslaught? That seems like a bug. Her autoblocks count as well-timed blocks (her kit explicitly states this, and if it didn’t she wouldn’t be able to trigger parry off of it) and Onslaught should inflict daunted debuffs when either champ performs a well-timed block. I don’t think it would affect the matchup too much if you play right, but I don’t think that looks like a correct interaction as is.

Maybe the infuriate debuff

Ashacekar

You don't know how to play her right.
For bg, only first two buffs are sufficient.
Do MM to add 1 vicious buff
One more MM to add another vicious buff
Do MLLL to change to power gain buff
Do MM to add 1 power gain buff
Do MM again to add one more power gain buff

Throw SP1. Do MLLLs and Race to SP2. You can repeat it again with no more MMs required.
For bigger health pools, There are 4 buffs to add, here just 2 needed.

You can also simply do sp1 and then sp2 with MLLLs if you don't understand the buffs.

Squidopus

Since the autoblock charge is ONLY consumed when parrying a contact attack, you can charge a heavy at the start of a fight with, say, Onslaught, and just stand there while it autoblocks all of his non-contact attacks AND even resists all of his heavy attacks until eventually he is parry stunned when his contact attack hits (or, of course, the autoblock charge naturally expires).

You can see examples of this here: https://youtu.be/Quui25i1frk?si=X0k5oA7UETLN1qc8 and here: https://youtu.be/qLcsjspPo0k?si=FjD9PtBL9vgp8Mqx and (for a particularly funny interaction) here: https://youtu.be/ZRMJQ7LZEFs?si=5k1ciaxwhzEUFWYS
At risk of poking the bear here, why isn’t Scream triggering daunted when she autoblocks Onslaught? That seems like a bug. Her autoblocks count as well-timed blocks (her kit explicitly states this, and if it didn’t she wouldn’t be able to trigger parry off of it) and Onslaught should inflict daunted debuffs when either champ performs a well-timed block. I don’t think it would affect the matchup too much if you play right, but I don’t think that looks like a correct interaction as is.
Maybe the infuriate debuff

That would prevent some of the daunted triggers, but her infuriate potency is only 30%, she’d need 4 of those active at all times to fully prevent the daunted and in those videos Scream never triggers a single one despite having only 1-2 infuriates.

Bendy

Since the autoblock charge is ONLY consumed when parrying a contact attack, you can charge a heavy at the start of a fight with, say, Onslaught, and just stand there while it autoblocks all of his non-contact attacks AND even resists all of his heavy attacks until eventually he is parry stunned when his contact attack hits (or, of course, the autoblock charge naturally expires).

You can see examples of this here: https://youtu.be/Quui25i1frk?si=X0k5oA7UETLN1qc8 and here: https://youtu.be/qLcsjspPo0k?si=FjD9PtBL9vgp8Mqx and (for a particularly funny interaction) here: https://youtu.be/ZRMJQ7LZEFs?si=5k1ciaxwhzEUFWYS
At risk of poking the bear here, why isn’t Scream triggering daunted when she autoblocks Onslaught? That seems like a bug. Her autoblocks count as well-timed blocks (her kit explicitly states this, and if it didn’t she wouldn’t be able to trigger parry off of it) and Onslaught should inflict daunted debuffs when either champ performs a well-timed block. I don’t think it would affect the matchup too much if you play right, but I don’t think that looks like a correct interaction as is.
Maybe the infuriate debuff
That would prevent some of the daunted triggers, but her infuriate potency is only 30%, she’d need 4 of those active at all times to fully prevent the daunted and in those videos Scream never triggers a single one despite having only 1-2 infuriates.

Good rng though can happen but most likely was from that though

dr2ws

I’ve been trying to follow the HLLLH way; and I don’t enjoy using it, typically if you were to go sp1 and sp2 you will need to do minimum 2 rotations in order to get them down.

She’s certainly a tech destroying machine however I find myself getting stressed out by her rotation involving the autoblocks, I have both at r2 and playing Medusa is just so much better.

GroundedWisdom

Not sure why we have to compare the two.

Ashacekar

I’ve been trying to follow the HLLLH way; and I don’t enjoy using it, typically if you were to go sp1 and sp2 you will need to do minimum 2 rotations in order to get them down.

She’s certainly a tech destroying machine however I find myself getting stressed out by her rotation involving the autoblocks, I have both at r2 and playing Medusa is just so much better.

Heavy rotation is the worst one to learn, i mean it's effective but tough to execute. That heavy block is very unorthodox and needs practice. It took me a day to learn various ways on yt and finally figure out what works for me.

Just do MM enders to gain buffs. Light enders to switch buffs. 2 vicious and 1 or 2 power gain buff are enough, then simply do sp1 and sp2 cycles with Light enders. This i have been doing well in bg. You can even skip the buff part especially if opponent is bleed immune and simply do sp1 and sp2 with light enders.

dr2ws

I’ve been trying to follow the HLLLH way; and I don’t enjoy using it, typically if you were to go sp1 and sp2 you will need to do minimum 2 rotations in order to get them down.

She’s certainly a tech destroying machine however I find myself getting stressed out by her rotation involving the autoblocks, I have both at r2 and playing Medusa is just so much better.
Heavy rotation is the worst one to learn, i mean it's effective but tough to execute. That heavy block is very unorthodox and needs practice. It took me a day to learn various ways on yt and finally figure out what works for me.

Just do MM enders to gain buffs. Light enders to switch buffs. 2 vicious and 1 or 2 power gain buff are enough, then simply do sp1 and sp2 cycles with Light enders. This i have been doing well in bg. You can even skip the buff part especially if opponent is bleed immune and simply do sp1 and sp2 with light enders.

Yeah makes sense, then the AI won’t play into the heavy, and get all defensive, thanks for the advice, I’ll definitely give it a try.

It’s really risk and reward play with that rotation.

Rustyoneil

Medusa is definitely much simpler to utilise to her full potential. Personally I think Scream has a higher potential in the right hands, but is certainly trickier to use.

I think this says it all. Medusa is so simple to use. Absolute monster and you should be happy to have either champ.

t123459

medusa is better in my op . because she is way too easier to use and even if u say scream can do things medusa cant do which is right ofc if we take bgs Aw and general utility medusa is better

altavista

Thanks for the tips on Scream. Maybe I just don’t vibe with mode switching champions like how I feel with Omega Sentinel. But I’ll keep trying her out.

The autoblock non contact attack strategy wasn’t something I had thought about. Maw might not be the best matchup… but on the other hand, Scream just might work

EdisonLaw

I've got both at R3, and I'm absolutely loving both!

Medusa is definitely much simpler to utilise to her full potential. Personally I think Scream has a higher potential in the right hands, but is certainly trickier to use.

Being able to easily consume her Madness at any point by charging a heavy to create easy openings via her autoblock is incredibly valuable - even moreso when against champs with non-contact basic attacks (i.e., basic attacks that you can't trigger a parry stun against). One of my favourite mechanics at the moment!

Since the autoblock charge is ONLY consumed when parrying a contact attack, you can charge a heavy at the start of a fight with, say, Onslaught, and just stand there while it autoblocks all of his non-contact attacks AND even resists all of his heavy attacks until eventually he is parry stunned when his contact attack hits (or, of course, the autoblock charge naturally expires).

You can see examples of this here: https://youtu.be/Quui25i1frk?si=X0k5oA7UETLN1qc8 and here: https://youtu.be/qLcsjspPo0k?si=FjD9PtBL9vgp8Mqx and (for a particularly funny interaction) here: https://youtu.be/ZRMJQ7LZEFs?si=5k1ciaxwhzEUFWYS

Since each autoblock also inflicts a Bleed/Armour Break, you can essentially start her debuff ramp up without even needing to land a hit - of course until you run out of Madness charges.

Although she doesn't have immunities, her access to burst via Direct Damage (i.e., big red numbers) is in itself a great piece of utility.

Similarly, her access to Undermine (instead of a True effect) is fantastic against autoblock champs that will negative the effects of a True effect (i.e., Peni Parker). With the right rotation, you can even have a 100% uptime of Undermine without detracting much from her upper damage potential.

Once she's at high sig, she accesses additional utility. I think the tech-specific utility is particularly valuable at max sig, as it will prevent any tech defenders from starting a fight with any armour effects active (ability accuracy increasing abilities/nodes notwithstanding).

Different matchups will require you to use different rotations with Scream, and will require you to adjust your approach in real-time - which is why she's arguably a lot harder to master than Medusa. But I think that's precisely what makes her more versatile, and by consequence, more fulfilling (and subjectively "more fun") to play, in my opinion.

I won't go into all of the specifics here, but I think Allison Edits (https://youtube.com/@allisonedits?si=s1tsAMHOb4viWPDu) and Da Ppl Champ (https://youtube.com/@dapplchamp?si=CMgX9GQo5gTRfF41) have some really great videos on Scream at the moment that I'd recommend you checking out if you want to start delving a bit deeper into her different rotations and matchup possibilities!

I didn’t make a champion review on her when she came out, luckily this makes up for it. Thanks so much

EdisonLaw

Not sure why we have to compare the two.

It’s because they do very similar things obviously

Oakenshield

Not sure why we have to compare the two.
It’s because they do very similar things obviously

Or maybe because they both have big and dexterous hair?

EdisonLaw

Not sure why we have to compare the two.
It’s because they do very similar things obviously
Or maybe because they both have big and dexterous hair?

Yes also

shield311

As a r3 scream owner, here's what I feel like is the most optimal/simple best damage rotation,

At start of the fight during the run, hold heavy for auto block, then MLLLL followed by another heavy charge for autoblock, MLLLM then sp1, dodge opponent's sp1 then hold heavy again, spam MLLLL till sp2 for BG fights, at this point you should have 10-18 bleed+armour breaks on opponent and after sp2 it should be 15+ with 8 madness for maximum damage output.

For longer fights build buffs during ramp but try to throw sp2 with atleast 4 madness.

Oakenshield

As a r3 scream owner, here's what I feel like is the most optimal/simple best damage rotation,

At start of the fight during the run, hold heavy for auto block, then MLLLL followed by another heavy charge for autoblock, MLLLM then sp1, dodge opponent's sp1 then hold heavy again, spam MLLLL till sp2 for BG fights, at this point you should have 10-18 bleed+armour breaks on opponent and after sp2 it should be 15+ with 8 madness for maximum damage output.

For longer fights build buffs during ramp but try to throw sp2 with atleast 4 madness.

This is my rotation as well and I have found it be effective. The Autoblock ramp up is much faster than a more traditional SP1/SP2 rotation.

shield311

As a r3 scream owner, here's what I feel like is the most optimal/simple best damage rotation,

At start of the fight during the run, hold heavy for auto block, then MLLLL followed by another heavy charge for autoblock, MLLLM then sp1, dodge opponent's sp1 then hold heavy again, spam MLLLL till sp2 for BG fights, at this point you should have 10-18 bleed+armour breaks on opponent and after sp2 it should be 15+ with 8 madness for maximum damage output.

For longer fights build buffs during ramp but try to throw sp2 with atleast 4 madness.
This is my rotation as well and I have found it be effective. The Autoblock ramp up is much faster than a more traditional SP1/SP2 rotation.

Yup, its also fun with unique interactions and playstyle instead of just spamming the same thing, it can also be improvised by changing combo enders as per need just like cgr.