Back Issues #2: Mystery in the Microrealm

Once upon a time, an intrepid thief followed the trail of mysterious happenings in The Battlerealm. Little did he know this tiny curiosity would lead to some of the biggest changes in all of The Contest!

Introducing, Back Issues #2: Mystery in the Micro-Realms!

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 40 and up. This version features extreme challenge, new opponents, updated map layouts, and new combat effects for the boss fights. This quest will test even the mightiest of Summoners, so be prepared! You can find out more about the challenges you will face in Variant Difficulty in our latest Dev Diary post here: https://playcontestofchampions.com/dev-diary-added-difficulty/

The Variant Challenges!

Variant Difficulty will test not only your skills, but your knowledge of Champion abilities, immunities, resistances, and counters! Those who rely on only a few Champions will find the need to diversify.

Unlike Back Issues #1, there will not be explicit gates (like Class or Rarity), but instead we’ll be applying Global Buffs that strongly encourage the use of certain Champions. In this case, it’s XL Champions. All quests will make use of Micro-Reflect, Size Matters, and Particle Protector; effects you might remember from Evangeline Lily’s Champion Challenge last year. (But appropriately souped up.) On top of this, the new Runaway Express and Cultivating Mass Buffs will give XL Champions further advantages beyond their ability to ignore Particle Protector. Finally, Quests 1-3 through 3-3 will also feature Buffs that will benefit bringing in certain XL Champions!

Take a look at the new Buffs you’ll be combating or benefiting from:

Remember Summoners, Variant Difficulty is going to be HARD! The good news is that Back Issues are permanent content, so if you’re not able to take Variant Difficulty on right now, take all the time you need and come back to it when you feel you are better equipped!

Rewards:

For completing and mastering all of the Classic quests, you earn:

Tier 2 Basic ISO x4
Tier 3 Basic ISO x22
Tier 4 Basic ISO x6
Gold x12250
Units x225
Tier 1 Alpha Catalyst x1
Premium Hero Crystal x3
3-Star Hero Crystal x1

For completing and mastering all of the Variant quests, you earn:

5-Star Rank 2 → 3 Gem Crystal x3
5-Star Rank 3 → 4 Gem Crystal (2015 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 x1
Tier 5 Basic Catalyst Fragments x27000
6-Star Crystal Shards x2250
5-Star Signature Stone Crystal x48
Gold x2,100,000
Units x360

This Quest will be available starting Wednesday, April 10th at 10 am PST! Remember, this is permanent content, so you can take your time completing this throwback!

Comments

LeNoirFaineant

You guys are so right, these gems are such a waste, i would never rank up Luke Cage, Spidergwen, Hulk, spiderman, Magik, Guillotine, Venom, Drax, Captain Marvel, Symbiote spiderman, Star Lord, Ultron, Hawkeye, Winter Solider, or Storm. All these characters suck.
I hope you pull 3 mutant gems from this and 3 from variant 1 so you can come back and tell us how good the 6 mutants you ranked are..

Oh wait theres only 4 available
Yea, lets make decisions because of fringe cases that are incredibly unlikely to play out. Thats how you invest your time wisely.

100% this will happen to someone.

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Cliffordcan

Why dont you introduce a midtier difficulty for those who find variant needs a better roster and classic way too easy???
Because Act 4 and 5 are there for those people
and act 1-3 , monthly heroic, normal and beginner for newbies whats the point in the super easy difficulty of variant then?
It’s for nostalgia purposes
and to stoke whale egos, enjoy your 2015 gems idiots
I havent spent and variant 1 is done this has nothing to with whales.

Sorry you suck at the game. Have fun in act 1
sorry you have a failure of a superiority complex, your special alright just not the "special" you think that you are. This games for players of ALL skill levels, not just your high and mighty ass. There is NO reason that they could not make a quest where mid tier players would not feel that they were wasting there time.

Sorry* you’re* game is*

The solution to this is really to overhaul all of the 2015 champs that just aren't good and do it quicker than two every couple of months. There are 58 champs that were out in 2015. I've left a list of the champs that are either not available as a 5* or could benefit from a slight revamp to major overhaul. That number is 44 if you include those not available as 5*. There are some that are in better shape than others(Drax, CM, MM, Guillotine), but even they are overshadowed by others that can do everything they can and then some. Not all champs have to be god tier, but they all should be relevant and currently nearly all of the 2015 champs aren't relevant in the end game.

Captain Marvel
Drax
Ms.Marvel
Spider-Man (Symbiote)
Ronan
Gamora
Groot
Superior Iron-Man
Thor
Black Bolt
Storm
Cyclops (Red Team)
Colossus
Magneto
Deadpool
Wolverine
Magneto (Marvel Now!)
Deadpool (X-Force)
Guillotine
Iron Fist
Juggernaut
Thor (Jane Foster)
Dr. Strange
Scarlet Witch
Unstoppable Colossus
Electro
Ant-Man
Yellowjacket
Spider-Man
Captain America
Rhino
Hulk
Joe Fixit
Black Panther
Moon Knight
Daredevil
Daredevil (Classic)
Hulkbuster
Iron Patriot
Kang
Iron-Man
Vision (AoU)
War Machine

Unavailable as a 5 star:
Ms Marvel (warranted)
Gamora (add her please)
Thor (add him please)
Black Bolt (add him please)
Deadpool (warranted)
Wolverine (add him please)
Magneto MN (warranted)
Deadpool XF (warranted)
Dr Strange (add him please)
Scarlet Witch (add her please)
Electro (add to basic)
Abomination (add to basic)
Joe Fixit (warranted)
Classic Daredevil (delete Netflix and replace with Classic please)
Cap WW2 (warranted)
Kang (keep as P2W)
Vision AOU (add him please)
War Machine (warranted)
Black Widow (add to basic)

Meme Tier (In SEVERE need of buff):
Iron Man
Sup Iron Man
Iron Patriot
Hulkbuster
DD Netflix
Moonknight
Unstoppable Colussus
Colossus
Cyclops Red
Magneto
Groot
Ant Man (synergy champ)
Rhino

Meh Tier (even at sig 200):
Captin Marvel
Drax
Black Spidey
Ronan
Iron Fist
Juggs
Jane Foster
Cap Am
Spider-Man
Yellowjacket
Black Panther
Electra
Punisher
Storm

Worth a gem (all basically need the dup):
Star Lord
Ultron AOU
Vision OG (paywall)
Hawkeye
Winter Soldier
Hulk
Luke Cage
Spider Gwen
Venom
Magik
Guilly

Cliffordcan

^I took up Hawkeye, Winter Soldier and undupped LC with my first 3 gems. If I pull another skill I will have to decide between undupped Electra and undupped BP. And I have a deep roster.

I have SL and Magik at R4 from long ago. That leaves Guilly who I have dupped I wouldn't mind taking up. Hulk and SG I have undupped, May take SG up undupped. Don’t have Ultron or Venom.

So no matter what 3 gems I pull, some will be sitting in my inventory to pull champs from 2015 or waiting for meme/meh champs to get buffed. That is just bad game design. I will do the content for the challenge and other rewards, but still annoyed, and I have a deep roster for a light spender/hard grinder.

LeNoirFaineant

Why dont you introduce a midtier difficulty for those who find variant needs a better roster and classic way too easy???
Because Act 4 and 5 are there for those people
and act 1-3 , monthly heroic, normal and beginner for newbies whats the point in the super easy difficulty of variant then?
It’s for nostalgia purposes
and to stoke whale egos, enjoy your 2015 gems idiots "get GOOD" keep rewards the same...after all ALL end game players should be able to handle "trash" champions. I hope Kabam completely ignores you all. see if a Majority will come to your side next time.

What? lol no idea what you are saying. All permanent content always and forever will be end game, wherever the end game happens to be. The beginner level is the quest as it was (mostly) for people to revisit or for people who missed it the first time. End game players need content whether or not it strokes their ego. Don't think you get how the game works.

LeNoirFaineant

People asking for new permanent content at mid tier levels don't get the game.

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xNig

Don’t bother about him bro. Who has that superior complex is clear as day just by looking at the forum names.
My personality matches my ign better then my forum name...

Ay-hole

#commentoftheday 😂

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Shivamrajak124

i am not satisfied for classic rewards

Shivamrajak124

next time please make one more difficulty feature that i can handle and got a good reward

RagamugginGunner

next time please make one more difficulty feature that i can handle and got a good reward

No.

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Epistriatus

Variant is the apex of difficulty, something to strive for, if you are not ready then work towards it as the ultimate goal.
Act 1-5 has plenty of rewards, so do the cyclical challenges. There is also UC every month and LOL.

Asking for a "mid-tier" version of Variant is asinine and short-sighted. The difficulty doesn't adapt to you, you have to adapt to the difficulty.
get over it already and stop whimpering about what you can't do. It's not meant for you and there is a plethora of content for you to still cover.

This should be stickied to the announcement, as well as future editions/announcements of variant quests to come.

IKON

i am not satisfied for classic rewards

IKON

As an fyi to everyone, if they dont start skipping quests for back issues, next one released will also be a 2015 event, and therefore (likely) include 2015 gems.

https://marvel-contestofchampions.fandom.com/wiki/Polar_Opposites

Voltolos

As an fyi to everyone, if they dont start skipping quests for back issues, next one released will also be a 2015 event, and therefore (likely) include 2015 gems.

https://marvel-contestofchampions.fandom.com/wiki/Polar_Opposites

But that one could be released together with a magneto buff. That would be cool

DarthHaas

2015 champ options for the 2015 exclusive rank up gems, in case anyone needs the info (as it has been stated, some are not available in the 5* variant)

Captain Marvel
Drax
Ms.Marvel
Spider-Man (Symbiote)
Venom
Ronan
Gamora
Groot
Superior Iron-Man
Thor
Black Bolt
Storm
Cyclops (Red Team)
Colossus
Magneto
Deadpool
Wolverine
Magneto (Marvel Now!)
Deadpool (X-Force)
Magik
Guillotine
Iron Fist
Juggernaut
Thor (Jane Foster)
Dr. Strange
Scarlet Witch
Unstoppable Colossus
Luke Cage
Electro
Ant-Man
Yellowjacket
Spider-Man
Captain America
Spider-Gwen
Rhino
Hulk
Abomination
Joe Fixit
Captain America (WW2)
Black Panther
Moon Knight
Elektra
Punisher
Daredevil
Winter Soldier
Hawkeye
Black Widow
Daredevil (Classic)
Rocket Raccoon
Hulkbuster
Ultron
Iron Patriot
Star-Lord
Kang
Iron-Man
Vision (AoU)
War Machine
Vision
Kabam pls clarify how many of these champs are relevant in the present state of the game . For end game content mainly

It would take to long to discuss how pinching and kicking drains health of opponent. But that s the norm of it. Plenty of YouTube vids on game play for beginners if still confused though

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LeNoirFaineant

Why dont you introduce a midtier difficulty for those who find variant needs a better roster and classic way too easy???
Because Act 4 and 5 are there for those people
and act 1-3 , monthly heroic, normal and beginner for newbies whats the point in the super easy difficulty of variant then?
It’s for nostalgia purposes
and to stoke whale egos, enjoy your 2015 gems idiots
I havent spent and variant 1 is done this has nothing to with whales.

Sorry you suck at the game. Have fun in act 1
sorry you have a failure of a superiority complex, your special alright just not the "special" you think that you are. This games for players of ALL skill levels, not just your high and mighty ass. There is NO reason that they could not make a quest where mid tier players would not feel that they were wasting there time.

You are asking for a permanent master level quest that will become obsolete the day it comes out. They DO make that quest every month. It's called the EQ. You really don't get it.
poor simple minded fool thinks the game revolves around him, that they should cater to just "end game players" maybe you should learn that the world does not revolve around 5% of the game. Its beyond stupid to not include something that should entertain everyone and allow EVERYONE to do a part of the quest. esp when they say its a "trip down memory lane and nestolga"

Lmao. It has nothing to do with the game revolving around anything. It’s the way permanent content works. Classic level is a trip down memory lane. According to your take the entire game has been “beyond stupid” it’s entire existence because not once has new permanent content come out with something for EVERYONE. Also poor simple minded fool? Who says that lol

V1PER1987

Why dont you introduce a midtier difficulty for those who find variant needs a better roster and classic way too easy???
Because Act 4 and 5 are there for those people
and act 1-3 , monthly heroic, normal and beginner for newbies whats the point in the super easy difficulty of variant then?
It’s for nostalgia purposes
and to stoke whale egos, enjoy your 2015 gems idiots
I havent spent and variant 1 is done this has nothing to with whales.

Sorry you suck at the game. Have fun in act 1
sorry you have a failure of a superiority complex, your special alright just not the "special" you think that you are. This games for players of ALL skill levels, not just your high and mighty ass. There is NO reason that they could not make a quest where mid tier players would not feel that they were wasting there time.

You are asking for a permanent master level quest that will become obsolete the day it comes out. They DO make that quest every month. It's called the EQ. You really don't get it.
poor simple minded fool thinks the game revolves around him, that they should cater to just "end game players" maybe you should learn that the world does not revolve around 5% of the game. Its beyond stupid to not include something that should entertain everyone and allow EVERYONE to do a part of the quest. esp when they say its a "trip down memory lane and nestolga"

Permanent content is designed with progression in mind. Acts 1-4 come first. Then RTTL/Act 5. Then LOL, Variant, and Act 6. When they created Act 5 and 6, they didn’t create different difficulties for beginners and mid tier players because it was meant to be reached after a certain amount of progression. Have you 100% Act 4 and 5? Have you done Act 6? If so, then this content is for you. If not, then you should focus on 100% the story mode to get those rewards. Everyone else who is an end game player completed all the other story content before doing Variant. Permant content is designed to be progressional so people can work towards it. They don’t make permanent content that the majority of the community can finish in a day because then there would be no point. The fact is every type of player gets catered to at different times. Sometimes content is made easier to get the beginners and mid tier players involved. Sometimes they cater to the end game players. Fact of the matter is, this is a business and the end game players are what keeps the company running. If they don’t occasionally cater to them and make challenging and engaging content, players get bored and quit.

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QuikPik

The other issue you have is quite a few of these 2015 champs are available as 6*. I for one have Gully, Rocket, and Storm as 6* why would I spend the resources to rank up the 5* version even with the gem.

Werewrym

Wow this thread is accurate... Talk about back “issues”. At the rate this thread is going back issues will be the least of our concerns.

Crushtest

Some articles from my site:

Champions by date release: https://mbch.guide/en/champions/reliz-chempionov-po-datam/

Champions Tags: https://mbch.guide/en/champions/predraspolozhennost-chempionov/

GroundedWisdom

What did I just read? Did someone have a meltdown?

DNA3000

They could and SHOULD do a middle tier where everyone can enjoy this story quest.

There is no such thing. A difficulty level exactly between the initial difficulty and the variant difficulty would only be appropriate for a tiny slice of the community. Even the five difficulty levels they include for monthly quests are only coincidentally "just right" for a tiny fraction of the players. You can't make content that is just right for everyone. In the case of the monthly quest those are intended to be progressional ladders where players can, every month, see where they fall on the progress ladder. It will most likely be in between two of the existing levels, and the long term goal should be to earn rewards in the content up to what you can do, to build up to eventually reach the next difficulty rung that is just out of reach.

The Back Issues aren't intended to do that. They're first and foremost nostalgia content where old content is being rereleased for the benefit of veterans to see again and newer players to experience who were not around when they first came out. On top of that, they are a launchpad for end game content, of which there is actually very little in this game. There's LoL, and there's LoL. Not even Act 6 is really end game content as it is usually defined in most games: it just happens to be the current highest level story content: when Act 7 comes out it will just be another rung on the story progress ladder.

But players aren't supposed to "work their way up" to Variant within the back issues themselves, any more than there's supposed to be a heroic version of the Labyrinth for players to work through for partial LoL rewards. In fact, this isn't just unnecessary, this defeats the purpose. The idea is players can enter the easy mode and relive (or experience for the first time) how easy that content was relative to the current game's content. Then players are supposed to make progress in the progressional parts of the game and eventually try to come back and tackle the Variant version once they reach that pinnacle of progress. If there were five difficulty levels of the Back Issues, players would just knock off each difficulty level in turn, and knocking off the last one would be less special, less interesting of an accomplishment. It would just be the last difficulty of a set of them, not something they had to work up to before tackling.

Every time a game like this releases end game content, there's always tons of complaints about how the game "focuses" on end game players. Content isn't "end game" just because it is hard. End game content targets end game players when it targets the players for whom they've achieved so much progress that none of the progressional content is likely to be a significant challenge. Very little content in this game is actually like that. In the past, RoL was end game content. Today, I would only put LoL, Variant, and the Maze (which was temporary) in that category. Act 6 is only coincidentally "end game-like" but really it is just another progressional hop: it just happens to be the newest one. Uncollected is honestly too low in difficulty to be considered end game content. Variant seems to be where Kabam is expanding the end game content, and that to me seems far better than expanding on LoL-like maps. It is also easier to revamp an old map for end game difficulty than make one from scratch, which allows them to release end game content more frequently with less development time.

Asto03

As someone still working on 100%ing act 5, I’m ok with variant being for endgame players. If anything there needs to be more content for endgame players as they have already finished all other permanent content, or are close to it. There doesn’t need to be a mid tier version of variant, or another new permanent mid tier quest since there’s already stuff for mid tier players to do before moving on to endgame content. I’m ok with waiting for variant because doing things like act 5 100% will make my roster ready for it. I really don’t understand why other mid tier players complain about lack of content or too much endgame content.

DNA3000

I really don’t understand why other mid tier players complain about lack of content or too much endgame content.

Lots of different reasons with different degrees of validity, but a big part of it is that many players see every single piece of content as "targeted" at someone. Beginner is targeted at beginners, master is targeted at master, the maze is targeted at psychos.

That's true to a degree, but it is also not true. It is more correct to say that all the progressional content is targeted at everyone, and the end game content is targeted at everyone who has basically reached the end of the progress ladder. In that respect, over 90% of the content in the game is targeted at everyone, and less than 10% is actually specifically targeted at end game players. If you don't see that, you can find yourself thinking that the "only" content "meant" for you is the teeny tiny part that just happens to be the closest to your progressional level at the moment. But that's kind of like thinking that only a tiny percentage of the resources in a school are targeted at your kids. Well, sort of. They can only be in one grade at a time. On the other hand, presumably your kids will eventually pass through all those grades. In a larger and more important sense, all grades are for all kids.