What is Champions 2.0?

This feature allows players to Ascend characters from one rarity to another, up to the current max level of 550 at 5-Stars. This means, for example, that you can take a 1-Star Spider-Man (Original) and Ascend him through the rarity tiers all the way to 5-Star. Imagine the possibilities!

 What was Champions “1.0”?

The Original Champions Forum Announcement

The original Champions mechanic was developed to give seasoned players a way to further empower their favorite max level characters beyond their initial level ceiling. After players level up a character to their maximum, players can then use Iso-8 to Champion 2, 3, 4, or 5-Star characters. After being Championed, characters can then use covers to level up to their new maximum Champion level.

Naturally, the question arises: What’s different now? What’s changed?

Champions 2.0 builds upon the foundation laid by the original Champions system. Champions “1.0” provided a way to break characters free of their original level limitations, giving both players and characters the ability to push slightly beyond the standard rarity tiering. Now, Champions 2.0 provides a way to break characters free of the constraints of their original rarity tier, giving players the ability to Ascend any character in their whole character roster up to join the 5-Star level 550 club.

 Why Champions 2.0?

Champions 2.0 gives players that want to keep using specific characters or incarnations of characters a way to keep playing with them. Everyone has their favorite Marvel character - that’s why so many of you play MARVEL Puzzle Quest. We’ve received feedback from folks who feel disappointed when they can’t play with favorites like Spider-Man (Original) or Wolverine (Astonishing) outside of certain required events because they’ve progressed past using those rarities. Champions 2.0 is a way to continue playing with favorites regardless of where your MPQ journey finds you.

Another powerful reason is because all characters are different and have different use niches. While characters like Gamora (Vol 2) (a 4-Star character) and Black Widow (Original) (a 2-Star character) both have capabilities that allow them to stun, Gamora deals direct damage while Black Widow specializes in stealing AP. If you want Black Widow (Original)’s capabilities, that character currently does not exist at the 4-Star tier. Championing these characters allows you to shift some pieces of the metagame from lower rarities into the higher rarities as they Ascend.

Champions 2.0 is poised to bring a substantial shakeup to the PVP meta and we are eager to see how players craft teams with Ascended characters. That being said, we’re aware that some of these characters Ascending up to join the higher rarity tiers and battles could require a reevaluation or rebalance if the need arises. All Ascended characters of each tier will be treated as their own individual character and could be subject to rebalances or adjustments to their design based on power budgets and general balance as a whole.

Champions 2.0 is a significant step towards continuing to energize the character roster and giving seasoned players the opportunity to meaningfully use previously lower rarity characters in their late-game teams. We’re also looking forward to seeing how new players use Ascended characters to add value to their teams as they play through the game.

 Functionality - How Do I Use Champions 2.0?

Overview
Champions 2.0 is comprised of three basic functions:
- Unlocking the ability to Ascend a character
- Binding a duplicate of that character to Ascend to the next rarity tier
- Leveling up Ascended characters by using their Covers or Shards

Put simply, with Champions 2.0 you can Bind a max level Championed character with a max level non-Championed version of the same character (of the same rarity) to create one Ascended version of that character in the next highest rarity tier. You can then use Covers of that character, or an equivalent amount of that character’s Shards, to level up your newly Ascended character. This can be done for any character from 1 to 4-Star rarity.

Ascension

Ascension is the act of raising a character to the next rarity tier. When you reach max Champion level with a character, you unlock the ability to Ascend that character to the next rarity. A character that has progressed through one or more of these Ascensions is referred to as an Ascended character. Any time you Ascend a character, they will start at the lowest Champion level of the next rarity tier. Ascension is completed through Binding with another copy of the same character.

Note: 1-Star characters cannot be Championed at this time. In this case, 1-Star characters will unlock the ability to Ascend at their maximum level as follows:
- Level 40 for 1-Star characters with two (2) abilities
- Level 50 for 1-Star characters with three (3) abilities

Binding

To Ascend a character, you must combine a max level Championed character with a max level non-Championed duplicate of that character in a process known as Binding. Binding consumes the max level non-Champed character in order to Ascend the max level Championed character to the next rarity tier. You must Bind two duplicate characters of the same rarity to create an Ascended character of the next rarity tier.

Note: The minimum requirement for Binding is a max level non-Champed duplicate but you can use a second Championed version of that character if you would like. Any extra covers you have on the second Championed character will roll over to the new Ascended character that is created.

Quick-Reference Ascension Formula
   

Leveling Up Using Covers and Shards

After Ascending, your favorite Ascended characters will need Covers or Shards to gain levels towards their maximum. Characters will use the Covers or Shards of their original rarity to level up. This means that, for example, 3-Star Captain America (Steve Rogers) will use 3-Star Captain America Covers and Shards to level up, even when Ascended to 4 or 5-Star rarity.

To determine how many Covers, or an equivalent amount of Shards, your Ascended character will need for each level up, refer to the chart below.

Ascension Level Up Chart
   

An Example Ascension

Let’s say you love 3-Star Psylocke (Classic), but you wish she was 4 or even 5-Star rarity. How do you get her there? Let’s walk through the process to Ascend this 3-Star Psylocke to 4-Star rarity.

You must start by:
- Championing her
- Achieving her max Champion level (level 266 for 3-Star characters)
This unlocks her ability to Ascend, which you can see on her character info screen.


Now you need to acquire another Psylocke to Bind them together:

- Acquire another copy of 3-Star Psylocke (Classic)

- Level her up to max non-Champion level (level 166 for 3-Star characters)


Now you’re ready to Bind this Level 166 3-Star Psylocke to the Level 266 Championed 3-Star Psylocke and Ascend her to the next rarity tier! To complete this Ascension:

- Navigate to the level 266 3-Star Psylocke’s character information screen

- Click the “Ascend” button on the character information screen to access the Binding screen

- Click the Binding selection button to access your roster

- Choose the level 166 3-Star Psylocke from your roster to fulfill the Ascension requirements

- Click “Ascend” on the Binding screen

Congratulations, you have successfully Ascended your 3-Star Psylocke (Classic) to create an Ascended 4-Star Psylocke (Classic)!

##The Ascension Tree

Here’s a quick-reference visual guide to Ascending and Binding characters, from 1-Star all the way to 5-Star!


##Leveling Up Ascended Characters & Ascending Again

So you’ve successfully ascended 3-Star Psylocke to 4-Star rarity. She’s stronger now! But…what’s that? That’s not enough? You crave more power for her? With Champions 2.0, it's possible!

Let’s continue with your Ascended 4-Star Psylocke. How do you Ascend her to 5-Star rarity and, eventually, level 550?

Ascended characters begin at the lowest Champion level of their new rarity. In Ascended 4-Star Psylocke’s case, she would start at level 270 after Ascension. To level up an Ascended character, each level up requires a certain number of that character’s Covers or Shards (based on the chart shown previously).

How to complete a second Ascension for an Ascended 4-Star Psylocke to give her 5-Star rarity:

- On Ascended 4-Star Psylocke’s character information screen, select “Level Up”

- Use 3 Psylocke covers, or 1200 Psylocke shards, to level her up

- Repeat this process until she reaches max 4-Star Champion level, level 370

At level 370, Ascended 4-Star Psylocke unlocks the ability to Ascend to 5-Star rarity! To do this, she needs another Ascended 4-Star Psylocke to bind with. To finish this Ascension:

- Obtain another Ascended 4-Star Psylocke

- Ascended characters always start at the lowest Champion level of that rarity tier, which means they’re automatically a high enough level to Bind with an eligible character

Navigate to the character information screen for the level 370 Ascended 4-Star Psylocke

- Select “Ascend”

- Click the Binding select button

- Choose the eligible Ascended level 270 (or higher) 4-Star Psylocke in your roster

- After making your selection, click “Ascend”

Congratulations, you have successfully completed a second Ascension and your Psylocke (Classic) is now 5-Star rarity!

##Max Championing an Ascended Character

Once you have successfully Ascended a character to the 5-Star rarity, it's a straightforward road to reaching level 550. Navigate to the Ascended 5-Star character’s information screen and select “Level Up”. Use 4 covers, or an equal amount of the base character’s shards, and level them up. Repeat this process until you have an Ascended 5-Star max Champ of your favorite character!

##Release Cadence

So, the obvious question is how and when is this being released? To put it simply, we’ll be releasing characters in batches over the next couple of months. Some batches are themed around different Marvel families, so expect to see related characters popping up together for implementation.

Here’s the first batch:


More Questions? See the FAQ below!