EDIT 10/23/20: I’d completely given up on the first dev-designed meta team in MSF’s history… until over the last couple of weeks we’ve finally settled on a use for (most of) them. Read to the end!
The Lolfenders are just terrible. People routinely do 2x punchups in war. Long-term vets like me still have them as one of our highest groups in raw power alone, but… 500k Defenders may as well be 500k Hand. They’ve reached the point where quantity (of power) gets completely sunk by the lack of quality.
I’ve tried everything with these hosers to keep them relevant. War offense, war defense. Whatever. They simply do not work in any meaningful way anymore. I’d trust 200k AIM over 400k Defenders to hold a slot and I am not exaggerating.
Yet, it kinda sucks for people like me who had humped the Defenders when they first came out to now leave 70k-110k characters on the bench. But what else can you do? Here’s what I initially found.
Iron Fist: A solid addition to Young Avengers / Hero Brawlers. If you’ve been around for at least 2 years, he’s probably higher in power than Spider-man or almost any other candidate for the fifth YA slot. Plus, since all but one YA member is a city hero, that’s some extra healing along for the ride in addition to a much-needed dispel move.
Daredevil: The Man Without Fear is definitely showing his age in this game, but can replace Miles in YA if he’s vastly more powerful (like, mine is over 2x the power of Miles). Plus, Miles can still roll with the Symbiotes, or at least for now until you have Scream and Anti-Venom at acceptable levels. And hey… at least he’s not at Gamora levels of suck.
Luke Cage: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Jessica Jones: Perfect for Misfit Ultron. If you’re like me and used to run Ultron with otherwise unemployable dudes to maximize your roster (think Shield Trooper, Hand Sentry, etc), JJ fits in to give the big happy robot a desperately needed all-purpose debuff cleanse. You know how Ultron gets shut down if someone lands a stun on him? Worry no longer. The irresistible debuff move and the energy generation are just added gravy. Of course, if you insist on pairing Ultron with AIM or whatever, then she’s gotta ride the pine like her husband above.
Punisher: I honestly had no idea.
But then, as many suggested, I started using more Defenders with Ultron than just JJ. Turns out Defendertron is the answer, especially against two of the most dreaded teams in war — Emmarauders and Black Order. Make no mistake: Ultron is still the star of the show, and we’re just discussing his backup dancers. And Defendertron does have the drawback of putting the robot’s band of misfits like Hand Sentry back on food stamps (so this might be war-only team), but giving us an answer to two of the most hated teams in war may be worth it.
JJ’s been discussed before, but the devastating debuffs handed out by Emma, Maw, and Thanos become much less of an issue. Plus, she shuts down Cull’s taunt like nobody else, and have I mentioned the energy?
IF serves as JJ’s personal healer and also is a secondary buff dispeller. Punisher apparently assists on the Ultron summons’ buff moves, and also gives the team some AOE. Luke Cage — most people don’t like him with Ultron, but a source of defense-up is always nice, and he gives enemies something besides the squishy robot to shoot at. Daredevil, though, I still find useless, other than maybe as a punching-bag to trigger Punisher.
For war defense, Aimtron, or Techatron (Vision, Ultron, Starlord, Minnerva, Drax; or some variant with Groot and Rocket) still look like better options… but like a lot of people, it’s offense that I struggle more with, and sure needed the boost.
From left to right: Ultron, IF, Punisher, JJ, LC is my new Defendertron recommendation, although Punisher and LC are subject to debate. Let these washed-up has-beens find some use in war once again.
