Variant 4 – Chapter 3.2 Guide

Summoners!

Here’s my guide for Back Issues (Variant) 4 – Waning Moon – Chapter 3.2.

General Thoughts: This is really a tale of two halves of the map. The right side is fun, quick content that feels appropriate for the type of fights the few available 1* Champions can handle. The boss is an interesting fight that can be soloed once you figure it out. But the left half is a total slog that reduces your available options with nodes, and then further limits the effectiveness of the few champions that can actually run the lane with the defenders placed.

MVP Champs: Hulk, Vision, Black Panther

Global Node: +200% Attack and Health

Restrictions: 1* Champions only

Boss: Moon Knight with +200% Health, Will of Khonshu, Echo Barrier (must bleed/armor break to turn off the shield and do damage), Enchanced Special 2, Bleed Vulnerability, Force of Will

While any 1* can take the boss, Black Panther was the run away best choice for me (I do not have 1* Wolverine, but he should be excellent for this fight as well). The key is dealing with the Echo Barrier. You have a limited window to get the 15 charges down and deal damage before it resets. The trick is to not get caught baiting a special in the middle of bringing the charges down, because then you’ll miss your chance to actually do some damage to Moon Knight. Once you get into a rhythm, it’s a fun fight and I think this is one of the best designed bosses in Variant 4. Save up Black Panther’s SP2 for when the Echo Barrier is down.

Lane 1 – Far Left

Defenders: Jane Foster, Hulkbuster, X-23, Green Goblin, Iron Man, Civil Warrior, Heimdall, Mordo

Nodes: Bleed Vulnerability, Stun Immunity, Biohazard, Caustic Temper

Team: Colossus, OG Vision, Gamora, Black Panther, and Hulk

Tips: This is the longest path by far, and it’s a slog. Unfortunately Biohazard limits your options to Colossus and Vision. To make matters worse, the fights are stun-immune, so you need to bait specials to get openings, which takes Vision’s power draining specials out of the fight. Then you have the caustic temper Mordo to deal with at the end of the path.

Lane 2 – Middle Left

Defenders: Electra, Magneto, Magik, Beast, Mordo

Nodes: Bleed Vulnerability, Caustic Temper

Team: Colossus, OG Vision, Gamora, Black Panther, and Hulk

Tips: Hulk is the only option for this path, as he is the only poison immune 1* with a fury buff. If you don’t have Hulk, be prepared for a very frustrating experience. Electra, Magneto and Beast aren’t bad. Magik will probably get you once with Limbo damage. The biggest problem is the Mordo at the end of the path that you have to fight three times. It’s a really rough fight, I was averaging 4-5 revives. Again Hulk is the only option, and of course Mordo can’t be attacked when stunned, which takes away the best part of Hulk’s kit. On top of that, Mordo has power gain that Hulk can’t counter. Eventually he’s going to turtle and kill you with a SP3. Have fun.

Lane 3 – Center Left

Defenders: Juggernaut, Carnage, Vision AoA, Symbiote Supreme, Namor, Mordo

Nodes: Dash Vulnerability, Breakthrough, Caustic Temper

Team: Scarlet Witch, Hulk, OG Vision, Black Panther and Gamora

Tips: Power control Juggernaut with Vision. The rest is easy until you get to Mordo.

Lane 4 – Center Right

Defenders: Darkhawk, Hulk, Black Bolt, Iceman, Red Hulk,

Nodes: Dash Vulnerability, Strike Back

Team: Scarlet Witch, Hulk, OG Vision, Black Panther, and Gamora

Tips: Easy path, but that Iceman is going to eat up 80% of your attacker’s health on the initial Coldsnap.

Lane 5 – Middle Right

Defenders: Corvus Glaive, Stark Spider-Man, Mephisto, Gambit, Wasp

Nodes: Stun Vulnerability, Limber

Team: Scarlet Witch, Hulk, OG Vision, Black Panther, and Gamora

Tips: Scarlet Witch and Hulk have stuns, so those are the champions to focus on for this path. Pretty quick and easy.

Lane 6 – Far Right

Defenders: Thor Ragnarok, Guillotine 2099, Scarlet Witch, Human Torch, Groot

Nodes: Stun Vulnerability, Ragnarok

Team: Scarlet Witch, Hulk, Gamora, Black Panther, and OG Vision

Tips: Hulk gets a Fury and has stun on his specials, so he’ll do the most damage here. I did play it safe and use OG Vision for Thor Ragnarok.

Videos:
DarkZodiac – Mordo Solo Tips

Jump to Chapter Guides:
Chapter 1.1
Chapter 1.2
Chapter 2.1
Chapter 2.2
Chapter 3.1
Chapter 3.2

-Dano357