7.2 Update Recap - The Falcon and the Winter Soldier

Introduction

This image is intended to provide a short summary of the characters added or improved by a recent update. Use this as a recap, not a definitive guide: for more detailed reviews you may have to look elsewhere.

Everything is to a degree subjective and I've tried to ensure the information here is as accurate as possible, but if I have included any completely garbage takes please let me know.

Please note that I am referring to the current update when discussing characters. New gamemodes and meta characters that may release in the next update are not considered, even if that update comes out before this does.

Thanks to proton, stro, TClord, anuswarp, wavegang and Ren Vader for the help!

Update 7.2

FQuick link to the patch notes:

7.2 Patch Notes

The 7.2 update was a strange one - the "main" Falcon and the Winter Soldier portion was relatively light on content, with two of the three 6th skills added being holdovers from the 6.0 Black Widow update about a year prior. Especially disappointing was Zemo not getting a 6th skill.

The mid-month was then more of a traditional update, with 1 new character, 5 new uniforms, a Tier-3 and three Transcended characters. This mid-month update furthered the trend started in 7.0 where certain "Classic" uniforms would have skill animations mostly untouched.

The Crystal cost of this update is simply 8 1050-cost uniforms. This adds up to 8400 Crystals.

  • Characters

    Characters

    Spectrum was added in the mid-month update. A paywall character, but plenty of her Biometrics were given for free during the Faction Battle event.

    Spectrum
    Spectrum

    An okay character, but as a Tier-2 she really doesn't stand out for much.
    She has a decent leadership for WBL with the ignore dodge, but otherwise seems to have been added solely so she can get an MCU uniform later on.

  • Uniforms

    Uniforms

    Listed below are the new uniforms in this update. The order here is not important. For individual character details - which are more important than a ranking anyway - just read the descriptions.

    For the characters that have also received a Tier-3 or Awakening this update, more detail is provided in the sections below.

    The uniform options are listed from Advanced to Mythic, left-to-right.

    Captain America (Sam Wilson) [The Falcon and the Winter Soldier]
    Captain America (Sam Wilson) [The Falcon and the Winter Soldier]

    The standout character of the update, and one of the strongest PvE characters in the game period - absolutely insane given how easily accessible he is. His rotation is extremely proc-friendly, though the vast majority of his damage is on his Tier-3 skill so he's not spectacular without it.

    He also has some decent defensive passives that could prove useful to newer players in lower levels of PvP. One disadvantage is that he's not eligible for high Squad Battle and not meta for ABX, but you can't really complain about a single cost free character that's amazing for WBL. All in all, an amazing upgrade and a must-have for any player.

    Tier-2 Proc Rotation: [3c5] 4.

    Winter Soldier [The Falcon and the Winter Soldier]
    Winter Soldier [The Falcon and the Winter Soldier]

    Horrible in-game model aside, Bucky's uniform is an unfortunate disappointment, especially given how powerful his previous Infinity War uniform was at the time. He's not terrible but also nothing amazing, so he sticks out compared to Falcon and the Black Order upgrades from last update.

    While he is proc-friendly and definitely playable in PvE modes, there's just not much to say about him as his damage just doesn't stack up.

    Tier-2 Proc Rotation: [3c2c5qc4].

    Baron Zemo [The Falcon and the Winter Soldier]
    Baron Zemo [The Falcon and the Winter Soldier]

    The first character in a very long time to get a new uniform but no 6th skill. Despite the character himself being added to the game seemingly in anticipation of the show uniform, it's quite disappointing, with only a couple of skill changes to his most insignificant skills. His rotation remains difficult with a proc while also not being worth a Rage, and his improved leadership is wasted as he's ineligible for WBL.

    For a non-T3 and non-TP character, though, he does surprisingly well in ABX - if given a good Tier-3 he could have been something special. His Squad Battle performance is still amazing on auto, but not much improved (if at all) over the base uniform.

    Tier-2 General Rotation: 3c then repeat 5dc4dc3dc, cancel 5 and 4 when he slashes at the end, cancel 3 in subsequent rotations when 5 is ready.

    Blue Marvel [Classic]
    Blue Marvel [Classic]

    One of the first PvP mains since Sentry that's just broken into Timeline meta, though you need very strong PvP-oriented cards and/or a reforged Regen for him to perform well. He does do respectable damage in PvP with a Greed, but that leaves him open to be one-shotted himself.

    His Tier-3 skill does do pretty amazing damage in PvE, but it charges much slower than modern PvE characters, making him an unideal PvE main.

    Tier-2 Proc Rotation: [5c3] 4.

    Captain Marvel [The Last Avenger]
    Captain Marvel [The Last Avenger]

    A really cool uniform visually, but nothing too exciting in terms of skill changes or upgrades. Her skillset is mostly the same - though her Binary Form gimmick has been removed - and she lacks any residual damage so remains unsuitable with a proc.

    The uniform does change her to being a villain, making her the meta for Universal Villain Human in Squad Battle, and is decent enough in ABX. Not needing to trigger Binary Form before using her powerful 4th skill also makes her a better counter to i-frame-heavy characters in PvP.

    Tier-3 Rage Rotation: 2qc(6dc)543, cancel 6 when she lands.

    Black Panther [3099]
    Black Panther [3099]

    Probably the character in the Ultimates half of the update with the most substantial visual skill changes. While a huge overall upgrade to Black Panther, it's not enough to put him in the conversation of being meta for anything.

    He is capable of clearing quite a lot of PvE content, including WBL at Tier-3, but doesn't do anything that Cull Obsidian or Moon Knight can't.

    Tier-3 Proc Rotation: [3qc4dc5(c6)], cancel 3 when the buffs apply, cancel 4 after the first two hits.

    America Chavez [Classic]
    America Chavez [Classic]

    Her skills are very much the same as her previous skillset, which isn't a good sign as that was designed years ago. The additional buffs and passives make her a decent PvP character, but she's still sorely lacking in PvE and thus not a character most players would go for.

    As she is extremely likely to get a new uniform for Doctor Strange 2 early next year, there's still hope that she gets a more substantial rework in the near future.

    Tier-2 Proc Rotation: [4c5] 3.

    Quasar (Avril Kincaid) [Classic]
    Quasar (Avril Kincaid) [Classic]

    The most viable PvE character from the Ultimates mid-month, with the uniform not changing anything visually but allowing for her skills to be cancelled earlier. This allows for a very consistent proc rotation, though it sometimes triggers a bit early if you delay cancel 5.

    Not the best upgrade and likely skippable for a lot of players given that she is a paywall, but a satisfactory buff for a character most players assumed would never get a uniform and 6th skill.

    Tier-2 Proc Rotation: [5dc3c4] 2dc1, cancel 5 when she stomps, cancel 2 when she dashes past.

  • New Tier-3 Advancements

    New Tier-3 Advancements

    Note that this section assumes the newest uniforms.

    Falcon [Hero's Rise]
    Falcon [Hero's Rise]

    The best cheap Tier-3 in the game, and for a Guided Quest character no less. One of the first uni/T3 combos new players should go for.
    The Tier-3 skill itself does a ridiculous amount of damage, making Falcon one of the best WBL clears period, especially against Mephisto due to type advantage.
    Tier-3 Proc Rotation: 1c2c [3c5] 4 1c2c [3c5c6], all cancels instant.

    Taskmaster [Perfect Mimicry]
    Taskmaster [Perfect Mimicry]

    Doesn't do much for Taskmaster's own viability, but it'd have been a must-get even if there wasn't an actual skill to go with the Tier-3.
    A cheap, accessible and incredibly versatile support that makes Taskmaster a must-have, and is especially useful for pushing WBL.
    Tier-3 Proc Rotation: [5]24dc, [5qc6] when ready, cancel 4 when he shoots the arrows.

    Blue Marvel [Cosmic Break]
    Blue Marvel [Cosmic Break]

    A very capable PvE character, can be seen as a "cheap" Tier-3 if you manage to get him to Tier-2.
    Goes toe-to-toe with the current PvP meta, and while not as reliable as Sentry, he's a solid 2nd or 3rd best.
    Rotation doesn't really matter, he's a PvP character.

  • New Transcended Potential

    New Transcended Potential

    Again, best uniform is assumed.

    Yelena Belova [Red Room Reunion]
    Yelena Belova [Red Room Reunion]

    Yelena does very well for a character whose uniform and assumedly Awakening Skill were designed over a year ago.
    Still, she's nothing too amazing - a solid PvE character who's good enough to build if you like her, but as a paywall character likely not worth on her own.
    Awakened Proc Rotation: [3c5c(6 or 4)], 12 or kite.

    America Chavez [Shooting Star Attack]
    America Chavez [Shooting Star Attack]

    Not much to talk about, the only actual mode you'd transcend her for is Alliance Conquest, or if you want to build her in preparation for Doctor Strange 2.
    Awakened Proc Rotation: [4(6c)56] 3, use 6 if it is available.

    Quasar (Avril Kincaid) [Quantum Impact]
    Quasar (Avril Kincaid) [Quantum Impact]

    Her awakening rotation does really nice damage with a proc, but her regular rotation doesn't really live up to it.
    As a result she's nice in WBL as a character you tag in every 30 seconds for the awakening rotation, but not much else.
    Awakened Proc Rotation: [5(d)c3c4c(6)], you can delay cancel 5 for more damage but it has a chance to steal the proc.

    Spectrum [Plasma Strike]
    Spectrum [Plasma Strike]

    A pretty big disappointment outside of AC, and being good only in AC is a disappointment in itself.
    She does have quite a nice leadership for WBL, and you can of course prepare her for a new uniform for The Marvels.
    Awakened Proc Rotation: [2c3c4qc(6c)5].

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