Platform-fighters have a reputation for being a more casual breed of fighting game. Perhaps that's due to the genre spawning from Super Smash Bros., a game all about cuddly Nintendo mascots knocking each other off colorful stages. But make no mistake, these are fighting games through and through, and the latest platform-fighter poised to capture that competitive spirit is MultiVersus from Warner Bros. Games.
With a roster including Batman, Velma Dinkley, LeBron James, and Arya Stark, MultiVersus has wackiness to spare. That said, the developers at Player First Games are also putting serious effort into turning this free-to-play platform-fighter into a satisfying competitive esports experience. We have a few issues with how MultiVersus plays, but the game has a strong enough foundation to support this goal.
If you want to up your game and join the MultiVersus elite, check out our top tips and tricks.
Our Favorite Platform-Fighting Games
1. Study Your Character
This is a key tip for any fighting game. After you’ve found a fighter that has a playstyle you vibe with, it’s important to study your new main inside and out. MultiVersus separates characters into MMO-style classes that give you a good idea of what to expect. For example, Bugs Bunny is a mage with tricky, long-range attacks. Superman, on the other hand, is a tank who can take lots of hits. Some characters favor vertical or horizontal movement, too. Studying your main also means studying other characters to develop strategies for potential matchups.
2. Mind Your Cooldown Moves
Most MultiVersus attacks come out pretty quickly; lag would ruin the frantic good time. However, the game balance would be ruined if people constantly spammed their characters' most powerful attacks. That’s why many special moves, from lassos to Batarangs, have cooldowns. Once you use them, you must wait a few seconds before you can use them again. Initially, that feels a little annoying and restrictive. That said, smart players learn the best moments to deploy their best attacks and catch opponents off guard.
3. Avoid Attack Decay
Some attacks lack cooldowns. You can spam them as much as you want, but they come with a catch. Use a move too frequently, and you’ll suffer attack decay that weakens its damage and knockback. Besides, it’s good to mix up your attacks. It makes you unpredictable (and makes matches more fun to watch).
4. Leverage Team Tactics
Plenty of platform fighters let you fight in 2v2 team battles, but MultiVersus innovates the genre by making these co-op brawls the star of the show. Many characters have moves specifically designed to help teammates rather than hurt enemies. For example, Reindog’s tether pulls in friends before they fall off the ledge. Likewise, LeBron James passes a basketball to a teammate to give his partner a boost. Mastering these synergies takes your strategies to new heights.
5. Master Edgeguarding
Instead of whittling opponents' heath bars, platform-fighters are about slamming opponents off the stage into oblivion. Traditionally, you do this by racking up damage before finishing things off with a big decisive blow. Advanced players, though, practice a technique called “edgeguarding,” a maneuver that blocks opponents who theoretically could've recovered back to the stage if nothing got in their way. You can guard the edge with projectiles or by being bold enough to jump off the stage to deliver an attack.
6. Try Spikes and Ladder Combos
You should get creative when bashing your foes. Sure, you can hit them so hard that they fly off the stage, but few moves feel as satisfying as a powerful downward attack, a spike that dunks your enemies through the bottom blast zone. Conversely, using a ladder combo, you can jump and hit your opponent higher and higher until they ascend to heaven, and lose a stock.
7. Optimize Your Perks
To give yourself an extra edge in battle, unlock and equip special perks to buff your character. You have limited offensive and defensive perks, such as gaining an extra jump or thicker skin, so choose them wisely. The right perks and your natural playstyle can leave losing opponents quite salty. You gain perks solely by playing, sidestepping pay-to-win concerns. In single-player modes, however, you can also grind or spend real money on gems and gem XP, which also offer character buffs.
8. Enter the Rifts
MultiVersus is multiplayer-focused, but the full version now includes a single-player PvE mode called Rifts. Here, solo players tackle a gauntlet of themed challenges, from regular matches to mini-games. More than a fun distraction, Rifts can help you practice without pressure before taking on human challengers. They're also a great way to grind for upgrades and battle pass bonuses.
![Fortnite, MultiVersus, and the Thrill of Crossover Games](https://zmgvideos.mashable.com/cms/2022/9/72093ab4-d95a-2903/uploaded_thumbnail.jpg)
For more on MultiVersus, check out the HBO characters we’d like to see join the brawl, and read our picks for the best Super Smash Bros. alternatives on PC.
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