Packed to the brim with incredible action, explosive superheroes, and turn-based awesomeness, Marvel’s Midnight Suns delivers a refreshing take on strategy games like XCOM. Although filled with some of the most popular characters in the Marvel Universe, Midnight Suns also features none other than the Sorcerer Supreme himself, Doctor Strange. Steven Strange is probably the nerdiest one on the Midnight Suns roster, but don’t be fooled, he is no slouch on the battlefield.
The bag of tricks that makes up his kit lets Doctor Strange operate as one of the best supports and spell-casters in the game. With an extra boost towards adding Heroism, buffing allies, and cursing enemies, Strange can also deal out damage when needed. The good doctor goes incredibly well with high Heroic attacks and chain attacks from friendly characters too. As usually, navigating the complicated fighting systems of Midnight Suns is no walk in the park. So to make the mystic arts a little less mystical, here are some easy tips and tricks on how to play Doctor Strange.
5/5 Sorcerer Supreme
Doctor Strange ends up in an interesting spot in Midnight Suns. He is mostly a support, but he doesn’t have heals like Hunter or Nico. He can do huge amounts of damage but somewhat at the expense of surviving into the late rounds of a match. In the right circumstance, Doctor Strange can be the best support in the game.
He adds a unique strategy element of redrawing cards, granting buffs to allies like Resist and increased damage, and having increasingly effective abilities based on Heroism. To that end, as long as Doctor Strange can survive until the later rounds of a match, he can pull off some incredible wizardry. Strange’s play style and kit can also lead to some of the craziest mechanics and combos in the game.
4/5 Deck Building Strategy
The ability kit of Doctor Strange has a good amount of variation that lets players use the doctor as either support or damage – and do it well. However, due to a lack of support characters in the game as a whole, the Doctor is best used in the support role and his card decks should be built in this spirit. However, if a player prefers to switch the character into a damage role, it’s possible with a few card changes like adding cards like Bolt of Balthakk and Axe of Angarruumus.
For his main support role, use Agamotto’s Gaze, Astral Mediation, and Shield of Seraphim. Round out the deck with some Attack cards like Winds of Watoomb, which gives Knockback, and Seven Suns of Cinnibus for some free area-of-effect damage. Crimson Bands of Cyttorak is also a great choice as Binds make enemies essentially skip a turn, which is perfect for bosses and the like.
3/5 Best Cards
The best card in Doctor Strange’s kit is probably Shield of Seraphim. This card gives Steven Strange and every ally on the battlefield up to +2 Resist. Allowing characters to resist any damage taken, this spell is incredibly powerful specifically because it buffs the entire team. Agamotto’s Gaze is another great card that some players might be sleeping on. It draws the previous 2 Attacks played and starts the next turn with 4 Card Plays. Though lacking any direct damage, the Agamotto’s Gaze card can lead to some incredible double card-plays.
It’s especially effective when combined with Legendary Cards and large-use Heroic abilities. Also, ideally, it’s best used both before and after using a big card because the added Card Play in the next turn can be incredibly powerful. Astral Meditation is another great card, particularly because it focuses on items, which no other character’s kit does. Restoring a combat item may not seem like much at first, but this is where a clever healing item or battle boost can be used in tandem with Strange’s other abilities, like Vapors of Valtorr and Blessing of Vishanti with lifesteal, to bring back an almost-gone ally.
2/5 Battlefield Strategy
Unlike most other characters in Midnight Suns, Doctor Strange never has the exact same approach every match. Sure, overall he is going to want to tag allies with Resist and increased damage abilities, debuff enemies, and bid time to build up Heroism. However, sometimes it’s not ideal to wait. Doctor Strange is meant to support first, so following the first instinct to save up and deal major Sorcerer Supreme damage may not be a good one.
In fact, sometimes, Doctor Strange may not even spend use his own damaging abilities in favor of letting stronger DPS heroes get their chance to do what they do best. If that is the case, Shield of Seraphim should be the only instance where the doctor is using Heroism instead of building it. Strange’s passive, Greater Good, also helps the Heroism hoarding by giving a 50% chance to add 1 Heroism each turn. One of his biggest flaws is that he lacks a direct heal, though cards like Vapors of Valtorr can help.
1/5 Find The Right Role
Doctor Strange excels in the role of support though his build can be steered in other directions too. He can pull through with some decent damage if it’s needed, especially with a few key cards imbued with Enhanced Heroism bonuses. In general, strike teams will be more effective if Strange is supporting tanks and damage-type heroes whenever possible. In terms of the roster, Steven Strange combos best with, well, everyone. Doctor Strange is wonderful when paired with Captain America, Wolverine, Blade, Spider-Man, Captain Marvel, Hunter, Magik, and Hulk.
Although he works on any team, for the most part, there are a few characters that should perhaps be passed on when seeking a Strange teammate. Nico provides an extra squishy team that has to sacrifice either damage or tankiness. Ghost Rider is a masochist with his HP and is generally better paired with a healer.
