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Characters for Dark Dimension IX

To our fellow gamers with love byMarvel Church
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Intro

Dark Dimension is the official end-game content in Marvel Strike Force. If you’re playing it, you’ve already come a long way — the entry requirements are tough, and only dedicated commanders make it this far.

One of the most important (and often overlooked) aspects of preparing for the Dark Dimension is managing your characters’ Gear Traits. In Marvel Strike Force, every character belongs to one of five Gear Trait groups, based on the type of equipment they use: Skill, Tech, Bio, Mystic, and Mutant. Each group uses its own specific gear materials.

This means that if you bring five characters who all share the same Gear Trait, you’ll be competing for the same pool of resources across all five — making it significantly harder and slower to upgrade any of them. When choosing your Dark Dimension team of five, aim for as much diversity in Gear Traits as possible. Ideally, each character on your team should belong to a different trait group. This way, the gear you farm and collect is spread efficiently across all five characters, and reaching the required Gear Tier becomes far more manageable.

S.T.R.I.K.E. forces have successfully repelled Annihilus and his devastating Annihilation Wave — pushing them back into the Dark Dimension realm. Now it’s time to finish the job. Dark Dimension IX is the next great challenge, and the ultimate prize awaits those who rise to meet it: Annihilus himself as a playable ally. Conquer the dimension, and he fights for you.

Commander Fury has authorized the release of Gear Tier 21 — the next major power level in the game. This new tier will provide a significant strength boost to your roster, arriving just in time for the final confrontation with Annihilus. Multiple in-game events are being planned specifically to help players acquire GT21 gear, so keep an eye on the event calendar and don’t miss your opportunities to stock up.

Requirements:

  • Characters with Gear Tier 21
  • All missions require 5 characters

Free-to-play players can expect to complete the Dark Dimension in roughly 6 to 9 months, depending on gear availability and how active they are. Character choices will matter significantly if you want to optimize your run — picking the right roster from the start can save you a lot of time and resources down the road.

The City section is the first major section you’ll encounter, following a few non-restrictive opening nodes. Which means that the recommended characters for this section are unlikely to change much — if at all — by the time you get there. This makes City characters a relatively safe investment to start working on right now, without worrying too much about the meta shifting before you arrive.

There are no requirements in terms of Iso, Yellow, or Red Stars, but the stronger your character is, the easier your run will be.

Here are the squads you’ll need in Dark Dimension IX:

  • Missions 1-2: Any character, GT21
  • Missions 3-5: City GT 21 (Non Mythic, Epic, or Legendary)
  • Missions 6-8: Cosmic GT 21 (Non Mythic, Epic, or Legendary)
  • Missions 9-11: Global GT 21 (Non Mythic, Epic, or Legendary)
  • Missions 12-13: Legendary or Villain Epic GT 21
  • Missions 14-15: Mythic or Hero Epic GT 21
  • Mission 16: Any trait, GT 21

Character Recommendations

Each section will have recommendations based on available characters. They will be optimized in a way that accounts for different Gear Origins, character availability and/or value in other game modes, synergies, etc.

Next to each character, you will find the name of the Unique Gear Piece they use, as well as the character origin.

City (Non Mythic, Epic, or Legendary)

Here is the best team (in our opinion) for Non Mythic, Epic, or Legendary City missions:

  • Venom – Bio (3 GT21 Bio Items, Alien Spores Unique)
  • Toxin – Bio (3 GT21 Bio Items, Alien Spores Unique)
  • Riot – Bio (3 GT21 Bio Items, Miasma Unique)
  • Vulture – Tech (2 GT21 Tech Items, H.A.M.M.E.R. Tech Unique)
  • Hit-Monkey – Skill (3 GT21 Skill Items, – Gravitonium Unique)

Some good characters you can also bring:

  • Daredevil (Modern) – Skill (3 GT21 Skill Items, – S.H.I.E.L.D. Tech Unique)
  • Silver Sable – Skill (3 GT21 Skill Items, – Judas Bullets Unique)
  • Punisher – Skill (2 GT21 Skill Items, Molecular Cloth Unique)
  • Spider-Man (Big Time) – Tech (2 GT21 Tech Items, Fortified Chromium Unique)
  • Phantom Rider – Mystic (3 GT21 Mystic Items, Judas Bullets Unique)
  • Hobgoblin – Tech (3 GT21 Tech Items, Superhuman Serum Unique)
  • Superior Spider-Man – Tech (3 GT21 Tech Items, Gravitonium Unique)
  • Shocker – Tech (3 GT21 Tech Items, H.A.M.M.E.R. Tech Unique)
  • Scorpion – Tech (3 GT21 Tech Items, Experimental Formula Unique)
  • Gwenpool – Mystic (3 GT21 Mystic Items, H.A.M.M.E.R. Tech Unique)
  • Squirrel Girl – Bio (4 GT21 Bio Items, Unstable Cloth Unique)
  • Iron Fist – Mystic (4 GT21 Mystic Items, Focused Chi Unique)
  • Night Thrasher – Tech (3 GT21 Tech Items, Judas Bullets Unique)
  • Daredevil – Bio (3 GT21 Bio Items, Palladium Unique)
  • Jessica Jones – Bio (3 GT21 Bio Items, Molecular Cloth Unique)

Cosmic (Non Mythic, Epic, or Legendary)

Here is the best team (in our opinion) for Non Mythic, Epic, or Legendary Cosmic missions:

  • Executioner – Skill (3 GT21 Skill items, Judas Bullets Unique)
  • High Evolutionary – Tech (3 GT21 Tech Items, Titanium Alloy Unique)
  • Minn-Erva – Tech (4 GT21 Tech Items, Gamma Radiation Unique)
  • Thanos – Mystic (3 GT21 Mystic Items, Palladium Unique)
  • Knull – Mystic (3 GT21 Mystic Items, Alien Spores Unique)

Some good characters you can also bring:

  • Franklin Richards – Bio (3 GT21 Bio Items, Unstable Cloth Unique)
  • Mister Fantastic (MCU) – Bio (3 GT21 Bio Items, Unstable Cloth Unique)
  • Invisible Woman (MCU) – Bio (3 GT21 Bio Items, Molecular Cloth Unique)
  • Human Torch – Bio (3 GT21 Bio Items, Unstable Cloth Unique)
  • Warlock – Tech (3 GT21 Tech Items, Bloodborne Nanobots Unique)
  • Magik – Mutant (2 GT21 Mutant Items, Arcane Magic Unique)
  • Nova (Sam Alexander) – Bio (3 GT21 Bio Items, Palladium Unique)
  • Thanos (Endgame) – Skill (3 GT21 Skill Items, Tempered Osmium Unique)
  • Havok – Mutant (3 GT21 Mutant Items, Infinite Energy Unique)
  • Strange (Heartless) – Mystic (3 GT21 Mystic Items, Promethium Unique)
  • Hela – Mystic (3 GT21 Mystic Items, Miasma Unique)
  • Kahhori – Mystic (3 GT21 Mystic Items, Infinite Energy Unique)

Global (Non Mythic, Epic, or Legendary)

Here is the best team (in our opinion) for Non Mythic, Epic, or Legendary Global missions:

  • Quicksilver (Symbiote) – Bio (3 GT21 Bio Items, Astral Energy Unique)
  • Lady Deathstrike – Tech (2 GT21 Tech Items, Adamantium Unique)
  • Daimon Hellstrom – Mystic (3 GT21 Tech Items, Luminium Unique)
  • Hellcat – Skill (3 GT21 Skill Items, Unstable Cloth Unique)
  • Darkstar – Mutant (3 GT21 Mutant Items, Astral Energy Unique)

Some good characters you can also bring:

  • Sentry – Bio (3 GT21 Bio Items, Gravitonium Unique)
  • Maestro – Bio (3 GT21 Bio Items, Gamma Radiation Unique)
  • Storm (Mighty) – Mutant (3 GT21 Mutant Items, Uru Unique)
  • Yo-Yo – Bio (4 GT21 Bio Items, Titanium Alloy Unique)
  • Songbird – Bio (3 GT21 Bio Items, Titanium Alloy Unique)
  • Lady Bullseye – Mystic (3 GT21 Mystic Items, Ballistic Weave Unique)
  • Living Mummy – Mystic (3 GT21 Mystic Items, Infinite Energy Unique)
  • Deadpool – Mutant (2 GT21 Mutant Items, Experimental Formula Unique)
  • Emma Frost (X-Men) – Mutant (3 GT21 Mutant Items, Promethium Unique)
  • Moon Girl – Tech (3 GT21 Tech Items, Ballistic Weave Unique)
  • Jeff the Land Shark – Bio (3 GT21 Bio Items, Molecular Cloth Unique)
  • Eclipse – Mystic (3 GT21 Mystic Items, Gravitonium Unique)

Legendary or Villain Epic

Here is the best team (in our opinion) for Legendary or Villain Epic missions:

  • Magneto (Phoenix Force) – Mutant (3 GT21 Mutant Items, Fortified Chromium Unique)
  • Omega Red (Phoenix Force) – Mutant (3 GT21 Mutant Items, Carbonadium Unique)
  • Omega Red – Mutant (3 GT21 Mutant Items, Carbonadium Unique)
  • Silver Surfer (Breaker) – Mystic (3 GT21 Mystic Items, Quantum Energy Unique)
  • Old Man Logan – Mutant (3 GT21 Mutant Items, Adamantium Unique)

Some good characters you can also bring:

  • Quasar – Mystic (3 GT21 Mystic Items, Quantum Energy Unique)
  • Blastaar – Bio (3 GT21 Bio Items, Infinite Energy Unique)
  • Thunderstrike – Mystic (3 GT21 Mystic Items, Uru Unique)
  • Shadow King – Mutant (4 GT21 Mutant Items, Astral Energy Unique)
  • Juggernaut (Zombie) – Bio (2 GT21 Bio Items, Infinite Energy Unique)
  • Scarlet Witch (Zombie) – Bio, Mystic (3 GT21 Bio Items, Arcane Magic Unique)
  • Kestrel (Zombie) – Bio, Tech (3 GT21 Bio Items, Fortified Chromium Unique)
  • Adam Warlock – Mystic (4 GT21 Mystic Items, Miasma Unique)
  • Star-Lord – Tech (4 GT21 Tech Items, Carbonadium Unique)

Mythic or Hero Epic

Here is the best team (in our opinion) for Mythic or Hero Epic missions:

  • Professor Xavier – Mutant (5 GT21 Mutant Items, Luminium Unique)
  • Odin – Mystic (5 GT21 Mystic Items, Uru Unique)
  • Mephisto – Mystic (5 GT21 Mystic Items, Arcane Magic Unique)
  • Blue Marvel – Bio (3 GT21 Bio Items, Titanium Alloy Unique)
  • Captain Britain – Mystic (2 GT21 Mystic Items, Focused Chi Unique)

Some good characters you can also bring:

  • Apocalypse – Mutant (5 GT21 Mutant Items, Astral Energy Unique)
  • Super Skrull – Bio (5 GT21 Bio Items, Alien Spores Unique)
  • Dormammu – Mystic (5 GT21 Mystic Items, Miasma Unique)
  • Doctor Doom – Tech, Mystic (3 GT21 Tech Items and 2 GT21 Mystic Items, Miasma Unique)

Summary

Achieving a perfect balance is possible, but if you do so, teams might not be strong enough to complete all missions without significant difficulties. That’s why it’s better to spend a bit more time collecting additional gear on traits you will need more (Mystic, Mutant, Tech, and Bio)—this way, you’ll create a strong combination with your characters. Skill characters are currently the least useful. There is the least need for Skill characters at the moment, to put it more accurately. But this can definitely change in the future with the introduction of new teams.

One important thing to keep in mind: although on the official site, Planner lists Mephisto as a 3 Mystic Item character, he is actually a 5 Mystic Item character. Don’t let that discrepancy in the planner throw you off — plan your resources accordingly.

Another key point worth highlighting is that you will need a substantial amount of Catalysts and Origin gear, as the items required for Gear Tier 21 are extremely demanding in that regard. Make sure you are not neglecting that segment of your preparation — it can easily become a bottleneck if you are not actively working on it alongside everything else.

Finally, please note that this list will be updated periodically as new characters are introduced into the game and existing characters undergo reworks. What is optimal today may shift over time, so check back regularly to ensure your team choices remain aligned with the current recommendations.

Rewards

The main rewards from the Dark Dimension IX are no doubt the Annihilus character shards that you get after completing your First-Clear and Timed runs. You can also earn Red Stars for Annihilus and plenty of other rewards from clearing nodes and completing DD IX.

Node rewards:

  • 126 million Gold
  • 9,000 L4 Training Module
  • 1,320 T4 Ability Material
  • 1,500 Crimson Basic Catalyst Part
  • 50 Crimson Armor Catalyst Pats
  • 50 Crimson Resistance Catalyst Part
  • 550 Crimson Damage Catalyst Part
  • 550 Crimson Focus Catalyst Part
  • 1,000 Crimson Health Catalyst Part
  • 900 Crimson Unstable Molecules
  • 750 Crimson Laser Torch
  • 600 Crimson Charged Particles

The node rewards are available for both – First-Clear and Timed runs, so after completing the Dark Dimension twice you will get double the rewards listed above. The third clear or any other consecutive clear will only award you achievement progress that will unlock new Player Frames.

First-Clear Rewards:

  • Character shards for 5 Yellow Stars for Annihilus
  • 2 Red Stars for Annihilus
  • 90 Crimson Tahyon Conductor
  • 90 Crimson Nanites
  • 75 Crimson Omnium Ore
  • 75 Crimson Pressurized Tank
  • 105 Crimson Liquid Hydrazine (GT21 Tech Mini Unique)
  • 105 Crimson Dragonite (GT21 Tech Mini Unique)
  • 650 T4 Ability Material
  • 3,500 L4 Training Modules
  • 54 million Gold

Timed run Rewards:

  • Character shards to rank up Annihilus to 7 Yellow Stars
  • 4 Red Stars for Annihilus
  • 2,7 million T3 Level 1 Ions
  • 2,7 million T3 Level 4 Ions
  • 2,7 million T3 Level 5 Ions
  • 81 of each T3 Blaster Level 1 Iso-8 (Damage, Health, Armor, Focus, and Resist)
  • 2,000 T4 Ability Material
  • 11,000 L4 Training Module
  • 162 million Gold

Annihilus Saga

Leading up to Dark Dimension IX is the Annihilus Saga, which features three chapters — one for each Chapter Legend. The Quasar chapter recaps his story, while the Blastaar chapter and the Thunderstrike chapter each continue the adventure that builds up to Dark Dimension IX.

Here’s how the Sagas will work:

  • 7 nodes each
  • 1 boss at the end of each difficulty
  • Quasar Saga
    • Easy – no requirements
    • Hard – Chapter 1 – Harbinger teams
  • Blastaar Saga
    • Easy – no requirements
    • Hard – Chapter 2 – Conqueror teams
  • Thunderstrike Saga
    • Easy – No requirements
    • Hard – Chapter 3 – Stormbound teams

These Sagas are optional, but you can earn:

  • A costume for each Legend
  • Character shards to bring Quasar, Blastaar, and Thunderstrike to 7 Yellow Stars 
  • Red Stars to bring Quasar, Blastaar, and Thunderstrike to 7 Red Stars

Epilogue: Max Out Annihilus’s Red Stars

After unlocking Annihilus, you’ll gain access to the Annihilus Saga Epilogue, where you can max out his Red Stars and witness his full power in battle.

  • Consists of 5 nodes
  • Node 1 and 2 require Annihilus at 5 Yellow Stars
  • Node 3, 4, 5 require Annihilus at 7 Yellow Stars (obtained in the Timed Run of Dark Dimension IX).
  • Earn 5, 6, and 7 Red Stars, starting with node 3!

By completing Dark Dimension IX twice — through the First Run and the Timed Run — you’ll earn 7 Yellow Stars and 4 Red Stars for Annihilus. Once you follow that up by completing the Annihilus Saga Epilogue, you’ll have him at 7 Yellow Stars and 7 Red Stars.

Conclusion

Assembling teams for the Dark Dimension is one of the most demanding challenges in Marvel Strike Force, but it is absolutely achievable with the right mindset and approach. This is not content you want to rush into blindly — every decision you make along the way, from the characters you invest in to the gear you prioritize, will have a direct impact on how smoothly your run goes.

Planning ahead is everything. Before you even start building your team, take the time to research which characters perform well in the Dark Dimension, which ones synergize with each other, and which ones will serve you beyond DD as well. Investing in a character that is strong in DD but useless everywhere else is a costly mistake, especially for free-to-play players who have limited resources. The best choices are characters that pull double duty — strong in DD and valuable in other game modes like Arena, Cosmic Crucible, Alliance War, or Raids.

Patience is a virtue here more than anywhere else. The Dark Dimension is a long-term goal, not something you knock out in a few weeks. Players who try to rush it often find themselves with poorly geared characters, mismatched teams, and wasted resources. Accept from the beginning that this is a marathon, not a sprint, and pace yourself accordingly. Slow, consistent progress will always beat hasty, unfocused grinding.

Being selective about your characters is perhaps the most critical piece of advice. Not every powerful character is a good DD character. You want to look at survivability, damage output, and team synergy. A character who looks impressive on paper might underperform in the Dark Dimension’s specific combat conditions. Do your homework, consult tier lists and community resources, and make deliberate choices rather than going with whatever you happen to have leveled up already.

If you plan carefully, stay patient, and choose wisely, the Dark Dimension is very much within your reach.

If you’re unsure about your team setups and have more questions, join our Discord where we can help you!

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Good luck!