Hellfire Club
Introduction
The Hellfire Club is a Mutant Raid team designed to dominate the Mutant sections of Raids, with a unique composition. Two of its members, Azazel and Rachel Summers, are not only part of the Hellfire Club team but also key figures in two powerful Cosmic Crucible specialized teams. Specifically, Azazel is also part of the Accursed team, while Rachel Summers belongs to the Immortal X-Men team. The Hellfire Club consists of two reworked characters (Emma Frost and Madelyne Pryor) and three new ones (Sebastian Shaw, Azazel, and Rachel Summers). While primarily specialized for Raids, this team will also perform well in other game modes.
The team consists of five Mutant characters: one Protector, two Controllers, one Blaster, and one Brawler. Additionally, we have four Villain characters and one Hero character; four of them are Global, while one is Cosmic.
Team Members
(left to right) with links to Character Pages
Utility
- Alliance Raid
The Hellfire Club team is specifically designed to excel in Mutant sections of Raids, offering unique bonuses in that game mode. This makes them an exceptionally powerful team for Raids, and consequently, a high-priority choice for players to invest in, as Raid success significantly impacts overall progress in the Marvel Strike Force (MSF) game.
Additionally, individual members of the team have versatile uses across multiple game modes. Azazel is also part of the Accursed team, making him a valuable asset in Cosmic Crucible. Similarly, Rachel Summers is a member of the Immortal X-Men team, another strong Crucible team, which enhances her utility in various scenarios. These two characters provide excellent value due to their adaptability and effectiveness across different modes.
Emma Frost and Madelyne Pryor bring specific bonuses for War Defense, positioning the Hellfire Club as a viable option for defensive setups during War. This combination of strengths—Raid dominance, multi-mode utility, and War Defense capability—makes the Hellfire Club team a strategic investment for players aiming to optimize their gameplay across MSF.
Team Placement & Turn Order
Sebastian Shaw is positioned in one corner as the protector. Next to him, Emma Frost is placed due to her significant mitigation potential and her susceptibility to receiving potential AoE damage when opponents target Sebastian. Azazel is positioned in the center, while Madelyne Prior and Rachel Summers are placed on the opposite side, as they are the characters with the lowest health in the Hellfire Club team.
Turn Order:
- Sebastian Shaw
- Rachel Summers
- Azazel
- Emma Frost
- Madelyne Pryor
Regarding the order of play, characters are arranged based on their Speed stat. However, Azazel gains a 5% Speed Bar boost at the start of each battle (provided opponents do not prevent Speed Bar filling), which might allow him to act slightly earlier. It remains uncertain whether this boost is enough for Azazel to act before Rachel Summers. Testing will clarify this, and updates will be provided accordingly.
Sebastian Shaw takes the first turn, and if he uses his Special ability, Emma Frost’s Speed Bar will be filled by 35%, enabling her to act right after him—again, assuming opponent characters do not block Speed Bar filling.
Iso-8 Classes
- Sebastian Shaw – Striker
- Emma Frost – Healer
- Azazel – Raider
- Madelyne Pryor – Striker
- Rachel Summers – Raider
Sebastian Shaw is ideal for the Striker class because, even with an Iso-8 attack, if he has Charged, he can apply Stun. The only drawback is that he plays first, meaning there won’t be a target with the Vulnerable effect for him to use the Iso-8 attack on. Despite this limitation, Striker remains the best class for him.
Emma Frost can be assigned any Iso-8 class, but since her Basic only targets the primary target and doesn’t deal widespread damage, and she directly attacks enemies only with her Basic, Raider or Striker are not the ideal choices for her. We’ve chosen to designate her as a Healer, as she’ll play more often as part of the Hellfire Club team, especially in Raids, where her healing abilities can further support the team’s sustainability.
Azazel is perfect for the Raider Iso-8 class because all of his attacks target multiple enemies. As a Raider, he will benefit the most in terms of damage output.
We decided to assign Madelyne Pryor as the Striker Iso-8 Class because she can use her Iso-8 attack to flip positive effects. Additionally, her Ultimate ability allows her to deal massive damage to a single opponent, and the Striker class will further enhance that damage.
Similar to Azazel, Rachel Summers targets multiple enemies with her attacks, making the Raider class highly beneficial for her. Additionally, she can deal passive damage during enemy turns if the opponent has Speed Up or is Stunned. Using the Raider Iso-8 class will amplify all the damage she inflicts.
Team T4’s
Essential
- Sebastian Shaw – Passive and Basic
- Emma Frost – Ultimate and Special
- Azazel – Passive, Ultimate, and Special
- Rachel Summers – Passive, Ultimate, and Special
Sebastian Shaw
When we maximize Sebastian Shaw’s Passive ability, he gains +20% Damage, +200% Resistance, +500% Focus, and +15% Damage Reduction, up to a maximum of 80% Damage Reduction while he is Charged. Since Sebastian starts every battle with the Hellfire Club team already with Charged in all game modes and gains additional Charged whenever enemies attack him, it’s clear why this upgrade becomes crucial. He will consistently benefit from these bonuses throughout the battles.
If we maximize Basic, this attack becomes Unavoidable as long as Sebastian Shaw has Charged. Since we want this attack to be Unavoidable – because it allows Sebastian to apply Stun to the primary target – we’ll need to mark this upgrade as crucial.
Emma Frost
When Emma’s Ultimate is maximized, she will clear all positive effects from all enemies, an upgrade from previously clearing only three positive effects from all enemies. Additionally, she will Mind Control the two enemy or ally characters with the highest Damage to attack the primary target. An enhancement from controlling just one character. These controlled characters will receive a +40% Damage boost for that attack, increased from the previous 25%. With this upgrade, Emma has the potential to seriously harm, if not outright eliminate, the primary target.
When Emma uses her maximized Special, she will now clear all negative effects from herself and all allies, an improvement from previously clearing only three negative effects. Additionally, she will apply Immunity to herself and all Mutant Villain allies, which includes almost the entire Hellfire Club team. This is a significant upgrade from the previous ability level (level 6), which applied Immunity to only three random Mutant Villain allies or herself. With this enhancement, the team has a much more effective way to deal with debuffs (she will clear all), and the entire team becomes protected with Immunity, preventing further debuffs from being applied. The only exception is Rachel Summers, who won’t receive Immunity from Emma because she is a Mutant Hero character. However, Rachel spawns with Immunity naturally, so she doesn’t require additional protection from Emma’s ability.
Azazel
Azazel’s Passive ability at its maximum level significantly enhances the entire Hellfire Club team’s effectiveness in Raids. Upon an enemy’s death, it increases the Speed Bar for himself and all Hellfire Club allies by 15% (up from the previous 5%), allowing the team to take turns more frequently in this game mode. Additionally, at the start of a battle, if there are three or more Hellfire Club or Accursed allies present, Azazel generates 1 Ability Energy for himself. This ensures he can immediately use his Ultimate ability at the beginning of the fight. This upgrade is essential and should not be overlooked.
At max level, the Ultimate ability allows for a 15% reduction in the Speed Bar of primary and secondary targets, which is a fantastic upgrade as it gives the team an advantage by delaying the enemies’ turns. Additionally, the Speed Bar of the target in the final bonus attack is reduced by 50%. Since the bonus attack always targets the opponent with the highest Speed, this is particularly effective as it significantly diminishes their Speed Bar.
Azazel’s Special ability deals increased damage in both of its attacks: the initial strike targeting all enemies and the bonus attack focusing on the enemy with the highest damage. Additionally, it applies Bleed to all enemies and inflicts Blind on the enemy with the highest damage. This upgrade enhances Azazel’s control capabilities, as blinding the most threatening opponent minimizes the risk to his team.
Rachel Summers
Maxing Rachel Summers’ Passive ability is a powerful upgrade that activates when an enemy gains the Slow status effect. If Rachel is teamed with three or more Hellfire Club or Immortal X-Men allies, her passive reduces the enemy’s Speed Bar by 15% and applies Trauma to that enemy. This significantly disrupts the opponent’s ability to act frequently and prevents them from removing debuffs, making it a highly impactful strategic enhancement.
Maximizing Rachel’s Ultimate is essential as it significantly increases her damage output and, more importantly, enables her to spread the stun effect from the primary target to all secondary targets. Without this upgrade, she cannot achieve this effect. By fully upgrading the Ultimate, Rachel can effectively Stun multiple enemies, and in some cases, even all enemies, making it a crucial enhancement for optimal performance.
Rachel’s Special ability upgrade allows her to reduce the Speed Bar of the primary target and the most injured enemy by 25%, an improvement from the previous 10%. Additionally, with this upgrade, Rachel can spread Stun and three other negative effects from the primary target to the most injured enemy. This upgrade is crucial as it not only enhances Speed Bar reduction for two opponents but also effectively transfers Stun, if present on the primary target, to the most injured enemy.
Recommended
- Sebastian Shaw – Special and Ultimate
- Emma Frost – Passive
- Madelyne Pryor – Passive, Ultimate, and Basic
Sebastian Shaw
Upgrading Sebastian Shaw’s Special significantly boosts its damage output. Without the upgrade, his Special deals 300% damage to all opponents. However, with the upgrade, the damage increases to 350%, and if Sebastian has Charged, an additional 125% damage is added (he will have Charged in most cases). This means the total damage jumps from 300% to an impressive 475%, making it a highly valuable upgrade.
Maxing out Sebastian’s Ultimate significantly boosts his damage output, similar to maxing out his Special ability. If Sebastian’s Ultimate is not maxed, he will deal 325% damage to the primary target, followed by another attack dealing 325% damage to the primary and adjacent targets. However, when his Ultimate is maxed, both attacks will deal 375% damage each. Furthermore, if Sebastian is Charged (which is likely in most scenarios), an additional 100% damage will be applied to both attacks. This means Sebastian will inflict 475% damage on the primary target, followed by 475% damage on the primary and adjacent targets. Since this damage is Piercing, it represents a substantial upgrade in his effectiveness.
Emma Frost
When Emma Frost’s Passive is maximized, she applies Defense Up for 2 turns to herself and all Mutant Villain allies on Spawn in War Defense. Since nearly all Hellfire Club characters are Mutant Villains, except Rachel Summers, this upgrade enhances the team’s damage mitigation when used as a defensive option in War.
Madelyne Pryor
Upgrading Madelyne’s Passive increases her chance to assist on non-attack abilities by any ally from 25% to 50%. Additionally, the damage boost for controlled characters retaliating through her Passive when any Hellfire Club, Marauder, or Cloned ally below 50% health is attacked rises from 20% to 30%. While this upgrade may not be absolutely essential -especially since a 100% assist chance on non-attack abilities would be preferable – it is still beneficial as it enhances the overall damage output of the Hellfire Club team. The improvement may not be constant or significant, but it does provide a noticeable boost.
Maxed Ultimate now deals increased damage, delivering 600% to the primary target, compared to the previous 500%. Additionally, it flips all positive effects on the primary target, an upgrade from flipping just three positive effects. This enhancement significantly boosts the effectiveness of the Ultimate ability.
If we upgrade Madalyne’s Basic to max level, she will deal more damage and flip three positive effects into negative ones on the primary target (an increase from two). This upgrade could prove useful in specific situations.
Red Stars and Diamonds
Getting 7 Red Stars on the new characters Sebastian Shaw, Azazel, and Rachel Summers shouldn’t be complicated, as long as you open Elite Red Star Orbs when they are featured there. Emma Frost, and Madelyne Pryor are older characters so plenty of players might have them at high Red Stars already.
You could also get Red Stars for them from the Incursion Campaign:
- 6 Red Stars for Emma Frost – Incursion 7-3
- 6 Red Stars for Madelyne Pryor – Incursion 7-3
When the Sebastian Shaw, Azazel, and Rachel Summers becomes farmable and free-to-play players are able to collect 7 Yellow/Red Stars for them, we also recommend using Diamonds for them (at least 2 Diamonds for all three).
For the two reworked characters, we also recommend a minimum of 2 Diamonds.
Farming Locations
- Sebastian Shaw – Venture Orb, Spotlight Raid Orb, Character Store (Age of Annihilus)
- Emma Frost – Heroes 6-6, Venture Orb, Character Store (Age of Annihilus)
- Azazel – Nexus Hard 5-9, Venture Orb, Spotlight Raid Orb, Character Store (Age of Annihilus)
- Madelyne Pryor – Venture Orb, Character Store (Age of Annihilus)
- Rachel Summers – Venture Orb, Spotlight Raid Orb, Character Store (Age of Annihilus)
On Spawn Buffs and Crucial Passive Effects In Battle
Team:
On War Defense: Defense Up (2 turns)
Sebastian Shaw – Taunt, Barrier for 30% of Max Health, Charged
Azazel – Fill Speed Bar by 5%, 1 Ability Energy
Rachel Summers – Immunity
Hellfire Club:
- In Raids, cannot gain Taunt (except Sebastian Shaw)
- In Raids, 1 Ability Energy on enemy Death
- In Raids, fill the Speed Bar by 15% on enemy Death
- +40% Drain
Enemies:
- -10% Speed
- Lower Crit Chance by 50% for all Mutant enemies
- Reduce Speed Bar by 15% + apply Trauma to any enemy who gains Slow, if Rachel Summers has 3 Hellfire Club allies
- Protector enemies cannot Spawn with Immunity or Safeguard
- Support enemies cannot Spawn with Immunity and cannot gain Speed Bar on Spawn
Team Mechanics
The Hellfire Club is a secretive and elite organization often portrayed as a shadowy group with immense wealth, power, and influence. They become a recurring element in X-Men storylines, frequently serving as adversaries to the mutant team.
The club operates under the guise of a social organization for the wealthy and influential, but beneath its opulent exterior lies a darker purpose. Members of the Hellfire Club are often involved in political manipulation, corporate espionage, and the pursuit of power at any cost. The group is known for its hierarchical structure, with the “Inner Circle” being the most powerful faction within the club. The Inner Circle is divided into chess-inspired titles such as the Black King, White Queen, Black Queen, and White King.
One of the most notable iterations of the Hellfire Club is led by Sebastian Shaw, who serves as the Black King. Shaw is a mutant with the ability to absorb kinetic energy and convert it into enhanced strength and durability, making him a formidable opponent. Another prominent member is Emma Frost, the White Queen, who possesses powerful telepathic abilities and later becomes a key ally to the X-Men.
The Hellfire Club has been involved in several significant storylines in Marvel history. One of their most infamous arcs is the “Dark Phoenix Saga,” where they manipulate Jean Grey into becoming their pawn while she struggles with her growing Phoenix powers. Their schemes often revolve around exploiting mutants for their own gain or seeking dominance over humanity.
Despite their villainous nature, some members of the Hellfire Club have undergone redemption arcs or shifted allegiances over time. Emma Frost, for example, transitions from a villain to a hero and becomes a prominent leader among mutants.
The Hellfire Club’s blend of sophistication, intrigue, and ruthlessness makes them a compelling group within Marvel’s storytelling. Their constant interplay between power and betrayal ensures their presence remains impactful in the broader Marvel Universe.
The Hellfire Club is set to make a significant impact in the fight against Annihilius, with Emma Frost and Madelyne Pryor leading the charge alongside new members Sebastian Shaw, Azazel, and Rachel Summers. This elite group of mutants will specialize in Raids, with an exciting new Raid to be revealed soon. Beyond Raids, these characters bring immediate value to Cosmic Crucible teams, enhancing performance in various matchups.
Azazel strengthens the Accursed Crucible squad against challenging opponents, while Rachel Summers boosts the Immortal X-Men team in Crucible. Sebastian Shaw synergizes with Emma Frost, enhancing Cabal and Phoenix Force squads, and gains additional abilities when paired with other Hellfire Club members. These additions promise versatile advantages across multiple game modes.
Sebastian Shaw
Sebastian Shaw is a character primarily associated with the X-Men universe. He is a mutant and one of the most prominent members of the Hellfire Club, an elite and secretive organization that often operates in the shadows to influence global events. Shaw is typically portrayed as a villain, though his motivations often blur the lines between self-interest and broader ambitions.
Sebastian Shaw possesses the mutant ability to absorb kinetic energy and convert it into enhanced strength, speed, and durability. This means that any physical attack or impact on him only serves to make him stronger, making him a formidable opponent in combat. His powers, combined with his cunning intellect and ruthless nature, make him a dangerous adversary.
As the Black King of the Hellfire Club, Shaw is known for his manipulative and ambitious personality. He uses his wealth, influence, and strategic mind to further his goals, often clashing with the X-Men and other superhero teams. Despite his villainous tendencies, Shaw is a complex character who believes in the survival of the fittest and often sees mutants as superior beings destined to dominate humanity.
One of Shaw’s most notable storylines involves his role in the Dark Phoenix Saga, where he works alongside other members of the Hellfire Club to manipulate Jean Grey while she is under the influence of the Phoenix Force. His interactions with the X-Men have made him a recurring figure in their stories, sometimes serving as a direct antagonist and other times as an uneasy ally when their interests align.
Overall, Sebastian Shaw is a multifaceted character whose combination of power, intellect, and ambition makes him one of Marvel’s most intriguing villains.
Sebastian Shaw emerges as a formidable leader, propelling the Hellfire Club from obscurity to notoriety. Upon entering the fray, he gains Taunt, ensuring enemies focus their attacks on him. When Charged, his Basic ability delivers a powerful Stun, incapacitating foes. Moreover, all his attacks become Unavoidable while Charged, making him a relentless and unstoppable force in battle.
His Basic ability involves attacking the primary target for 330% damage. If he is Charged, he applies Stun to the primary target and removes his own Charged status. Additionally, while Charged, this attack becomes Unavoidable and cannot be counterattacked.
Special (cost 4 Ability Energy, can be used in first turn)clears all barriers on enemies and attacks them with high damage. If Charged, the damage is further amplified. When paired with at least three Hellfire Club allies, additional effects are triggered: Heal Block and Defense Down are applied to enemies for two turns, and their Speed Bar is reduced by 5%. Shaw gains Taunt while providing barriers and buffs to himself and his allies. This ability also boosts the Speed Bar of a random Emma Frost ally. While Charged, the attack becomes unavoidable and immune to being blocked or countered, making it a formidable skill in battle scenarios.
Ultimate ability deals 375% Piercing damage to the primary target as well as adjacent targets. When Sebastian Shaw is Charged, the damage increases by an additional 150%. This attack bypasses Defense Up and, while Charged, becomes Unavoidable, cannot be blocked, and cannot be counterattacked. Ultimate cost 10 Ability Energy and can be used in second turn.
Sebastian Shaw’s Passive ability provides him with significant durability and utility for his team. Upon spawning, he gains Taunt and a Barrier equal to 30% of his Max Health, ensuring he draws enemy attacks while protecting himself. If he has 3 or more Hellfire Club allies, he also gains Charged, amplifying his effectiveness.
When attacked by an enemy, Shaw gains Charged and applies Charged to a random Emma Frost ally, boosting her Speed Bar by 5%. Additionally, if Shaw’s health drops below 50%, he applies a 10% Barrier to himself and fills a random Emma Frost ally’s Speed Bar by 50%.
While Charged, Sebastian Shaw becomes immensely powerful:
- He gains +20% Damage, +200% Resistance, +500% Focus, and up to 80% Damage Reduction.
- He is immune to Exposed, Vulnerable, and Heal Block effects.
- His Speed Bar cannot be reduced.
In Raids, Hellfire Club allies are unable to gain Taunt, which shifts the focus of enemy attacks to Shaw himself.
Emma Frost
Emma Frost, also known as the White Queen, is a complex and fascinating character. Initially introduced as a villain and a prominent member of the Hellfire Club, Emma Frost has evolved significantly over the years, becoming one of the most nuanced and multifaceted characters in the Marvel Universe.
Emma is a mutant with extraordinary telepathic abilities, making her one of the most powerful telepaths in the world. Her powers include mind control, telepathic communication, memory manipulation, and projecting illusions. In addition to her telepathy, Emma possesses a secondary mutation: the ability to transform her body into an organic diamond. In this diamond form, she gains enhanced durability and strength while becoming impervious to psychic attacks, though she loses access to her telepathic powers during this transformation.
Born into a wealthy but dysfunctional family in Boston, Massachusetts, Emma’s upbringing was fraught with challenges, including strained relationships with her parents and siblings. Despite these difficulties, she displayed remarkable intelligence and ambition from an early age. After leaving her family behind, Emma used her cunning and determination to rise to prominence in the business world, eventually becoming a successful entrepreneur and headmistress of her own school for mutants.
Emma Frost’s journey is marked by her transformation from a ruthless antagonist to a reluctant hero. As a member of the Hellfire Club, she was known for her manipulative and self-serving nature. However, over time, she began to align herself with the X-Men and their mission to protect mutantkind. Her role as a mentor and teacher at Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters allowed her to showcase her compassion and dedication to nurturing young mutants.
Emma’s relationships with other Marvel characters are central to her story. Her romantic involvement with Scott Summers (Cyclops) added layers of complexity to her character, as she grappled with love, loyalty, and her own insecurities. Despite her often icy demeanor, Emma has demonstrated deep care for those she considers family.
Throughout her evolution, Emma Frost remains a symbol of resilience and empowerment. Her striking appearance, including her signature white outfits and confident demeanor, reflects her unapologetic individuality. As both a hero and an anti-hero, Emma challenges traditional notions of morality and proves that redemption is possible, even for those with a troubled past.
She continues to be a prominent figure, playing key roles in major storylines involving the X-Men and mutantkind. Her intelligence, strength, and complexity make her one of Marvel’s most compelling characters.
Emma Frost is a Controller character known for her ability to remove positive effects from opponents and negative effects from her team. She can heal passively, apply troublesome debuffs to enemies, and deal solid damage with her abilities. Her most notable trait is her passive ability, which applies a -10% Speed reduction to all opponents at the start of each battle. This makes teams unable to counter Speed Stat manipulation vulnerable to her passive, putting them at a disadvantage against the Hellfire Club team. While the developer considers her kit already powerful, we disagree, noting that she should maybe receive a bit of kit update, but she is only receiving a stats update to align with modern characters.
Basic ability involves attacking the primary target for 290% damage while flipping 2 positive effects into negative effects. However, if she is Charged, the attack increases to 340% damage and clears 2 positive effects instead.
Special costs 3 Ability Energy and can be activated on the first turn. When used, it clears the Charged status on Emma if it’s already active. The ability provides a self-barrier equal to 20% of Emma Frost’s Max Health and removes all negative effects from herself and her allies. Additionally, it grants Immunity to herself and all Mutant Villain allies while applying Slow to all enemies. Using this ability also grants Emma Frost the Charged status.
When Emma uses Ultimate, it removes her Charged status if present, clears all positive effects from all enemies, and applies Blind to the primary target. Additionally, she mind-controls the two characters (enemy or ally) with the highest Damage stats to attack the primary target. These controlled characters receive a 40% damage boost for this specific attack. If the primary target is defeated, Blind is applied to the non-summoned enemy with the highest Speed Bar. Emma gains an immense +10,000 Extra Focus for this action, ensuring its effectiveness. Notably, this attack is Unavoidable. Ultimate costs 4 Ability Energy and can be activated on her second turn.
Passive provides several benefits:
- Healing: At the start of her turn, Emma heals herself for 15% of her maximum health.
- Debuffing Enemies: She applies a -10% Speed reduction to all enemies.
- Enhanced Defense When Charged: While charged, she gains a significant boost to her defensive stats, including +400% Armor and +500% Resistance.
- War Defense Bonus: On spawn during War Defense, she applies Defense Up for 2 turns to all Mutant Villain allies, enhancing their survivability.
Azazel
Azazel is a fascinating and enigmatic character, known for his dark charisma, mysterious origins, and pivotal role in the X-Men universe. As one of the most intriguing mutants, Azazel has captivated fans with his devilish appearance and complex personality.
He is a mutant with powers that closely resemble those of his son, Nightcrawler. Azazel possesses the ability to teleport across vast distances, even through dimensions, leaving behind a signature puff of smoke and a sulfur smell. His demonic appearance—red skin, glowing yellow eyes, pointed tail, and sharp fangs—has earned him comparisons to the Devil himself.
What makes Azazel particularly compelling is his role in Marvel’s mythos. He is part of an ancient race of mutants known as the Neyaphem, who were banished to a hellish dimension by their rivals, the angelic Cheyarafim. Azazel’s bitterness and thirst for revenge fueled his desire to escape his imprisonment and reclaim his place in the world. To achieve this, he fathered numerous children with human women, hoping to create offspring powerful enough to help him break free from his dimensional exile. One of these children was Kurt Wagner, better known as Nightcrawler.
Azazel’s connection to Nightcrawler adds layers of complexity to both characters. While Nightcrawler is a devout Catholic with a kind and heroic nature, Azazel represents a darker path—a manipulative and ruthless figure who seeks to use his lineage for his own gain. This dynamic creates tension and drama whenever the two cross paths, as Nightcrawler struggles to reconcile his faith and values with the sinister legacy of his father.
Within the Hellfire Club, Azazel plays a role in furthering the group’s agendas, often using his cunning and supernatural powers to achieve their goals. His character adds a dark and intriguing layer to the complex dynamics of the Hellfire Club.
Overall, Azazel is a character who embodies mystery and moral ambiguity. His devilish appearance and intricate ties to Nightcrawler make him a standout figure in the Marvel universe. Whether you see him as a villain or a tragic antihero, Azazel remains an unforgettable presence in the X-Men saga.
He specializes in devastating multi-target attacks that can swiftly eliminate enemy waves. Additionally, Azazel provides Ability Energy to his Hellfire Club allies during Raids, enhancing their effectiveness. As part of the Accursed Crucible squad, Azazel empowers the team to overcome challenging and powerful matchups with ease.
Basic attack deals 300% damage to the primary target and includes a bonus attack on the enemy with the highest damage for 150%. This attack becomes immune to counterattacks when Azazel is accompanied by 3 or more allies from the Hellfire Club or Accursed teams.
Azazel’s Special ability is highly effective, especially when paired with a Hellfire Club or Accursed team. It costs 6 Ability Energy and can be activated on the first turn. The attack targets all enemies, dealing 320% damage, flipping Defense Up, and applying Bleed. Additionally, it delivers a bonus attack to the enemy with the highest Damage, dealing another 320% damage and applying Blind. This attack becomes immune to counterattacks when Azazel has three or more Hellfire Club or Accursed allies. The Blind effect on the strongest enemy can significantly disrupt their effectiveness, ensuring your team remains harder to hit in critical situations.
Azazel’s Ultimate is exceptionally influential, targeting up to 10 enemies. The primary attack deals 250% Piercing damage, clears one positive effect, and reduces the Speed Bar by 15%. It then Rebound Chain to 8 additional targets within infinite range (so same enemy can be hit twice, or three times, or maybe even four times – depending on rng or situation in battle), applying the same effects. Finally, it delivers a bonus attack to the enemy with the highest Speed, inflicting 250% Piercing damage, clearing a positive effect, applying Slow, and reducing their Speed Bar by 50%.
When Azazel is paired with at least three Hellfire Club or Accursed allies, his Ultimate cannot be counterattacked. Additionally, it bypasses Defense Up, ensuring maximum impact. This ability is strategically advantageous, as it significantly delays enemy turns, granting your team a strong upper hand in battles, in most cases.
Ultimate ability costs 10 Ability Energy and can typically be used in the second turn. However, when paired with the Hellfire Club or Accursed team (which will happen in most cases), Azazel gains the ability to use his Ultimate in the first turn, as explained in his Passive.
Passive ability grants benefits based on the number of Hellfire Club or Accursed allies present. Upon spawning, if Azazel has 3 or more allies from these teams, his Speed Bar is filled by 5%, and he gains 1 Ability Energy (so he can use Ultimate in the first turn).
In Raids, whenever an enemy dies, Azazel and all Hellfire Club allies receive 1 Ability Energy and have their Speed Bars filled by 15%. This helps them use their abilities more frequently, but we’re uncertain how much it will enable simulation of Raid battles, as we believe it’s insufficient to reliably prepare all abilities for the next fight. Additionally, Azazel gains a 15% Drain bonus, which is shared with Hellfire Club and Accursed allies, enhancing their survivability.
Madelyne Pryor
Madelyne Pryor is one of the most intriguing and complex characters, with a story that weaves through love, betrayal, identity, and power. She was first introduced as a pilot who bore an uncanny resemblance to Jean Grey, the original Marvel Girl. This resemblance was no coincidence—it turned out that Madelyne was a clone of Jean, created by the villainous Mister Sinister as part of his elaborate scheme to manipulate the Summers bloodline.
Madelyne’s life took a dramatic turn when she met Scott Summers, also known as Cyclops, and the two fell in love. Their relationship blossomed, leading to marriage and the birth of their son, Nathan Christopher Charles Summers—who would later become the time-traveling hero Cable. For a while, Madelyne seemed to have found happiness, living a quiet life away from the chaos of mutant conflicts.
However, this peace was shattered when Jean Grey was resurrected, and Scott abandoned Madelyne to reunite with his first love. Heartbroken and alone, Madelyne’s life spiraled into tragedy. She discovered her true origins as a clone and became consumed by anger and resentment. Her pain and sense of betrayal made her vulnerable to dark forces, eventually leading her to become the Goblin Queen.
As the Goblin Queen, Madelyne embraced dark magic and unleashed chaos upon the Marvel Universe. She sought revenge against those who had wronged her, including the X-Men and Scott Summers. Her transformation into a villain was both tragic and compelling, as it stemmed from deep emotional wounds rather than pure malice. Despite her antagonistic role, many readers sympathized with her plight and understood the complexity of her character.
Madelyne Pryor’s story is one of identity and self-worth. As a clone, she struggled to define herself beyond being a mere copy of Jean Grey. Her journey is marked by moments of strength, vulnerability, and defiance, making her a fascinating figure in Marvel’s rich tapestry of characters. Over the years, Madelyne has returned in various storylines, sometimes as an ally and sometimes as an adversary, always leaving a lasting impression.
Whether you see her as a tragic victim or a formidable villain, Madelyne Pryor remains an unforgettable character whose legacy continues to shape the Marvel Universe.
Madelyne Pryor has received a stat update, and her abilities are now unlocked beyond just War Defense. She is a Controller with impressive damage output and the ability to apply a variety of debuffs to enemies based on their roles. Additionally, she has a chance to assist with non-attack abilities and can counter enemy attacks through the ally with the highest damage.
Basic ability deals 300% damage to the primary target while flipping 3 random positive effects into negative effects. It’s a straightforward yet highly effective move.
Special is a powerful ability with a cost of 6 Energy, available for use starting on her second turn. It delivers a solid attack to all enemies, dealing 300% damage and applying Defense Down for 2 turns.
Additional effects occur if Cyclops, Phoenix, or Dark Phoenix are among the enemies, triggering a Bonus Attack that deals another 300% damage to all enemies. In those cases, the damage of Special, from solid, becomes devastating.
Special further applies tailored debuffs based on enemy roles:
- Brawler and Blaster enemies receive Offense Down for 2 turns.
- Protector and Controller enemies are inflicted with Disrupted for 2 turns.
- Protector enemies specifically get Ability Block for 1 turn.
- Support enemies suffer Ability Block for 2 turns.
Notably, this attack is Unavoidable and cannot be counterattacked, ensuring its effectiveness in combat scenarios.
Her Ultimate ability flips all positive effects on the primary target, ensuring that any beneficial effects are turned into negative ones. She then attacks the primary target with a powerful strike, dealing 600% damage while extending the duration of all existing negative effects on them by 1 turn.
On War Defense, this ability has unique targeting mechanics:
- It prioritizes the most injured non-summoned enemy and can specifically target Dark Phoenix.
- If this attack results in a kill, it generates 2 Ability Energy for a random Mister Sinister ally.
Additionally, this attack is unblockable, which is excellent because when the target blocks an attack, not only does it reduce the damage, but it also avoids receiving any negative effects from that attack.
When an enemy attacks Madelyne Pryor or any ally belonging to the Hellfire Club, Marauder, or Cloned categories who is below 50% Health, through her Passive, she triggers Mind Control on the ally with the highest Damage. This controlled ally will attack the enemy, and their Damage is increased by 30% for this specific attack.
Madelyne Pryor has a 50% increased chance to assist on non-attack abilities. So, when Emma Frost uses her Special ability, which is a non-attack ability, there is a 50% chance that Madelyne will attack Emma’s primary target. Additionally, she gains 50% Resistance for each enemy Brawler present in the battle. She also reduces the Crit Chance of all Mutant enemies by 50%.
In War Defense on Spawn, Madelyne Pryor fills the Speed Bar of a random Stryfe ally by 30%.
Rachel Summers
Rachel Summers is a powerful mutant with a legacy deeply entwined in the X-Men universe. Rachel’s story is one of resilience, tragedy, and hope, making her one of the most compelling figures in Marvel lore.
Born in an alternate dystopian future where mutants were hunted and oppressed, Rachel is the daughter of Cyclops (Scott Summers) and Jean Grey. In her timeline, the Sentinels—a race of mutant-hunting robots—ruled America, and Rachel was raised amidst chaos and fear. She inherited her mother’s telepathic and telekinetic abilities, which were amplified by the Phoenix Force, a cosmic entity that bonded with her. This connection made her one of the most formidable mutants in existence.
Rachel’s journey is marked by her escape from this dark future to the present-day Marvel universe. She joined the X-Men, hoping to prevent her timeline’s grim fate from unfolding. Her arrival introduced the team to the horrors of a possible future, motivating them to fight harder for mutant rights and equality.
Over time, Rachel adopted the codename “Phoenix” in honor of her mother and later became known as “Prestige.” Her powers include telepathy, telekinesis, time manipulation, and the ability to tap into the Phoenix Force, granting her near-limitless energy. These abilities often place her at the center of cosmic-level conflicts, but Rachel is more than her powers. She is brave, compassionate, and fiercely protective of her friends and family.
Rachel’s relationships within the X-Men are central to her character development. Her bond with Kitty Pryde (Shadowcat) is particularly heartfelt, showcasing her softer side amidst battles and struggles. Despite the weight of her traumatic past, Rachel remains a symbol of hope and perseverance—a reminder that even in the darkest times, we can rise above and shape a better future.
Whether battling intergalactic threats or fighting for mutant survival on Earth, Rachel Summers stands out as a hero who embodies strength, determination, and the enduring spirit of the X-Men. Her story continues to evolve in Marvel Comics, captivating fans with every twist and turn.
Rachel Summers plays a crucial role in the Hellfire Club strategy by disrupting enemy teams through Speed Bar manipulation and spreading Stun with her Special and Ultimate abilities. Her inclusion in the Immortal X-Men Crucible team can significantly enhance their effectiveness. By replacing either Cable or Beast with Rachel, the team gains the potential to overcome opponents they previously struggled to defeat. This adjustment strengthens the Immortal team, making them more versatile and powerful in challenging matchups.
Her Basic attack deals 280% damage to the primary target and applies Defense Down. Additionally, she performs a bonus attack on the enemy with the highest Damage, also dealing 280% damage and applying Defense Down. If the primary target is the enemy with the highest Damage, Rachel effectively attacks that target twice. Otherwise, she attacks two different targets—one as the primary and one as the bonus.
Special is a powerful offensive move that can be utilized right from the first turn. It costs 3 Ability Energy (low cost) while allowing Rachel Summers to target a primary target with an attack dealing 400% damage. Then, flipping 3 positive effects on the target into negative effects and reducing their Speed Bar by 25%. Additionally, Rachel performs a bonus attack on the most injured enemy, dealing another 400% damage, clearing 3 positive effects, and further reducing their Speed Bar by 25%.
One of the standout features of this ability is its ability to spread negative effects. It transfers Stun and 3 other negative effects from the primary target to the most injured enemy, making it a strategic tool for controlling the battlefield and weakening opponents effectively.
Rachel Summers’ Special is highly effective when used in synergy with certain allies. If the primary target has Stun, Rachel can spread the Stun to the most injured enemy. This ability shines when Rachel is part of an Immortal X-Men team, as one opponent is guaranteed to have Stun due to Storm’s Special ability being applied before Rachel’s turn. On the other hand, in a Hellfire Club team, an opponent might only have Stun if Sebastian Shaw uses his Basic ability as his first move, which is less frequent.
Ultimate ability is Rachel’s crucial move that costs 6 Ability Energy and can be used on the first turn. It involves attacking the primary target for 500% Piercing damage while flipping all positive effects into negative effects. Adjacent targets are also attacked for 500% Piercing damage, with all positive effects cleared. Additionally, the ability spreads Stun and all other negative effects from the primary target to adjacent targets.
The ability applies Immunity to Rachel Summers, as well as all Hellfire Club and Immortal X-Men allies. If this attack results in a kill, it fills the Speed Bar by 70% for Rachel Summers, a random Jean Grey ally, and a random Sebastian Shaw ally.
Notably, this attack bypasses Defense Up and cannot be dodged or blocked, making it highly effective against tough opponents.
Rachel’s Ultimate ability gains a significant advantage when she is paired with the Immortal X-Men team. This synergy works particularly well because Storm’s Special move ensures that at least one opponent will have the Stun status effect (and Storm will play before Rachel). Rachel can then spread the Stun, along with any other negative effects from the primary target, to all adjacent enemies (one or two targets). This makes her Ultimate highly effective in controlling and debuffing multiple enemies simultaneously. Sometimes, we can strategically wait and use the Ultimate on Rachel’s second turn, after Polaris gathers all the opponents. This way, both the damage output and the debuffing effect will be greater, as it will affect more enemies.
When Rachel is with Hellfire Club allies, her Ultimate also becomes an incredibly powerful weapon. Additionally, it’s worth waiting for her second turn, as by then, one of the opponents will almost certainly be Stunned. This allows her to spread the Stun (along with other debuffs) to multiple opponents.
Rachel Summers’ Passive:
Upon Spawn:
- Grants Immunity to herself.
- If accompanied by 3 or more Immortal X-Men allies, all Immortal X-Men allies receive Immunity.
- If Cable is not an ally and there are 3 or more Immortal X-Men allies, Rachel Summers and all Immortal X-Men allies gain a 5% Speed Bar fill.
She practically replaces Cable in the Immortal X-Men team and provides the Speed Bar bonus that he also provided. So the team doesn’t lose that bonus when they put her in instead. Immunity is very useful for the Immortal X-Men team because it prevents certain fast opponents who can play before our characters from debuffing us.
During Enemy Turns:
- If an enemy has Speed Up or Stun, Rachel Summers attacks them for 250% Piercing damage and flips 3 positive effects into negative effects.
Useful for removing buffs and for dealing passive damage to opponents.
When Slow is applied to an enemy:
- If Rachel has 3 or more Hellfire Club or Immortal X-Men allies, the affected enemy’s Speed Bar is reduced by 15%, and Trauma is applied.
In the Hellfire Club team, Azazel can apply the Slow effect to multiple enemies, Emma can apply Slow to all enemies, while in the Immortal X-Men team, Storm can apply Slow to all opponents. This means that Rachel will have many targets available to reduce their Speed and apply Trauma.
Restrictions on Enemies:
- Protector enemies cannot spawn with Immunity or Safeguard.
- Support enemies cannot spawn with Immunity and are prevented from gaining Speed Bar upon spawn.
These passive restrictions significantly weaken Protectors that spawn with certain buffs, making them more vulnerable to debuffs. For example, let’s consider Gladiator. On the other hand, Support characters will no longer fill their Speed Bar upon spawning. As a result, a character like Scientist Supreme will not go first when her team is attacked by the Hellfire Club or Immortal X-Men featuring Rachel Summers.
Additional Effects with 3+ Immortal X-Men Allies:
- Enemy characters can only increase their Resistance through positive effects.
- Enemy characters are unable to gain Assist Now.
With this bonus, Immortal will become significantly stronger as opponents won’t be able to assist, meaning certain fast opposing teams won’t be able to use various assist combos to eliminate one of your characters. Additionally, it will disable passive Resistance increases, preventing opponents from boosting their Resistance and making themselves too difficult to debuff.
Drain Bonuses:
- Rachel Summers gains +25% Drain.
- Hellfire Club and Immortal X-Men allies also receive a 25% Drain bonus.
This significantly increases sustain, not just for her but for all Hellfire Club and Immortal X-Men allies. In the Hellfire Club team, Azazel also passively provides Drain to the entire squad, which, combined with Rachel’s Passive, grants the whole Hellfire Club team an impressive +40% Drain.
Combat Tips & Tricks
The Hellfire Club is a Raid team, so we expect them to perform well in that game mode. However, it’s important to note that they generate Ability Energy solely through Azazel’s Passive. This means that each time an opponent dies, all team members receive just 1 Ability Energy. Such a distribution can easily lead to an insufficient amount of Energy for all characters’ Abilities to be ready during simulated Raid battles. While they should have no issues in the first fight, the second fight or the Boss node may prove challenging if their Abilities are not available.
Interestingly, both Azazel and Rachel Summers are members of two strong Crucible teams, which further enhances their capabilities. In addition to strengthening the Hellfire Club team, they also reinforce two other slightly older Crucible teams (Accursed and Immortal X-Men).
According to the developers, the Hellfire Club will be able to defeat all previous Raid teams: Nightstalker, Orchis, Vigilante, and Thunderbolt, in War or in Crucible. While we won’t claim this is guaranteed until we test them, their abilities suggest it is possible. They are likely to compete successfully against some solid teams in War and Crucible.
Sebastian Shaw plays first, allowing us to use his Special at the start. This move enables us to attack all opponents, reduce their Speed Bar, apply Heal Block and Defense Down, and strip away their Barrier, all while granting Taunt and powerful buffs like Safeguard Defense Up and Barrier to our Hellfire Club. Alternatively, we could use his Basic attack to Stun one opponent, but this would mean missing out on debuffing the rest of the opposing team or buffing our own.
Rachel plays after Sebastian, and we should use her Ultimate to deal maximum damage to as many opponents as possible while spreading all negative effects from the primary target to adjacent enemies. If Sebastian used his Basic and Stunned an opponent, we should target the Stunned enemy with Rachel.
Azazel will start with his Ultimate, which is the best move choice, while we’ll use Special attacks with Emma and Madelyne. This strategy will work well in Raids, as well as in Crucible and War against specific teams.
Emma Frost can passively reduce the Speed Stat of all opposing characters or teams that cannot resist it, giving us a clear advantage in Speed and potentially deciding matchups. The team also has a +40% Drain bonus, allowing them to heal when dealing damage, which is beneficial. They have several methods to apply Slow to multiple enemies (via Emma’s Special and Azazel’s Ultimate), which Rachel’s Passive can exploit. Any team that isn’t immune on Speed Bar reduction will struggle against the Hellfire Club.
The much-anticipated replacement for the X-Treme X-Men team in Raids has arrived, bringing many exciting features. This is a team worth investing in, not only for Raids but also because Azazel and Rachel are valuable members of two powerful Crucible teams, and they all together as Hellfire Club will present a formidable force in the MSF game.
If you have any questions about Hellfire Club team or need any help with MSF feel free to reach out to us via our Discord:
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