Winter Guard
Introduction
Winter Guard truly comes into their own in Alliance War, where they stand out as a powerhouse on both offense and defense. Although they can hold their own in Crucible—thanks to their impressive stats—their real potential is unleashed in War. Their exceptional synergy, strong control elements, and remarkable survivability make them a top-tier team. With unique mechanics that give them the edge whether attacking or defending, Winter Guard sets a new standard for dominance in this mode and easily stands above most other teams.
This team consists of two new characters: Ursa Major and Darkstar, along with three reworked characters: Omega Red, Yelena Belova, and Red Guardian.
Yelena Belova and Red Guardian are Skill characters, while the other three characters are Mutant. Team roles are: two Protectors (Ursa Major and Red Guardian), one Controller (Omega Red), one Blaster (Yelena Belova), and one Support (Darkstar).
Ursa Major, Omega Red, and Darkstar are Villains, while Yelena Belova and Red Guardian are Heroes. All five characters have a Global trait.
Team Members
(left to right) with links to Character Pages
Utility
- Alliance War
Winter Guard features unique mechanics in War that allow them to dominate the game mode, whether you’re using them on offense or defense. While they aren’t particularly fast, that hardly matters—this team is built to prevent opponents from dealing significant damage, and in most cases, enemy characters or teams can’t even apply debuffs to Winter Guard or gain buffs for themselves. Right from the start of battle, Winter Guard passively inflicts crucial debuffs on opponents and blocks some of their key buffs, while remaining immune (at least until Ursa Major takes his first turn) to certain negative effects themselves. You can find more details about these mechanics in the Team Mechanics section, where everything they’re capable of is explained in depth.
Outside of Alliance War, the team isn’t nearly as strong, though they still offer value—primarily because their base stats are higher than those of most other characters, thanks to the stat increase that began with Winter Guard. As a result, they, along with the teams released after them, have noticeably better stats compared to older squads. This kind of stat increase has already happened twice before in MSF’s history and has always had a major impact on the performance of newly released teams.
Red Guardian, as a Protector who spawns with Taunt, will always have a place in certain hybrid team combinations. The other members are less useful outside of War, but can still provide utility.
Additionally, all Winter Guard characters have the Chaos Team tag, meaning they’ll also see play in Battleworld’s Chaos missions.
Team Placement & Turn Order
For team placement, put the Protectors—Ursa Major and Red Guardian—in opposite corners. Place Omega Red next to Ursa Major, and Yelena Belova next to Red Guardian. Darkstar should be positioned in the center of the formation.
Turn Order:
- Darkstar – Speed 126
- Yelena Belova – Speed 124
- Omega Red – Speed 120
- Red Guardian – Speed 119
- Ursa Major – Speed 117
Iso-8 Classes
- Ursa Major – Raider / Fortifier
- Omega Red – Striker
- Darkstar – Raider
- Yelena Belova – Skirmisher / Raider
- Red Guardian – Striker / Fortifier
It’s best to give Ursa Major the Raider ISO-8 class, since his Ultimate attacks all enemies and, in War, can deal extremely serious damage. The Raider class will boost his critical damage across multiple targets, making his attacks even more devastating. Alternatively, Fortifier is also a good option because he’s one of the two Protectors on the Winter Guard team, giving him extra durability and helping him fulfill his tank role.
Omega Red is an excellent fit for the Striker ISO-8 class, since his ISO attack steals a percentage of the enemy’s Health. With each Striker follow-up attack, Omega Red will steal 10% of the opponent’s Health and redistribute it to himself, boosting both his damage and his sustain. The Striker class not only increases his offensive potential but also helps keep him healthy throughout the fight.
Darkstar is best suited for the Raider ISO-8 class for several reasons. She’s the first to take a turn on her Winter Guard team, and her Ultimate hits all enemies. As a Raider, she not only increases her overall damage, but also helps “set up” the enemy team for follow-up attacks from her allies. Her critical hits can apply Vulnerable to targets, making them easier for the rest of the team to finish off.
Secondly, Darkstar passively attacks enemies with Silence throughout the battle, so with the Raider class, her damage from these passive attacks will be even stronger. This makes Raider the optimal choice to maximize her offensive impact during the entire fight.
Yelena Belova can be an excellent Raider, since her Ultimate hits multiple enemies and her passive doubles her crit damage whenever she has Stealth. With the Raider ISO-8 class, her overall damage potential goes up significantly, as she’ll have the highest chance to land critical hits.
However, if you give Red Guardian the Striker ISO-8 class, then Skirmisher becomes a great choice for Yelena. She passively assists on all of Red Guardian’s attacks, so this creates a strong Striker-Skirmisher combo between the two. For the overall Winter Guard team, Skirmisher is actually Yelena’s top choice, maximizing her synergy and team support.
Striker is the ISO-8 class that suits Red Guardian best, especially if you give Yelena Belova the Skirmisher ISO-8 class. Since Yelena will assist on every attack Red Guardian makes, this creates an excellent Striker-Skirmisher combo between the two.
If you prefer a more conservative and defensive approach, you can give Red Guardian the Fortifier ISO-8 class to boost his mitigation. As one of the two Protectors on the Winter Guard team—and since he spawns with Taunt—he’ll usually be taking the most damage, making Fortifier a solid option for extra survivability.
Team T4’s
Essential
- Ursa Major – Passive, Special, and Ultimate
- Omega Red – Passive, Ultimate, and Basic
- Darkstar – Ultimate, Special, and Passive
- Yelena Belova – Passive and Special
- Red Guardian – Passive, Special, and Ultimate
Ursa Major
When Ursa Major’s Passive is maxed out, he provides +50% Damage Reduction and Resistance to himself and the entire Winter Guard team in War, before his first turn (an upgrade from the previous +10% for both stats). This is a huge improvement that’s essential for the Winter Guard’s functionality in War, as it prevents fast, high-damage teams from wiping out Winter Guard characters before they get a chance to play.
Maxing out Ursa Major’s Special provides a significant damage upgrade—nothing more, but it’s a top-tier improvement for War. At level 6, his Special deals 400% Piercing damage in total to all enemies, which is already impressive considering the Winter Guard’s stat levels. However, once the Special is maxed, that damage jumps to 700% Piercing in total, which is almost double. If you want your Winter Guard team to be truly effective in War, maxing Ursa’s Special is a must.
With his Ultimate maxed out, Ursa Major deals significantly more damage to the primary target, but more importantly, he clears all positive effects from that target (up from just 2 random positive effects). This is an excellent upgrade because it allows you to strip away all buffs from the primary target in most situations, making it easy to land Stun—unless the target has Safeguard.
Omega Red
If you max out Omega Red’s Passive, then in War, On Spawn, if he has 3 Winter Guard allies, he will apply Trauma, Heal Block, and Silence to all enemies. Since Ursa Major’s Passive prevents opponents from gaining Immunity in War until Ursa takes his first turn, these debuffs will always land on the enemy team. This is one of the most essential upgrades, as it has a major impact on the Winter Guard team’s battle mechanics.
At max level, Omega Red’s Ultimate deals increased damage and flips all positive effects on all enemies into negatives (up from flipping just 3 positive effects per enemy). This upgrade provides much better control over the battlefield, and since Omega Red can use his Ultimate on his first turn in War when he is with the Winter Guard team, this improvement becomes even more valuable.
When Omega Red’s Basic is maxed out, he steals 10% Health from the primary target (up from 5%). Since his ISO-8 attack also steals 10% Health—and this upgrade affects that attack as well—and because Omega Red is best used as a Striker in most cases, it’s easy to see why this upgrade is important.
Darkstar
A maxed-out Ultimate for Darkstar deals increased damage, and in War, if she has three Winter Guard allies, it reduces the duration of all positive effects by three on all Protector enemies, clears two positive effects from all enemies, and also copies and clears Revive Once from everyone. This upgrade is essential—not only does it remove Revive Once from your opponents, but it also strips away most buffs from enemy Protectors, opening the way to target and eliminate key enemies those Protectors are shielding.
When Darkstar’s Special is maxed out, it deals higher Piercing damage and copies and clears all positive effects (except Taunt) from targets, up from just two. In War, she’ll also steal 20% Health from adjacent targets—not just the primary one. This upgrade greatly boosts her effectiveness as a Support in War, as she’ll be able to steal and redistribute even more Health to herself and her Winter Guard allies.
With her Passive maxed, Darkstar deals much more serious passive damage to enemies with Silence on their turn—150% Piercing instead of 50%. This increase also boosts her Drain, since she heals for 150% of the damage dealt, making her sustain even stronger. So, not only does she deliver more passive damage, but she also becomes much harder to take down thanks to improved healing.
Yelena Belova
When Yelena Belova’s Passive is maxed out, she lowers Crit Chance for all enemies by an additional 15%, for a total of 25%. In War, at the end of any turn, if a non-Protector Winter Guard ally is Taunting, she will clear Taunt and apply Stealth and 2 Regeneration to that ally. This upgrade boosts the team’s mitigation by constantly removing Taunt from non-Protector allies and reducing the offensive potential of enemies by lowering their Crit Chance.
With her Special maxed, Yelena Belova deals increased damage, and in War, if she has three Winter Guard allies, she applies Trauma, Slow, and Heal Block (all for 2 turns) to the primary target. This upgrade is especially important in War, as it allows you to completely cripple a key enemy.
Red Guardian
When Red Guardian’s Passive is maxed, in War, on any enemy turn before he takes his own turn, if he has three Winter Guard allies and has Safeguard, he will also apply Immunity to himself and the other Protector (Ursa Major). Red Guardian already passively applies Safeguard in War—on any enemy turn before his first turn and with three Winter Guard allies—to both himself and Ursa. With this upgrade, each time an enemy takes a turn, if he has Safeguard, he’ll follow up by granting Immunity to himself and Ursa Major, further boosting the entire Winter Guard team’s mitigation.
When Red Guardian’s Special is maxed, it will clear 4 negative effects from himself and all Winter Guard allies (up from 2), and also reduce the duration of Trauma by 2 turns for the whole team. This gives the team a way to get rid of Trauma while also removing other negative effects at the same time (which normally wouldn’t be possible if Trauma is present).
At max level, Red Guardian’s Ultimate deals increased damage and clears all Evade and Deflect from the primary and adjacent targets. This not only boosts his overall damage output but also ensures that he can reliably apply Ability Block to the primary target in almost any situation.
Recommended
- Ursa Major – Basic
- Darkstar – Basic
- Yelena Belova – Ultimate and Basic
- Red Guardian – Basic
Ursa Major
When Ursa Major’s Basic is maxed out, it will always clear one random negative effect from himself and all Winter Guard allies (upgrade from just a 50% chance). This is a solid upgrade that proves useful whenever Ursa Major needs to use his Basic.
Darkstar
With her Basic maxed, Darkstar will deal increased damage, and after copying and clearing positive effects with three attacks she does with Basic, if the target still has Regeneration, she’ll apply Regeneration to herself and all Winter Guard allies. In certain situations, this upgrade can be quite useful for boosting team sustain.
Yelena Belova
Upgrading Yelena Belova’s Ultimate to max level gives a pure damage boost. She’ll deal more damage to the primary and secondary targets, and the attack will have 50% extra Crit Chance (up from 20%) as well as 50% extra Crit Damage. It’s definitely worth maxing out her Ultimate, since this allows Yelena to unleash massive damage on multiple enemies at once.
When Yelena’s Basic is maxed, if she or any ally has Stealth, she will always transfer 2 positive effects from the primary target to herself (instead of just a 50% chance to transfer). This upgrade can be quite useful, since Yelena often has Stealth active during battle.
Red Guardian
A maxed Red Guardian’s Basic has increased damage, but more importantly, after using it, he will always gain an assist from a Yelena Belova ally (instead of just a 25% chance). With this upgrade, Red Guardian will get an assist from Yelena after every one of his abilities, making their synergy even stronger.
Red Stars and Diamonds
Getting 7 Red Stars on the new characters Ursa Major and Darkstar shouldn’t be complicated, as long as you open Elite Red Star Orbs when they are featured there. Omega Red, Yelena Belova, and Red Guardian are older characters so plenty of players might have them at high Red Stars already. Omega Red is a Legendary character, and Red Stars for him are purchased using Dark Promotion Credits. His Diamonds are bought with Silver Diamond Credits, so it shouldn’t be a problem for players to upgrade him to 3 Diamonds.
You could also get Red Stars for them from the Incursion Campaign:
- 7 Red Stars for Yelena Belova – Incursion 3-3
- 7 Red Stars for Red Guardian – Incursion 3-3
When the Ursa Major and Darkstar 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 both, ideally 3)
For the three reworked characters, we also recommend a minimum of 2 Diamonds. Ideally 3.
Farming Locations
- Omega Red – Legendary Event
- Yelena Belova – Character Store (Age of Annihilus)
- Red Guardian – Character Store (Age of Annihilus), Nexus 8-6
On Spawn Buffs and Crucial Passive Effects In Battle
Team: Defense Up (2 turns)
Omega Red in War: +1 Ultimate Ability Energy
Red Guardian: Taunt
Ursa Major:
- In War, before he takes his first turn, when a Winter Guard Protector ally (Red Guardian) loses Taunt, gain Taunt
Omega Red:
- In WAR, on Spawn, after all other characters’ On Spawn effects, if he has 3 Winter Guard allies:
- Attack all enemies for 100% damage + Steal 15% Health from all enemies and redistribute to self and all Winter Guard allies. This bypasses Heal Block.
- Clear 2 random positive effects on all enemies.
- Apply Trauma, Heal Block, and Silence to all enemies.
- This attack cannot be blocked or dodged.
- When he drops below 50% Health, gain Speed Up + 2 Deathproof.
Darkstar:
- On Enemy Turn, in War, if that enemy has Silence or is a summoned Minion:
- Attack that enemy for 150% Piercing + 50% Drain.
- If she has 3 Winter Guard allies, prolong the duration of Silence on that enemy by 1.
- This attack deals +150% additional Piercing to Minions and cannot be dodged.
- On one or more enemies’ Death:
- Attack all enemies for 250% damage + 50% Drain.
- Reduce all negative effects on self and all Winter Guard allies by 1.
- Apply Safeguard and Immunity to all Winter Guard allies.
Yelena Belova:
- On Offense Up, gain Stealth. While she has Stealth, gain +100% Crit Damage
- In War, at the end of any turn, if a non-Protector Winter Guard ally or self is Taunting, clear Taunt and apply Stealth + 2 Regeneration to that character.
Red Guardian:
- When he drops below 50% Max Health, if Taunting:
- Heal for 30% of his Max Health.
- Reduce the duration of Taunt on himself by 3.
- In War, on any enemy Turn before he takes a Turn, if he has 3 Winter Guard allies:
- If he does not have Safeguard, clear Exposed from himself.
- Apply Safeguard to self and a Protector Winter Guard ally.
- If he has Safeguard, apply Immunity to self and a Protector Winter Guard ally.
- Gain +50% Block Chance. Gain +20% Block Amount.
Winter Guard:
- Focus can only be decreased by negative effects if Ursa Major has 3 Winter Guard allies
- +50% Damage Reduction and Resistance in War, before Ursa Major takes his first turn
- Cannot gain Minor Defense Up, Defense Up, Defense Down, or Darkness in War before Ursa Major takes his first turn
- Gain +40% Crit Chance while any enemy has Immunity
- Cannot gain Exhausted if Darkstar does not have Exhausted and any enemy has Silence, in War if Darkstar has 3 Winter Guard allies (This does not remove Exhausted if already applied)
- Gain +100% Accuracy if Yelena Belova has Speed Up
Enemies:
- Focus can only be increased by positive effects if Ursa Major has 3 Winter Guard allies
- Cannot gain Defense Up, Immunity, or Possessed in War, before Ursa Major takes his first turn, and if Ursa Major has 3 Winter Guard allies
- Supports, Blasters, and Protectors cannot gain Charged in War before Ursa Major takes his first turn
- In War, lower Damage by 15%, down to a minimum of 35%, for any character with Offense Down, if Omega Red has 3 Winter Guard allies
- Cannot Assist in War if Darkstar has 3 Winter Guard allies
- Cannot have their Max Health increased through Passive Abilities in War if Darkstar has 3 Winter Guard allies
- Lower Crit Chance by 25%.
- Cannot Assist on non-attack abilities
Team Mechanics
The Winter Guard is Russia’s premier superhero team in the Marvel Universe, often considered the country’s answer to the Avengers. Created and operated by the Russian government, the Winter Guard brings together some of the nation’s most formidable superhumans to protect its people and interests.
The team’s roster has changed over time, but some of the most prominent members include Red Guardian, Russia’s equivalent of Captain America, known for his strength and patriotic spirit; Darkstar, a mutant who manipulates darkforce energy; Crimson Dynamo, a hero with advanced armor similar to Iron Man; and Ursa Major, a mutant capable of transforming into a giant, powerful bear.
In addition to these core members, the Winter Guard has also featured Yelena Belova, the second Black Widow. Yelena is a skilled spy and combatant who brings both intelligence and tactical expertise to the team. Another notable member is Omega Red, a deadly mutant with retractable carbonadium tentacles and the ability to drain life energy. His checkered past and immense power make him both a valuable asset and a potential wild card for the team.
The Winter Guard’s missions typically focus on defending Russia from global threats, supervillains, and occasionally clashes with international superhero groups, such as the Avengers or the X-Men. Their stories often explore themes of loyalty, patriotism, and the delicate balance between serving their country and doing what’s right.
While they are sometimes portrayed as rivals or even adversaries to Western heroes, the Winter Guard’s members are usually depicted as genuine heroes committed to the protection and well-being of their homeland.
Just like Ares introduced a new, higher stat tier for characters, the Winter Guard marks the start of a fresh tier of base stats for both new and reworked characters. This approach to character stats will continue with future teams as well.
The Winter Guard has a single goal: to defeat the strongest teams in Alliance War. Whether on offense or defense, their strategy is the same—methodical and relentless. They let opponents unleash their most powerful opening attacks, absorbing the initial onslaught. Then, once the enemy is worn down, the Winter Guard strikes back with a devastating counterattack.
Ursa Major
Ursa Major is a Russian mutant superhero in the Marvel Universe, best known as a member of the Winter Guard. His real name is Mikhail Ursus, and his mutant ability allows him to transform into a massive, powerful bear while retaining his intelligence and ability to speak.
Mikhail discovered his mutant powers at a young age, realizing he could transform into a giant brown bear while retaining his human mind and ability to communicate. His powers grant him immense strength, durability, and heightened senses, making him a formidable force on any battlefield.
Mikhail has a military background and was recruited by the Soviet government to serve as both a soldier and a symbol of national strength. He first appeared as part of the Soviet Super-Soldiers, a team of Russian mutants and heroes assembled during the Cold War to rival the West’s superheroes. Over time, this group evolved into what is now known as the Winter Guard.
Ursa Major’s loyalty to his country is a key theme in his stories, but he often finds himself conflicted between following government orders and doing what he believes is morally right. His struggle reflects the challenges faced by many heroes who serve their nations but must also confront corruption or questionable motives from those in power.
In addition to his role as a superhero, Ursa Major has faced prejudice as a mutant, both in Russia and abroad. He has fought alongside and against many notable Marvel heroes, including the Avengers and the X-Men. Despite his intimidating appearance, Mikhail is deeply compassionate and cares for his teammates, often acting as the heart of the Winter Guard.
Throughout Marvel lore, Ursa Major’s story is one of strength, loyalty, and the ongoing search for balance between duty and conscience. His unique abilities and complex character make him a standout hero in the Marvel Universe.
Before Ursa Major even takes his first turn in Alliance War, he gets the Winter Guard ready for the enemy’s opening attack by giving all Winter Guard allies a +50% Damage Reduction, along with other defensive buffs. If a Winter Guard Protector ally loses Taunt before Ursa Major takes his turn, Ursa Major will automatically gain Taunt himself, making sure the frontline remains protected.
Ursa Major’s Basic allows him to attack the primary target and any adjacent enemies for 270% damage. In addition to dealing damage, he clears one random negative effect from himself and all Winter Guard allies, and grants Minor Defense Up to the entire team. When Ursa Major performs an ISO-8 attack, Counterattack, or Assist, the attack won’t apply any additional effects beyond dealing damage, but it will deal an extra 50% damage for each Winter Guard ally on the team.
Special costs 8 Ability Energy and can be used on his first turn. He attacks all enemies for 150% Piercing damage, applies Slow, and removes one Deathproof from each target, then repeats the attack. After that, if at least two Winter Guard allies (or Ursa Major himself) have Ability Block, the duration of all negative effects on him and his team is reduced by 2 turns. If not, he clears three negative effects from himself and all Winter Guard allies. He then grants Defense Up and Immunity to the team, and gains Taunt. This thing with Ability Block doesn’t make sense, because if Ursa Major himself has Ability Block, then he can’t even use his Special. However, if two of his allies have Ability Block, that’s a different story.
In Alliance War, if he has at least three Winter Guard allies, this attack deals an additional 200% Piercing damage on both attacks, applies Blind to each slowed enemy, and gives Safeguard to himself and all Winter Guard allies. This attack cannot be dodged or blocked.
Ursa Major, with his Ultimate, attacks the primary target for 450% damage, clears all positive effects, and applies Stun. An excellent way to control one of the opponents.
On War Defense, instead of the chosen target, this attack automatically targets the enemy with the highest Focus, ignoring both Taunt and Stealth. Ultimate costs 5 Ability Energy and can be used on his second turn.
With at least three Winter Guard allies on the team, enemy Focus can only be increased by positive effects, which makes it much harder for opponents to land debuffs (they won’t get any Focus bonuses that they would normally have from their abilities) thanks to his Passive ability. Also, allied Focus can only be decreased by negative effects, which prevents certain characters like Apocalypse and Cosmic Ghost Rider from stopping Winter Guard characters from applying initial debuffs to enemies.
In War, before Ursa Major even takes his first turn:
- Both he and all Winter Guard allies gain 50% Damage Reduction and Resistance for extra survivability.
- If a Winter Guard Protector ally loses Taunt, Ursa Major immediately gains Taunt himself to keep drawing enemy attacks.
- When there are three Winter Guard allies, his passive also prevents enemies from gaining Defense Up, Immunity, or Possessed, and stops enemy Supports, Blasters, and Protectors from gaining Charged.
- On top of that, Ursa Major and his team can’t gain Minor Defense Up, Defense Up, Defense Down, or Darkness—helping keep their defensive buffs and debuffs consistent.
Omega Red
Omega Red is one of the most dangerous and iconic villains in the Marvel Universe, often portrayed as an adversary of the X-Men and Wolverine. His real name is Arkady Rossovich, a former Russian soldier who became a test subject for Soviet super-soldier experiments. These experiments transformed him into a powerful mutant with several deadly abilities.
Omega Red’s mutant power allows him to secrete deadly pheromones known as “death spores,” which can weaken or kill anyone nearby. In addition, his body was further enhanced with implanted carbonadium coils—long, retractable tendrils that extend from his arms. These coils are similar to adamantium but slightly less durable, and Omega Red uses them to attack, restrain, and drain the life force of his enemies, which he needs to survive.
As a result of these enhancements, Omega Red has superhuman strength, stamina, durability, and a powerful healing factor. However, he is forced to regularly drain the life energy of others to counteract the poisoning effects of the carbonadium in his body, which makes him both a lethal opponent and a tragic character.
Throughout Marvel lore, Omega Red is depicted as a ruthless and relentless foe, often working for the Russian government or as a mercenary. He has clashed with many heroes but is especially known for his intense rivalry with Wolverine. Despite his villainous nature, Omega Red’s backstory reveals a character shaped by manipulation, suffering, and the struggle to survive against the odds.
Omega Red’s combination of mutant powers, cybernetic enhancements, and complex history makes him one of Marvel’s most memorable and formidable characters.
To set up Darkstar’s Passive ability, Omega Red applies Silence to all enemies at the start of battle (on Spawn). Since the Winter Guard’s strategy is built around letting the enemy make the first move, Omega Red’s usual on Spawn Speed Bar boost and his connections to Weapon-X have been replaced with abilities that better support this defensive, counterattack-focused approach.
When using his Basic ability, Omega Red attacks the primary target for 320% damage and steals 10% of their Health, healing himself even if the target has Heal Block. He also extends the duration of Bleed, Slow, and Offense Down on the primary target by one turn.
Special, which costs 3 Ability Energy and is ready on Omega Red’s first turn, immediately applies both Trauma and Ability Block to the primary target, up to two stacks each. He then attacks the main and adjacent targets for 400% damage, stealing 5% of each target’s Max Health and healing himself, even through Heal Block. All enemies hit also receive Offense Down, weakening their attacks. Afterward, Omega Red gives Speed Up to himself and all Weapon X and Winter Guard allies, helping them take their turns faster. This attack cannot be blocked.
Omega Red unleashes his Ultimate by flipping all positive effects on every enemy into negative effects, completely turning the tide of battle. He strikes the primary target for 430% damage, applying Ability Block, Slow, Heal Block, and reducing their Speed Bar by 10%. All other enemies are also hit for 430% damage, with Slow, Heal Block, and a 10% Speed Bar reduction applied to each. On top of that, he steals 10% Health from all enemies and heals himself, even if Heal Block is present. In War, this attack also applies Trauma to every enemy. This powerful ability costs 5 Ability Energy and becomes available on Omega Red’s second turn.
In War, on Spawn (after all other On Spawn effects), if Omega Red has three Winter Guard allies, his Passive activates with the following effects:
- Attacks all enemies for 100% damage and steals 15% of their Health, redistributing it to himself and all Winter Guard allies (ignores Heal Block)
- Clears two random positive effects from all enemies
- Applies Trauma, Heal Block, and Silence to all enemies
- This attack cannot be blocked or dodged
- Generates one Ultimate Ability Energy for himself, which enables him to use Ultimate on his first turn in War
On his turn, Omega Red heals himself for 20% of his Max Health. Whenever he drops below 50% Health, he gains Speed Up and two Deathproof. While any enemy has Immunity, all allies receive a 40% increase to Crit Chance. Additionally, in War, if he has three Winter Guard allies, he reduces the Damage of any enemy with Offense Down by 15%, down to a minimum of 35%.
Darkstar
Darkstar is a powerful mutant superhero from Russia in the Marvel Universe, best known as a key member of the Winter Guard. Her real name is Laynia Petrovna, and she possesses the ability to tap into the mysterious Darkforce dimension. This power allows her to create solid constructs, teleport herself and others, and unleash blasts of pure Darkforce energy.
Darkstar’s control over the Darkforce makes her a versatile asset in battle. She can shield her allies, trap enemies, and manipulate the battlefield in unique ways. Her abilities also enable her to travel through shadows and cover great distances almost instantly, giving her team a tactical advantage.
Laynia’s story often centers around her sense of duty to her country and her complicated relationships with other heroes, both Russian and international. She has served on several super teams, including the Soviet Super-Soldiers, the Champions, and most notably, the Winter Guard. Despite the challenges she faces as a mutant and a government operative, Darkstar is guided by a strong moral compass and a deep desire to protect the innocent.
Throughout Marvel lore, Darkstar stands out for her unique powers, her courage, and her loyalty to her teammates. She often acts as a bridge between different worlds—both literally, through her control of the Darkforce, and figuratively, as she navigates complex alliances and loyalties.
Darkstar is the keystone of the Winter Guard. When the enemy launches their opening attack, she immediately strikes back by targeting enemies affected by Silence. After the initial assault, Darkstar helps her team recover by using Health Steal to restore the Winter Guard’s health, allowing the squad to stabilize and prepare for a powerful counterattack.
With her Basic attack, Darkstar strikes the primary target for 80% Piercing damage and copies one random positive effect from the target (except Taunt), clearing it in the process. She repeats this attack two more times, giving her multiple chances to steal beneficial effects. If the primary target still has Regeneration after these hits, Darkstar applies Regeneration to herself and all Winter Guard allies.
When performing an ISO-8 attack, Counterattack, or Assist, Darkstar’s basic doesn’t trigger any additional effects, but it does deal an extra 30% Piercing damage for each Winter Guard ally on her team.
Special can be used right away on Darkstar’s first turn and costs 4 Ability Energy. She attacks the primary and adjacent targets for 150% Piercing damage, copying and clearing all their positive effects except Taunt. She also steals 20% Health from the primary target and redistributes 300% of the stolen Health to herself and all Winter Guard allies, healing the team even if Heal Block is present. In War, this ability will also steal 20% Health from adjacent targets, providing even more healing for her team.
Darkstar’s Ultimate costs 5 Ability Energy and is ready to use on her first turn. She begins by clearing two negative effects from herself and all Winter Guard allies, then removes Barrier from every enemy. Next, she attacks all enemies for 440% damage. After the attack, she applies Immunity and Offense Up to all Winter Guard allies and clears all Battlefield Effects on her side. Additionally, any enemies defeated by this attack cannot be revived.
In War, if she has three Winter Guard allies, her ultimate gains several powerful effects:
- Steals 15% Health from all enemies and redistributes 300% of the stolen Health to herself and all Winter Guard allies
- Reduces the duration of all positive effects by 3 on all Protector enemies
- Clears two positive effects from all enemies, and copies and clears Revive Once from all enemies
- Applies Safeguard for two turns to herself and all Winter Guard allies
- The attack cannot be blocked or dodged
Darkstar’s Passive gives her team strong reactive power in War. Whenever an enemy takes a turn in War and that enemy is either Silenced or a summoned minion, she automatically attacks them for 150% Piercing damage and heals for 150% of the damage dealt (Drain). If she has three Winter Guard allies, she also prolongs the duration of Silence on that enemy by one turn. This attack deals 50% extra Piercing to minions and cannot be dodged.
Whenever one or more enemies die, Darkstar attacks all enemies for 250% damage and heals for 50% of the damage dealt. She also reduces all negative effects by one on herself and all Winter Guard allies, and grants Safeguard and Immunity to her team.
In War, if she has three or more Winter Guard allies, her passive grants additional effects:
- Enemies cannot gain Assist Now
- Enemies cannot have their Max Health increased through passive abilities
- If any enemy has Silence, Darkstar and all Winter Guard allies cannot gain Exhausted (although this does not remove Exhausted if already applied)
Yelena Belova
Yelena Belova is a highly skilled Russian spy and assassin in the Marvel Universe, best known as the second woman to take on the mantle of Black Widow. Trained in the infamous Red Room, Yelena possesses elite combat skills, expert marksmanship, and mastery in espionage and infiltration. Her physical abilities, intelligence, and tactical mind make her one of the most formidable operatives in the world.
Originally introduced as a rival to Natasha Romanoff, the original Black Widow, Yelena’s story has evolved over time. While she started as a dedicated agent following strict orders from her superiors, she gradually developed her own sense of morality and independence. This journey has led her to work both alongside and against other heroes, depending on where her convictions lead her.
In the Marvel comics and cinematic universe, Yelena has been a member of various teams, including the Winter Guard. As part of the Winter Guard, she brings her unique skills and sharp instincts to support her teammates and defend her homeland. Her experience as a spy makes her an invaluable asset in both covert operations and open combat.
Yelena Belova stands out for her determination, adaptability, and complex personality. She is a character shaped by hardship and intense training, yet she consistently demonstrates loyalty to those she cares about and a willingness to choose her own path. Whether as an ally or an adversary, Yelena leaves a lasting impact wherever she appears in the Marvel Universe.
After the opposing team unleashes its opening attacks, Yelena steps in to deliver steady and reliable damage. She also provides the Winter Guard with important tools to counter Taunt effects, allowing the team to break through opponents who try to hide behind tough frontline defenders.
With her Basic, Yelena Belova attacks the primary target for 250% damage. If she or any ally currently has Stealth, she transfers two positive effects (except Taunt) from the primary target to herself. After her attack, a random Winter Guard or Black Widow ally immediately assists.
Yelena’s Special can be used right away on her first turn and costs 4 Ability Energy. She copies and clears one positive effect (except Taunt) from the primary target, giving it to herself and all allies, and also removes Taunt from that target. Then she hits the primary target for 280% damage and applies Disrupted for two turns, making it harder for them to gain buffs. After attacking, Yelena gains two stacks of Stealth, up to a maximum of three. This attack can’t be blocked.
In War, if she has three Winter Guard allies, her Special becomes even stronger: she copies and clears four additional positive effects (including Revive Once but still excluding Taunt) from the primary target to herself and all Winter Guard allies, and applies Trauma, Slow, and Heal Block for two turns to the primary target. In War, her Special also can’t be dodged.
Ultimate attacks the primary target and those adjacent to him, dealing 300% damage while clearing all Deflect and Deathproof from anyone hit. The attack comes with 50% extra Crit Chance and Crit Damage, making it especially deadly, and it cannot be blocked. This ability costs 5 Ability Energy and is available on Yelena’s second turn.
Whenever Yelena gets Offense Up, she automatically gains Stealth, and while she’s in Stealth, her Crit Damage is doubled. If she has Speed Up, all Winter Guard allies benefit from +100% Accuracy. Enemies have their Crit Chance reduced by 25%, and their chance to assist on non-attack abilities is lowered by 25% for each Winter Guard ally, up to 100%.
In War, her Passive also helps the team stay protected: at the end of any turn, if a non-Protector Winter Guard ally or Yelena herself is Taunting, Taunt is cleared and replaced with Stealth and two stacks of Regeneration, keeping them safe and helping them recover.
Red Guardian
Red Guardian is Russia’s most iconic patriotic superhero in the Marvel Universe, often seen as the Russian counterpart to Captain America. His real name is Alexei Shostakov, a decorated Soviet pilot and soldier who was selected by the government to become their national super-soldier.
As Red Guardian, Alexei possesses enhanced strength, agility, and endurance, making him a formidable combatant both in hand-to-hand fights and on the battlefield. He is highly trained in martial arts, tactics, and leadership, which allows him to inspire and coordinate his teammates, especially as a member of the Winter Guard.
Red Guardian’s shield, reminiscent of Captain America’s, is both a symbol of his role and a practical tool in combat—he uses it for defense, offense, and to protect his allies. Throughout his history, Alexei’s loyalty to his homeland has been tested by political intrigue and shifting allegiances, often placing him in difficult moral situations.
As a member of the Winter Guard, Red Guardian stands at the front lines, absorbing enemy attacks and protecting his team. His strong sense of duty, courage, and resilience make him not just a powerful hero, but also a steadfast leader. Despite the challenges he faces, Red Guardian remains committed to defending his country and supporting his teammates, earning him a respected place among Marvel’s international heroes.
Red Guardian is equipped to handle teams that try to block Safeguard at the start of battle. On every enemy turn, until he takes his first turn, Red Guardian applies Safeguard and Immunity to himself and a Winter Guard Protector ally. This ensures that the team’s defensive strategy remains intact, even against opponents who attempt to disrupt it right from the beginning.
With his Basic, Red Guardian hits the primary target for 340% damage and chains to one adjacent enemy for 280% damage. Counterattack breaks this Chain. He gains Defense Up for himself, and in War, adjacent allies also receive Defense Up. After his attack, a Yelena Belova ally will assist if present.
Red Guardian clears four negative effects and reduces Trauma duration by two turns for himself and all Winter Guard allies. If his Health is above 50%, he gains Taunt to draw enemy attacks; otherwise, he heals himself for 20% of his Max Health. The entire team receives Defense Up, Regeneration, and a 20% heal based on his Max Health. After using his Special, Yelena Belova—if present—will assist. This ability costs 4 Ability Energy and is available on his first turn.
With Ultimate ready right from his first turn at the cost of 5 Ability Energy, Red Guardian transfers one positive effect (except Taunt) from the primary target to himself and all allies. He then attacks the primary and adjacent targets for a massive 500% damage, clearing all Evade and Deflect in the process, and applies Ability Block to the main target. After this, Yelena Belova will assist if she’s on the team. In War, when he has three Winter Guard allies, the attack gains 2,000% extra Focus and cannot be blocked or dodged.
At the start of battle, Red Guardian’s Passive provides him Taunt and applies Defense Up for two turns to himself and all allies. Whenever his Health falls below 50% while he’s Taunting, he heals for 30% of his Max Health and reduces the duration of Taunt on himself by three turns.
In War, on any enemy turn, before he takes his first turn and with three Winter Guard allies present, Red Guardian automatically clears Exposed from himself, applies Safeguard to both himself and a Protector Winter Guard ally, and, if he already has Safeguard, also gives Immunity to both. On top of all this, he gets a 50% boost to Block Chance and a 20% increase to Block Amount, making him even tougher to take down.
Combat Tips & Tricks
The Winter Guard team is exceptionally strong in the Alliance War game mode, whether you use them on offense or defense. Few teams—or combinations of characters—are likely to give them trouble. None of the Winter Guard members has particularly high Speed, nor do they rely on Speed Bar or Speed Stat manipulation. In fact, many opponents will get to act before them, but that’s not a disadvantage for this team.
At the start of the battle in War, and until Ursa Major takes his first turn (he’s the slowest on the team with a Speed of 117), opponents are severely limited: they can’t gain Immunity, Defense Up, or Possessed, while Winter Guard enjoys a 50% Damage Reduction and a 50% boost to Resistance. They’re also immune to Defense Down and Darkness, granting them incredible mitigation and allowing them to withstand even the strongest opening volleys from the enemy.
But that’s just the beginning. Omega Red’s passive applies Trauma, Silence, and Heal Block to all enemies. Since Immunity is off-limits, there’s no way for opponents to avoid these crippling debuffs. On top of that, Omega Red steals 15% of all enemies’ Max Health, making them even easier to bring down. Meanwhile, Darkstar passively attacks any enemy who takes a turn while Silenced, extending the duration of their Silence. As a result, even though most opponents will act before the Winter Guard, the majority of them won’t be able to remove Silence, buff themselves, debuff the Winter Guard, or reduce the duration of positive effects on the team.
Red Guardian starts the battle with Taunt, immediately protecting his team. However, Ursa Major—who is also a Protector—can passively gain Taunt as well. In War, before he takes his first turn, Ursa Major automatically gains Taunt whenever Red Guardian loses it for any reason. Both Red Guardian and Ursa Major also gain Taunt whenever they use their Specials, ensuring that the rest of the team remains protected almost constantly throughout the fight.
All of this means that enemies will burn through their strongest attacks against the Winter Guard with little to no effect—they simply can’t debuff or harm them meaningfully. There are, of course, some exceptions. Professor Xavier and Blue Marvel, for instance, can reduce the duration of negative effects on themselves and may be able to avoid Silence and land debuffs on the Winter Guard. Shadow King is also a potential threat, as he can clear all negatives from his team with his Ultimate. However, even Shadow King can’t have Possessed, so he’s not a major problem. As for Knull, Odin, and Mephisto, they’re unlikely to pose much of a challenge to the Winter Guard.
In short, the Winter Guard is engineered for dominance in Alliance War, boasting unmatched durability and control that shuts down most enemy strategies before they even get started.
Darkstar is the first to play, and her Ultimate is a game-changer right out of the gate. She immediately clears any Battlefield Effects on the allied side, removing any lingering effects that could harm the Winter Guard. Her Ultimate attacks all enemies, deals impressive damage, removes Barrier from every opponent, and clears two negative effects from her own team. In War, this opening move becomes even more powerful: she steals 15% Health from all enemiesand redistribute 300% of stolen Health to entire Winter Guard tem providing strong sustain, reduces the duration of all positive effects on enemy Protectors by three (which is especially effective against heavily buffed Protectors like Mister Fantastic (MCU), Gladiator, and many others), and strips away Revive Once from all enemies, shutting down that survival mechanic. She also clears buffs in the process, making this a devastating opener.
Yelena Belova follows, launching her Special. In War, this can cripple an enemy while significantly buffing the Winter Guard, giving your team a clear advantage early in the fight.
Next up is Omega Red. In War, you can use his Ultimate as the first move, granting full battlefield control—reducing enemy Speed Bars, applying Trauma, Slow, and Heal Block, and flipping all positive effects on enemies into negatives. The cherry on top is Ability Block applied to the primary target, locking down a key threat. Outside of War, Omega Red won’t have Ultimate available as his first move, so he’ll typically open with his Special instead.
That leaves the two Protectors to go last. Red Guardian plays before Ursa Major, and depending on the situation, you can choose between his Special or Ultimate. If you need protection and to clear debuffs from your team, his Special is the best choice; if you want to push for more damage, going with his Ultimate makes sense. Ursa Major is the final member to play, and by the time his turn comes around, the outcome of the battle is often already decided. After his move, many of the early advantages that protected Winter Guard—or hindered the enemy—expire. His Special hits all enemies multiple times (and in War, this damage is massive), applies Slow, and buffs his entire team. By the time he finishes, the Winter Guard should be loaded with buffs and free of negative effects, while the enemy is left low on health and stacked with debuffs. Even though opponents may regain access to certain mechanics that were previously locked down, they’ll usually be in such a weakened state that it’s too late to turn things around. Victory for Winter Guard is all but assured.
This is truly a top-tier War team, boasting stronger base stats than any other characters currently in the game, as they’re the first to launch following the most recent stat boost. While this increase isn’t as dramatic as previous stat jumps, it’s still significant. With Winter Guard, you’ll have either one of the absolute best defensive squads in War, or a powerhouse—arguably the strongest weapon—for offense in the mode.
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