The Dark Reign Reclassification

Formerly, "The Best MPQ:DR Reclassification Ever^"

Here is a complete character reclassification based on currently released characters. Some notes:

• There are 4 straight rankings - 1* to 4* (no flashing ones)
• There is a completely new 4* roster
• No whole characters are retired
• Gold characters are incorporated back into the broad classification
• Single characters that have currently 3 appearances are moved down to 2

The entire change should be plotted out and then implemented gradually, with former characters having all (or most of) their currency returned and/or simply having the new character given the corresponding number of updated covers. In the long term, the aim would be to have a largely neutral effect on current currency holdings.

There were quite a number of possibilities in justifying the rankings, but in this instance and to tie into the overall Dark Reign theme, I’ve gone with:

• 1* - General characters
• 2* - Original Dark Avengers and their counterparts
• 3* - General characters
• 4* - Overall Dark Reign characters and their counterparts

I toyed a lot with the position of the Dark Avenger characters and in theory, they could be 1* or 3* but they seem ok in between - It breaks the characters up a little more clearly.

The following list are presented by * ranking, an overall justification as to the rank, then each character name, the list of abilities used to base their powers on (thanks Wikipedia!) and a note regarding their creation and/or current characters they are based on.

^At least until the next one.

1*

Black Widow
Black Widow (Yelena Belova)
Human Torch
Magneto
Storm
Thor

General Marvel characters (sub-classifications to be determined). Most of the first characters that appeared in 2* and 3* variants and outside of the immediate Dark Reign storyline. In detail:

Black Widow
* Slowed aging
* Enhanced immune system
* Abnormally superior athletic condition
* Extensive military, hand-to-hand combat, martial arts, and espionage training
* Hypnosis
* Enhanced psychological defences
Creation note - A reworking of Black Widow (Original), Black Widow (Modern) and Black Widow (Grey Suit).

Black Widow (Yelena Belova)
* Peak athletic condition
* Extensive military, martial arts, and espionage training
Creation note - A reworking of Yelena Belova (Dark Avengers).

Human Torch
* Fiery form that enables flight, serves as damage shield
* Pyrokinesis
* Ability to absorb heat energy
* Skilled race-car driver, auto-mechanic, and designer
Creation note – A reworking of Human Torch (Johnny Storm) and Human Torch (Classic).

Magento
* Magnetism manipulation
* Magnetic force fields
* Magnetic flight
* Genius-level intellect
* Skilled leader and strategist
* Helmet grants immunity to telepathic attacks
Creation note - A reworking of Magneto (Classic) and Magneto (Marvel NOW!).

Storm
* Weather manipulation
* Flight
* Energy perception
* Ecological empathy
* Immunity to temperature extremes
* Latent magical abilities
* Resistant to telepathy
* Gifted strategist, skilled in martial arts, hand to hand combat, fencing training and pilot
Creation note - A reworking of Storm (Classic), Storm (Modern) and Storm (Mohawk).

Thor
* Superhuman durability, longevity, speed, and strength
* Abilities via Mjolnir
Creation note - A reworking of Thor (Marvel NOW!) and Thor (Modern).


2*

Ares (Ares)
Captain America (Original)
Hawkeye (Bullseye)
Hawkeye (Original)
Iron Man (Original)
Ms. Marvel (Moonstone)
Sentry (Robert Reynolds)
Spider-Man (Original)
Spider-Man (Venom)
Wolverine (Daken)
Wolverine (Original)

This is the original Dark Avengers line-up and their “good” counterparts. Ideally, character traits between the pairs should be similar. In detail:

Ares (Ares)
* Virtual immortality
* Superhuman strength, speed, agility, stamina, durability, and reflexes superior to that of most Olympians
* Magic manipulation
* Immunity to all diseases and infections
* Expert armed combatant with weaponry
Creation note - A reworking of Ares (Dark Avengers).

Captain America (Original)
* Olympics-level athleticism, and peak human physiological conditioning
* Master martial artist, agility expert, tactician, and marksman
* Wields vibranium-steel alloy shield
* Excellent field commander
Creation note – A reworking of Captain America (Modern) and Captain America (Steve Rogers).

Hawkeye (Bullseye)
* Expert marksman with perfect accuracy
* Expert martial artist and hand-to-hand combatant
* Peak-level human condition
* Spinal column and various other bones laced with Adamantium
Creation note – A reworking of Bullseye (Dark Avengers).

Hawkeye (Original)
* Grandmaster archer
* Uses a variety of trick arrows
* Superb athlete
* Exceptional arm strength
* Enhanced eye-sight
* Master martial artist, tactician, acrobat, marksman, and swordsman
* Experienced pilot
Creation note – A reworking of Hawkeye (Classic) and Hawkeye (Modern).

Iron Man (Original)
* Genius-level intellect
* Highly proficient scientist, engineer, and businessperson
* Powered armored suit
Creation note - A reworking of Iron Man (Model 35) and Iron Man (Model 40).

Ms. Marvel (Moonstone)
* Gravity manipulation
* Flight
* Photon blasts
* Intangibility
* Light generation
* Minor molecular control
* Superhuman strength, speed, stamina, and reflexes
Creation note – A reworking of Moonstone (Dark Avengers).

Sentry (Robert Reynolds)
* Superhuman strength, speed, stamina, agility, reflexes, senses, durability and Invulnerability
* Energy projection and manipulation
* Matter manipulation
* Flight
* Telepathy
* Resurrection
* Healing factor
* Mental projection
Creation note - A reworking of Sentry (Dark Avengers).

Spider-Man (Original)
* Superhuman strength, speed, agility, stamina, reflexes, and endurance
* Ability to cling to most surfaces
* Healing factor
* Able to shoot very strong spider-web strings from wrists via web-shooters
* Precognitive Spider-Sense
* Genius-level intellect
* Master hand-to-hand combatant
Creation note - A reworking of Spider-Man (Bag-Man) and Spider-Man (Classic).

Spider-Man (Venom)
* Grants the host all the powers of its first known host, Spider-Man. Greatly enhances physical attributes of its current host.
* Superhuman strength, ability to change form, and ability of the Symbiote to fight and defend itself when either the host or it is in danger.
* Limited shapeshifting, undetectable by Spider-Man's "spider-sense". It can also turn its host invisible through camouflage.
Creation note - A reworking of Venom (Dark Avengers).

Wolverine (Daken)
* Regenerative healing factor
* Retractable claws
* Hyper senses
* Superhuman physical ability
* Pheromone manipulation
* Immune to telepathy
* Excellent martial artist
Creation note - A reworking of Daken (Classic) and Daken (Dark Avengers).

Wolverine (Original)
* Regenerative healing factor
* Superhuman senses, agility, stamina, and reflexes
* Longevity
* Adamantium-laced skeletal structure
* Six retractable adamantium claws (three claws on each hand)
* Pronounced canines
* Master martial artist and tactician
* Experienced spy
* Expert marksman and swordsman
Creation note - A reworking of Wolverine (Astonishing X-Men), Wolverine (Patch) and Wolverine (X-Force).

Currently unrealised characters also belonging to this category:

Captain Marvel (Noh-Varr)
Captain Marvel (Original)
Iron Patriot (Norman Osborn)
Ms. Marvel (Original)


3*

Black Widow
Black Panther
Captain America
Daredevil
Falcon
Hawkeye
Hulk
Human Torch
Invisible Woman
Juggernaut
Magneto
Nick Fury
Psylocke
Punisher
Ragnorak (Ragnorak)
She-Hulk
Spider-Man
Storm
Thor
Wolverine

General Marvel characters (sub-classifications to be determined but consistent) - Most of the second characters that appeared in 1* and 2* variants and most of the single characters outside of the immediate Dark Reign storyline. In detail:

Black Widow
* Slowed aging
* Enhanced immune system
* Abnormally superior athletic condition
* Extensive military, hand-to-hand combat, martial arts, and espionage training
* Hypnosis
* Enhanced psychological defences
Creation note - A reworking of Black Widow (Original), Black Widow (Modern) and Black Widow (Grey Suit).

Black Panther
* Superhuman senses
* Olympic-level strength, speed, reflexes, stamina, and agility
* Genius-level intellect
* Skilled hunter, scientist, tracker, strategist, and inventor
* Master hand to hand combatant
* Trained gymnast and acrobat
* Wields vibranium uniform, boots, and equipment
* Retractable vibranium claws (which can slice through any substance)
Creation note - A reworking of Black Panther (Man Without Fear).

Captain America
* Olympics-level athleticism, and peak human physiological conditioning
* Master martial artist, agility expert, tactician, and marksman
* Wields vibranium-steel alloy shield
* Excellent field commander
Creation note – A reworking of Captain America (Modern) and Captain America (Steve Rogers). Due to their use in the main DR storyline, this character’s sub-category should be clearly differentiate from their 2* equivalent and consideration should be given to removing this character all together or using as the basis for someone else not appearing.

Daredevil
* Radar sense
* Superhuman senses
* Excellent athlete
* Skilled detective
* Expert marksman
* Master martial artist, gymnast, and acrobat
Creation note – A reworking of Daredevil (Modern).

Falcon
* Empathic link with pet falcon
* Ability to see through the eyes of nearby birds
* Winged flight via harness
* Excellent bird trainer
* Skilled martial artist and gymnast
Creation note – A reworking of Falcon (Mighty Avengers).

Hawkeye
* Grandmaster archer
* Uses a variety of trick arrows
* Superb athlete
* Exceptional arm strength
* Enhanced eye-sight
* Master martial artist, tactician, acrobat, marksman, and swordsman
* Experienced pilot
Creation note – A reworking of Hawkeye (Classic) and Hawkeye (Modern). Due to their use in the main DR storyline, this character’s sub-category should be clearly differentiate from their 2* equivalents and consideration should be given to removing this character all together or using as the basis for someone else not appearing.

Hulk
* Super strength, speed, endurance, reflexes, and durability
* Immunity to diseases and viruses
* Adrenal activation and anger empowerment
* Accelerated healing and longevity
* Resistance to mind control
* Able to sense astral forms
* Skilled hand-to-hand combatant
* Able to hold his breath for long periods of time
Creation note – A reworking of The Hulk (Indestructible).

Human Torch
* Fiery form that enables flight, serves as damage shield
* Pyrokinesis
* Ability to absorb heat energy
* Skilled race-car driver, auto-mechanic, and designer
Creation note – A reworking of Human Torch (Johnny Storm) and Human Torch (Classic).

Invisible Woman
* Invisibility
* Projected Invisibility
* Invisible Force Field Projection
Creation note – A reworking of Invisible Woman (Classic).

Juggernaut
* Regenerative healing factor
* Superhuman strength, stamina, and durability
* Force field generation
* Virtually unstoppable momentum
* Helmet grants him immunity to mind control
Creation note - A reworking of Juggernaut (Classic).

Magneto
* Magnetism manipulation
* Magnetic force fields
* Magnetic flight
* Genius-level intellect
* Skilled leader and strategist
* Helmet grants immunity to telepathic attacks
Creation note - A reworking of Magneto (Classic) and Magneto (Marvel NOW!).

Nick Fury
* Halted aging from the Infinity Formula
* Skilled and experienced soldier
* Skilled with many weapons and fighting technique
Creation note - A reworking of Nick Fury (Director of SHIELD).

Psylocke
* Precognition
* Empathy
* Telepathy
* Telekinesis
* Psychic katana
* Psychic knife
* Highly skilled martial artist
Creation note - A reworking of Psylocke (Classic).

Punisher
* Expert in military and guerrilla tactics, strategy, and demolitions
* Highly trained in both armed and unarmed combat
* Stealth and infiltration expert
* Special Forces training
* CQC expert
* Peak human physical condition
* Exceptionally high pain tolerance
Creation note - A reworking of The Punisher (Dark Reign).

Ragnorak (Ragnorak)
* Superhuman strength, speed, agility, stamina, durability, and reflexes
* High resistance to physical injury
* Master hand to hand combatant
* Immunity to all Earthly diseases
* Longevity
* Via high tech hammer
Creation note - A reworking of Ragnarok (Dark Avengers).

She-Hulk
* Superhuman strength, speed, agility, stamina, and durability
* Regenerative healing factor
* Emotion empowerment
* Breaking the "Fourth Wall"
* Power-switching
* Highly skilled law practitioner
* Expert hand to hand combatant
* Skilled pilot
Creation note - A reworking of She Hulk (Modern).

Spider-Man
* Superhuman strength, speed, agility, stamina, reflexes, and endurance
* Ability to cling to most surfaces
* Healing factor
* Able to shoot very strong spider-web strings from wrists via web-shooters
* Precognitive Spider-Sense
* Genius-level intellect
* Master hand-to-hand combatant
Creation note - A reworking of Spider-Man (Bag-Man) and Spider-Man (Classic). Due to their use in the main DR storyline, this character’s sub-category should be clearly differentiate from their 2* equivalents and consideration should be given to removing this character all together or using as the basis for someone else not appearing.

Storm
* Weather manipulation
* Flight
* Energy perception
* Ecological empathy
* Immunity to temperature extremes
* Latent magical abilities
* Resistant to telepathy
* Gifted strategist, skilled in martial arts, hand to hand combat, fencing training and pilot
Creation note - A reworking of Storm (Classic), Storm (Modern) and Storm (Mohawk).

Thor
* Superhuman durability, longevity, speed, and strength
* Abilities via Mjolnir
Creation note - A reworking of Thor (Marvel NOW!) and Thor (Modern).

Wolverine
* Regenerative healing factor
* Superhuman senses, agility, stamina, and reflexes
* Longevity
* Adamantium-laced skeletal structure
* Six retractable adamantium claws (three claws on each hand)
* Pronounced canines
* Master martial artist and tactician
* Experienced spy
* Expert marksman and swordsman
Creation note - A reworking of Wolverine (Astonishing X-Men), Wolverine (Patch) and Wolverine (X-Force). Due to their use in the main DR storyline, this character’s sub-category should be clearly differentiate from their 2* equivalents and consideration should be given to removing this character all together or using as the basis for someone else not appearing.


4*

Black Bolt (Illuminati)
Doctor Doom (Cabal)
Doctor Stephen Strange (Illuminati)
Emma Frost (Cabal)
Hood (Cabal)
Loki (Cabal)
Namor (Cabal)
Namor (Illuminati)
Norman Osborn (Cabal)
Professor Charles Xavier (Illuminati)
Reed Richards (Illuminati)
Tony Stark (Illuminati)

The best of the best. Original teams representing leadership across the Marvel Universe featuring the Cabal from Dark Reign (and their original counterparts). Taking a long time to level up, they should be designed super powered and primarily used by people at the very height of their rosters to battle against each other. In detail:

Black Bolt (Illuminati)
* Superhuman physical attributes
* Flight
* Destructive hypersonic voice
* Molecular manipulation
Creation note – New.

Doctor Doom (Cabal)
* Genius-level intellect
* Highly skilled hand-to-hand combatant
* Powered armour grants: Superhuman strength, durability, and endurance, Flight, Force field generation
* Skilled scientist and sorcerer
* Mind transferral
* Technopathy
* Electricity manipulation
Creation note – Largely new and a reworking of Doctor Doom (Classic).

Doctor Stephen Strange (Illuminati)
* Mastery of magic, including extended longevity and flight
* Genius-level intellect
* Skilled neurosurgeon
* Trained martial artist
Creation note – New.

Emma Frost (Cabal)
* Telepathy
* Mind reading and control
* Memory alteration
* Mental bolts
* Induced paralysis
* Illusion casting
* Astral projection
* Capable of shapeshifting into a solid diamond form which grants her superhuman strength, stamina, psychic immunity, and durability
Creation note – New.

Hood (Cabal)
* Reality warping from Infinity Gems
* Criminal mastermind
* Marksman
* Reality manipulation using the Norn Stones
* Magical cloak and boots for invisibility and air walking
* Demon transformation
Creation note – Largely new and a reworking of The Hood (Classic).

Loki (Cabal)
* Genius-level intellect
* Superhuman strength, durability, healing factor, stamina, and longevity
* Mystical powers
Creation note – Largely new and a reworking of Loki (Dark Reign).

Namor (Cabal)
* Aquatic adaptation
* Superhuman strength, speed, agility, durability, and longevity
* Flight
Creation note – New. Similar to the character below but powers are a little more “evil”.

Namor (Illuminati)
* Aquatic adaptation
* Superhuman strength, speed, agility, durability, and longevity
* Flight
Creation note – New. Similar to the character above but powers are a little more “good”.

Norman Osborn (Cabal)
* Superhuman strength, stamina, durability, agility and reflexes due to ingesting the Goblin Serum
* Regenerative healing factor
* Genius-level intellect
* Skilled in hand-to-hand combat and martial arts
* Uses goblin-themed weapons and a Goblin Glider which has a variety of offensive weapons as paraphernalia
* Power of the Super-Adaptoid allows him to absorb the powers of any superhuman he makes physical contact with
Creation note – New.

Professor Charles Xavier (Illuminati)
* Genius-level intellect
* Telepathy
* Empathy
* Mind reading and control
* Memory alteration and erasure
* Mental bolts
* Psionic blasts
* Induced paralysis
* Illusion casting
* Great tactician and strategist
* Astral projection
* Eidetic memory
Creation note – New.

Reed Richards (Illuminati)
* Genius-level intellect
* Extreme superhuman elasticity, malleability, and endurance
* Shapeshifting
* Near immunity to most physical assaults by blunt force, piercing/stabbing, cutting/slashing, and electricity
* Virtually immune to psychic powers
Creation note – New.

Tony Stark (Illuminati)
* Genius-level intellect
* Highly proficient scientist, engineer, and businessperson
* Powered armored suit
Creation note - Largely new and influenced by Iron Man (Model 35) and Iron Man (Model 40).

***
A summary of where current characters shift to.

Ares (Dark Avengers) – 2* Ares (Ares)
Black Panther (Man Without Fear) – 3* Black Panther
Black Widow (Grey Suit) – 1* Black Widow and 3* Black Widow
Black Widow (Modern) – 1* Black Widow and 3* Black Widow
Black Widow (Original) – 1* Black Widow and 3* Black Widow
Bullseye (Dark Avengers) – 2* Hawkeye (Bullseye)
Captain America (Modern) – 2* Captain America (Original) and 3* Captain America
Captain America (Steve Rogers) – 2* Captain America (Original) and 3* Captain America
Daken (Classic) – 2* Wolverine (Daken)
Daken (Dark Avengers) – 2* Wolverine (Daken)
Daredevil (Modern) – 3* Daredevil
Doctor Doom (Classic) – 4* Doctor Doom (Cabal)
Falcon (Mighty Avengers) – 3* Falcon
Hawkeye (Classic) – 2* Hawkeye (Original) and 3* Hawkeye
Hawkeye (Modern) – 2* Hawkeye (Original) and 3* Hawkeye
Human Torch (Classic) – 1* Human Torch and 3* Human Torch
Human Torch (Johnny Storm) – 1* Human Torch and 3* Human Torch
Invisible Woman (Classic) – 3* Invisible Woman
Iron Man (Model 35) – 2* Iron Man (Original) and 4* Tony Stark (Illuminati)
Iron Man (Model 40) – 2* Iron Man (Original) and 4* Tony Stark (Illuminati)
Juggernaut (Classic) – 3* Juggernaut
Loki (Dark Reign) – 4* Loki (Cabal)
Magneto (Classic) – 1* Magneto and 3* Magneto
Magneto (Marvel NOW!) – 1* Magneto and 3* Magneto
Moonstone (Dark Avengers) – 2* Ms. Marvel (Moonstone)
Nick Fury (Director of SHIELD) – 3* Nick Fury
Psylocke (Classic) – 3* Psylocke
Ragnarok (Dark Avengers) – 3* Ragnorak (Ragnorak)
Spider-Man (Bag-Man) – 2* Spider-Man (Original) and 3* Spider-Man
Spider-Man (Classic) 2* Spider-Man (Original) and 3* Spider-Man
Sentry (Dark Avengers) – 2* Sentry (Robert Reynolds)
She Hulk (Modern) – 3* She-Hulk
Storm (Classic) – 1* Storm and 3* Storm
Storm (Modern) – 1* Storm and 3* Storm
Storm (Mohawk) – 1* Storm and 3* Storm
The Hood (Classic) – 4* Hood (Cabal)
The Hulk (Indestructible) – 3* Hulk
The Punisher (Dark Reign) – 3* Punisher
Thor (Marvel NOW!) – 1* Thor and 3* Thor
Thor (Modern) – 1* Thor and 3* Thor
Wolverine (Astonishing X-Men) – 2* Wolverine (Original) and 3* Wolverine
Wolverine (Patch) – 2* Wolverine (Original) and 3* Wolverine
Wolverine (X-Force) – 2* Wolverine (Original) and 3* Wolverine
Venom (Dark Avengers) – 2* Spider-Man (Venom)
Yelena Belova (Dark Avengers) – 1* Black Widow (Yelena Belova)