Marvel’s Avengers had remained largely quiet following the release of the Mighty Thor. That said, the game bounced back in a big way thanks to the arrival of a brand-new DLC hero, the Winter Soldier. In the DLC, audiences were treated to yet another unique hero who isn’t like many of the other classic heroes on the team. That said, there’s still much more to Bucky than meets the eye.
Seeing as Bucky offers a new range of skills, from carrying a massive rifle to not utilizing any defensive tools like a shield, it’s easy to assume that his playstyle comes with new challenges. That said, Bucky provides new tools that, though they might take some time to understand, ultimately share similarities with others heroes while not feeling like a clone. Here’s everything players need to know about Bucky Barnes and how they can best take advantage of his abilities.
Bucky Barnes Shines as a Long-Range Combatant
Black Widow and the two Hawkeyes have shown the endless possibilities of ranged combat and how players can use it to their advantage. However, in Natasha’s case, her weapons work best mid-range, and Hawkeye players have learned that one well-placed shot can often yield better results than a flurry. Because of this, it has not been easy for players who work best at a long range. Thankfully, Bucky’s weapon of choice has shown that this issue is no longer, as he may have one of the best long-range weapons yet.
From the start, players are given Bucky’s rifle with a burst fire mode. This tool is great for picking off enemies quickly and with control. However, later upgrades offer more firing modes, like a full-auto mode that works well to keep a group at bay and a grenade launcher that’s great for crowds and larger enemies. There is still some aiming that’s crucial for these modes, but overall they work best at a distance. In fact, when placed in the perfect spot, players can pick their targets and help their allies without needing to worry about enemies finding them for a while. But that doesn’t mean Bucky doesn’t have his own arsenal of melee attacks.
Bucky Combines (and Exceeds) Captain America & Black Widow’s Abilities
Bucky fought alongside Captain America and worked with the Black Widow on more than one occasion. As a result, it’s easy to see how he’s embraced both of their styles in his gameplay. In fact, some of the best ways to see this are with his intrinsic attacks and heroic abilities. While Bucky may not have a shield, he often uses his arm in the same way Captain America would block or parry attacks. Doing so also raises his intrinsic, Steel-Forged Tenacity, which boosts his defense and attacks and opens up new attacks, including his arm and knife.
Essentially, he blocks like Captain America but counters with attacks that are similar to the Black Widow’s. Plus, when all else fails, he has his own combat style with Red Star Rising and can use his intrinsic matter to clear an area with a powerful stomp. Players may use this intrinsic to lure in large crowds with parries, then blast them back with a massive shockwave.
Bucky’s heroics also offer a unique mix of hard hits and stealth combat. His support heroic, Soldier-Tech Nonsense, creates a field that turns him invisible, similar to Black Widow, and allows for many undetectable attacks on enemies. His assault heroic, Air Strike, offers the stealth of a surprise air strike with the danger-close mentality that Steve would likely have used in World War II. Bucky’s ultimate heroic, Protocol Override, provides the same animation as Captain America’s Brooklyn Brawler ultimate and has Bucky use his increased damage to take down foes with his knife. However, those within 40 meters of him are marked for assassination, allowing players to take down foes instantly. It’s the perfect tool to bring the team together to clear a room much faster.
Players Will Find the Winter Soldier’s Moves Familiar Yet Versatile
Bucky’s base moveset can be upgraded to feature many exciting evolutions to his most basic attacks. However, some of them may feel more familiar than others. A great example of this is a heavy sprint attack that starts as a Spartan kick, similar to Steve Rogers. But the one-to-one similarities end there — Bucky has his own interpretation of Black Widow’s heavy attack where she drops electronic charges in front of her. Instead, Buck Shot has Bucky unloading a massive shotgun blast at close range, knocking down multiple enemies. It can even be upgraded to a rifle-based combo attack.
Bucky can also utilize his attacks to drop on foes with the So Below move, akin to Iron Man and Captain America’s dropdown attacks that offer devastating damage once they connect. While there are even more attacks that harken back to other well-known combat moves from the team, the shockwaves that Bucky can deliver via his bionic arm show how versatile he can be and make these moves his own.
Various Skins Showcase Bucky’s Range of Styles
While Bucky offers a fun skill set for players to unpack, it’s always more entertaining to do so in style. That said, many skins are sure to fit any fan’s perception of what they believe to be the ideal Winter Soldier. Whether it be the suit from Captain America: The Winter Soldier and its various iterations or the outfit from his first appearance, there are many choices and recolors. One great option is the suit he wore when he was resurrected and uttered the iconic line “Who the hell is Bucky?” All in all, there’s much to uncover with this character, and whether he’s used as a main or just for fun, players can find something fun to do with the Winter Soldier.
