Best MCOC Thing Counters: How to Beat Him
Introduction to The Thing in MCOC
Fighting The Thing in Marvel Contest of Champions (MCOC) can feel like hitting a brick wall—literally. Thanks to his signature Rock Stack mechanic, damage reduction, and stubborn unblockable specials, he is one of the most annoying defenders in Alliance Wars, Alliance Quests, and Battlegrounds. If you hit him without the right strategy, you will quickly see your champions melt away while he takes barely any damage.
To consistently secure victories against this member of the Fantastic Four, you need the right MCOC Thing counter in your roster. This guide breaks down his mechanics, highlights the best champion counters in the game, and shares tactical advice to help you win every single matchup.
Understanding The Thing's Abilities
Before choosing a counter, it helps to understand why The Thing is so dangerous. Knowing his kit allows you to exploit his weaknesses and avoid his traps.
- Rock Stack: The Thing gains Rock Charges as he fights (up to 15). Each charge grants him massive armor and significantly reduces the damage he takes from standard hits.
- Protection: While he has Rock Charges, he cannot suffer from critical hits, and damage is heavily capped per hit.
- Unstoppable: When his Rock Stack reaches 15 charges, he becomes Unstoppable and gains immense offensive power, making parrying impossible until he loses those charges.
- Spite and Safeguard Nodes: In competitive modes like AW, nodes often amplify his defensive traits, making specialized counters mandatory.
Top MCOC Thing Counters
The best way to deal with The Thing is to either bypass his Rock Stack entirely, incinerate him, or use mechanics that prevent him from gaining charges. Here are the top champions for the job.
1. Human Torch
As part of the Fantastic Four, Human Torch has a built-in rivalry that makes him arguably the absolute best counter to The Thing.
- Pre-Fight Ability: Activating Torch’s Nova Flame allows him to bypass defensive safeguards and melt The Thing's health pool rapidly.
- Temperature Mechanics: Applying Smoldering and incinerate debuffs bypasses standard physical resistance, turning The Thing's high armor against him.
2. She-Hulk
She-Hulk is another phenomenal option thanks to her ability to control the opponent's offensive capabilities and manipulate Fury buffs.
- Slow Debuff: She-Hulk can apply a Passive Slow debuff, which prevents The Thing from ever triggering his Unstoppable buffs when he reaches 15 Rock Charges.
- Furies: Every time The Thing is knocked down or heavy attacks hit, she gains Fury, allowing her to ramp up her own damage output to punch through his rock exterior.
3. Quake
For skilled players, Quake remains a top-tier choice for almost any defender in the game, and The Thing is no exception.
- Aftershocks: Because Quake deals damage primarily through her Aftershock concussions rather than standard striking contact, she bypasses the protective damage cap of the Rock Stack.
- Dexterity Control: By evading rather than parrying, she completely avoids triggering unpleasant defender mechanics tied to blocks.
4. Namor
Namor’s reflect damage is a unique mechanic that punishes defenders for trying to block or strike him.
- Autoblock/Reflect: While Namor has his Emperor’s Pact charges active, any damage he takes is reflected back onto the opponent. This allows you to bypass the traditional damage reduction of the Rock Stack by letting The Thing hit into Namor's block.
General Fight Strategy and Tips
Even if you don't have the highest-tier counters mentioned above, you can still survive the fight by adhering to strict tactical rules.
Manage the Rock Charges
Keep a close eye on his Rock Stack meter beneath his health bar. Do not mindlessly combo into him while he is sitting at 15 charges. Instead, bait his Special 1 or Special 2. When he launches a special attack, he sheds a portion of his Rock Charges, temporarily lowering his defense and removing his Unstoppable threat.
Bait Special Attacks Safely
The Thing’s Special 1 is relatively easy to dexterity-evade once you get the timing down. His Special 2 consists of multiple hits that can catch you off guard if you attempt to punish too early. Always wait for the final animation frame to finish before dashing back in.
Utilize High-Hit-Count Champions
If you must use standard attackers, choose champions with massive hit counts (like Domino, Falcon, or Valkyrie) who can whittle down his health despite the damage cap, provided you manage your positioning and parries carefully.
Conclusion
Defeating Ben Grimm doesn't have to be a frustrating experience. By bringing a dedicated MCOC Thing counter like Human Torch, She-Hulk, or Quake, and by carefully managing his Rock Stack meter, you can turn this fearsome defender into an easy win. Master these strategies, practice baiting his specials, and watch your win rate soar in Alliance Wars and Battlegrounds.
