Who are the best characters from Injustice 2?
For the past few months, I have been obsessed with Injustice 2, the latest DC fighting game from NetherRealm Studios is such a thrill and is a must own for all superhero fans. Getting to play as your favorite characters and setting up dream matches is quite the enjoyable experience. The game’s graphics are top notched and has plenty of easter eggs and bonuses for comic book fans to search for. One of the most exciting aspects of the game is its expanding roster.
DLC characters have been released for the game and there are still a few more on the way. The characters that are currently available to purchase are very diverse and seem to have something for everyone. I have my favorites, and have been playing as them more than the regular characters the game as already provided. Since we are about halfway through all the extra characters being released, here is my ranking of the best Injustice 2 DLC characters so far.
6. Red Hood
Red Hood was one of the first DLC characters that was announced when the video game was released. The character is a fan favorite, former Robin turned villain Jason Todd, who felt betrayed by Batman and his morals, deciding to find his own path of vengeance. In most versions of the character’s story, The Joker kidnaps the former Robin, tortures him in various ways, including beating the kid to a pulp with a crowbar. The Joker then allegedly leaves him for dead and Batman wasn’t fast enough to save him. But the sidekick survived, surprising everyone when he comes back as the deadly tactical fighter. Although the character’s backstory is very interesting, the character’s move-set and gameplay came up pretty flat to me.
He has a unique play-style, relying on ground mines and gun shooting combos to deal the heavy damage. Standard attacks don’t do enough justice. Since he is not superhuman, Red Hood cannot throw heavy objects at opponents, but he is quick and is a good choice for players that prefer the light and agile fighters.
Red Hood’s supermove when activated is pretty cool, as he sprays his opponents with bullets and explosions, like a mini Deadshot. I ‘ve really enjoyed seeing the character interact with fellow Teen Titans such as Cyborg, Starfire and the Dark Knight himself, Batman. All of the character’s interactions before the fight have made for some interesting dialogue. But if that doesn’t fit your fancy, you always have the chance to watch the Joker beat Red Hood with a crowbar.
5. Darkseid
Darkseid was the very first DLC character announced with the video game. Available for pre-order and was one of the most anticipated things Injustice 2 had to offer. This character is basically the DC version of Marvel’s Thanos. He is known as the biggest baddie, he has many different powers such as superhuman strength, flight and the ability to shoot laser beams from his eyes. If used correctly, Darkseid can be the most powerful character to play as in the game. But there lies the problem, he is a very difficult character to use properly, especially for beginner players.
The character is very fun and looks cool while he’s kicking butt, firing his zigzagging laser beam eyes to trick players and using his Parademons to strategically land your combos is a very satisfying experience. He also can teleport behind opponents which is never a downside. However, the character is slow-moving and has some signature moves that are only useful in specific situations (the “Upward Omega Beams” move does not the opponent directly, which is useless in critical situations). The character has some interesting tricks that will award players that are willing to practice his moves, but I won’t be using the character as my go-to during online play or multiverse levels.
4. Raiden/Black Lightning
Raiden is the newest available DLC character for the video game. It is pretty cool to see this character alongside the juggernauts of the DC Universe. It’s technically two characters, since the DLC comes with an exclusive character skin of Black Lightning, another popular character in the Mortal Combat series. Strong attacks, projectile abilities, and teleportation make this character a strong combatant. Fans of the series were more than pleased when the Thunder God was announced to join the video game.
Although, the character does not match my play style. I am new to both the Injustice 2 games and most Mortal Combat games. Going in as a clean slate, Raiden doesn’t seem to live up to the hype. It’s as if the character’s gameplay mechanics were copied from the latest edition of Mortal Combat and pasted into the programming of Injustice 2. The fight doesn’t feel like a correct match to the other characters in the game. For now, there are too many superior characters to play as.
3. Sub-Zero
This character was an early DLC announcement and was apart of the first “Fighter Pack.” I did not expect to much from this character. Again, I am not a big fan of the Mortal Combat series and knew pretty much nothing about this character. Having said that, playing Injustice 2 as Sub-Zero is such an amazing experience! I was blown away from what this character can do. His ice powers are deadly and make Captain Cold’s Ice blaster look even more useless. His supermove is pretty spectacular, all the moves and attacks that are packed into that sequence looked like more than overkill, but what would you expect from a character whose original game has a “Fatality” option.
This character has my favorite superpower, he can create an ice statue of himself to trap opponents cold in their tracks. Sub-zero can also create more than one, just in case, the enemy is able to avoid it and give you have enough stamina in your power bar. Not only can he create multiple, but they can be placed in mid-air. A skillful player can use this tactic to their advantage, luring them into a trap they can dodge or move away from. I recommend trying this in your next playthrough.
2. Black Manta
There’s plenty to know about Black Manta. This character is very fun to play as and has a variety of options. Harpoon gun, missiles, laser beams, Trident, the list of weapons foes on and on. I never realized that Aquaman had such a powerful and interesting villain in his rogue’s gallery. He’s like an underwater version of Deathstroke, and can be a dominant character to play as in Injustice 2.
Black Manta is one of those great characters that allows the player to really mix it up during a fight. His move set is definitely worth looking into and a great character to utilize your Meter Burns with. And of course, listening to the character trash talk his opponents is absolutely hilarious. No one would suspect a vaguely popular supervillain would be just as good at verbally beating up enemies as he is physically beating them up. If you haven’t already, purchase this character now!
1. Star Fire
Starfire was such a surprise to me and is without a doubt my favorite DLC character so far! I know the character best from the hit Cartoon Network series Teen Titans. She was the naive yet extremely powerful alien, who Robin had a huge crush on. Starfire can fly, shoot green laser beams from her arms and is one of the strongest characters in the DC Universe. This character is near perfect when it comes to how she plays in the video game.
In Injustice 2, her powers are showcased in incredible style. Her combo moves are dominating and provide a great balance of speed and strength. Starfire’s fight style is similar to Supergirl, who can use flight in her attacks and fire laser beams (in place of Supergirl’s heat vision). Her supermove is just epic, as she fires more and laser beams at her opponents so hard that they fly higher and higher into space, it looks devastating and is a big favorite of mine.
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My favorite attack of her’s is the “Tamaranean Charge” which drives full force at the enemy and inflicts some heavy damage, it is similar to what Raiden can do but Starfire’s little flip beforehand is a great little trick to confuse players as what she is about to do. There are too many positives to Starfire, which is why she is the best DLC character in Injustice 2, so far.