Character Abilities & Specials

Mastering your characters' unique abilities and special attacks is paramount to success in Injustice: Gods Among Us. While basic attacks form the foundation of combat, specials are your primary damage dealers and crowd control tools. Understanding how to effectively use and upgrade them will allow you to overcome even the toughest "brick wall" opponents.

Understanding Special Attacks

Each character in Injustice possesses three distinct special attacks, unlocked as they level up. These specials consume Power, represented by the blue bar at the bottom of your screen during combat. Power is generated by performing basic attacks, blocking incoming damage, and taking damage yourself.

Special 1: This is your most basic special, typically unlocked at character level 1. It consumes one bar of Power and is often a quick, single-hit attack or a short combo. It's excellent for interrupting enemy attacks or finishing off low-health opponents.
Special 2: Unlocked at a higher character level (usually around level 5-10, depending on the character's rarity), this special consumes two bars of Power. These are generally more powerful than Special 1, often involving multiple hits, area-of-effect damage, or status effects. This is your go-to for significant damage output.
Super Move: The ultimate attack, consuming all three bars of Power. Super Moves are unlocked at an even higher character level (typically level 15-20 for Gold characters). These are cinematic, high-damage attacks that can turn the tide of a battle. Due to their high Power cost, they should be reserved for critical moments, such as finishing off a strong opponent or dealing massive damage to a boss.

Upgrading Special Attacks

To maximize your characters' potential, you must upgrade their special attacks. Upgrading increases the damage output and, in some cases, can add additional effects or improve existing ones. This is a crucial step in progressing through the game, especially when facing increasingly powerful enemies in later stages.

Accessing Upgrades: From your character roster, select the character you wish to upgrade. Then, navigate to the "Abilities" or "Specials" tab (the exact name may vary slightly depending on the game version).
Cost of Upgrades: Upgrading specials requires in-game credits. The cost increases with each upgrade level and varies between characters, with rarer characters generally having more expensive upgrades. Prioritize upgrading the Special 2 and Super Move of your primary damage dealers first.
Strategic Upgrading:
- Early Game: Focus on upgrading Special 1 and Special 2 for your main team. This will allow you to clear early stages more efficiently and earn more credits.
- Mid Game: As you acquire more powerful Gold characters, prioritize fully upgrading their Special 2s. This is often the most cost-effective way to boost their damage.
- Late Game: Once your core team's Special 2s are maxed, begin investing in Super Moves, especially for characters with high base damage. Remember, a fully upgraded Super Move can be a game-changer.

Character Passives and Augmentations

Beyond active special attacks, each character possesses a unique passive ability that significantly impacts their playstyle and team synergy. These passives are active throughout the battle and do not consume Power.

Understanding Passives: Carefully read the description of each character's passive ability. For example, a character like Regime Superman might have a passive that grants him a damage boost when an opponent is stunned, while Animated Harley Quinn might provide a team-wide power generation boost. Building teams around synergistic passive abilities is a key strategy.
Augmenting Abilities (GEARs): As you progress, you'll unlock and acquire GEARs. These equipable items can further augment your character's abilities, including their specials and passives.
- GEAR Types: GEARs come in various rarities and offer different stat boosts (e.g., increased damage, critical hit chance, power generation) or unique effects (e.g., a chance to stun on Special 1, health regeneration).
- Strategic Equipping: Match GEARs to your character's strengths. For a damage dealer, prioritize GEARs that boost Special 2 damage or critical hit chance. For a support character, consider GEARs that increase power generation or provide defensive bonuses.
- GEAR Evolution: Higher-tier GEARs can be evolved and shattered to gain valuable Shards, which are then used to upgrade other GEARs. This system allows for significant customization and power boosts.

By diligently upgrading your specials, understanding character passives, and strategically using GEARs, you will transform your roster into an unstoppable force capable of conquering all challenges Injustice: Gods Among Us throws your way.