Is Maxwell viable for PvP?

[TheTraditionalGentleman]

I'm looking at getting into PvP, and I really like playing as Maxwell, but is he viable for PvP? His really low health makes me question how long he'd live. His main perk seems to be sanity, which is great for magic, but his health could go down really fast in a fight. I don't suppose there's a way to drive others insane, is there? Like a reverse one man band? A.K.A. Maxwell's doomsday weapon? 

[WildWesternWilson]

Hum… Well, there's his Shadow Minions, which can made into Brawlers for fighting and Workers for other jobs, helping you get dat **** done so you can get on with gathering better resources.

 

I wouldn't know, though, I haven't tested it. 

[or1239]

It would be pretty cool if PvP mode got its own balance for characters so Maxwell can start with his very own uncraftable shadow armor and maybe even less hp so it can be a sort of barrier, once it breaks, hes completely exposed!

but i guess things like that would shift development away from the main game so ehhh

[WildWesternWilson]

16 minutes ago, or1239 said:

It would be pretty cool if PvP mode got its own balance for characters so Maxwell can start with his very own uncraftable shadow armor and maybe even less hp so it can be a sort of barrier, once it breaks, hes completely exposed!

but i guess things like that would shift development away from the main game so ehhh

Perhaps as a side project later on; fine tuning the main game is the main priority, after all. 

[Muttbutt]

Maxwell is a glass-cannon. His puppets do full damage instead of half-damage Maxwell would do to another player and keep pressure on the target. He has very low health, but has the upside of being able to read Wickerbottom's books and having high-damage puppets. (They do 43-47 I think, someone correct me if I'm wrong.)

 @Flare2V had a highlight from his stream that showed how Maxwell when paired with puppets and Sleepy Time Stories can destroy even an extremely geared player. I'll leave a link below.

https://www.twitch.tv/flare2v/v/62039453

But someone who can catch a Maxwell off-guard can easily take the kill without much effort. Wickerbottom can Sleepy Time you and kill your puppets then beat on you, and a mighty Wolfgang with a hambat can straight-up one shot your puppets. I think it was yesterday when FappyGilmore, a great pvp player, took me down when I was Maxwell with only a spear, grass suit, and STS. I had blue caps, a hambat, and a football helmet, along with two puppets. 

Maxwell does work, but he does need a team-mate like Wickerbottom or Wolfgang. He can do a ton of damage if he has the upperhand and has a lot of counters as well. A more experienced pvp player could tell you more, but that's from my own play time as Max.

[WorstNightmare]

Maxwell being viable isn't a real question, every character is "viable". Now what I think you're trying to say is he good in a highly competitive server, I will say he isn't his shadow minions aren't enough to justify his sanity regen which is lost in battle from blue caps. Or his health which is easy torn through if you encounter someone that's a wickerbottom being said she can get free hits off on you with just one sleepytime considering she doesn't use all the crazy strats she's capable of on you, then there's Wolfgang who can easily 5 shot you on average in mighty form. This is just including one on one scenarios against a team you will die instantly in a stunlock via Ice Staves or Sleepytime Stories; Crowns won't save you from even this. A Maxwell with sleepytime stories changes things a bit more but in same regard he becomes like wicker where he only shines through the book. Shadow Minions are only good for solo pvpers they line-up good stuns outside of this they aren't worth the investment. He's a difficult character in PVE but PVP he falls under being mid-tier since the top tier characters (Wolfgang, Wicker), are far more devastating then he will ever be. This is just my opinions and how i've experienced pvp as him and against him.

TD;LR Maxwell is capable in PVP just like everyone else, but in a competitive environment he is vastly inferior to wickerbottom in his same position. His power in PVP is practically based on whether he gets sleepytimes or not.

[SuperPsiPower]

Maxwell can only really be good with STS. If drowsy gets on top of you and your minions do too, there is no escape. Aside from that his other minions are great for starting out early or late. 

One trick that I always do is that ill lower my max sanity to 20 by summoning 2 duelists and any worker, and ill be able to farm endless fuel which is the most vital part of Maxwell's combat skill.

Maxwell won't always win however, Wolfgang is really tough to beat without the right gear set up. My advice would be to try and go for nightmare armor or scalemail to give yourself more or a protection from damage amongest other things, especially fire staffs. Or you could use staffs to stun someone such as a wickerbottom with sts and let the minions do all that work, which has worked too.

As for what @Muttbutt said, he is a glass-canon, and only your gear will determine the outcome of your combat. So far the most effective teammates I've had so far are another Maxwell, Wickerbottom, and a Wigfrid (starting helms for maxwell are always nice.)

Lastly, You can only go so far as Maxwell. Depending on who you fight, what you do, stats, etc will have the most effect over who wins or loses. That also means that without proper caution maxwell can die in like 2 hits from a Wolfgang, so always go for a lot of pigskin and blue mushrooms.

@WorstNightmare It's fully possible to take down a Wickerbottom with proper planning, and cleverness. You're only as powerful as good as you are in tense situations. Which also brings up that the more prepared you are means your chances to survive a hostile Wickerbottom is higher.

 

 

[WorstNightmare]

29 minutes ago, SuperPsiPower said:

Maxwell can only really be good with STS. If drowsy gets on top of you and your minions do too, there is no escape. Aside from that his other minions are great for starting out early or late. 

One trick that I always do is that ill lower my max sanity to 20 by summoning 2 duelists and any worker, and ill be able to farm endless fuel which is the most vital part of Maxwell's combat skill.

Maxwell won't always win however, Wolfgang is really tough to beat without the right gear set up. My advice would be to try and go for nightmare armor or scalemail to give yourself more or a protection from damage amongest other things, especially fire staffs. Or you could use staffs to stun someone such as a wickerbottom with sts and let the minions do all that work, which has worked too.

As for what @Muttbutt said, he is a glass-canon, and only your gear will determine the outcome of your combat. So far the most effective teammates I've had so far are another Maxwell, Wickerbottom, and a Wigfrid (starting helms for maxwell are always nice.)

Lastly, You can only go so far as Maxwell. Depending on who you fight, what you do, stats, etc will have the most effect over who wins or loses. That also means that without proper caution maxwell can die in like 2 hits from a Wolfgang, so always go for a lot of pigskin and blue mushrooms.

@WorstNightmare It's fully possible to take down a Wickerbottom with proper planning, and cleverness. You're only as powerful as good as you are in tense situations. Which also brings up that the more prepared you are means your chances to survive a hostile Wickerbottom is higher.

 

 

The wording you're using is throwing my mind in a loop but I think you're saying a wicker can be killed with good planning and gear?

And of course you are correct but the wicker in a even stand ground will always have a edge if you don't have sleepytimes from another wicker. No one is invincible but her strength exceeds his and i'm amazed you don't agree.

[Muttbutt]

5 minutes ago, WorstNightmare said:

The wording you're using is throwing my mind in a loop but I think you're saying a wicker can be killed with good planning and gear?

And of course you are correct but the wicker in a even stand ground will always have a edge if you don't have sleepytimes from another wicker. No one is invincible but her strength exceeds his and i'm amazed you don't agree.

STS is insane, yeah, and a Wicker wins a lot of the time. But it is totally possible to gank a Wicker, you just have to either pressure the Wickerbottom or juggle with a team-mate to stay awake. It takes practice, and you have to stay away from the Wicker until you have the gear to counter her. Being the aggressor in the fights also tends to help, close off as much space with her as you can. Maxwell is actually good at this if the Wicker doesn't have any speed boost and if the Max gets the first attack, because his puppets will keep attacking her so she can't read her STS, then maybe you can freeze her or use STS of your own.

PvP is hard, and Sleepytime does need to be looked at, but for right now all you can do is gear up and plan better.

[Arlesienne]

How about using a Pan's flute in lieu of Wickerbottom's book? Granted, it is not perfect, but still a thing to consider. Maxwell is so frail I would not venture out anywhere dangerous without thulecite armour and good ranged weapons (darts or items from the Archery mod). And generally stick to the SSSARA method of doing battle.

[TheTraditionalGentleman]

All these answers have been really helpful, but I don't quite know what all of these acronyms mean XD

[AnonymousKoala]

8 hours ago, TheTraditionalGentleman said:

I'm looking at getting into PvP, and I really like playing as Maxwell, but is he viable for PvP? His really low health makes me question how long he'd live. His main perk seems to be sanity, which is great for magic, but his health could go down really fast in a fight. I don't suppose there's a way to drive others insane, is there? Like a reverse one man band? A.K.A. Maxwell's doomsday weapon? 

As people said:

DST Maxwell's main perk is not sanity(6.7 is too pathetic, compared to singleplayer). Instead, it is the puppets and being able to farm nightmare fuel so easily. Also reading Wicker's books

[Arlesienne]

6 hours ago, TheTraditionalGentleman said:

All these answers have been really helpful, but I don't quite know what all of these acronyms mean XD

STS is 99% sure "Sleepy Time Stories". And SSSARA is a method of doing battle inspired by The Gothic Archies.

Scream

Scream

Scream

And

Run

Away

Screaming is not obligatory.

[FatPraline]

18 hours ago, Muttbutt said:

I think it was yesterday when FappyGilmore, a great pvp player, took me down when I was Maxwell with only a spear, grass suit, and STS. I had blue caps, a hambat, and a football helmet, along with two puppets.

Macros really do wonders in PvP.

[Mario384]

Maxwell does well when paired with a Werebeaver as well.  Those things are basically walking nightmare generators, until maybe one day Klei actually makes it more fair for them.