Alongside the early access launch of 2XKO comes a new fighter in the form of the monster Warwick. Leaping into battle, he’s taking a break from his usual job of clearing camps in the jungle. Warwick brings a uniquely aggressive style of gameplay to the 2D tag fighter, offering numerous options. But it will take players of 2XKO some time to get everything sorted out. The character’s range of offensive capabilities looks likely to overwhelm enemies through variety and power. And it all begins with Warwick’s Blood Lust Gauge.
Just above Warwick’s power gauge, players will find a smaller, circular one. As he attacks, the gauge fills, with certain attacks (Savage Slash, Feral Bite, Blood Seeker, Spinning Slice, Snare, and No Escape) significantly filling it. Once filled, players gain access to various specials with powerful side effects.
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Helping Warwick inflict the damage necessary to fill this gauge is a strong amount of maneuverability. Most notable is his wall cling, by pushing back against a wall while in the air. Warwick clings to the wall, granting the player access to some specific attacks to switch up how they threaten the enemy. He can perform a brutal bite attack that launches enemies on hit, a command throw, or perform a downward strike that ground bounces aerial opponents. He can also simply release the wall or leap across the screen if the moment doesn’t feel right for an attack.
Further strengthening Warwick’s S1 and S2 specials is his ability to cancel them mid-run into a Primal Leap.
The other way Warwick impresses with his ability to move across the screen is during some of his specials. Both his S1 and S2 specials are lunging attacks that, if the button is held, are preceded by a run. While in these runs, he is invulnerable to projectiles. Helping him get past all the puff caps and bullets that can litter the screen.
Further strengthening his S1 and S2 specials is his ability to cancel them mid-run into a Primal Leap, switching to one of three other attacks. Initiating the cancel sends Warwick into the air before he launches one of three new options, or flies over his opponent’s head. These attacks come with special effects that will give Warwick a strong upper hand if his target fails to guess whether the attack will come from the ground or the air.
Once he has knocked an opponent down, the savage fighter has multiple options to continue his assault. His standard S2+forward attack performs a grab that can scoop foes right off the ground, throwing them over the wolfman’s shoulder. When in Blood Lust mode, the move switches to a leap attack that launches the enemy into the air at the end. It has the added benefit of removing the target’s recoverable health while restoring Warwicks, giving him some added durability.
The altered moves and bonus elements of Warwick’s Blood Lust are great.
While the ground provides no safety from the relentless hunter, neither does the air. Warwick wields a pair of air specials that can help him bring his foes back down to earth. His mid-air S2 is particularly powerful. By default, it slams the opponent into the ground for solid damage. However, if in Blood Lust mode, as the attack’s series of hits plays out, any of them can be cancelled, except the last one, into a Primal Leap.
The altered moves and bonus elements of Warwick’s Blood Lust are great. Often, characters with this kind of gauge would see a damage buff or maybe gain armor. By altering some of Warwick’s core options, the reward for filling the gauge feels greater than simply doing what you were already doing, just better. It also adds a layer of complexity to the character, as both controller and foe alike must learn how the character’s approach will change when in his enhanced form.
Another noteworthy element of Warwick’s kit is his S2+down special. A rising uppercut that is invulnerable to air attacks, this move gives the character a strong defense against overly aggressive aerial assaults. This move serves as his back tag attack as well, so he can extend his ability to punish air attacks to his ally.
Warick’s two super attacks, Infinite Duress and No Escape, each provide a solid amount of damage. The former launches Warwick into the air, before lunging at his opponent, to slash repeatedly before slamming him into the ground. If you are using the default double-down fuse and like to run a character that uses either aerial supers or supers bounce the enemy into the air at the end, Infinite Duress can combo splendidly with them.
The only significant thing lacking from Warwick’s kit is a solid range attack.
Warwick’s ultimate attack, Blood Hunt, is both powerful and cinematic. Opening with a first-person POV as the hunter chases his prey, he then lunges out, eviscerating his foe. This will immediately send him into Blood Lust, or, if he’s already there, restore some of his health.
The only significant thing lacking from Warwick’s kit is a solid range attack. His maneuver options make up for a lot of this, but it does still put the onus of closing the distance on the hunter. This could become punishable if players fall into a pattern of how they try to approach their targets.
With excellent maneuverability and an expansive kit that offers numerous options requiring quick thinking to implement, Warwick feels like a fantastic blend of fun and challenge for 2XKO players. Slashing up foes feels excellent, and Riot has brought all the visual flair to the character’s actions you’d expect, making him almost as fun to watch as to play.
Warwick is now available in 2XKO, which is currently in early access on PC.
