Heartless

"In the end, every heart returns to the darkness!"

**Heartless** is a Dark, Diamond Marie variant.

**ABYSSAL ASSAULT**

## Tips and Tricks

### Role & Strategy

* Heartless is an offensive support fighter with the ability to deal massive unblockable damage through her SKELETAL SUMMONS. The last surviving opponent will also TAG IN with three powerful DEBUFFS, allowing players to finish them off quickly with Heartless or another main carry.

* The ability to inflict unblockable SKELETAL SUMMONS is very powerful and because most of Marie's SKELETAL SUMMONS work from a distance, this allows Heartless to be a very aggressive offensive variant that can easily start new combos from every corner of the map.
	+ Special moves such as HILGARD'S HAYMAKER and HOP TO IT are both SKELETAL SUMMONS that can work from a distance and also inflict two different DEBUFFS (QUIETUS and HEAVY BLEED) to activate her first Signature Ability.
	+ Blockbusters such as CARPAL PUMMEL and HILGARD'S HOWL are also SKELETAL SUMMONS that can be useful for different situations. CARPAL PUMMEL is a one-hit blockbuster that can deal massive damage in close proximity while HILGARD'S HOWL can be activated from a distance to inflict QUIETUS.

* The first goal with using Heartless would be to reach the threshold for her first Signature Ability, either by reducing the opponent's health quickly or giving access to three different DEBUFFS. Marie has a few ways to inflict DEBUFFS, with QUIETUS being the most common one. Other moves worth considering are: HOP TO IT for HEAVY BLEED, A MOMENT'S TIME for WITHER, MARIE GO 'ROUND for ARMOR BREAK, and REPETITIVE SKELETON IMPACT for INVERSE POLARITY.
	+ For efficiency, it is best to bring a support variant such as Sketchy in the backline to provide other DEBUFFS to open up some move slots for Heartless to deal damage and start combos, rather than set up moves that is only used to unlock the first Signature Ability.

* Once the first two opponents are defeated, the third opponent is inflicted with three powerful DEBUFFS that makes it easy to defeat them. If using Heartless as a main carry, the TAGGED IN opponent will already have three DEBUFFS, allowing Heartless to start an onslaught of unblockable SKELETAL SUMMONS to finish them quick. As a support, HEX is the most powerful DEBUFF as it completely invalidates a defender's Signature Ability, allowing other main carries to finish off defenders like Dread Locks, Immoral Fiber, Model Leader and Unholy Host without fear of their Signature Ability.

* Although a primary offensive support, Heartless can find some use in specific Prize Fights or Rift Battle nodes where the opposing team is constantly inflicted by different DEBUFFS. This allows her to deal damage from afar with unblockable SKELETAL SUMMONS which can be dangerous.

* **Marquee Ability**: The recommended Marquee Ability for Heartless is IMPROVED INCINERATION to increase her damage output through a timeless stack of ENRAGE and extra blockbuster meter.

* **Stat Investment**: As an offensive support fighter, Heartless will benefit in investment in ATK and Piercing to further increase her damage output. Meter Gain and Special Move Cooldown is also a good stat to quickly charge her blockbusters and special moves faster and start her unblockable onslaught.

### Trivia

* This variant is a reference to Ansem, Seeker of Darkness from the *Kingdom Hearts* series with its caption being a direct quote from the character.

* This variant's name is a reference to the Heartless, the main enemy type in the *Kingdom Hearts* series.

### Gallery

Fighter Trailer- Marie - HEARTLESS - Skullgirls Mobile