Summary
Highlights
PC players can use number keys as shortcuts to buy relics, preventing mispurchases. Black Cat's ultimate, Calling Card, marks all enemies on the map. Activating it again dashes you to a target (within 60m with line of sight), followed by two rapid slashes that deal percentage-based damage (30 + 20% max HP on second hit). If the target dies, the cooldown resets to 10 seconds. The optimal combo for the ultimate is: Dash, big percentage damage attack, primary into claw whip, then Phantom Pursuit.
The ultimate is best used to 'stagger the healers.' Prioritize killing one healer before activating the ultimate, then target the second healer, followed by duelists and then tanks. This creates a significant handicap for the enemy team. Black Cat's passives include a double jump (resets when dashing or wall climbing) and 'stealthy catwalk' for climbing and holding onto walls (resets only when touching the ground).
To generate fortune, use grapple on passersby from flanks, set up flame orbs, and dash through multiple enemies (generating hundreds of fortune). A core combo achievable from zero fortune is: Grapple (300 fortune, 30 damage, 50 bonus HP) -> Dash (150 fortune, 50 damage) -> Primary -> Claw Whip (animation cancelled) -> Phantom Pursuit. This combo is effective for eliminating 250 HP enemies. Another combo for closer engagements with 300+ fortune: Primary -> Claw Whip -> Dash through them -> Phantom Pursuit -> Grapple.
For a quick 105 damage burst when low on fortune, use: Grapple (30 damage, 300 fortune, bonus HP) -> Phantom Pursuit (75 damage, 150 fortune refund). This is ideal for finishing off weak enemies with minimal fortune. The guide concludes by emphasizing Black Cat's role as a menace to enemy healers and poke duelists, urging smart, patient approaches, using the flame orb for target isolation, and, controversially, how to effectively 'spawn trap' key enemy players like Moon Knight due to favorable matchups.
Black Cat is best understood as a 'thief' rather than a direct brawler. Her gameplay involves alternating between acquiring fortune and executing quick heists to eliminate key enemy targets, similar to a patient thief who strikes swiftly and retreats. Her combat is about stealthy approaches, waiting for opportune moments to pounce on separated enemies like healers or poke duelists, and then quickly disengaging. Maintaining high fortune pre-dive allows for better gear and more efficient eliminations.
Feline Fury is a three-attack combo dealing 35 damage per hit, with a 3.5m range. It's not a primary damage dealer but is crucial for weaving between other abilities for supplementary damage and accumulating fortune (50 fortune per hit, 100 for the double swipe). Fortune is Black Cat's currency system, enabling powerful abilities and strategic purchases.
Claw whip is a sweeping attack accessed via Fortune's Favor stance (hold right-click/circle/B). It deals 65 damage, can hit multiple targets, and grants 25 bonus HP per hit (max 50 HP). It costs 150 fortune but refunds 50 fortune per enemy hit (up to two). You can animation cancel your primary attack into a claw whip for a rapid 100 HP burst and 25 bonus HP, a fundamental maneuver.
Phantom Pursuit is a finisher, a 0.25-second untargetable dash up to 20m, dealing 75 damage. It costs 300 fortune but refunds 150 on hit, making the effective cost 150. It's highly forgiving with its auto-aim. Mastering its use to avoid enemy crowd control (CC) abilities (like Black Widow's spin kick, Squirrel Girl's trap nut, Luna Snow's freeze, Mantis's sleep) is crucial for advanced play, making you immune to damage and CC for its duration.
Black Cat has two charges of Cat's Cradle, a dash that lunges forward up to 15m, dealing 50 damage on impact. Each charge has a 10-second cooldown. A common strategy is to use one dash to initiate a dive and one to escape. It generates 150 fortune per enemy hit (no cap) and can pass through multiple enemies. Dashing reset your double jump, allowing for impressive horizontal and vertical traversal combos.
Turn of Fortune is a grapple ability (E on PC, left trigger on controller) with a 5-second cooldown and 30m range. It steals 300 fortune, deals 30 damage, and grants 50 bonus HP on hit. This ability is a major skill-gap factor; players should use it frequently to generate fortune, secure bonus HP, and damage enemies. It's excellent for setting up dives by generating fortune from a distance before engaging.
Black Cat's relic store, 'The Gilded Deal' (F on PC, right bumper on controller), offers six items for purchase with fortune. The Helm of Hades (200 fortune) is the most valuable, granting 2 seconds of invisibility and a movement speed buff. It's consistently useful for both initiating and escaping dives, allowing for stealthy approaches and quick getaways. Relics persist even if you die before using them.
The Flame Orb (100 fortune) acts as a 20m radar detector, highlighting enemies through walls for you and your team. The Hypno Fish (200 fortune) grounds enemies and disrupts movement abilities, effective against mobile targets. The Ring of Zonya (200 fortune) creates a portal for traversal but is highly situational. The Chernobog's Crystal (200 fortune) cleanses all negative effects, but Phantom Pursuit often serves a similar purpose more effectively. The Tablet of Destinies (a gambling rune) is generally useless.