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Picture showing Jeff the Land Shark in Marvel Rivals.
Esports

All Jeff changes in Marvel Rivals update 2.5

by admin May 23, 2025


Image via NetEase/Remix by Dot Esports

The Land Shark is getting multiple adjustments.

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Published: May 23, 2025 07:10 am

We’ve all had that one enemy Jeff player in your Marvel Rivals matches, who’d become a self-healing turret to slowly tear down your team while being extremely slippery that you will hardly be able to take him down. 

The Marvel Rivals developer has also noticed the rise of DPS Jeff, and they’re finally giving him a rework, which makes him better as a support rather than a duelist. 

All Jeff rework changes in Marvel Rivals update 2.5

Splish splash. Screenshot by Dot Esports

According to the changes by the developer, they’re making Jeff a “more frontal support and combat ability, but with less survivability,” so that if the hero becomes rogue in your matches, it’ll have fewer ways of staying alive to support their team. 

Here are a few changes that the developer has made to Jeff the Land Shark: 

Jeff’s primary healing: Joyful Splash now deals damage to enemies at 70 per second, and it can heal allies through other allies and enemies. This makes it a fantastic tool for teamfighting where it heals ally hero while also dealing damage to the enemies. The damage falloff starts at 20m to a maximum of 65 percent at 40m, so players will need to stick closer to their allies. The healing per second is also getting reduced from 150 to 130.

Next, Jeff’s shooting ability won’t be unlimited now, and the Aqua Burst is becoming a charge ability. It has only three maximum charges, and it takes three seconds to charge one, so you cannot spam this ability like before than it can be used to finish off low health targets. It is also getting a new effect where a direct hit now launches enemies up, giving a small CC spell in your kit. The spell field damage is also getting increased slightly from 40 to 45.

Jeff’s iconic Healing Bubble are also getting a major change as they are no longer a one-time heal and it is now heals over time, which makes it harder to save low health duelists and makes it more useful for tanks. The healing amount has gone up from instant 85 to 120 over 4 seconds, so you do end up getting more heals in a slightly larger window. The maximum changes have been reduced from six to three, and the enemy launch-up effect is no longer present here. 

His main traversal ability, Hide and Seek, is also not unlimited and comes with an energy cap of a maximum of 120. It drains by 20 per second while submerged under surfaces and restores the energy by 15 per second when not under the surface. This change makes it harder for Jeff to escape burst backline threats. His ultimate ability, It’s Jeff!’s overflow healing on swallowed allies gives 45 Health per second as Bonus Health, up to 150, making it a tool for not just launching enemies off the ledge but also protecting enemies from enemy ultimates. 

Lastly, the ultimate energy cost has gone up from 4000 to 4500, and the damage reduction received when taking a critical hit has been increased from 50 to 70 percent.  Jeff also has two new team-ups with Venom and Storm, where Venom allows him to distribute his healing during teamfights and Storm gives her use for his ultimate to wreak havoc on the enemy backline. 

Next up, you can read our guides to learn about Ultron’s abilities and pre-register for Marvel Mystic Mayhem. 

Dot Esports is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy



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May 23, 2025 0 comments
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Marvel Rivals Season 2.5 Update Is Making Some Big Changes
Game Reviews

Marvel Rivals Season 2.5 Update Is Making Some Big Changes

by admin May 23, 2025


Marvel Rivals’ next big seasonal update is nearly here, and with it, some major balance changes are coming as well as a new map. And for fans of evil robots, the upcoming 2.5 season will add Ultron to the free-to-play shooter’s ever-growing roster.

The Top 10 Most-Played Games On Steam Deck: June 2023 Edition

Quickly after it launched late last year, Marvel Rivals became a massive hit across console and PC. (Not a big enough hit to avoid layoffs, though.) And since launch, developers NetEase have consistently been updating the game via free seasonal updates that often add new maps and characters, and change the meta in a big way with nerfs, buffs, and team-up changes. And season 2.5 might be the game’s biggest shake-up yet. I’ve got good news for Punisher mains and bad news for Captain America lovers.

On May 22, NetEase posted a new video featuring the developers of Rivals talking about the upcoming season 2.5 patch. The new update is set to arrive on May 30 across all platforms. First, the news you’ll likely care about most if you regularly play Rivals: Who is getting nerfed and buffed?

All the buffs and nerfs in Rivals season 2.5

Both Groot and Captain America’s survivability will be getting toned down a bit in season 2.5. Meanwhile, Emma Frost’s “Diamond Form” will be getting nerfed, too. All members of the Fantastic Four and Namor are getting a nerf to their team-up abilities. Separately, Human Torch is getting a nerf alongside Iron Fist and Psylocke.

Meanwhile, Punisher (yes!), Squirrel Girl, and Storm are getting “modest” buffs. Hopefully, that means Punisher’s rifle will actually kill people and not harmlessly bounce off most heroes like a peashooter. Doctor Strange and Magneto are also getting similar “modest” buffs.

A bunch of team-up changes are happening in 2.5, including the removal of some popular ones. Goodbye to Iron Man and Hulk’s gamma team-up. Other team-ups being retired: Luna Snow and Jeff, Hawkeye and Black Widow, Punisher and Rocket, and also Venom and Peni. But a ton of new team-ups are coming, including ones for Iron Man and Ultron, Black Widow and Punisher, and Luna Snow and Hawkeye. The wildest new team-up is between Storm and Jeff. You’ll be able to create sharknados when combining their ultimate abilities.

2.5 is also adding a new map, which seems neat, and Ultron, who will be the game’s first new strategist since Invisible Woman was added back in update season 1. He seems to be a healer who will be able to deal out a ton of damage in addition to delivering a lot of healing. Interestingly, NetEase is also planning to add a full-on new mode to Rivals. You’ll be able to play an autochess-like game inside Marvel Rivals in 2.5 and will command your minions as Ultron. Weird!

Lastly, a reminder that moving forward and starting in season 3, seasons will only be two months long instead of three, and there won’t be any more .5 mid-season refreshes. Marvel Rivals will also get a new hero every month once this new schedule is in place. That sounds hard to balance to me, but hey, who doesn’t like new toys?

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May 23, 2025 0 comments
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Marvel Rivals mid-season update for Season 2 shakes things up
Esports

Marvel Rivals mid-season update for Season 2 shakes things up

by admin May 23, 2025


Marvel Games and NetEase took the digital stage today to talk about the upcoming mid-season content for Marvel Rivals. Alongside that, a few new changes are coming in the future, including moving seasons from three months long to two. This is great news for everyone engaging with the live service game, as new content will arrive much quicker. Check out the other details below!

Guangzhou, China and Los Angeles, California, United States, May 22, 2025 – Today, Marvel Games and NetEase Games have unveiled full details for Season 2.5: Hellfire Gala for Marvel Rivals, the award-winning and critically-acclaimed Super Hero Team-Based PVP Shooter that lets players assemble an ever-evolving all-star squad of Super Heroes and Super Villains battling with unique powers across a dynamic lineup of destructible maps from across the Marvel Multiverse. The continuation of the game’s second season is set to kick off May 30 and will introduce Ultron as a playable hero along with a new map, Arakko. Season 2.5 will also introduce new features, special events and Team-Ups.

The full details and features for Season 2.5 in Marvel Rivals are below and in the latest episode of Dev Vision.

Ultron (Strategist) – The pinnacle of artificial lifeforms, Ultron is programmed to learn and adapt in ways far beyond human capability. He can summon an army of automated drones that obey his every command, raising his chances of victory exponentially.

After the Hellfire Gala was crashed by Ultron’s surprise attack, the mutants of Krakoa faced some of their toughest days yet. Now, Ultron has stolen their Cerebro, evolved into something even more formidable, X-Tron, and retreated to his new stronghold: Arakko. Once Krakoa’s sister island, Arakko has lost all its vitality, transformed by Ultron into a cold, merciless mechanical world. But the fight isn’t over. Our heroes, regrouping after their setback, must now join forces with Krakoa to save Arakko.For Season 2.5, the Marvel Rivals is taking the dynamic Team-Up Ability system even further, with broader adjustments to team-ups to bring even more strategy and excitement to every battle. In this update, the team is adding six new Team-Up Abilities, removing four, and adjusting the members of one. Overall, by Season 2.5, more than 50% of Team-Up Abilities have changed compared Season 0. And by popular demand, Marvel Rivals is adding the Jeff-nado Team-Up Ability. 

Additionally with the launch of Season 2.5, Marvel Rivals is introducing a new feature that showcases hero proficiency avatars on the match hero select wheel. Two fresh personalization systems will also be introduced: Mood and Emojis. 

Also, on June 6 an exciting new limited-time experimental mode will be available: Ultron’s Battle Matrix Protocol. In this mode, six players can choose their own hero lineups, craft unique builds, and enhance their heroes’ traits. Then, engage in battle against other players for the chance to claim victory. This mode is an experiment for how the development team can attempt to fulfill players’ fantasies of Marvel Super Heroes and Super Villains. Players can take control of a wider array of characters and amplify their stats and abilities.

In addition to the above, players can continue to get all the latest information from the Game Update featuring full Patch Notes and Hero Balance adjustments.

For more information about Marvel Rivals please visit www.marvelrivals.com. Follow Marvel Rivals on Discord | X | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

Stay tuned to GamingTrend for more Marvel Rivals news and info!


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May 23, 2025 0 comments
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Shiba Inu Team Issues Major Shibarium Update
Crypto Trends

Shiba Inu Team Issues Major Shibarium Update

by admin May 23, 2025


  • Shibarium prioritizes decentralization
  • SHIB trading volume jumps 19.04%

The Shiba Inu team has announced a crucial update regarding the Shibarium blockchain aimed at strengthening the network’s decentralization. Soon, public Remote Procedure Call (RPC) endpoints will have rate limits applied.

Shibarium prioritizes decentralization

According to the announcement, the move isn’t aimed at restricting access. Instead, it is designed to encourage a more decentralized and resilient ecosystem. With the introduction of these limits, Shibarium is urging developers and high-volume users to run their own nodes instead of relying on public endpoints.

In its basic form, a node is a copy of the blockchain that helps verify transactions and ensure the network continues to function. Better privacy, increased resistance to censorship, and unrestricted access are some of the top benefits of running a personal node.

With more independently run nodes, the Shibarium network will become harder to shut down or control. This aligns with the openness and decentralization principles of blockchain technology. The long-term payoff for node owners is independence from third-party services and greater reliability.

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Shibarium’s latest update reflects a rising trend in blockchain development, where projects prioritize decentralization over convenience to ensure long-term sustainability. Analysts believe the change may require adjustments, especially for decentralized apps (dApps) and frequent traders.

However, the overarching goal is a faster, more secure, and truly decentralized network for Shibarium users. The Shiba Inu team also announced that it has resolved the issue of the temporary unavailability of mainnet snapshots. Users can now access records of network activity at specific points in time.

SHIB trading volume jumps 19.04%

As of the latest CoinMarketCap update, Shiba Inu (SHIB) is trading at $0.00001533 after a 5.25% increase in the last 24 hours. Several key metrics also recorded positive changes, suggesting renewed interest and activity in the popular digital asset.

Source: CoinMarketCap

The cryptocurrency’s 24-hour trading volume rose by 19.04%, reaching $367.27 million. This significant increase in trading activity can often signal further upward price movement.

The volume-to-market cap (vol/mkt) ratio, which provides insight into an asset’s liquidity, is currently at 4.11%, indicating moderate liquidity and easier trading conditions. SHIB’s profile score of 74% reflects its relatively strong market standing.

As previously reported, on-chain data shows that Shiba Inu is entering the quarter during which it typically underperforms. However, the volume of transactions reached 5.76 trillion SHIB on Tuesday, suggesting ongoing activity and potential investor optimism.



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May 23, 2025 0 comments
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Crisis Protocol Card Update May 2025
Esports

Crisis Protocol Card Update May 2025

by admin May 22, 2025


Atomic Mass Games released some updated content this week for their superhero miniature game, Marvel Crisis Protocol. These updates are to character cards, tactics cards, and their FAQ & Errata document, all of which you can view and download on their Rules page for free here. While there aren’t any Asgard-shattering changes, there are a few nice quality of life balances implemented to help clarify timing and interactions within each game phase. Many of these figures will be appearing in the new Affiliation Packs set to release over the next year, which gives players the opportunity to pick up four or five figures in a themed pack (Avengers, Cabal, X-Men, Midnight Sons, etc.). Some of the pieces are hard to find currently because they’re out-of-print, so these new packs are meant to get new players in and experienced players back in.

You can read their official transmission for a more in-depth view, but here are some of the highlights from their post:

  • Agent Venom
    • Project Rebirth 2.0 now causes the character to make a Shake action.
  • Carnage
    • Healthy side Stamina up to 8 from 7. Paint the Town Red updated.
  • Colossus
    • Strike Concussive Force ability replaced with Push. X-Slam Stagger ability replaced with Throw. Big Brother updated to have a different ability based off Range to the attacker.
  • Doctor Strange
    • Injured side Stamina up to 7 from 6. Bolts of Bedevilment has added Pierce ability on a Block. Judgment of the Vishanti replaced previous Leadership. Oshtur’s Refuge up to Range 3. Hoggoth’s Hoary Wisdom can add dice to dodge rolls. Eye of Agamotto can now reroll dodge rolls. 
  • Gambit
    • Kinetic Ace down to 4 Strength from 5 and type changed to Energy. 52 Card Pickup ability changed and Power Cost down to 3. Enhanced Agility changed to Advance in any direction. The Cards Always Be In My Favor superpower added.
  • X-23
    • Frenzy updated timing. Adamantium Skeleton Innate superpower removed.
  • Mutant Traitor (Team Tactics Card)– 
    • Amplified Ammunition’s ability that damages Bishop changed to after all attacks are resolved and only happens once.

There are a fair amount of changes to help with fluidity of gameplay, intuitiveness for timing and resolution, and either increase or decrease character’s power levels for game balances so be sure to read AMG’s full article. 

Don’t forget to follow Gaming Trend for more Marvel: Crisis Protocol articles, reviews, and news!


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May 22, 2025 0 comments
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Brian Johnson, aka the Liver King, working out
Esports

Where is Brett Favre now? Update on Netflix’s Untold

by admin May 21, 2025



Once hailed as a small-town hero and one of the NFL’s most beloved quarterbacks, Brett Favre is now better known for his ties to the largest welfare scandal in Mississippi history, as is explored in Untold: The Fall of Favre. 

Netflix’s Untold is a series of documentaries, with each episode centering on a different true crime case or scandal related to the world of sports. Its latest chapter includes deep dives on the Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton controversy, followed by the Liver King. 

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Now, it’s focusing on Favre, who rose to fame as the face of the Green Bay Packers in the 1990s and 2000s, earning three consecutive MVP awards and leading the team to a Super Bowl victory in 1997. 

As Reverend Reggie Warnsley says in the new documentary, “He threw the pass like he was throwing a 70-yard bomb,” a characteristic that earned Favre the nickname “gunslinger.” However, off the pitch, his reputation has been far more complicated.

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Where is Brett Favre now?

Brett Favre is still in his home state of Mississippi, living in a 19,000 square feet, five bedroom house with his wife, Deanna, who he shares two daughters with: Brittany and Breleigh.

Favre has continued to dabble in sports broadcasting and brand endorsements, although some sponsors have quietly distanced themselves. His most recent Instagram post was shared last year when he announced the 2024 movie Concussed, about Super Bowl winner Tyler Sash, with Favre serving as executive producer. 

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In 2020, he found himself at the center of the Mississippi welfare scandal, whereby a number of high-profile figures allegedly misused at least $77 million that was meant to help the poorest individuals in the state.

Favre was implicated in the scheme, as a state audit revealed that he was paid $1.1 million for speaking events that he didn’t take part in. He was also accused of seeking help to redirect $5 million from the funds to build a volleyball stadium at the University of Southern Mississippi, where his daughter played the sport. 

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Did he go to prison?

Netflix

Despite the serious allegations tied to the welfare scandal, Favre has not been criminally charged. He has denied any wrongdoing and maintains that he was unaware the funds he lobbied for came from money intended for Mississippi’s most vulnerable residents. 

However, he was named in a 2022 civil lawsuit by the state, which is seeking to recover millions of misused welfare dollars. Public records show that Favre repaid the $1.1 million he personally received for speeches he never gave, but the state still wants repayment of interest.

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The fallout has tarnished Favre’s once squeaky-clean image. While some fans and media figures continue to defend him, others view his role in the scandal – along with past controversies, like the 2008 Jenn Sterger allegations – as part of a broader pattern of misconduct that was historically overlooked due to his star power. 

Former NFL quarterback Michael Vick says in the Netflix documentary, “People go to jail for stealing money everyday. If it’s that important, the right institutions can get involved. But, you know, some people are untouchable in certain ways and that’s just the way it is. 

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“I just think that’s kinda how the system is rigged. You know, some situations have to be played out in court. Some have to be played out in the public.”

Favre’s health update

Netflix

Elsewhere in the documentary, it’s revealed that Favre’s revelation of his Parkinson’s disease diagnosis during a congressional hearing in September 2024 added a complex layer to his ongoing narrative. While he framed the announcement as a personal testament to the importance of concussion research, critics have questioned the timing.

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Given that the disclosure came amid intense scrutiny over his alleged involvement in the misappropriation of Mississippi welfare funds, some observers viewed it as a strategic move to elicit sympathy and redirect the conversation.

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects movement and can lead to tremors, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination. Favre, who has publicly acknowledged experiencing numerous concussions during his 20-year NFL career, expressed concerns about his future health, stating, “It makes me wonder what the future brings for me.”

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As of May 2025, there have been no significant public updates regarding his condition.

In Untold: The Fall of Favre, Jenn Sterger, a former New York Jets employee who accused Favre of sending unsolicited explicit messages in 2008, commented on the broader impact of his actions. “The people that get left in the wake are the victims… we get left in the wake because we were never the story,” she says. “We’re here to service somebody else’s story.”

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Untold: The Fall of Favre is streaming on Netflix now.



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May 21, 2025 0 comments
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AMD's Jack Huynh on stage at Computex 2025 in front of an FSR 4 Redstone presentation
Product Reviews

AMD just gave us our first glimpse of FSR 4’s ‘Redstone’ update, with a host of machine learning-based improvements

by admin May 21, 2025



AMD just gave us our first look at a significant update to FSR 4, codenamed “Redstone.” The new update is due to arrive in the second half of this year, and looks like something of a catch-up phase to counter Nvidia’s recent efforts with DLSS.

Top of the list is Neural Radiance Caching, which is presumably the equivalent of Nvidia’s Neural Rendering tech. FS4 Redstone will also feature machine learning-enhanced ray regeneration, with some more machine learning magic (it’s not actually magic, I know) added to its Frame Generation tech, too.

(Image credit: AMD)

And a very shiny AMD-red car, of course. The news comes as a bit of a surprise as it didn’t turn up in our pre-briefing slides, but yours truly is sitting in Taipei right now at the press conference typing furiously on his laptop to catch you up.


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More details to come, but enjoy some pretty pictures for now.

Image 1 of 3

(Image credit: AMD)(Image credit: AMD)(Image credit: AMD)

Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals, as picked by the PC Gamer team.



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May 21, 2025 0 comments
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UPDATE: "All eyes now turn to Liberty's Heart" Helldivers 2's big battle for Super Earth is here, as the Heart of Democracy update brings an Illuminate "Great Host" invasion
Game Reviews

UPDATE: “All eyes now turn to Liberty’s Heart” Helldivers 2’s big battle for Super Earth is here, as the Heart of Democracy update brings an Illuminate “Great Host” invasion

by admin May 21, 2025


UPDATE (20/05/25, 10:00 AM BST): Arrowhead has just dropped the Heart of Democracy update that leaks had previously hinted at, meaning missions on Super Earth itself have arrived.

“Fight among the towering skyscrapers and crowded streets of our home turf as the Illuminate rain down destruction all around you,” the studio wrote in a PlayStation Blog post, “Inside the city biomes, you will tackle operations and work to liberate cities together, having a significant impact on planetary campaigns.

Your mission is repel the invasion and arm some killer cannons, with Arrowhead explaining: “The might of Super Earth’s arsenal lies hidden beneath our peaceful, democratic streets. With your help, we must activate our Planetary Defense Cannons and take down the Illuminate fleet in a grand show of power.”

You’ll have help from some commandable squads of SEAF troops and have to avoid killing any of the Super Earth citizens you find running around the streets.

Original story follows:

It’s been clear since last week that Helldivers 2’s Galactic War is headed to Super Earth, with a renewed Illuminate offensive pushing towards the home planet of the Helldivers. With the conclusion of the latest major order seeing three planets fall in one fell swoop, that battle’s now imminent.

We’ll still have to see whether this fight for the ball that gifted the galaxy a militaristic force that acts quite fascisty comes with its own fresh update to the game, as leaks have suggested. Either way, though, it’s shaping up to be just as key a point in the war as you’d think.


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To set up this inevitable next step in the way, the game’s latest major order has just ended with players losing three planets to The Illuminate “Great Host” at once. Widow’s Harbor, Pilen V, and New Haven – all Altus Sector worlds which are right on Super Earth’s doorstep – are now occupied by the squids.

The Helldivers just couldn’t hold them, despite what looks to have been a very valiant effort. Especially so in the case of New Haven, which looks to have fallen at the order’s climax, leaving folks either watching on in horror from orbit or planting the Super Earth flag in defiance before exfiltrating one final time with a declaration that they’ll be back.

As I was writing this, Arrowhead’s just announced a further blow – The Illuminate have “razed” Mars, forcing Helldiver training facilities to be moved to another planet.

Mars has been razed by the Illuminate. All Helldiver Training Sites across the planet, where rigorous, thorough, and safe training of the Galaxy’s Elite has long occured, have been destroyed. The expert and seasoned facility PA operators who facilitated the training died… pic.twitter.com/16yEhLK0MM

— HELLDIVERS™ 2 (@helldivers2) May 20, 2025

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All these losses have got them pretty amped up to defend Super Earth too. “Super Earth’s hyper-urbanized landscapes once grew bountiful wheat. Soon, Illuminate blood shall make it fertile again,” a user with the handle Efficient_Menu_9965 wrote in one of those threads, while Diamondeye12 busted out the caps lock to bellow: “WE WILL HOLD SUPER EARTH TILL THE LAST MAN WOMAN AND CHILD.”

Arrowhead’s briefing for the order’s conclusion is every bit the ra-ra speech you’d expect with such an important clash in the offing. “Millions of Helldivers—paragons of valor, fortitude, and unshakable obedience—undaunted by a knowingly unwinnable fight, formed Democracy’s first line of defense,” the studio wrote making it clear this had not been “in vain”.

“Firstly, this heroic stand impeded the unforeseen Illuminate offensive and, in a testament to our martial superiority, reduced their estimated fleet strength by 21.5%,” it continued, “Additionally, the time secured by their sacrifice has been fully utilized: Mega Cities are now heavily fortified, garrisons reinforced by SEAF battalions recalled from distant sectors.

“The fight for our Freedom is upon us. There is no fallback. All eyes now turn to Liberty’s Heart, as the Helldivers prepare to fight for the very survival of Managed Democracy.”

So, get ready to lock and load. There’s a planet to defend, and you can’t just drop a crap tonne of mechs on your foes anymore.





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May 21, 2025 0 comments
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NBA playoffs 2025 - Which star leads our postseason MVP update?
Esports

NBA playoffs 2025 – Which star leads our postseason MVP update?

by admin May 19, 2025


With Sunday’s Game 7 in the books, and the Oklahoma City Thunder having dominated the Denver Nuggets to join the New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers and Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA’s final four, we now have a much clearer look at the true difference-makers along the path to the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

Here, in our playoff MVP post-conference semifinals update, we’re ranking the eight players whose performances have stood out most through two wild and unpredictable rounds.

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1:39

Brunson proud of Knicks’ composure to close out Celtics in 6

Jalen Brunson reflects on the Knicks’ big win over the Celtics to reach the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000.

2025 playoffs (12 games): 28.8 PTS | 7.7 AST | 3.9 REB

Editor’s Picks

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After closing out the Detroit Pistons in the first round with a nasty step-back 3-pointer, Brunson’s encore was leading New York to the conference finals by knocking off the defending champion Boston Celtics. He had a slow start to the series, but, as is often the case, was clutch in the late stages.

That was particularly true in Games 1, 2 and 4, when the Knicks came back to win from deficits of 20, 20 and 14 points, respectively.

Next, the All-NBA guard will face the Pacers, against whom he averaged nearly 30 points and six assists during the regular season. Brunson and his teammates will seek to avenge last year’s loss to Indiana in the conference semis.

If things go down to the wire, the league’s Clutch Player of the Year will feel ready. Brunson has already made 14 clutch baskets in these playoffs. That’s nearly twice as Shai-Gilgeous-Alexander, who ranks No. 2.

Previous ranking: 4

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Jokic thankful for personal and team success this season

Nuggets star Nikola Jokic reflects on his individual performance and his team’s showing this season after getting eliminated from the playoffs.

2025 playoffs (14 games): 26.2 PTS | 12.7 REB | 8.0 AST | 2.0 STL

With teammate Aaron Gordon severely limited, and Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. combining for only 19 points on 24 shots, Jokic had very little scoring support from his fellow veteran starters in Sunday’s elimination loss.

Still, that reality — and his team’s series loss as a whole — doesn’t necessarily hurt Jokic’s argument for a high placement on this list. Sure, he was a painful 0-for-10 from deep in Denver’s Game 3 overtime loss and wasn’t much more efficient in Game 4, when he shot 2-for-8 from 3. But he also had one of the most impressive games of the playoffs when he dropped 44 points with 22 rebounds and 5 assists on only 25 shots from the field in the Nuggets’ Game 5 defeat.

Jokic gave a historically good Thunder group all it could handle while having 24-year-old Christian Braun as his most effective sidekick in Game 7.

Previous ranking: 1

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0:29

Anthony Edwards ‘scrapes the sky’ for filthy poster slam

Anthony Edwards drives and punishes the rim as he puts Kevon Looney on a poster.

2025 playoffs (10 games): 26.5 PTS | 8.0 REB | 5.9 AST | 38.5 3P%

The Wolves’ star bounced back from a less efficient opening round against the Los Angeles Lakers to shoot 44% from deep on almost nine attempts per game in the conference semifinals against the mostly Stephen Curry-less Golden State Warriors.

Noteworthy in each of Edwards’ closeout Game 5s thus far: He used the surplus of defensive attention on him to make plays for others, logging eight assists in the clincher against the Lakers, and a whopping 12 in the series clincher against the Warriors.

Edwards will have to be prepared for OKC’s swarming defense, which was the NBA’s best at shutting down 1-on-1 opportunities during the regular season, allowing just 0.81 points per possession.

Previous ranking: 5

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1:31

SGA cooks Nuggets for 35 in Game 7

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander carries the Thunder to a victory in Game 7 over the Nuggets with 35 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists.

2025 playoffs (10 games): 28.4 PTS | 6.6 AST | 6.2 REB | 1.3 STL

The Thunder guard, likely to be named the league’s regular-season MVP in the coming days, had a fantastic beginning and ending to his series against Denver. He struggled with his shot during Games 3 and 4, but then followed that up with showings of 31, 32 and 35 points, respectively, in the series’ final three games. He shot no worse than 52% in Games 5, 6 and 7 to lift his club when OKC needed it most.

If there’s a reason for SGA to be this far down on the list, it’s that he struggled mightily with his efficiency in the opening round. But he can continue to make up for that against the Wolves and in the Finals, should the top-seeded Thunder break through.

Previous ranking: NR

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1:31

Tyrese Haliburton breaks Cavs’ hearts with dagger game-winning 3

Tyrese Haliburton gets the ball after a missed free throw, then nails a step-back 3 to allow the Pacers to rally for a win in Game 2.

2025 playoffs (10 games): 17.5 PTS | 9.3 AST | 5.5 REB

After shooting just 42% overall, and under 27% from 3 in the first round, Haliburton leveled up to 54% and almost 46% from deep against the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers to pull off an upset in only five games.

One of the biggest keys for the Indiana star this postseason: Much like Brunson, he has come up with big-time shots to put away games. He has gone 4-for-5 from the field with the Pacers in the final minute of clutch scenarios. No one has made more in these playoffs.

Previous ranking: 10

6. Julius Randle, Minnesota Timberwolves

play

2:17

Randle stars as Wolves complete series win

Julius Randle drops a game-high 29 points to fuel the Timberwolves in knocking out the Warriors in five games.

2025 playoffs (10 games): 23.9 PTS | 5.9 REB | 5.9 AST | 50.9 FG%

Yes, this is the same player who struggled mightily during his first two postseason appearances. Randle shot 29.8% from the field in 2021 and 37.4% in 2022, both with the Knicks.

But Randle has been fantastic for Minnesota thus far, shooting almost 51%, averaging 23.9 points in the postseason (right behind Edwards) and a team-high 5.9 assists (the same as Edwards). Long one of the NBA’s best setup men for corner-3 opportunities, Randle simply looks at ease right now, something that could pay massive dividends if OKC blitzes Edwards.

Previous ranking: NR

play

1:28

Mitchell despondent after Cavs’ loss to Pacers: ‘Don’t believe it’

Donovan Mitchell tries to explain what went wrong for the Cavaliers in their semifinal series defeat to the Pacers.

2025 playoffs (9 games): 29.6 PTS | 4.7 REB | 3.9 AST

Much like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Mitchell gave it all he had and at times single-handedly carried his team’s offense. The Cavs’ star led all second-round scorers with more than 34 points per game.

But with an ankle injury that he played through in hopes of resurrecting a Cleveland club that found itself at risk of being bounced early after a 64-win season, Mitchell’s efficiency from deep fell sharply from the opening round, sliding from 46% to 24% on massive — but necessary — volume in the conference semifinals.

Previous ranking: 8

play

1:26

JWill: There’s a world in which Giannis says he wants to be a Warrior

Jay Williams and Brian Windhorst discuss the possibility of Giannis Antetokounmpo teaming up with Steph Curry in Golden State.

2025 playoffs (5 games): 33.0 PTS | 15.4 REB | 6.6 AST | 60.6 FG%

The Bucks’ forward is the one player who was so outstanding in the opening round that he deserved to make this list again, albeit nowhere near the top given the added weight of the conference semifinals.

In case you forgot just how dominant Antetokounmpo was without an injured Damian Lillard (and with an immensely quiet Kyle Kuzma): Antetokounmpo averaged 33 points, 15.4 rebounds and 6.6 assists in his five games against Indianapolis. And he did it on almost 60.6% shooting from the field.

Previous ranking: 2



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