< UMVC3
Nova
As a high-schooler Richard Rider is chosen by a dying alien to receiving the power bestowed as a member of the Nova Corps. With his new roll Nova divides his time between saving the world and saving the universe. Nova was a founding member of the New Warriors and more recently is seen taking part in Steve Roger's Secret Avengers.
In a nutshell
An extremely versatile character, Nova can fulfill many roles in the game. His rushdown capabilities are rather notable, ranging from 
pressure to overhead mixups, especially with his unusual air dashes and varied hitboxes. As a zoning / keepaway character, he can create barriers, anti-air energy javelins, and has a Hyper combo for any situation. Additionally, he has the unique ability to enhance some of his Special moves and Hypers by consuming his remaining Red Life - both a curse and a blessing. If you want an extremely versatile character with strategic concerns, Nova is the intergalactic hero for you!
Alternate Colors
Players to Watch
TA|Moons, Nemo, Infrit, Marvelo, YLT Cole, Zansam, Darryn
Character Vitals
CHARACTER DATA
X-FACTOR
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
X-Factor Damage Boost:
30.0 %
50.0 %
70.0 %
X-Factor Speed Boost:
10.0 %
20.0 %
30.0 %
X-Factor Duration:
10.5 s
15.5 s
20.5 s
MINIMUM DAMAGE SCALING
L Attacks
M Attacks
H Attacks
Special Moves
Hyper Combos
Normal:
5 %
5 %
5 %
10 %
35 %
X-Factor Lvl 1:
35 %
35 %
35 %
35 %
35 %
X-Factor Lvl 2:
35 %
35 %
35 %
35 %
35 %
X-Factor Lvl 3:
35 %
35 %
35 %
35 %
35 %
Video Walkthrough
Technology
hard tag to Viper
resets with spencer's assist by Infrit
Nova Fuzzy Guards
Various resets
Combos
Team Synergy
Nova/Task Master/Dante
Nova/Task/Dante #2 cmv, amazing combos
Nova/Doom/Strider corner throw tech by Marvelo
Move List
Assist Types
Name
Type
Damage
Special Properties
Cross-Over Combination
Gravimetric Pulse (H)
35,000 x
3 / 4 / 5
3 / 4 / 5
(air only / level 3 only)
(ground only / level 3 only) ;
Level determined by
Nova's Red Life.
Red Life still drains
as an Assist.
Gravimetric Blaster
Centurion Rush (M) 
100,000
(aironly)
Gravimetric Blaster
Nova Strike (M) 50,000 x 3
Gravimetric Blaster
Normal Moves
Standing Light
55,000
Crouching Light
+ 50,000
Standing Medium
80,000
Crouching Medium
+ 75,000
Standing Heavy
85,000
Crouching Heavy
+ 80,000
Special
100,000
Nova Slam
+ 100,000
Jumping Light
air
55,000
Jumping Medium
air
75,000
Jumping Heavy
air
90,000
Jumping Special
air
40,000 x 3
Throws
Forward Throw
+ 80,000
Back Throw
+ 80,000
Forward Air Throw
air +
+ 80,000
Back Air Throw
air +
+ 80,000
Special Moves
Gravimetric Pulse (L)
(Level 1)
(Level 1)
+ 90,000
Gravimetric Pulse (L)
(Level 2)
(Level 2)
+ 50,000 x 3
(air only) ; caused only by last hit.
Gravimetric Pulse (L)
(Level 3)
(Level 3)
+ 50,000 x 5
(air only) ; 
(air only) ; (ground only) ; and caused only by last hit. ;
only occurs if opponent reaches wall during air reel.
Gravimetric Pulse (M)
(Level 1)
(Level 1)
+ 90,000
Gravimetric Pulse (M)
(Level 2)
(Level 2)
+ 50,000 x 3
(air only) ; caused only by last hit.
Gravimetric Pulse (M)
(Level 3)
(Level 3)
+ 50,000 x 5
(aironly); (aironly) ; (ground only) ; ; , , and
caused only by last hit. ;
only occurs if opponent reaches
wall during air reel.
Gravimetric Pulse (H)
(Level 1)
(Level 1)
+ 35,000 x 3
Gravimetric Pulse (H)
(Level 2)
(Level 2)
+ 35,000 x 4
Gravimetric Pulse (H)
(Level 3)
(Level 3)
+ 35,000 x 5
(air only) (groundonly) Centurion Rush (L)
+ 90,000
Centurion Rush (M)
+ 100,000
(aironly) Centurion Rush (H)
+ 35,000 + 35,000 + 80,000
; 
on frames 22-46 ; caused only by last hit. Nova Strike (L)
+ 75,000
Nova Strike (M)
+ 50,000 x 3
; caused only by last hit
Nova Strike (H)
+ 110,000
(air only) ; (air only) 
(ground only) Flight
+ 0
; Leaves Nova in Flight.
Energy Javelin
+ 70,000
(air only) (air only) NOTE—The amount of Red Life Nova has at the time of performing the Gravimetric Pulse determines what level the
move will be performed at. The more Red Life, the higher the level. Once performed, however, Nova drains all of the
Red Life that he has.
Hyper Moves
Gravimetric Blaster (Level 1)
+ + 15,000 x 25
; Mashable.
caused only by last hit.
Gravimetric Blaster (Level 2)
+ + 18,000 x 25
; Mashable.
caused only by last hit.
Gravimetric Blaster (Level 3)
+ + 22,000 x 25
; Mashable.
caused only by last hit.
Super Nova
+ + 12,000 x 40
; Mashable.
Human Rocket
+ + 100,000 per Hit
; Each time you tap an
button, you add another hit (up to 3 total hits).
Each hit can be aimed with the
controller in any of the 8 directions.
NOTE—The amount of Red Life Nova has at the time of performing the Gravimetric Blaster determines what level the
move will be performed at. The more Red Life, the higher the level. Once performed, however, Nova drains all of the
Red Life that he has.
Frame Data
| Move Name | Startup | Active | Recovery | Adv. On Guard | Adv. On Hit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5 | 3 | 13 | -3 | -1 | |
|
9 | 3 | 17 | -2 | 0 | |
|
11 | 3 | 24 | -4 | -2 | |
| Crouch
|
6 | 3 | 12 | -2 | 0 | |
| Crouch
|
11 | 8 | 20 | -10 | -8 | |
| Crouch
|
13 | 3 | 23 | -3 | - | |
|
15 | 4 | 26 | -7 | - | |
| Jump
|
5 | 2 | 16 | +11 | +13 | |
| Jump
|
8 | 4 | 18 | +15 | +17 | |
| Jump
|
10 | 6 | 25 | +18 | +20 | |
| Jump
|
22 | Until Grounded | 30 | -9 | - | |
| TACs | 10 | 3 | 28 | - | - | |
| Nova Slam | 24 | 4 | 24 | -5 | - | |
| All Throws | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | |
 Assist
|
52 | - | 24 | -5 | - | |
 Assist
|
52 | 13 | 106 | - | - | |
 Assist
|
47 | 13 | 116 | - | - | |
| Snap Back | 2 | 3 | 19 | +1 | - | |
| Gravimetric Pulse
|
16 | 15 | 21 | -7 | -5 | |
| Gravimetric Pulse ( < 200,000 Red Health)
|
16 | 15 | 21 | +5 | +7 | |
| Gravimetric Pulse ( > 200,000 Red Health)
|
26 | - | 29 | +7 | +26 | |
| Gravimetric Pulse
|
16 | 15 | 21 | -5 | -3 | |
| Gravimetric Pulse ( < 200,000 Red Health)
|
16 | 15 | 21 | -2 | +5 | |
| Gravimetric Pulse ( > 200,000 Red Health)
|
26 | - | 29 | +1 | +26 | |
| Gravimetric Pulse
|
26 | - | 29 | -1 | +1 | |
| Gravimetric Pulse ( < 200,000 Red Health)
|
26 | - | 29 | -1 | +1 | |
| Gravimetric Pulse ( > 200,000 Red Health)
|
26 | - | 29 | +1 | +25 | |
| Nova Strike
|
18 | 8 | 25 | -10 | - | |
| Nova Strike
|
23 | 16 | 25 | -9 | - | |
| Nova Strike
|
30 | 20 | 16 (air: 15) | -13 (air: -12) | - | |
| Thunder Edge | 12/33 At full charge | 6/11 | 20/16 | -1/+1 | +1/- | |
| Flight | - | 10 | - | - | - | |
| Energy Javelin | 26 | - | 24 | - | - | |
| All Gravimetric Blasters | 20+1 | 80 | 30 | -18 | - | |
| Super Nova | 10+1 | 45 | 29 or until grounded | -32 | - | |
| Human Rocket | 13+1 | 16 | 53 or until grounded | -32 | -28 |
Mission Mode
Strategy
Tips and Tricks
- Nova's air mobility, between his flight speed and his air dash, is incredible. Use this to run away and irritate the opponent, or use it for fast cross-ups and overhead mixups.
- Nova's air has a large hitbox and is very fast on startup, while also pulling his "hurtbox" (the part of him that can take damage) in closer to the center, making this an astonishing safe move overall.
- Because of the way Nova floats, his Nova Slam attack ( + ) can actually be used to attack while dodging low attacks. If you have your opponent scared, use this to test their reactions and probably inflict huge damage.
- Nova's Crouching does not hit low, only his crouching and . Keep this in mind when attacking, as that extra light will give the opponent time to block low.
- Air Dashing straight down with a light attack is a very fast overhead. Use this to open crouching opponents.
- If you ever finish a combo with the Human Rocket Hyper, try to aim the last hit down. This will cause Nova to land very quickly, and give you an amazing reset opportunity.
- Virtually any combo can be finished with an Centurion Rush , canceled into his Super Nova Hyper. This is often going to be the most damaging combo you can do.
- Nova is one of the only characters to have a true X-Factor infinite. Centurion Rush causes a on any airborne opponent, and in X-Factor level 3, he can loop this bounce until the opponent is defeated, or X-Factor runs out.
Combos
Fly/UnFly Combo 1) {{ air , (land), , (launcher), air , + , air , + ,
air (land), , (launcher), delay air , + + atk}}
Fly/UnFly Combo 2) {{ + , , (launcher), air h, + , air , + ,
air (land), , (launcher), air , + , air , air (land), + , (launcher),
air h, + + atk}}
Throw Combo) Follwing a throw, {{ + , , (launcher), air , + , air ,
air (land), + , + + atk}}
Air Combo) {{ air , air , delay air (land), 
, air , air , air (land), + ,
(launcher), air , air , air , + + atk}}
Basic Strategy
Advanced Strategy
Strategy vs. Nova
- As noted in the Tips above, Nova's crouching cannot hit low. During any given fight with Nova, you can spend much of the match simply blocking high. It will save you a lot of trouble.
- Nova tends to be hesitant to use the moves that will drain his red health. This will often help, as you will see much less of the Gravimetric Pulse (barrier), and will give you more opportunities to get in. If he does use it, punish with a beam Hyper when able. This will both destroy the barrier, and deal huge damage to Nova, with the added bonus of him losing the previous red health.
- Be wary of his surprisingly large hitboxes and throw range. He can easily confirm around 700k damage from almost any hit, and almost as much from a throw. He may be fast, but he can be zoned out, especially when he wants to play his own zoning game. Energy Javelin will cause problems in this strategy.
- If all of the above seems contradictory, it's simply because Nova is so variable: he can do a bit of everything, and change strategies on a whim. Stay on your toes, and be prepared to change your strategy at a moment's notice. If you can control the flow and pacing of the match, you should be fine.
