Waterboy or Phenomaman, who to choose in Dispatch? Another tough decision on our hands

First it was Sonar or Coupe, and now once again, we’re dealing with a hard pick in Dispatch. Things could go sideways fast, so let’s see how it all plays out in Episode 4. We also have prepared guides to Episode 5 and the whole game (with all choices and dispatch shifts). Feel free to check them out.

• Guide after completing the whole game: who to pick in Dispatch – Waterboy or Phenomaman
• Old guide: Who to pick in Dispatch – Waterboy or Phenomaman

Guide after completing the whole game: who to pick in Dispatch – Waterboy or Phenomaman

The original version of this guide was created before all episodes were released, so it is a good idea to update it. However, not much has changed. The choice between Phenomaman and Waterboy does not influence the story (even if you decide to romance Blonde Blazer). The only difference is that you will see 3 different scenes:

1. Immediately after the choice.
2. An uplifting scene with one of them.
3. A “Thank you” present.

And that’s all. However, they have different strong points when it comes to dispatch shifts.

1. Phenomaman starts as a strong character with powerful stats – Combat, Vigor and Mobility. On the other hand, he is depressed after beakup with Blonde Blazer. He will completely ignore you the first time you send him to complete a dispatch, so make sure that other team members are ready to do heavy lifting. However, it is only once, later he will be ready to work. There is also one thing you should know about him. He has a perk that allows him to be ready for another Dispatch in seconds but if you fail a mission, he will be depressed and his cooldown will take a very long time. You can cure this, though, in Hero Training.
2. Waterboy starts as a fresh hero, without any stats worth mentioning – we shape him. It is a good thing and a bad thing. Let’s start with the latter – he probably won’t be as powerful as heroes you level up since the beginning. But it can be quite profitable. Starting with Episode 5, some dispatches have dead zones. If your heroes reach them with their skills, the mission fails automatically. In most cases, Combat is the one we need to watch out. I have found it difficult to send more than one character on such quest, due to lack of enough low-Combat characters. Waterboy can be a solution to this problem. However, like Phenomaman, he also has a flaw. If he is not sent on a mission for a long time, he will force himself into the team and you can remove him only once (he will have a boost to stats, though). You can cure him, too.

So, ultimately, the choice here should depend on who you like more and who will be more useful to your team during dispatch shifts and will suit your build.

Old guide: Who to pick in Dispatch – Waterboy or Phenomaman

The consequences of our Episode 4 choice might show up in the next two chapters, or maybe even later, at the very end of the game. There’s really no clear “good” or “bad” route here; it’s more about how things play out differently. Our picks will shape the story, who we choose, and maybe even who we don’t. After all, some of those left out might hold a grudge for not making the team.

Related:Dispatch Episode 7 walkthrough and choices guide

Waterboy is, well… kind of awkward. But let’s be honest, there’s something about him. He seems like a genuinely good guy with lots of undiscovered potential. Maybe he’s secretly a genius or hiding some crazy power we haven’t seen yet. As Robert Robertson said, “Everyone has a shot.” And Waterboy might deserve some proper coaching more than anyone.

Source: Dispatch; Developer: AdHoc Studio

Then there’s Phenomaman. A very powerful alien who’s depressed and on edge – that combo could easily lead to some trouble. He even mentioned he was going to destroy Earth at one point, so it’s probably a good idea to keep him close, and what better way than having him on the team.

The only big downside to picking Phenomaman is if you’re planning to romance Blonde Blazer. He’s clearly still hung up on her and hasn’t moved on at all. Make a move on her while he’s around, and congratulations, you’ve just made a very powerful enemy. His hugs alone are practically lethal.

Source: Dispatch; Developer: AdHoc Studio

But if you’re going for Invisigal, choosing Phenomaman might actually work out better. If you chose him you can eventually convince him that he deserves to love again (maybe just not the same person this time) and that what he’s doing isn’t healthy. He seems to take Robert’s advice to heart, and he definitely cheers up after you talk with him. Maybe, right now, he just needs a friend more than anything.

Back to Waterboy though, unlike Phenomaman, he’s not an established hero. He’s got nothing yet, and he’s in serious need of a mentor and a good friend.

Power-wise, Phenomaman obviously has the upper hand, but he’s also prone to getting Easily Depressed, which can sideline him for a while. On the other side, he’s very fast and only needs a couple seconds to recover. Waterboy, meanwhile, is more of a slow build, you can really develop him over time. Plus, his Eager Sponge power gives him a +1 to his highest stat during calls, which can be a nice boost.

In the end, it’s totally up to you who to pick, and it might take a while before we know if it was the right move or not.

Dispatch

October 22, 2025

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• narrative
• superheroes
• AdHoc Studio